How does a losing season really differ from a winning season? As we vicariously live as fans through our favorite team's successes and failures we should each really ask and answer that question. Does our pride in the team we've adopted decrease with a score that isn't in our favor? Are we better people because our team had success? Conversely, are we lesser people because our team didn't succeed? I sure could make a good case that the fans of a team who only taste success intermittently have more character than their opposites.There is zero risk in sitting around and waiting through half a sports season and then jumping on the bandwagon of a team that looks destined for success. But the risk of ridicule is great to stand up (season after season) and say that you believe your team will do great things before they've done a thing. I'm not one for hiding behind a rock. In the past I've stood up and rationalized why I thought my team would do well before the season. In the future I'll do the same. There is no part of me that you'll ever see indicating that I think my team will be lucky to finish in 8th or 7th or 6th place. I'm a believer. You can call it blind optimism or green and gold colored glasses. I don't really care. To me being a fan means that you don't accept conventional wisdom. Fan is from "fanatic" and the definition of fanatic is:
A person with an extreme or uncritical enthusiasm or zeal.
Thats me baby. I could give a shit what the record book says. Don't come to read here if you expect some faux-journalistic pretense. I won't apologize for loving my team and living up to the definition above. So I say this to those of you who come here to piss on the Seawolves grave; fuck you. And the horse you rode in on. I know I invite such things with my attitude but the truth is you just wish you had someone like me writing about your team. If I come back to do this next year don't expect anything different. I'm going to find ways to bash your team and/or town or region. I'll do so because I fervently believe that my team, town and region are better than yours.
No doubt there are some Seawolf fans don't don't appreciate my style. To them I ask that they consider contributing here. Share your thoughts and perspective. I can do no less than share mine. My genetic history does't include much in terms of traits that would lead me to be compromising. The Scots aren't known for pragmatism. That's an early 20th century American invention. Instead I'm a subscriber of the 18th century Scottish philosopher David Hume who taught us that each or our realities is shaped by our own individual perceptions which in turn were made by our experiences. My experiences tell me that the Seawolves were better than their record. Hume was also a champion of reasoning and I think I've tried to use that methodology in backing up my beliefs whenever possible. In any case, I think you're getting the point. I'm Popeye ...
What is with the idiots in Minnesota? I'm watching the FSN coverage of Mankato/UofM game three and it's between the 1st OT and the 2nd. The FSN people are stupid enough to allow any and all manner of folks to stand behind Doug and the Rug and right now there is this ugly bastard standing back there giving the choke sign and pointing to Woog. WTF is that about? This guy has no idea that he is a complete douchebag. LOL. Normally, you just get all sorts of rubes tugging their ugly M's in some sort of bragging. Could we just go back to that please and remove the grotesquely ugly turd calling his whoring mother on the phone and waving? That guy just shouldn't even be allowed in public (perhaps it is Kurt Davis' dad? ... that is just for you LGM). OMG. I hadn't really cared who'd win this series before now but I think I'm gonna cheer for the Gophs now. I will say that whoever wins will be tough to beat down the line.
UND absolutely escaped against MTU this weekend. I understand the refereeing sucked tremendously. Of course you won't hear Susie fans bitching and moaning about the refereeing since their team gained from it. I swear if I have to read anything else from "The Sikatoka" or Patrick Miller about "clutching and grabbing" and calling the game "like the NHL" that I'll puke. I keep saying that UND isn't that good and I thought MTU would expose that this weekend. I guess they did so to a point. Here's my prediction though ... UND loses it's first game in the NCAA's that isn't against a CHA or AHA team.
DU beat UMD. Sigh. There's another team that is no where near as good as it's record. They won't go anyhere in the NCAA's either. St. Cloud beat an average Wisconsin team in 2 games. They'll likely make some noise at the Final Five and fail to win an NCAA game as usual.
15 comments:
I was across the rink from Doug and Rug but from what I could tell, all the dorks around them were Gopher fans.
They did mostly seem to be Gopher fans. You should have seen this freakishly ugly dude though. Wow. He was strange enough looking that I can still visualize his cartoonishly troll-like features. Honestly, he was the ugliest human being I've seen in a long long time.
UAA televises every single game and I've never seen a single Alaskan get behind Kurt Haider and David Tuttle in order to "mug". It would never occur to me to do that either so I just don't get it.
I just want to say thank-you Donald for all the insights and entertainment you've provided this past season. No matter how the games went you always had something positive to say. Awesome. I look forward to next season.
Annabelle:
Thank you. I'm not sure that I was "always" as positive as you're giving me credit for but thanks again nonetheless.
I know I'm a big dick to other teams and their fans but I'm happy that doesn't keep UAA fans from reading.
Donald.....just curious...who are your picks for the FF? I'm wondering who you see going, especially if you don't UND is that good. Good blog by the way.
I've got to think that CC is THE team. In the preseason I picked them to "go deep into the NCAA's" and they haven't done anything to show me they can't do it. They've done it with great defensive play and they roll FOUR lines that can ALL do damage. Look who scored 3 goals against UAA ... the "grinder" Testwuide.
After CC I think Minnesota has the strongest team. I watched all three of their games against Mankato and Zacharias clearly outplayed Kangas in my book which is a testament to how strong the Gophers were on offense. But with those three games I wouldn't expect them to do well since they'll be in the "play-in" game and I don't know that anyone can win the Final Five from the play in game.
That's almost as bad as people who buy field-level tickets to a baseball game just so they can call everyone they know and wave at the camera the whole time.
First of all you got it twisted around. How the hell is it to the Sioux's advantage if the hooking and obstructions are not being called? They are a much more skilled and faster team than the Shelast's. And the gophers as the second strongest team? you gotta be kidding me. Buy the way as to your comments about UND being not that good. Who has only lost 1 game out of their last 20? I guarantee that if UAA amazingly pulled a stunt like that and someone said they werent that good you'd be irrate.
Ahhh ... the myth of "we are more skilled" ....
The Sioux have no more skill on average than pretty much any other team in the league. Their success this year has been primarily due to Lamoreux.
T.J. Oshie and Ryan Duncan and Bina are skilled players no doubt and would put up similar numbers had they been in any other jersey. After that the rest of the roster would have put up lesser numbers on another team.
Lammy Lammy Lammy ... that's the Sioux's key to the success they've had. Without Lammy they would have split with the 10th place team on their own rink.
The Sioux aren't even faster than UAA overall. You can blind yourself with the record if you want but the fact is you've got a couple of guys that have been harping on the Internet for the last 12 months with the same refrain and it is starting to stick. Patrick Miller and The Sicatoka cannot back their "Wah Wah -- stop clutching and grabbing us" with a single bit of evidence. It's nothing less than a small attempt at amateur propaganda.
Watch the game that Anderson officiated and tell me that isnt a huge advantage to the Shelast's.
Yep UND sucks and has no talent what so ever, they skate as if they had pianos are on their backs. Kozek would be a top line player on UAA same with Watkins.
I don't think there is a player that Sioux fans would want to trade with UAA for.
I didn't think they had any good marijuana in North Dakota. You guys must have made a B.C. connection eh?
anon@10:37 You Sioux fans may be surprised this fall. That's all I'm saying.
Well at least we have the luxury of having a team in the playoffs and have the excitement to go along with it. Other than having a team like UAA go year after year finishing nowhere near the top and winning about 3 games. And then having their fans calling a team at the top "not that good" because they got nothing more to say about their own shitty team
WAit till next year....wait till next year...wait till next year...wait till next year...all I hear.
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