I'm probably going to take a little heat for this post but that's ok, it's just my opinion. You're entitled to think differently and I won't hold it against you. ;o)
One thing I've noticed this year is that there is far more interaction between the fans of different teams than there has been before. Now that social media is becoming more prominent, I am noticing that it is far easier to be exposed to other opinions than ever before. Fans have the opportunity to comment on sports articles, on blogs, on Facebook, and of course on Twitter. It certainly builds rivalries where they may not have existed in the past. Of course I haven't followed Hockey as closely in the past as I have this year. Maybe I'm just new to the flame wars that are happening online.
Well it has been more interesting to watch hockey this season when factoring in the comments from fans of other sports teams. Yet at times it has been really annoying too. Quite often this season I would frequent the TSN.ca page and read the articles (good or bad) about the Flames and of course see what other fans were saying about my team. Naturally I would expect to read comments from fans of the opposing team that just finished playing the Flames. An article would be posted about the game and both sets of fans would chime in. Mostly good natured stuff from both sides. However, sometimes fans of teams that weren't even playing that night would jump on the comment boards and feel the need to contribute - mostly with a bad attitude too.
Naturally you'd see fans from both teams bragging about one of their players or talking trash about one of ours and visa versa. Both sets of fans would proudly declare how their team would be the one to crush the other in the playoffs. This banter back and forth between the teams became even more heated as Calgary started to make a miracle comeback in the last half of the season. Hope was being nurtured and life was breathed back into a team that looked like it was going to be relegated to the bottom of the Western Conference if not the bottom of the League.
Sadly the Flames didn't quite make the playoff run, but amazingly fans of other teams were starting to pull for Calgary also hoping we'd make it in. Amazing. Some were cheering for us out of respect for the effort the Flames had put in, others because they can't help but cheer for an underdog. Some fans wanted to see Calgary in the playoffs because they wanted to watch a good series and some mostly because they felt that their team could walk all over the Flames in the first round and have an easy run to the cup. I can't help but enjoy the banter that passed between fans from all the teams. Hell, even Oilers fans were cheering on the Flames if not at least acknowledging they had done a good job in the 2nd half.
The only fans that I didn't like reading comments from were the Vancouver fans. They would chime in on an article about the Flames on nights when Vancouver was playing some other team. They did it just to take the opportunity to trash Calgary and the team. They would literally troll the articles for an opportunity to cause some shit. The Canucks weren't even playing the Flames and the 'Nucks fans would chime in. When it was becoming clear that Calgary was going to miss the playoffs these fans would gloat and cheer on opposing teams and generally be complete dicks about it. Sure I'm a bit sore about the Flames not making the playoffs but there were few if any other fans that went out of their way to completely trash the Flames while gloating about their own team. Not once did I read - "Hey good season, nice comeback, better luck next year" - from a Canucks fan.
Even on my twitter feed I had to read entries from Canucks fans in my Timeline that were aggressively cheering *AGAINST* the Flames. NOT cheering for the other team because they liked them, but cheering against the Flames because they hated Calgary. Vancouver had long sewn up a playoff spot and were well on their way to winning the Presidents Cup trophy. The Flames weren't even a threat to the 'Nucks and still their fans wanted to see Calgary stomped on. Nasty stuff. So needless to say I don't care for the Canucks fans. They are poor winners and very poor losers. They show no grace in either defeat or victory.
Interestingly enough, fans from all over the league generally feel the same way I do about the Canucks fans.
Well that's a hell of a pre-amble to my main point.
People have often asked who I would cheer for in the playoffs now that my team was out. Most assumed that I would pick a Canadian team and show a little national pride. Even more just assumed that I should cheer for Vancouver since they were the most likely team to win the Stanley Cup. They liked to call them "Canada's team". So being a good Canadian they expected me to don the blue and green and fly a Canucks flag from my car window.
Imagine the dirty looks and nasty comments that I received when I said I would be cheering for the Chicago Blackhawks. A team that barely made the playoffs and a team that had decent fans who were always good natured towards Calgary. Canucks fans could barely contain their disbelief when I told them my choice. Oh sure I would also wave a flag for the Habs but I would not be cheering for the Vancouver Canucks. The horror.
In fact since the Hawks have been eliminated, I have actually been cheering for any team that plays against them. Sadly I think the Canucks have a really good team, and if it wasn't for their fans, I probably would raise their flag and cheer for Vancouver. Too bad their fans suck. So until next year I'm cheering against Vancouver. yeah I said it. Yeah it makes me petty, but if it grinds on the nerves of those dickhead 'Nucks fans, then it makes me feel better. :-p
(note: Not all Canucks fans are complete dicks. Some are pretty good natured and appreciate the competitive nature of the sport. The banter from these fans can be heated but there is always an undercurrent of respect for the other team and what they bring to the table. To these fans I raise my glass and say "Cheers!")
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