The tough self-image carried by Boston fans and their team is so hollow it is silly.
Showing posts with label fans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fans. Show all posts
Thursday, May 01, 2014
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Lion of November
The Real Player of the Month
It's not been officially announced yet, but when they get the chance the Canadiens will announce they are giving to the Molson Cup for November to guess who? Who else?
The fan vote actually kept it close this time with 14 star points for Price over Gionta and Cole (with 13 and 12 respectively). If it were up to the media, Price won this outright with 23 star points on 7 selections, his next nearest media darlings Cole and Pacioretty with 8 each. Gionta? The media star selectors didn't like his month much.
We've been over how this is geared to goalies, especially those that play 60 minutes of all but 3 games in a month. It's almost a win he's in mentality for the star selectors, fans or not.
As you know from recent posts, goalies can take no such thing for granted with us. We prefer to see what all systems cough up for candidates and decide from a short list.
So, there you have it: Lion of the Month.
Cole
From zero to hero, literally for Erik Cole this year. An absolute non-factor in training camp and the first several games of the season. Given how much of a factor he is game in, game out now it seems absurd to even think about that.
The flag goes up for Erik because over 14 November games, he managed to stand out enough to get 10 nods for the dome and 4 player of the game pucks. As forward performances go, this is outstanding. It shows he both stood out in wins and was providing good performances in losses.
Stats-wise, it's easy to dismiss his 5 goals and 5 assists off-hand. After all it's on a pace for 30 goals and 60 points (not exactly rampant for a good month). But a deeper look reveals little intricacies. 4 of his goals were first goals (so critical to Canadiens success) and another was a gamewinner.
He also drove play and good play for much of the month. He was on the ice for a team high 101 scoring chances, 71 of which were on net (not misses). He seemed the main engine of that in fact, with an impressive 32 scoring chances of his own over the month. This is made more impressive by the fact that his line was doing so much attacking they had relatively little defending to do, 56 scoring chances against, 41 on target. Shows that he worked for his excellent GF/60 (3.58) and GA/60 (1.79) ratings.
Not that it's the right time to highlight the PP (Anaheim looms large), but you should only have nightmares imagining where it would be without Cole. On for 4 PP goals, 2 of which were his own, he topped all in effectiveness by time but Kostitsyn who didn't really play this month anyway.
Price
It was very much a rebound month for Price. Coming from a 0.900 he could have followed his teammates into further mediocrity. He didn't.
Instead, he posted a great month where he was twice the NHL player of the week, grabbed 2 shutouts and gained loads of ground on the rest of the NHL goalies in the leaderboards. Overall for the month he was a cool 0.929 with a 1.97 GAA. As is often the case with the Habs, the goalie did not sync with the team, so the win-loss of 5-4-2 doesn't look great, but that shouldn't reflect on him.
Price also made an impression in the dome/puck standings. 10 domes from 11 starts (with the missed dome very much in dispute), he couldn't seem to have done much more. He also picked up 2 game pucks along the way making him the clear second by some margin in those standings.
Perhaps more outstanding than any other stat for Carey though is his 0.980 save percentage while shorthanded. Facing 49 PP shots, he turned a full 48 away. It's no cliche that that the goalie is the best penalty killer when you see numbers like that.
Lion of November: Carey Price
I'd say it's closer than the media had it, but in an up and down month a few star selections can really skew a picture that way. Even so, I have to say that both media and fans got it right in November. I am going to override the dome/puck scores this time and say Carey Price was the player of the month.
If you look back at November, the notable achievements were two shutout wins and incredible penalty killing efficiency. Carey Price had a huge hand in both. What's more, one could argue that without this kind of month from him, the team would have slipped into a position with no escape route. As it is they're in the thick of things due to the play of their goalie and a few others.
The fan vote actually kept it close this time with 14 star points for Price over Gionta and Cole (with 13 and 12 respectively). If it were up to the media, Price won this outright with 23 star points on 7 selections, his next nearest media darlings Cole and Pacioretty with 8 each. Gionta? The media star selectors didn't like his month much.
We've been over how this is geared to goalies, especially those that play 60 minutes of all but 3 games in a month. It's almost a win he's in mentality for the star selectors, fans or not.
As you know from recent posts, goalies can take no such thing for granted with us. We prefer to see what all systems cough up for candidates and decide from a short list.
So, there you have it: Lion of the Month.
Cole
From zero to hero, literally for Erik Cole this year. An absolute non-factor in training camp and the first several games of the season. Given how much of a factor he is game in, game out now it seems absurd to even think about that.
The flag goes up for Erik because over 14 November games, he managed to stand out enough to get 10 nods for the dome and 4 player of the game pucks. As forward performances go, this is outstanding. It shows he both stood out in wins and was providing good performances in losses.
Stats-wise, it's easy to dismiss his 5 goals and 5 assists off-hand. After all it's on a pace for 30 goals and 60 points (not exactly rampant for a good month). But a deeper look reveals little intricacies. 4 of his goals were first goals (so critical to Canadiens success) and another was a gamewinner.
He also drove play and good play for much of the month. He was on the ice for a team high 101 scoring chances, 71 of which were on net (not misses). He seemed the main engine of that in fact, with an impressive 32 scoring chances of his own over the month. This is made more impressive by the fact that his line was doing so much attacking they had relatively little defending to do, 56 scoring chances against, 41 on target. Shows that he worked for his excellent GF/60 (3.58) and GA/60 (1.79) ratings.
Not that it's the right time to highlight the PP (Anaheim looms large), but you should only have nightmares imagining where it would be without Cole. On for 4 PP goals, 2 of which were his own, he topped all in effectiveness by time but Kostitsyn who didn't really play this month anyway.
Price
It was very much a rebound month for Price. Coming from a 0.900 he could have followed his teammates into further mediocrity. He didn't.
Instead, he posted a great month where he was twice the NHL player of the week, grabbed 2 shutouts and gained loads of ground on the rest of the NHL goalies in the leaderboards. Overall for the month he was a cool 0.929 with a 1.97 GAA. As is often the case with the Habs, the goalie did not sync with the team, so the win-loss of 5-4-2 doesn't look great, but that shouldn't reflect on him.
Price also made an impression in the dome/puck standings. 10 domes from 11 starts (with the missed dome very much in dispute), he couldn't seem to have done much more. He also picked up 2 game pucks along the way making him the clear second by some margin in those standings.
Perhaps more outstanding than any other stat for Carey though is his 0.980 save percentage while shorthanded. Facing 49 PP shots, he turned a full 48 away. It's no cliche that that the goalie is the best penalty killer when you see numbers like that.
Lion of November: Carey Price
I'd say it's closer than the media had it, but in an up and down month a few star selections can really skew a picture that way. Even so, I have to say that both media and fans got it right in November. I am going to override the dome/puck scores this time and say Carey Price was the player of the month.
If you look back at November, the notable achievements were two shutout wins and incredible penalty killing efficiency. Carey Price had a huge hand in both. What's more, one could argue that without this kind of month from him, the team would have slipped into a position with no escape route. As it is they're in the thick of things due to the play of their goalie and a few others.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Montreal Music Ciity
Return Of A Favourite Habs Fan
Was just looking into booking some summer concerts and came upon the news that Sam Roberts and his band have released a new album.
Sam and his band are set to release their new album in May. They are probably hoping it may coincide with some serious Habs playoff action. The first track is quite a departure from what I think of as the Sam Roberts sound. But I think that's a good thing. Like a player in the shootout, or an assitant coach in charge of the PP, you want a musician to get creative and try new things going forward. Anyway, it's good to have him back armed with new music.
Seeing as he's a big Habs fan. I thought it worthy of noting on this Habs blog. You can listen to the first new song if you're interested on the band's website.
Keeping with the musical theme, we're also happy to see that long-time friends the Sonic Avenues have joined the list of LIW followers in the right hand margin. You can check out their music too and concert dates on their MySpace page.
Don't worry, just a little musical interlude. This won't lead to a change in posting patterns. Though we may have cause to ask for Arcade Fire's Wake Up when the Habs take to the ice on Saturday if they put up a sleepy effort like they did last night when they visit Boston.
Sam and his band are set to release their new album in May. They are probably hoping it may coincide with some serious Habs playoff action. The first track is quite a departure from what I think of as the Sam Roberts sound. But I think that's a good thing. Like a player in the shootout, or an assitant coach in charge of the PP, you want a musician to get creative and try new things going forward. Anyway, it's good to have him back armed with new music.
Seeing as he's a big Habs fan. I thought it worthy of noting on this Habs blog. You can listen to the first new song if you're interested on the band's website.
Keeping with the musical theme, we're also happy to see that long-time friends the Sonic Avenues have joined the list of LIW followers in the right hand margin. You can check out their music too and concert dates on their MySpace page.
