Over the past 2 months, we've seen some pretty definitive highlight reel hockey. Game 7's, goals that make you squee, and goalies that are demonsrating they've all got their brick wall impressions down pat. But there have also been some bittersweet moments. My Red Wings were eliminated in 4 straight after an amazing Game 1 performance. Needless to stay, I was a little miffed. But, after what it took to get us to the playoffs, I was convinced that this season wasn't a loss. Many of our young guys stepped up, took jobs, and showed they have the drive and skill to become elite. A most pleasant surpise after such a turd sandwich start.
However, there is something that can no longer be ignored. I, like many of my hockey brethren, have noticed that there's a popular rebirth of a very special kind of hypocrisy. Why, it's the ol' "Why Are You Picking On Us For The Shitty Things We Do" fan syndrome. The Bruins won the Cup in 2011, and came close again last year. Most would think that's the sign of a great team and that the fans have nothing to complain or worry about. However, darkness lies beneath.
We start with Lucic's spear. After having a hit finished on him by Danny Dekeyser, Lucic felt his entire family heritage was disrespected. So in an effort to disrespect Dekeyser's family heritage, he decided to unleash a most heinous nut job. Didn't see it? Here it is, with perfect commentary by Ray Ferarro: Milan Lucic Isn't A Good Sportsman
Lucic was then fined, and then gave a perfect hockey answer to try and excuse his actions. "Heat of the Moment" this, "I'm not that type of player" that. This was the Kobra Kai level of deflection. And even better? The Bruin fanbase was 100% on his side. Most were decrying Wings fans saying that they are babies. But some chose this to be a perfect opportunity to try and give the female gender a leg up in the Battle of the sexes. I'm not gonna publish these people's names, but if you follow @Wingingitmotown, you could find what I'm talking about. My thoughts on the subject are this: Each body has an inherent soft spot. To say one is softer than the other is semantics, because I'm pretty sure pain is pain. There's no reason to compare these things. I know how effing terrible it is to land on the jewels. This makes me an expert on knowing this pain. I admit though that I'm not an expert in giving birth or having a time of the month. And as such, I do not claim to know how they feel and I even more so don't comment on them. The whole idea here is, unless you have first hand experience, it's best to just keep to yourself.
Then the insanity rose to a new level in the series between the Habs and Bruins. An historic rivalry renewed, only to be sullied by poor sportsmanship, ignorant fans, and a heaping dose of racism. Ouch Ouch Ouch Ouch Ouch. And so, the series culmintes in a dramatic Game 7 vicory by the Canadiens. Great series comes to an end, one team stays home, another moves on. In the pantheon of sports, there are few rituals as celebrated as the handshake. Yet true to the theme of everything being no longer sacred this year, this holy ritual was tainted. When the series ends, the part that makes this sport so great is the acceptance that you were beat in the confines of the game. The handshake line is the purest symbol of this. Yet Milan Lucic, in his infinite wisdom, saw this as a time to spread more of his lunkheadedness. Dale Weise told the media Lucic's special parting words and all I can say is "What the Flying Hell is Wrong With You, Lucic?" The game's over, you lost, the clock ran out, the other guys won. The second the game ends, you're supposed to turn off the animal and take your handshake. Why would you be surprised if someone raised their hand to your idiocy. Talk smack all you want during the game but the second that game ends, you gotta flush that nonsense. If you said that to Weise with 1 tick of one second left on the clock, he probably wouldn't have said anything. It's because you sought him out in the line to say some stupid junk that he said something. It reminds me of the end of Heavyweights. Camp MVP gets trounced my Camp Hope. Now they want to file a protest for losing. Camp MVP? Boston Bruins? See the similarity?
But then once again, the Bruins fanbase choose blind faith over cool headedness. Instead of taking a hard look at the way their beloved team handles themselves, they lash out to all those around them. This is why we can't have nice things. The Bruins and their fans need to reevaluate themselves after this. Because there's no place for ignorance like this, period. One of the great aspects of sports is that you recognize it's a game when it's all over. But if you begin to place an imaginary greater importance on this, the line between sanity and insanity degrades. You lack professionalism, Boston. Remove your heads from your collective rears.
It's only game. Why you heff to be mad/threaten people/spread ignorance?
