Rock You Like A Hurricane

This season I went to 20 regular season Carolina Hurricanes games and 5 playoff games.  In my life I have been to about 100 games -- let's just say I am not what you would call a casual fan.  I have never been so proud of a team as I am of the Canes tonight.  It's not just about winning -- I would have posted the same sentiments whether they won or lost.  From the beginning of the season to the end these guys played together with a calm intensity that just had to be rewarded.  They carried themselves with class, didn't play dirty (I think they went 2 months without a fight), embraced this community -- and often gave more then they had to give.  The Canes took us on a road trip to Lowell to see the kids play during the lockout and who knew then what those boys could become?  The team took their dads on a road trip -- this team has always been about caring about those around you more than you care about yourself.   I have met at least 5 of them randomly (at work, in various coffee shops) and they have always been gracious and that's not something you can say about a lot of professional athletes.  They are people with tremendous talent, not a bunch of out-of-reach superstars.  They are a part of us.

 

Looking back to the first home game when Cam shuts down Mario Lemeiux, Ziggy Palfy and Sidney Crosby in the shootout, I felt only good things would come.  To Rod, Glen, Cory, Kevyn, Erik, Eric, Craig, Aaron, Bret, Matt, Justin, Ray, Doug, Big Joe, Chad, Mike, Mark, Andrew, Anton, Oleg, Frank, Nicky, Marty, and of course, Cam, congratulations from the bottom of my heart.  Thank you for a fabulous season. 

Painted Desert Serenade

I woke up this morning in a hotel room thousands of miles from home. I saw a little of the sunrise over the cactus, tumbleweeds, and the golf course outside my balcony. It was pretty to see, but it really just made me want to go home. Knowing that I was waking up to get in a car, to get in a plane, and then another, and then MY car to go to MY house to put my head on MY pillow...it could be a wasted day if it wasn't for what was waiting at the other end. If I am really, really lucky, I might even get to see the 3rd period of the game tonight.

I sat in my hotel room Monday night with my friend Elizabeth, watching Carolina win game 4 of the Final. As we sat there we talked about all the things we love about living in North Carolina...

People care about their sports -- and aren't afraid to paint their faces, wear team jerseys/t-shirts/hats/etc on a daily basis -- not just to games. Car flags are pretty much part of the deal too.

High school sports scores make the news.

It takes 15 minutes to get just about anywhere. 20 minutes if there is traffic.

It snows just once or twice a year -- enough to see the magic of a snowflake but not so much that it is too much work.

It's a big deal when someone gets murdered.

Seasons -- all 5 of them -- winter, spring, summer, hurricane, fall.

The airport is big enough that you can go anywhere in 2 jumps, but when you get home it only takes 10 minutes to get your bags.

It was nice seeing you Arizona, but I can't wait to get home.

Oh Canada

Sport is a glorious thing.  The World Series.  March Madness.  The World Cup.  The Stanley Cup Final.  (I left out the Super Bowl on purpose -- it's a joke).

 

No great tournament is without great storylines.  Ray Whitney's dad works in the Oilers organization and when he was a kid, Ray was the stick boy for the Oilers.  Our baby-faced 22-year-old rookie goalie Cam Ward is an Edmonton native -- he'll be getting married there in a few weeks (just don't ask him when, he's not sure) and this will be his first game EVER in the rink where he had season tickets with his dad.  You can't make this stuff up.

 

I was very privileged to attend Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.  Game 1 was breathtaking -- I had adrenaline running for at least 24 hours after it was over.  Within the first half of the game we were down by 3, and as Wayne always says, we had them right where we wanted them.  The long climb began: 3-0 Edmonton, 3-1 Edmonton, 3-2 Edmonton, 3-3 all, 4-3 Carolina, 4-4 all, 5-4 Carolina...with less than a minute to go.  Just glorious.  Two days later a ticket from heaven fell into my lap and I got to see the 5-0 rout by Carolina in game 2.  Anyone who has paid attention during any playoff series of any sport knows a 2 game lead is not a sure thing, but man is it a good place to be tonight, heading into Game 3. 

 

The juxtaposition of my day and that of the Canes is just nuts.  I am in Arizona, where it was 115 degrees today.  I came in from the pool to watch the game -- sitting in my hotel room wearing my swimming suit and a towel.  Once the game is over I'm going to go back to the pool.  The boys are about 1000 miles north of me, in the Great White North.  On ice.  Ridiculous.

 

Before the game begins there is the traditional singing of the anthems.  During Edmonton's great dynasty in the late 80's they apparently had an opera singer in their barn frequently; they brought him back tonight for their first Final game in 16 years.  He sang the Star Spangled Banner first and just like we did for them in Carolina, the Edmonton fans sang along.  Then it was their turn.  The opera singer started them off and sang about the first half (I was singing along here in Arizona) then he lifted his microphone to encourage the crowd to take over.  Goose bumps.  More than 16,000 fans, players, coaches singing at the top of their lungs.

 

I just love this time of year.

Better Off

Every time I go on vacation, I try to make myself a better person.  Sometimes by learning languages (Russian - CA road trip '99, French in Montreal '04), sometimes it's self help books (Dr Phil, another CA trip), sometimes I go places where I can learn things.  It's always something.

 

I am currently in Arizona where I will be attending a conference for work.  Until that starts, I refuse to do anything to better myself.  I slept in.  Bought two coffees (got one to drink then and bought an extra to keep in the fridge in my room -- it was really hard to find!).  Went to the pool for 2 hours.  Went shopping and bought presents for my dogs and got take out from The Cheesecake Factory for dinner (as in, I'm having cheesecake for dinner).  Went swimming again.  Now I'm watching hockey and then I'll go swimming again.

 

I'm in paradise and I know I'm being self-indulgent and lazy -- but do we really have to strive to be better every day?

 

[By the way, Better Off is by Theory of a Deadman, a Canadian band I discovered watching, of course, hockey]

Hurricane (Bush version - the band, not the president)

IT'S HURRICANE SEASON: CANES WILL PLAY FOR STANLEY CUP

I'm not excited or anything.  I probably won't sleep for hours.  This entire season came down to the last 18 minutes of game 7 of the third round.  It was the 100th game for both teams.

 

From TSN.ca:    "You couldn't hear yourself think as 18,730 fans at RBC Center went nuts. Yet they found another decibel level when Williams capped things off with 51.7 seconds to go, flipping in a rebound over Miller to end the drama."  ...loudest house in the NHL.  Oh just you wait!  Monday is going to be INSANE.  Just hope I get to be there.

 

In 2002, a lot of people made fun of Carolina hockey -- lot's of references to the Andy Griffith Show and media people talking about how no one here even knew what they were watching.  Four years later, and after 10 years in North Carolina, I think "redneck" hockey has taken hold.  Is it a coincidence that today is Andy Griffith's 80th birthday?

 

Is it just another coincidence that today is the first day of Hurricane Season?  I think it started last October, we just didn't have the last bit of proof until tonight.

 

Whatever you do boys, just don't touch the Prince Wales trophy.  Wait for the real thing.