Don't worry, just a little musical interlude. This won't lead to a change in posting patterns. Though we may have cause to ask for Arcade Fire's Wake Up when the Habs take to the ice on Saturday if they put up a sleepy effort like they did last night when they visit Boston.
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Fear Of Precedence
Sometimes life and fan life collide.
Last week, ended for me on Friday with a rebuff of a new idea I had brought forward. Saturday ended a week of hockey in a similar way. The common theme was establishment of precedence and the pervasive fear that surrounds it.
It wasn’t the first time I have had a proposal rebuffed for the danger of the precedent it could set. Sometimes, no matter how perfect the fit, an idea just has to die for this reason. Similarly, I thought, the ideas that were floating around in the build-up to Saku Koivu’s first game back in Montreal.
Leading up to that game, there were many suggestions that the team might do something special to honour a special player in the history of the Canadiens. I was actually quite giddy in the buildup, as I anticipated something fitting from the organization that used to have a knack for gauging these events just right.
Instead, what the Canadiens offered was a video montage of a few seconds. More than that, it only showed the April 2002 ovation and none of his other moments in Montreal. It was a sad-sack effort considering what they’ve been able to pull off in the past. Luckily for the Canadiens brass, the fans still remember how to show a bit of class and picked up the mantle by giving a proper ovation anyway and then clogging the popularity contest lines with Koivu votes. As if to complete their complete fumble, the organization (who incidentally does claim they have the right to review 3 star choices and adjust) decided they’d stick to their idiotic policy of naming the OT goalscorer the first star. This despite the fact that the goal was:
a) Scored in a shootout
b) Ignored the actual stars of the game (well this rule does)
c) Went completely against the fans wishes for a special honour bestowed on Saku
And what for?
For precedence.
Worried perhaps that the honouring a returning player for another team would set a dangerous precedent in a time when the number of such players is high. Worried perhaps that all future captains will need to have some sort of ceremonious return. Worried that perhaps their 3 star system won’t be respected if contravened for this special case.
Hogwash. It’s total pig swill. None of these concerns are founded. The organization needed to recognize what a special case that Koivu was. 15 years from draft to departure with this team. Most of 13 years as the face of the franchise and the best player on the ice from game to game. 10 full years as the captain.
This game, this return, will likely be the last opportunity that the Canadiens have for a very long time to honour such a player. The bigger league, salary cap and all have changed the landscape. Teams aren’t always going to be able to hold their top players when they need leverage to rebuild. Teams will have trouble giving progressive raises without intervention from the lower free agency limits. And that’s to say nothing of the ten year captaincy. Or the player that Koivu was.
The team tripped up big time here. They didn’t need to do much other than nod to the significance of the event. They couldn’t even manage that small ask. This was a too-many-men-on-the-ice-type penalty for the management.
On that note, I’ll segue into another similar discussion: what to do on Koivu’s retirement.
Those of you who’ve commented on our banner, and read our praise for the player know that this blog is not far from camping with those who would call for a sweater retirement for the captain of a decade. And this discussion is a discussion of precedence if there ever was one. There are precedents to be followed and precedents that could be set.
On following precedents. Koivu doesn’t come close to meeting the precedents that have been set in terms of trophies, Cups, or even statistics for any of those occupying the rafters. On these precedents alone, it’s a non-starter. But hockey is not baseball. Statisticians in hockey will tell you this. It cannot be measured by some algorithm for greatness. Hockey is a game that is imperfectly measured by statistics kept by the league. My case for Koivu would include us using our collective memories to recall the games where he led and played well without a single point for the gamelog. There were many games like this.
What’s more, these honours bestowed were not based on statistics alone, were they? The great honour was weighed in many ways. And so it should, in due time, with Koivu.
On the precedents it will set. I say precedents be damned. Exceptions are the prerogative of this organization in making these decisions. They are the prerogative of the fans who ask for the recognition. If the sweater retirement is to be discussed, that doesn’t mean that a door is opened to every player who ever scored 600 points, or every player that had long tenure. Koivu is Koivu is Koivu. He was and is special. The ovations showed that. And that’s all that needs to be said.
So don’t fear precedents. Yes Koivu now has more domes this season than Tom Pyatt. There’s nothing to fear in that.
Last week, ended for me on Friday with a rebuff of a new idea I had brought forward. Saturday ended a week of hockey in a similar way. The common theme was establishment of precedence and the pervasive fear that surrounds it.
It wasn’t the first time I have had a proposal rebuffed for the danger of the precedent it could set. Sometimes, no matter how perfect the fit, an idea just has to die for this reason. Similarly, I thought, the ideas that were floating around in the build-up to Saku Koivu’s first game back in Montreal.
Leading up to that game, there were many suggestions that the team might do something special to honour a special player in the history of the Canadiens. I was actually quite giddy in the buildup, as I anticipated something fitting from the organization that used to have a knack for gauging these events just right.
Instead, what the Canadiens offered was a video montage of a few seconds. More than that, it only showed the April 2002 ovation and none of his other moments in Montreal. It was a sad-sack effort considering what they’ve been able to pull off in the past. Luckily for the Canadiens brass, the fans still remember how to show a bit of class and picked up the mantle by giving a proper ovation anyway and then clogging the popularity contest lines with Koivu votes. As if to complete their complete fumble, the organization (who incidentally does claim they have the right to review 3 star choices and adjust) decided they’d stick to their idiotic policy of naming the OT goalscorer the first star. This despite the fact that the goal was:
a) Scored in a shootout
b) Ignored the actual stars of the game (well this rule does)
c) Went completely against the fans wishes for a special honour bestowed on Saku
And what for?
For precedence.
Worried perhaps that the honouring a returning player for another team would set a dangerous precedent in a time when the number of such players is high. Worried perhaps that all future captains will need to have some sort of ceremonious return. Worried that perhaps their 3 star system won’t be respected if contravened for this special case.
Hogwash. It’s total pig swill. None of these concerns are founded. The organization needed to recognize what a special case that Koivu was. 15 years from draft to departure with this team. Most of 13 years as the face of the franchise and the best player on the ice from game to game. 10 full years as the captain.
This game, this return, will likely be the last opportunity that the Canadiens have for a very long time to honour such a player. The bigger league, salary cap and all have changed the landscape. Teams aren’t always going to be able to hold their top players when they need leverage to rebuild. Teams will have trouble giving progressive raises without intervention from the lower free agency limits. And that’s to say nothing of the ten year captaincy. Or the player that Koivu was.
The team tripped up big time here. They didn’t need to do much other than nod to the significance of the event. They couldn’t even manage that small ask. This was a too-many-men-on-the-ice-type penalty for the management.
On that note, I’ll segue into another similar discussion: what to do on Koivu’s retirement.
Those of you who’ve commented on our banner, and read our praise for the player know that this blog is not far from camping with those who would call for a sweater retirement for the captain of a decade. And this discussion is a discussion of precedence if there ever was one. There are precedents to be followed and precedents that could be set.
On following precedents. Koivu doesn’t come close to meeting the precedents that have been set in terms of trophies, Cups, or even statistics for any of those occupying the rafters. On these precedents alone, it’s a non-starter. But hockey is not baseball. Statisticians in hockey will tell you this. It cannot be measured by some algorithm for greatness. Hockey is a game that is imperfectly measured by statistics kept by the league. My case for Koivu would include us using our collective memories to recall the games where he led and played well without a single point for the gamelog. There were many games like this.
What’s more, these honours bestowed were not based on statistics alone, were they? The great honour was weighed in many ways. And so it should, in due time, with Koivu.
On the precedents it will set. I say precedents be damned. Exceptions are the prerogative of this organization in making these decisions. They are the prerogative of the fans who ask for the recognition. If the sweater retirement is to be discussed, that doesn’t mean that a door is opened to every player who ever scored 600 points, or every player that had long tenure. Koivu is Koivu is Koivu. He was and is special. The ovations showed that. And that’s all that needs to be said.
So don’t fear precedents. Yes Koivu now has more domes this season than Tom Pyatt. There’s nothing to fear in that.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Three Star Search
Ooh they're seething in the press gallery these days. The Montreal Canadiens have teamed with Bell to usurp one of the cherished duties of the Montreal media. The three stars are to be chosen from now by the fans.
Mike Boone says he prefers the old system. Dave Stubbs isn’t quite so straight-ahead, but adds more than a tinge of lament to his article on tradition lost today.
At least Stubbs was civil. Mike Boone, as he often does, repeatedly refers to Canadiens fans as a group encompassing a significant number of “goobers” and “knuckle draggers”. At least he didn’t try to hide his elitism.
