Why would anybody decide to become a hockey fan? It's loud, obnoxious, and has retarded fans ("Foote" and Sakic" for 2). It's ridiculously complex so it's not like you can make safe bets on it or explain it well to anybody else. And the game tickets are stupid expensive even if you're willing to sit all high up. But somehow, I'm a new fan.
So I was watching Avalanche Alert (which I just got the title, because sometimes I'm a little stupid) and there was an episode where they profiled some fans from Japan. This husband and wife were watching the Olympics one year when they fell in love with Patrick Roy. They traced him back to the Colorado Avalanche and started loving the team. They come to Denver every year to go to a practice and at least one game. They love hockey so much, they even watch old games of other teams on satellite in Japan long after they know the scores. Too bad I forget their names because they totally rocked.
When I saw their story I started wondering just how I became a fan and even now haven't figured it out completely. I think hockey had a multi-pronged attack on me. I'm in love with Canada; if it were single I would date it. But Canada has such high standards, it doesn't want me. Damn you, Canada! It's been on my to-do list for, I don't know, two decades to get into hockey because of the Canadian connection. But I have a little love/hate thing going, so that wasn't enough.
I've discovered that hockey is like meth, in that once you try it you want more. Not that do meth, mind you; they cook it in trailer home bathtubs!!! Anyway, free tickets were what happened. I work for a nonprofit and Kroenke Sports, the people who own (I think) the Pepsi Center, are really good to us in general. One day they sent over some free tickets. I figured it couldn't be that bad because they were free and I could have beer and a hotdog. I put a book of sudoku in my purse just in case. By total dumb luck I ended up behind the goalie in row 12 or so. I never once pulled the sudoku out because guys were slamming into the glass and an oppossing player even took a puck to the face. It was bomb-ass!
Now, I'm not trying to say that it was fluke or just easy nonsense that I started liking hockey in general and the Avs, very much in particular. I got into it because it's a fast game with generous amounts of violence. I think the plays are amazing like when everyone is moving in the offensive zone and they look like a flock of birds redirecting in mid-air. It's beautiful. Then somebody will get pissed and pop another guy in the face. I love that people willingly bleed for my entertainment. It's rather sick so I enjoy it immensely. Maybe I'm a little too Roman Old Skool.
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