I am not altogether opposed to Boone’s position. And, I admit to being elitist enough myself to think that a fan vote in answer to the very inadequate question: “Who do you think will win the three star poll?” will undoubtedly turn up some strange vote leaders.
And the votes are bound to be very strange indeed because the question being asked isn’t the only absurdity. The system is flawed at this stage. The three stars are decided by total votes. Fans are only voting for a single player, so a unanimous choice is bound to be accompanied by some interesting third stars. Unaware, Bell seems, of the advances in online technology that allow for multiple selections.
Then there’s the game-winning goalscorer clause. The Canadiens “reserves the right to award the first star of the game to a player scoring the game-winning goal with less than minute to play in regulation time, in overtime or in a shootout.” A shootout goal? Great. Nothing like automatic selections to stir the pot a bit.
So Boone may well have a point.
But really what’s been lost?
Stubbs notes how this tradition has evolved and tells at length the road it has taken pass from media to fans. Boone again is less the diplomat. He suggests the choice has been stripped from expert hands (given to people who don't know o=hockey as well as he and his brethren). The media he says provide:
Understanding of hockey (people who do, media, people who don’t, fans)
Guaranteed expertise
Guaranteed objectivity
I’ll pause to let you recover your breath.
I think the explosion in blogging and everything else in the Habs new media world might have helped the lesson on media limits to be learned. And, if the fan vote makes the three star voting an irrelevant appendix to the game. I would suggest this continues an established tradition, rather than establishing a new one.
Let’s take last season as a mere glimpse into the guaranteed hockey expertise and objectivity employed by the former three star selectors.
The Molson Cup standing are based on home games only, keep that in mind. Keep in mind also, these results, strange as they may be, all came from media selection, no fan input.
First over the season was Jaroslav Halak, who played in 22 different home games. His statistics at home included 14-6-2, 2.32 GAA and 0.917 Save %. Not shabby. For this he garnered no less than 15 star selections, missing out seven times only.
Carey Price is even more informative. He placed second in Molson Cup standing (we know). He starred in 20 games for the Habs last season in Montreal pulling an unlikely 14 star selections from the hat to go with 6 games in which he missed. His stats were 6-10-3, 2.76 GAA and a 0.904 Save%.
We had Brian Gionta down for 12 game pucks in the regular season to go with 42 domes in 61 games played. He was not in our opinion the 4th best player on the team last season behind both goalies, no less. But then maybe that’s our elitism talking.
It strikes me that maybe their guaranteed objectivity comes only after making sure they select a goalie first. Oh, and they they abide by the OT scorer rule too. Heaven forbid hockey knowledge ever acknowledges a defensive player.
Carey Price will win anyway
Besides, what’s all the fuss about anyway?
Between the ineptly worded question, the formula, the expertise and the objectivity, I think we all know the goalie fetish in Montreal will win all. Last season’s back and forth in the three stars battle of I’m right/you’re wrong choices isn’t evaporated yet. And voters have already proven that a whiff of 0.910 is enough to bring in the votes.
He nearly won last year. With starts and the inevitable increase in wins, he’s bound to pull in votes. The fans have picked the goalie. The press have picked the goalie. Both or either will continue to do so. So let's not pretend this change matters more than it does. If you still long for definitive picks based on individual preferences and whims, then you'll always have our Domes and Game Pucks to satiate your appetite.
As for the press, they actually gain. Now in addition to locker room drivel they will have fan delusion to discuss after games. It’s actually set to be a boon to show their objectivity and expertise. Maybe they’ll see that when they’ve simmered down a bit.
Mike Boone says he prefers the old system. Dave Stubbs isn’t quite so straight-ahead, but adds more than a tinge of lament to his article on tradition lost today.
At least Stubbs was civil. Mike Boone, as he often does, repeatedly refers to Canadiens fans as a group encompassing a significant number of “goobers” and “knuckle draggers”. At least he didn’t try to hide his elitism.
I am not altogether opposed to Boone’s position. And, I admit to being elitist enough myself to think that a fan vote in answer to the very inadequate question: “Who do you think will win the three star poll?” will undoubtedly turn up some strange vote leaders.
And the votes are bound to be very strange indeed because the question being asked isn’t the only absurdity. The system is flawed at this stage. The three stars are decided by total votes. Fans are only voting for a single player, so a unanimous choice is bound to be accompanied by some interesting third stars. Unaware, Bell seems, of the advances in online technology that allow for multiple selections.
Then there’s the game-winning goalscorer clause. The Canadiens “reserves the right to award the first star of the game to a player scoring the game-winning goal with less than minute to play in regulation time, in overtime or in a shootout.” A shootout goal? Great. Nothing like automatic selections to stir the pot a bit.
So Boone may well have a point.
But really what’s been lost?
Stubbs notes how this tradition has evolved and tells at length the road it has taken pass from media to fans. Boone again is less the diplomat. He suggests the choice has been stripped from expert hands (given to people who don't know o=hockey as well as he and his brethren). The media he says provide:
Understanding of hockey (people who do, media, people who don’t, fans)
Guaranteed expertise
Guaranteed objectivity
I’ll pause to let you recover your breath.
I think the explosion in blogging and everything else in the Habs new media world might have helped the lesson on media limits to be learned. And, if the fan vote makes the three star voting an irrelevant appendix to the game. I would suggest this continues an established tradition, rather than establishing a new one.
Let’s take last season as a mere glimpse into the guaranteed hockey expertise and objectivity employed by the former three star selectors.
The Molson Cup standing are based on home games only, keep that in mind. Keep in mind also, these results, strange as they may be, all came from media selection, no fan input.
First over the season was Jaroslav Halak, who played in 22 different home games. His statistics at home included 14-6-2, 2.32 GAA and 0.917 Save %. Not shabby. For this he garnered no less than 15 star selections, missing out seven times only.
Carey Price is even more informative. He placed second in Molson Cup standing (we know). He starred in 20 games for the Habs last season in Montreal pulling an unlikely 14 star selections from the hat to go with 6 games in which he missed. His stats were 6-10-3, 2.76 GAA and a 0.904 Save%.
We had Brian Gionta down for 12 game pucks in the regular season to go with 42 domes in 61 games played. He was not in our opinion the 4th best player on the team last season behind both goalies, no less. But then maybe that’s our elitism talking.
It strikes me that maybe their guaranteed objectivity comes only after making sure they select a goalie first. Oh, and they they abide by the OT scorer rule too. Heaven forbid hockey knowledge ever acknowledges a defensive player.
Carey Price will win anyway
Besides, what’s all the fuss about anyway?
Between the ineptly worded question, the formula, the expertise and the objectivity, I think we all know the goalie fetish in Montreal will win all. Last season’s back and forth in the three stars battle of I’m right/you’re wrong choices isn’t evaporated yet. And voters have already proven that a whiff of 0.910 is enough to bring in the votes.
He nearly won last year. With starts and the inevitable increase in wins, he’s bound to pull in votes. The fans have picked the goalie. The press have picked the goalie. Both or either will continue to do so. So let's not pretend this change matters more than it does. If you still long for definitive picks based on individual preferences and whims, then you'll always have our Domes and Game Pucks to satiate your appetite.
As for the press, they actually gain. Now in addition to locker room drivel they will have fan delusion to discuss after games. It’s actually set to be a boon to show their objectivity and expertise. Maybe they’ll see that when they’ve simmered down a bit.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
There's No Fooling Montreal
Plotless Habs Movie Likely A Bomb
There's a line of Habs players that will tell you the same: Montrealers are a demanding bunch. We've always known this with regards to our hockey. With a few exceptions loved for their success against the odds (of playing with seemingly no talent whatsoever), all hockey players in this town have been panned mercilessly at one point or another.
What director Sylvain Archambault discovered this week is that the same fans are not about to give him a free pass, just because he doesn't wear skates to work.
The box office numbers for his new film, Pour toujours les Canadiens, play like the attendance for the latter-day Expos, not the present-day Canadiens:
Brendan Kelly of the Gazette reckons that the film is suffering because of an early panning from the test audience a few weeks back. Though his own review certainly can't be helping.
I don;t know about you, but I was thinking of seeing this movie. I think I'll check that thought and spend my money on something more worthwhile, like a beer or two. When I first heard about this film, I thought Saku Koivu, the Habs, this is a movie I can get to grips with. But from reports it's not really got anything to do with the Canadiens at all, at least not in any coherent way. If the review says something like this:
Then why would I want to see it?
It's a lesson, I suppose to people who think they can just ride on the coattails of this religiously followed organization. Be it Guillaume Latendresse or Sylvain Archambault – wearing a CH on your chest does not absolve you of having to produce work with some substance.
In case you still want to see what you're missing, then the screens are listed in this article. Really though, it sounds like this clip might give you as much of a thrill as the whole movie would anyway:
A real sports story
As Kenny said, there is a movie to be made about our hockey-mad culture. It will have to wait. A good surrogate, I found, was a book I read back in University called Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby. Now you'll all know the hopeless adaptation that painted the subtle story from the novel with a sledgehammer's touch that was the Jimmy Fallon Red Sox movie of a few years ago. However, the real thing, I suspect especially when read, painted a much more interesting picture of the love affair between fanatic and team.
The story looked at the life of an Arsenal football fan (really Hornby himself, I suspect) as he stumbled from game to game with life serving as his intermission. It captured the obsession of the fan better than any book I've read before or since. For your pleasure then, imagine this as the game to clinch a playoff berth:
What director Sylvain Archambault discovered this week is that the same fans are not about to give him a free pass, just because he doesn't wear skates to work.
The box office numbers for his new film, Pour toujours les Canadiens, play like the attendance for the latter-day Expos, not the present-day Canadiens:
The much-anticipated Habs 100th-anniversary feature Pour toujours les Canadiens had a disappointing opening weekend, selling only $112,335 in tickets on 90 screens, according to the Montreal box-office tracking firm Cinéac. Only two others films – The Twilight Saga: New Moon and 2012 – were on more screens yet Pour toujours les Canadiens managed to land in only eighth place in the local box-office top 10. The per-screen-average for the Quebec film was $1,248-per-screen, the lowest average of any film in the top 10.
Brendan Kelly of the Gazette reckons that the film is suffering because of an early panning from the test audience a few weeks back. Though his own review certainly can't be helping.
I don;t know about you, but I was thinking of seeing this movie. I think I'll check that thought and spend my money on something more worthwhile, like a beer or two. When I first heard about this film, I thought Saku Koivu, the Habs, this is a movie I can get to grips with. But from reports it's not really got anything to do with the Canadiens at all, at least not in any coherent way. If the review says something like this:
There is a great movie to be made about our hockey-mad culture. Sadly, Pour toujours les Canadiens is not that film.
Then why would I want to see it?
It's a lesson, I suppose to people who think they can just ride on the coattails of this religiously followed organization. Be it Guillaume Latendresse or Sylvain Archambault – wearing a CH on your chest does not absolve you of having to produce work with some substance.
In case you still want to see what you're missing, then the screens are listed in this article. Really though, it sounds like this clip might give you as much of a thrill as the whole movie would anyway:
A real sports story
As Kenny said, there is a movie to be made about our hockey-mad culture. It will have to wait. A good surrogate, I found, was a book I read back in University called Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby. Now you'll all know the hopeless adaptation that painted the subtle story from the novel with a sledgehammer's touch that was the Jimmy Fallon Red Sox movie of a few years ago. However, the real thing, I suspect especially when read, painted a much more interesting picture of the love affair between fanatic and team.
The story looked at the life of an Arsenal football fan (really Hornby himself, I suspect) as he stumbled from game to game with life serving as his intermission. It captured the obsession of the fan better than any book I've read before or since. For your pleasure then, imagine this as the game to clinch a playoff berth:
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
The Ten Types of Fans
Leafs And Habs Supporters
A couple of weeks ago, the peerless Down Goes Brown put together a brilliant psychoanalysis of the Leafs nation. Of course, you must read it for yourselves as his humour goes well beyond the group titles. In his analysis of the group he managed to reduce all Leafs fans into ten categories:
1. Mr. Mood Swing
2. The Self Loather
3. “Truculence” Guy
4. “Just One Cup” Guy
5. “Just One Cup” Guy who’s getting older
6. The Youngster
7. Bandwagon Jumper
8. The Fixer
9. The Delusional Idiot
10. The Realist
Reading the piece made me reflect on our own group in Habs fandom. At first glance, one could almost apply the identical groups to the Canadiens support. A closer look, and actually one can see they have to be different.
Take “Mr. Mood Swing”. Yes it’s a descriptor of Canadiens fans. But since I don’t know a Habs fan who doesn’t suffer from uncontrollable mood swings, I take this characteristic to be fundamental to the make-up of a Canadiens fan. Ditto, the Fixer, as we all (even those who sign "In Bob We Trust") ultimately know more than any given GM.
Go beyond those and you can see that others don’t apply at all – the “Just One Cup” group, for example would be mocked right out of the province by all those who continuously believe the next decade will bear much fruit.
So, as a service to all Habs fans, I’ve done my own dissection and applied it to the fans of Canada’s favourite team.
1. The Bandwagon Jumper
Foremost in the Canadiens community due to their sheer number. You know these people, they’re on your trains, and buses, they’re in your workplaces. Every time the Canadiens grab a first period lead, they help the number of fans swell by great swathes. A win is enough to double numbers in my experience and a streak pushes every Quebecer without a lingering obsession for the Avalanche to chant “Ole Ole Ole”. Studies have also shown this bandwagon can reach beyond provincial boundaries, and the evidence shows that a mere 0.500 record over 26 games is enough to loose the bandwagon across the whole country.
1. b) The Paddywagon Jumper
A sub-group of the Bandwagon Jumpers. These most famous of Canadiens fans bypass the bandwagon and wait by police vehicles (preferably paddywagons) until the ultimate last minute. They have no need for the highs and lows of actual game results, as it only delays their higher purpose. They keep themselves occupied in the regular season by practicing vandalism and arson during HNIC broadcasts.
2. The Dynasty fan
This is a special breed of fan that not only looks down on Leafs fans, Canucks fans and other fans, but also on Patrick Roy, Mats Naslund and anything else that came after the great schism in time that was the hiring of Irving Grundman. You won’t find many on the internet, though as they spend most of their days reading newspapers from the 1950s and/or current day Red Fisher columns.
3. The “Just A Few More Dynasties” fan
Unlike the Leafs, we don’t quite yet have anyone looking at the reality of the NHL, doing the math and coming up with the idea that for a team with all the complications (and poor management decisions) of the Canadiens that 1 Cup in a lifetime would be a decent return. Instead, fans look for a return to dynastic status and will be mostly satisfied if they get in another 2 or 3 decades worth of Stanley Cup finals from now till their end of days.
4. The 24 Cup Hugger
Every sign off, username and licence plate this guy owns has something to do with the number 24. Opposition fans cannot argue with “24” because once they make a point that requires a defence, he’ll hold his hand up and reel off “24 Cups” as the answer to the next 67 pleas. They would have done anything to remember any of the 24 Cups they vaunt daily, but have to do their best with the Canadiens greatest game box-set they have been watching nightly since its release.
5. The “Pur Laine” fan
Mostly restricted to a militant arm of RDS, this small group of fans doesn’t even like hockey. The Centre Molson is a place where they can gather with those in their clan, boo anthems and chant for their greats like Richard, Lafleur and Ribeiro.
6. The #1 Fan
Isn’t in elementary school anymore, yet inexplicably has Canadiens bed sheets, wallpaper and mouse pad. Spends so much time telling everyone he’s the #1 fan that he missed Alex Henry’s NHL career.
7. The “Real” Fan
These fans found that in the late 1990s one could turn up to a game 5 minutes before and buy a ticket from a scalper for less than face value. They want the return of these “good” old days where an emptying of the bandwagon means they can scavenge all the Molson Zone beer tickets.
8. The Goalie Worshipper
The Canadiens have indeed been blessed with a run of good goalies over the century. This is not a fact that has gone unnoticed by these fans. They even managed to beatify a goaltender. Everything that goes well turns on the axis of goaltending. Nothing that goes wrong can stick to the goalie. To these fans, defencemen are sub-human, only made necessary by the need to test the goalie with screen shots.
9. The Gentleman (The Lady)
The holdover from a bygone era. The gentleman (lady) still goes to all Canadiens games throughout the year dressed in their Sunday best. They know when to cheer for a goal and a save and know when to remove their hats. Watching a Canadiens game with one of these fans is a pleasure, because they have somehow maintained the love of the team without developing the snobbery of some of their contemporaries or the delusions of their successors.
10. The Almost Reasonable Fanatic
Loosely based on the “Realists” of Toronto. Thanks to 1971, 1986 and 1993, people in Montreal, however, can’t seem to take that final step to realism – they always hold onto a little of the fanaticism. Sure these fans will be telling the others to calm down after a 2-0 playoff series lead, but a big lead in the third game is usually enough for the feeling of destiny to wash over them.
Where do you fall? Maybe there's a category I've missed. There's only so much one can develop by dissecting his own psyche...
1. Mr. Mood Swing
2. The Self Loather
3. “Truculence” Guy
4. “Just One Cup” Guy
5. “Just One Cup” Guy who’s getting older
6. The Youngster
7. Bandwagon Jumper
8. The Fixer
9. The Delusional Idiot
10. The Realist
Reading the piece made me reflect on our own group in Habs fandom. At first glance, one could almost apply the identical groups to the Canadiens support. A closer look, and actually one can see they have to be different.
Take “Mr. Mood Swing”. Yes it’s a descriptor of Canadiens fans. But since I don’t know a Habs fan who doesn’t suffer from uncontrollable mood swings, I take this characteristic to be fundamental to the make-up of a Canadiens fan. Ditto, the Fixer, as we all (even those who sign "In Bob We Trust") ultimately know more than any given GM.
Go beyond those and you can see that others don’t apply at all – the “Just One Cup” group, for example would be mocked right out of the province by all those who continuously believe the next decade will bear much fruit.
So, as a service to all Habs fans, I’ve done my own dissection and applied it to the fans of Canada’s favourite team.
1. The Bandwagon Jumper
Foremost in the Canadiens community due to their sheer number. You know these people, they’re on your trains, and buses, they’re in your workplaces. Every time the Canadiens grab a first period lead, they help the number of fans swell by great swathes. A win is enough to double numbers in my experience and a streak pushes every Quebecer without a lingering obsession for the Avalanche to chant “Ole Ole Ole”. Studies have also shown this bandwagon can reach beyond provincial boundaries, and the evidence shows that a mere 0.500 record over 26 games is enough to loose the bandwagon across the whole country.
1. b) The Paddywagon Jumper
A sub-group of the Bandwagon Jumpers. These most famous of Canadiens fans bypass the bandwagon and wait by police vehicles (preferably paddywagons) until the ultimate last minute. They have no need for the highs and lows of actual game results, as it only delays their higher purpose. They keep themselves occupied in the regular season by practicing vandalism and arson during HNIC broadcasts.
2. The Dynasty fan
This is a special breed of fan that not only looks down on Leafs fans, Canucks fans and other fans, but also on Patrick Roy, Mats Naslund and anything else that came after the great schism in time that was the hiring of Irving Grundman. You won’t find many on the internet, though as they spend most of their days reading newspapers from the 1950s and/or current day Red Fisher columns.
3. The “Just A Few More Dynasties” fan
Unlike the Leafs, we don’t quite yet have anyone looking at the reality of the NHL, doing the math and coming up with the idea that for a team with all the complications (and poor management decisions) of the Canadiens that 1 Cup in a lifetime would be a decent return. Instead, fans look for a return to dynastic status and will be mostly satisfied if they get in another 2 or 3 decades worth of Stanley Cup finals from now till their end of days.
4. The 24 Cup Hugger
Every sign off, username and licence plate this guy owns has something to do with the number 24. Opposition fans cannot argue with “24” because once they make a point that requires a defence, he’ll hold his hand up and reel off “24 Cups” as the answer to the next 67 pleas. They would have done anything to remember any of the 24 Cups they vaunt daily, but have to do their best with the Canadiens greatest game box-set they have been watching nightly since its release.
5. The “Pur Laine” fan
Mostly restricted to a militant arm of RDS, this small group of fans doesn’t even like hockey. The Centre Molson is a place where they can gather with those in their clan, boo anthems and chant for their greats like Richard, Lafleur and Ribeiro.
6. The #1 Fan
Isn’t in elementary school anymore, yet inexplicably has Canadiens bed sheets, wallpaper and mouse pad. Spends so much time telling everyone he’s the #1 fan that he missed Alex Henry’s NHL career.
7. The “Real” Fan
These fans found that in the late 1990s one could turn up to a game 5 minutes before and buy a ticket from a scalper for less than face value. They want the return of these “good” old days where an emptying of the bandwagon means they can scavenge all the Molson Zone beer tickets.
8. The Goalie Worshipper
The Canadiens have indeed been blessed with a run of good goalies over the century. This is not a fact that has gone unnoticed by these fans. They even managed to beatify a goaltender. Everything that goes well turns on the axis of goaltending. Nothing that goes wrong can stick to the goalie. To these fans, defencemen are sub-human, only made necessary by the need to test the goalie with screen shots.
9. The Gentleman (The Lady)
The holdover from a bygone era. The gentleman (lady) still goes to all Canadiens games throughout the year dressed in their Sunday best. They know when to cheer for a goal and a save and know when to remove their hats. Watching a Canadiens game with one of these fans is a pleasure, because they have somehow maintained the love of the team without developing the snobbery of some of their contemporaries or the delusions of their successors.
10. The Almost Reasonable Fanatic
Loosely based on the “Realists” of Toronto. Thanks to 1971, 1986 and 1993, people in Montreal, however, can’t seem to take that final step to realism – they always hold onto a little of the fanaticism. Sure these fans will be telling the others to calm down after a 2-0 playoff series lead, but a big lead in the third game is usually enough for the feeling of destiny to wash over them.
Where do you fall? Maybe there's a category I've missed. There's only so much one can develop by dissecting his own psyche...
Friday, July 31, 2009
Habs Hating:
Mocking The Canadiens In Vogue Again
When new items and pieces on the shelf converge. That's what happened this morning in my Google Reader.
Pulled in through the Carey price tag, I got this article from a Boston man, who claims to be a Montrealophile in all but hockey.
It synced very nicely with an idea I've been kicking around for some time about how fans of other teams see us. And how many of them loathe us. And, actually, I came across one of the very best examples of this just the other day on a typical July trawl through NHL searches.
James Murphy – the "laughingstock" file
When it comes to Habs hating and baiting it is unsurprising to start our survey in Boston. Boston and Montreal have a deep-seated hatred of one another's hockey teams – one which I fully subscribe to.
That said, Mr. Murphy is using cheap tricks here. Calling the Canadiens a laughing stock in Boston is not new and it's certainly not news. The Canadiens are a laughing stock in those parts 3 days after an unprecedented comeback in the playoffs against the tilt of the home ice.
And, I suspect if he were only writing for Boston he would have found another story. However, I think James picked up on something of a trend. The trend being that people outside of Boston are becoming more and more keen to read and write themselves about the laughable situation in Montreal. His piece is symptomatic of the trend and not causative, however.
The Cynical Anaesthesiologist and the eloquent – the evolution of distaste
Back in 2007, the Four Habs Fans were drumming up some controversy and interest with back and forth volleys between themselves and rival bloggers. It was good fun. The Habs hate was written up, but in retrospect, a bit ad hoc – not very sophisticated. A lot of the ideas were old and many just misunderstandings. You could almost tell the Blueshirt Bulletin, for example, did not have their hearts behind their disdain.
But you know what, it seems 3 years of endless ceremonies, a winning and losing ride complete with bandwagon couplings and unhitching, a riot for riot's sake and some scandal dusted on top have fed some fuel to the real fire.
More recently, there are people who care enough about hating the Canadiens to sit down and take some time to flesh it out, to express what they mean. And though it might be more convincing if this MD didn't also hate everything else, he still provides a nice vignette of what I mean:
It got even better this season with "No Habs No" adding a very humourous and more sophisticated take on hating the Habs in the internet age. It even has its own (very well supported) 6-man Facebok group. For me, however, it all culminated in the brilliant eulogy written to the Canadiens season by the Pension Plan Puppets – experts in seasons like these.
I don't want to dissect arguments or question why people are supporting teams 30 years after their brother told them to, all I wanted to do was show how Habs hating has come a long way. As James Murphy suggests, there are echoes of George W. Bush in this affair. Habs hating is very much in vogue.
Understanding the hatred
I may have trouble pinpointing how this trend I feel around me has come about, I have no trouble understanding how an opposing supporter would hate me or my team. I am interested from a purely academic curiosity as to why it seems to be mounting. I suspect it has a lot to do with us not being a write-off anymore. There's certainly that annoying arrogance we all get tagged with thanks to the amassing of a more connected and active "24 Cup brigade" – they say as much. The seemingly endless 100th anniversary (built up since season 97) is some bait, no doubt.
As I mentioned I really only "hate" one team in this NHL and that is the Bruins. I hate their players, I hate their philosophy to team building. The Leafs have been there too, but nowadays I find it hard to muster the strength to really hate them. Everyone else just fits somewhere else on the spectrum of dislike. Philly somewhere near the head of the list and Edmonton somewhere near the "almost like" extreme.
If you're not hated by other teams fans, your team's doing something wrong
I think that conventional wisdom holds for us here in a big way, and my own targets for negative energy are telling. If people are indifferent towards your team (like they are to the Kings, say, or the Thrashers) then it's because they're not doing enough to be hated. In sports, that means you really do suck.
It's a relief then to think that the Canadiens and us fans are generating more hate nowadays among our rivals. After all, think of the alternative, we could be the Sabres...
Pulled in through the Carey price tag, I got this article from a Boston man, who claims to be a Montrealophile in all but hockey.
It synced very nicely with an idea I've been kicking around for some time about how fans of other teams see us. And how many of them loathe us. And, actually, I came across one of the very best examples of this just the other day on a typical July trawl through NHL searches.
James Murphy – the "laughingstock" file
When it comes to Habs hating and baiting it is unsurprising to start our survey in Boston. Boston and Montreal have a deep-seated hatred of one another's hockey teams – one which I fully subscribe to.
That said, Mr. Murphy is using cheap tricks here. Calling the Canadiens a laughing stock in Boston is not new and it's certainly not news. The Canadiens are a laughing stock in those parts 3 days after an unprecedented comeback in the playoffs against the tilt of the home ice.
And, I suspect if he were only writing for Boston he would have found another story. However, I think James picked up on something of a trend. The trend being that people outside of Boston are becoming more and more keen to read and write themselves about the laughable situation in Montreal. His piece is symptomatic of the trend and not causative, however.
The Cynical Anaesthesiologist and the eloquent – the evolution of distaste
Back in 2007, the Four Habs Fans were drumming up some controversy and interest with back and forth volleys between themselves and rival bloggers. It was good fun. The Habs hate was written up, but in retrospect, a bit ad hoc – not very sophisticated. A lot of the ideas were old and many just misunderstandings. You could almost tell the Blueshirt Bulletin, for example, did not have their hearts behind their disdain.
But you know what, it seems 3 years of endless ceremonies, a winning and losing ride complete with bandwagon couplings and unhitching, a riot for riot's sake and some scandal dusted on top have fed some fuel to the real fire.
More recently, there are people who care enough about hating the Canadiens to sit down and take some time to flesh it out, to express what they mean. And though it might be more convincing if this MD didn't also hate everything else, he still provides a nice vignette of what I mean:
"Every year I live in dread of another Stanley Cup for Montreal (which has happened 12 times in my life). My obsession is deep seated."
It got even better this season with "No Habs No" adding a very humourous and more sophisticated take on hating the Habs in the internet age. It even has its own (very well supported) 6-man Facebok group. For me, however, it all culminated in the brilliant eulogy written to the Canadiens season by the Pension Plan Puppets – experts in seasons like these.
I don't want to dissect arguments or question why people are supporting teams 30 years after their brother told them to, all I wanted to do was show how Habs hating has come a long way. As James Murphy suggests, there are echoes of George W. Bush in this affair. Habs hating is very much in vogue.
Understanding the hatred
I may have trouble pinpointing how this trend I feel around me has come about, I have no trouble understanding how an opposing supporter would hate me or my team. I am interested from a purely academic curiosity as to why it seems to be mounting. I suspect it has a lot to do with us not being a write-off anymore. There's certainly that annoying arrogance we all get tagged with thanks to the amassing of a more connected and active "24 Cup brigade" – they say as much. The seemingly endless 100th anniversary (built up since season 97) is some bait, no doubt.
As I mentioned I really only "hate" one team in this NHL and that is the Bruins. I hate their players, I hate their philosophy to team building. The Leafs have been there too, but nowadays I find it hard to muster the strength to really hate them. Everyone else just fits somewhere else on the spectrum of dislike. Philly somewhere near the head of the list and Edmonton somewhere near the "almost like" extreme.
If you're not hated by other teams fans, your team's doing something wrong
I think that conventional wisdom holds for us here in a big way, and my own targets for negative energy are telling. If people are indifferent towards your team (like they are to the Kings, say, or the Thrashers) then it's because they're not doing enough to be hated. In sports, that means you really do suck.
It's a relief then to think that the Canadiens and us fans are generating more hate nowadays among our rivals. After all, think of the alternative, we could be the Sabres...
Monday, January 19, 2009
Senators Humour
Maybe There's A Rivalry Here After All For The Habs
Tobalev astutely pointed out that games with Ottawa are tight matches no matter what now. No matter how good we appear to be, no matter how bad a slump we're in, no matter how much Ottawa is looking for that lottery place.
In the preview for the game, both Sens Chirp and I wondered out loud about the rivalry between these two teams. In the analysis, it seems there is one in its infancy, but by and large Montreal fans have never had a reason to bother with Ottawa (either far too good or far too poor). The time for rivalry looked ripe before the inexplicable implosion in our capital city. Since then, there's been little to despise.
But wait, I think I'm finding some reasons...
1) Senators fans like this guy:
Or this guy:
Both posters on some Sens blogs after the game. Another guy who was at the game, who also detests our cheers, claimed he tried to drown out Ole Ole Ole with the ever-original and ubiquitous Go Sens Go.
This isn't the first wrath the Ole cheer has been showered with. Boston and Toronto fans also hate it, for it is so European. Oh please let us never need prompts from the scoreboards to cheer for our team like the Go ____ Go crew...
What's more, i don't think the Sens really hold the high ground when it comes to musically supporting their heroes. Both the theme tune (drum then trumpet, wait for it in the video) and Ray Emery's rap below are prime examples:
2) No Habs No!
Cleverly based on the only cheer they know, this Sens blogger has started a campaign to donate $1 to every player across the league who can score a GW goal against the Habs.
I'll be honest, I'm posting this bit because it is worth seeing. It is clever, funny and gives a good pretense to express hatred of another team. We'd be patting ourselves on the back too if we had come up with the Wicked Loser Bruins fund too.
It is so well established with a Facebook group, a section of the SensArmy blog, merchandise and coverage on one of the most popular hockey blogs around.
It's clear that hating this fan will be easier as he's already invested so much energy into the belligerence.
3) Car flags
They infected us. Somehow the Sens and their flag-waving fans infiltrated Montreal's best and brightest – now we have to look at flags everywhere, ugh...
I think it's safe to say there's a seed of something to go on here. Be sure the next time you see a Rev Up The Red flag or a No Habs No! T-shirt, to break into a hearty chorus of Ole Ole Ole, it's fun to watch them melt to the tune...
In the preview for the game, both Sens Chirp and I wondered out loud about the rivalry between these two teams. In the analysis, it seems there is one in its infancy, but by and large Montreal fans have never had a reason to bother with Ottawa (either far too good or far too poor). The time for rivalry looked ripe before the inexplicable implosion in our capital city. Since then, there's been little to despise.
But wait, I think I'm finding some reasons...
1) Senators fans like this guy:
That Olé chant is the homo anthem. Never heard anything so queer in my life.
Or this guy:
That ole ole ole stupid song is making me think Leafs fans are less annoying, and that's saying something.
Both posters on some Sens blogs after the game. Another guy who was at the game, who also detests our cheers, claimed he tried to drown out Ole Ole Ole with the ever-original and ubiquitous Go Sens Go.
This isn't the first wrath the Ole cheer has been showered with. Boston and Toronto fans also hate it, for it is so European. Oh please let us never need prompts from the scoreboards to cheer for our team like the Go ____ Go crew...
What's more, i don't think the Sens really hold the high ground when it comes to musically supporting their heroes. Both the theme tune (drum then trumpet, wait for it in the video) and Ray Emery's rap below are prime examples:
2) No Habs No!
Cleverly based on the only cheer they know, this Sens blogger has started a campaign to donate $1 to every player across the league who can score a GW goal against the Habs.
I'll be honest, I'm posting this bit because it is worth seeing. It is clever, funny and gives a good pretense to express hatred of another team. We'd be patting ourselves on the back too if we had come up with the Wicked Loser Bruins fund too.
It is so well established with a Facebook group, a section of the SensArmy blog, merchandise and coverage on one of the most popular hockey blogs around.
It's clear that hating this fan will be easier as he's already invested so much energy into the belligerence.
3) Car flags
They infected us. Somehow the Sens and their flag-waving fans infiltrated Montreal's best and brightest – now we have to look at flags everywhere, ugh...
I think it's safe to say there's a seed of something to go on here. Be sure the next time you see a Rev Up The Red flag or a No Habs No! T-shirt, to break into a hearty chorus of Ole Ole Ole, it's fun to watch them melt to the tune...
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Someone Save Them From Us
Winning the Stanley Cup will take a team at least 98 games, at most 110. We're talking about 100 hours of competitive hockey, 10,000 or so shifts, maybe 3,000 shots for and against.
To earn the right to lift it at the end of all that is even more difficult, a team must win at least 56 of those games, while probably getting to the end of regulation or ahead or even in 70 or more.
In other words, this Stanley Cup thing is not a sprint.
When I was younger, I used to be a runner and a swimmer. I specialised (in both sports) in longer events - all races that took about two to four odd minutes. When you race these kind of races, you quickly learn two things:
1. You cannot go all-out the whole race, sprinting runs out at a minute or sooner
2. Going in with a strategic plan is vitally important
I see the race to the Stanley Cup in those terms sometimes. First, you have the heats (regular season) and the finals (playoffs). Secondly, results show that every year the thing that matters most is finishing strong - and it doesn't matter who leads after the first, second or third laps. All that is forgotten when the tape is broken or the wall is reached.
In the NHL, it is common and, well strategically sound, for teams to cruise for much of the season, winning games with little effort and without much fuss. After all, for 6 months all that matters is that you secure a place in the playoffs. Nothing else. Beat half the teams in the league, and you're there. Last year, we harped on about this (with the 96 point goal) and I still stand by it - set a points goal, achieve it, then worry about the finals.
In other sports, competitors that exert themselves too much in the heats are at a disadvantage, and it is the competitors that can "cruise" into the final that hold the cards. There is something to be said for good lanes (just like good playoff match-ups), but the best still get a decent lane every time, even on half efforts. The parallel is true in the NHL, teams with some kind of strategic plan for the season in mind often progress well in the playoffs.
If it were up to the fans
Many a fan in Montreal will grasp this. Many will proclaim saving energy for the playoffs as gospel truth. The problem seems to be that once we all cross into the Bell Centre, no matter what tie of year, this philosophy and strategy we most often agree would be best to meet our ultimate goal, is completely tossed out the window. If it were up to some of us, 82 wins and 4 playoff series. When we get in that building - it's win, win, win; score, score, score; sprint, sprint, sprint for every minute of every shift in every game.
Well, no Cup recently, no conference finals in ages. It makes me think, is this one of the problems? Well have a look at these quotes and stories from last night:
Fancois Gagnon leads with "Like in the playoffs"
Mike Boone wrote 5 or 6 posts during the exhibition game, as did Gagnon for that matter.
Plekanec had this to say (English from French from English):
Lapierre echoed those sentiments:
A lot of coverage for a game that counts for nothing in two weeks time. I have to admit, I used to be immensely proud of the fact that Montreal fans could get so worked up for a game against Ottawa B, even after years of seeing teams beat others in the exhibition season and then getting clobbered 3 night later when the real line-ups meet.
But now, I tend to see everything through the guise of the road to the Cup. I guess I'm tired of waiting. In that respect, expectation, encouragement at that level, performance - all of it - it can't be sustained. Not when the teams you are trying to beat cruise through 5 months anonymously before first exerting some effort in April.
I'm not sure myself, and I'm certain someone like Dave Stubbs, Robert L, Dennis Kane, or other knowledgeable readers could confirm, that when the Canadiens were winning Cups, the exhibition games were not this crazy. I am thinking that every year as our desperation creeps ever further that we lose a bit of perspective and control over our emotions and mistake an exhibition win for a meaningful result.
When I was competing, I would often finish a race and tell someone who was very kindly and sincerely cheering their heart out for me on the first lap in the heats to save it for the last length or the finals please. In swimming especially, cheering can give a competitor an idea that they are either right ahead of or right behind someone and need to step up the pace, which is important because of all the blind spots. If the cheering is at its most intense right from the blocks, then any ramping up becomes impossible, any warnings to gear up, ineffectual.
I think the same must be true of a hockey team in a 100 game race. Shouldn't the cheering during Game 5 of the second knockout series be louder. It should if we want a reaction to our roars. I mean everyone talks about the mythical "seventh man", and how at the Bell Centre, it is a constant contributor. I think that if from exhibition game 4 to regular season game 51 to Stanley Cup playoffs game 14 the intensity never changes, there will be desensitization. The crowd becomes the jackhammer outside your front window day after day, it becomes your loud buzzing fridge - it is background noise that is no longer remarkable.
If the Canadiens were the Usain Bolts or the Michael Phelps of their sport, where no matter what they did, they would win, then the argument that cheering too enthusiastically right now would be meaningless. the fact is they are not. For the most part, the NHL could be a dead heat. There are at least 12 teams that could win the Cup if we look now. 12 different ones when we look in April. Come June, there are usually 2 that can't be separated from one another very easily. No, the Canadiens need to be wary of teams that come one or two positions behind them in the standings without trying in the last games of the season, whose players didn't spend all their energy in March. Last year could teach us that much.
As fans, we need to play our part. We need to hold the power to be remarkable. We need to have the ace up the sleeve that helps inject extra energy when it is most needed. To do that, I think we have to learn to hold it back, learn that this is two long sprints, with heats and finals. We need someone to save us from ourselves.
To earn the right to lift it at the end of all that is even more difficult, a team must win at least 56 of those games, while probably getting to the end of regulation or ahead or even in 70 or more.
In other words, this Stanley Cup thing is not a sprint.
When I was younger, I used to be a runner and a swimmer. I specialised (in both sports) in longer events - all races that took about two to four odd minutes. When you race these kind of races, you quickly learn two things:
1. You cannot go all-out the whole race, sprinting runs out at a minute or sooner
2. Going in with a strategic plan is vitally important
I see the race to the Stanley Cup in those terms sometimes. First, you have the heats (regular season) and the finals (playoffs). Secondly, results show that every year the thing that matters most is finishing strong - and it doesn't matter who leads after the first, second or third laps. All that is forgotten when the tape is broken or the wall is reached.
In the NHL, it is common and, well strategically sound, for teams to cruise for much of the season, winning games with little effort and without much fuss. After all, for 6 months all that matters is that you secure a place in the playoffs. Nothing else. Beat half the teams in the league, and you're there. Last year, we harped on about this (with the 96 point goal) and I still stand by it - set a points goal, achieve it, then worry about the finals.
In other sports, competitors that exert themselves too much in the heats are at a disadvantage, and it is the competitors that can "cruise" into the final that hold the cards. There is something to be said for good lanes (just like good playoff match-ups), but the best still get a decent lane every time, even on half efforts. The parallel is true in the NHL, teams with some kind of strategic plan for the season in mind often progress well in the playoffs.
If it were up to the fans
Many a fan in Montreal will grasp this. Many will proclaim saving energy for the playoffs as gospel truth. The problem seems to be that once we all cross into the Bell Centre, no matter what tie of year, this philosophy and strategy we most often agree would be best to meet our ultimate goal, is completely tossed out the window. If it were up to some of us, 82 wins and 4 playoff series. When we get in that building - it's win, win, win; score, score, score; sprint, sprint, sprint for every minute of every shift in every game.
Well, no Cup recently, no conference finals in ages. It makes me think, is this one of the problems? Well have a look at these quotes and stories from last night:
Fancois Gagnon leads with "Like in the playoffs"
Mike Boone wrote 5 or 6 posts during the exhibition game, as did Gagnon for that matter.
Plekanec had this to say (English from French from English):
"Nowhere but Montreal could a game end like it did tonight in what is the exhibition season."
Lapierre echoed those sentiments:
"It was as loud as if we had won a playoff game in overtime"
A lot of coverage for a game that counts for nothing in two weeks time. I have to admit, I used to be immensely proud of the fact that Montreal fans could get so worked up for a game against Ottawa B, even after years of seeing teams beat others in the exhibition season and then getting clobbered 3 night later when the real line-ups meet.
But now, I tend to see everything through the guise of the road to the Cup. I guess I'm tired of waiting. In that respect, expectation, encouragement at that level, performance - all of it - it can't be sustained. Not when the teams you are trying to beat cruise through 5 months anonymously before first exerting some effort in April.
I'm not sure myself, and I'm certain someone like Dave Stubbs, Robert L, Dennis Kane, or other knowledgeable readers could confirm, that when the Canadiens were winning Cups, the exhibition games were not this crazy. I am thinking that every year as our desperation creeps ever further that we lose a bit of perspective and control over our emotions and mistake an exhibition win for a meaningful result.
When I was competing, I would often finish a race and tell someone who was very kindly and sincerely cheering their heart out for me on the first lap in the heats to save it for the last length or the finals please. In swimming especially, cheering can give a competitor an idea that they are either right ahead of or right behind someone and need to step up the pace, which is important because of all the blind spots. If the cheering is at its most intense right from the blocks, then any ramping up becomes impossible, any warnings to gear up, ineffectual.
I think the same must be true of a hockey team in a 100 game race. Shouldn't the cheering during Game 5 of the second knockout series be louder. It should if we want a reaction to our roars. I mean everyone talks about the mythical "seventh man", and how at the Bell Centre, it is a constant contributor. I think that if from exhibition game 4 to regular season game 51 to Stanley Cup playoffs game 14 the intensity never changes, there will be desensitization. The crowd becomes the jackhammer outside your front window day after day, it becomes your loud buzzing fridge - it is background noise that is no longer remarkable.
If the Canadiens were the Usain Bolts or the Michael Phelps of their sport, where no matter what they did, they would win, then the argument that cheering too enthusiastically right now would be meaningless. the fact is they are not. For the most part, the NHL could be a dead heat. There are at least 12 teams that could win the Cup if we look now. 12 different ones when we look in April. Come June, there are usually 2 that can't be separated from one another very easily. No, the Canadiens need to be wary of teams that come one or two positions behind them in the standings without trying in the last games of the season, whose players didn't spend all their energy in March. Last year could teach us that much.
As fans, we need to play our part. We need to hold the power to be remarkable. We need to have the ace up the sleeve that helps inject extra energy when it is most needed. To do that, I think we have to learn to hold it back, learn that this is two long sprints, with heats and finals. We need someone to save us from ourselves.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Reasons to Believe: Updated
Wow, not being overwhelmed by everyone's positivity. Maybe it takes an extra day?
The reasons are slowly accumulating though, thanks to replies from positive fellow fanatics Tru7h and Stevens. Keep more coming...
Believe:
1) Saku Koivu
The best pressure player I have ever seen on any team I support. In the past 4 NHL seasons, he has played in 6 elimination games. In those 6 games, he has 2 goals and 9 assists, and has been the star of most as well. That's even without considering his victories over terrible injuries and illness. Can he play better? We may find it hard to conceive how he might, but he will – it's what he does. And, so for Captain Courageous:
And, how many times has he done just that?
2) Carey Price's form since his 2008 anointment (Tru7h)
Prior to this series, Carey has always been able to bounce back into his best form.
3) Elimination games (Tru7h)
The Canadiens have a way to play big in these even BIGGER games. I guess some guys just thrive in that pressure cooker environment of "do or die" (see Koivu).
4) The fans
21,273 screaming fanatics behind the Habs on Saturday.
5) Bob Gainey (Tru7h)
With his team facing elimination, I honestly believe that Gainey will step-in to tell Carbo to cut the crap and play his best lineup.
6) It has been done before (Stevens)
Makes me feel that this has to be the team that pulls off something crazy. Like what was already said, Philly beat us 3x in a row, why can't we do it to them?
7) The Canadian media has jumped off the bandwagon
Ottawa
Toronto
Winnipeg
I feel that this is good in two ways. First, any feeling of unreasonable expectations will be temporarily eased. Second, it will turn the mentality into more of a siege mentality – where the coaches and team will add the desire to proving people wrong to their motivations.
8) The desire to prove people wrong
Worked well in those recent playoff upsets. Worked well following pre-season write-offs. Worked well when the ability to win the East was questioned.
9) Philly's victim currency has run out
People (even in Philadelphia) have had enough of the Flyers pathetic conspiracy theories and crying games.
And, finally, another good blogger has more positives in a good post on The H Does Not Stand For Habs
I know there's more. Send in your own reasons as we build up to this big game...
The reasons are slowly accumulating though, thanks to replies from positive fellow fanatics Tru7h and Stevens. Keep more coming...
Believe:
1) Saku Koivu
The best pressure player I have ever seen on any team I support. In the past 4 NHL seasons, he has played in 6 elimination games. In those 6 games, he has 2 goals and 9 assists, and has been the star of most as well. That's even without considering his victories over terrible injuries and illness. Can he play better? We may find it hard to conceive how he might, but he will – it's what he does. And, so for Captain Courageous:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
And, how many times has he done just that?
2) Carey Price's form since his 2008 anointment (Tru7h)
Prior to this series, Carey has always been able to bounce back into his best form.
3) Elimination games (Tru7h)
The Canadiens have a way to play big in these even BIGGER games. I guess some guys just thrive in that pressure cooker environment of "do or die" (see Koivu).
4) The fans
21,273 screaming fanatics behind the Habs on Saturday.
5) Bob Gainey (Tru7h)
With his team facing elimination, I honestly believe that Gainey will step-in to tell Carbo to cut the crap and play his best lineup.
6) It has been done before (Stevens)
Makes me feel that this has to be the team that pulls off something crazy. Like what was already said, Philly beat us 3x in a row, why can't we do it to them?
7) The Canadian media has jumped off the bandwagon
Ottawa
Toronto
Winnipeg
I feel that this is good in two ways. First, any feeling of unreasonable expectations will be temporarily eased. Second, it will turn the mentality into more of a siege mentality – where the coaches and team will add the desire to proving people wrong to their motivations.
8) The desire to prove people wrong
Worked well in those recent playoff upsets. Worked well following pre-season write-offs. Worked well when the ability to win the East was questioned.
9) Philly's victim currency has run out
People (even in Philadelphia) have had enough of the Flyers pathetic conspiracy theories and crying games.
And, finally, another good blogger has more positives in a good post on The H Does Not Stand For Habs
I know there's more. Send in your own reasons as we build up to this big game...
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The DeciBell Centre
What made me read an email in my junkbox from Eklund, I'm not sure. Maybe it's the fact he's an unabashed Philly supporter, even through the worst of their delinquencies in the corners and into the boards.
I suppose I wanted to see what ridiculous things he might say about luck and misfortune. He did have a bit of Philly bias, particularly his fix that someone pouring beer on Mike Richards was a huge event. (Did anyone in Montreal even notice? we were busy winning a hockey game...). But, on the whole his note was addressing his love for Montreal and the awe he felt when in the Bell Centre - particularly at how loud it can be:
It made me think of things I have heard in the past and how people who not been there cannot possibly understand what the atmosphere is like when the Montreal crowd gets going.
This all sounds like hyperbole, but believe me it isn't. I can think of three occasions in particular at which I have been in attendance where I have burned out my vocal chords and had ringing in my ears for days following the event (courtesy of the crowd). Montreal does loud like no other North American city, we've upgraded on loud to Loud 2.0:
1) The game that Saku returned.
There's not much point trying to describe it, other than to say that the ovation could have gone another 45 minutes were the NHL not so adamant about playing a game that night.
2) Game 4, Round 1, 2002.
Not so much in excitement, but in disgust - the building was raucous following the despicable hit from McLaren on M. Zed. The range went from claims for penalty to the loudest boos I've ever heard to Go Habs Go.
3) Concert extraordinaire: Arcade Fire & U2.
Some people who know a little bit about loud stood in front of us that night, looked at each other and were dumbfounded. The Montreal crowd consistently astonished Bono and the band. Bono expressed it best when he said: "This is impossible."
(Here's my audio from that night. Blogger forces me to make a video. Connaisseurs (Tobes and Stevens) will recognise the mismatch of picture and audio - sorry boys)
Big game tonight. If you're going to be in the building, blow that "anonymous" blogger Dwayne's ears off...
I suppose I wanted to see what ridiculous things he might say about luck and misfortune. He did have a bit of Philly bias, particularly his fix that someone pouring beer on Mike Richards was a huge event. (Did anyone in Montreal even notice? we were busy winning a hockey game...). But, on the whole his note was addressing his love for Montreal and the awe he felt when in the Bell Centre - particularly at how loud it can be:
I was warned by the talented Eric Engels to bring earplugs, but of course I ignored him...A bit of a mistake there.
The crowd is very loud, but a different kind of loud. In cities like Nashville and Washington it is a "party" kind of loud. Here is a loudness from absolute JOY. In a similar way, the quiets when the Habs were down 2-0 were really quiet. not just a sad quiet, but a "concerned" quiet. There is so much passion here. SO much desire to win that these fans aren't having a good time if the Habs are losing. They are devastated in fact.
And then when the Habs tied it and won it in Overtime, the party on the street was louder than I had ever seen following a NON CUP CLINCHING Game. We made a joke about it..."Geez, Only 11 more wins to go!" but please understand that joke is not saying, "these fans are ridiculous to be partying like this" it simply saying, "I can only begin to imagine this place with 10,9,8,7...wins to go.
It made me think of things I have heard in the past and how people who not been there cannot possibly understand what the atmosphere is like when the Montreal crowd gets going.
This all sounds like hyperbole, but believe me it isn't. I can think of three occasions in particular at which I have been in attendance where I have burned out my vocal chords and had ringing in my ears for days following the event (courtesy of the crowd). Montreal does loud like no other North American city, we've upgraded on loud to Loud 2.0:
1) The game that Saku returned.
There's not much point trying to describe it, other than to say that the ovation could have gone another 45 minutes were the NHL not so adamant about playing a game that night.
2) Game 4, Round 1, 2002.
Not so much in excitement, but in disgust - the building was raucous following the despicable hit from McLaren on M. Zed. The range went from claims for penalty to the loudest boos I've ever heard to Go Habs Go.
3) Concert extraordinaire: Arcade Fire & U2.
Some people who know a little bit about loud stood in front of us that night, looked at each other and were dumbfounded. The Montreal crowd consistently astonished Bono and the band. Bono expressed it best when he said: "This is impossible."
(Here's my audio from that night. Blogger forces me to make a video. Connaisseurs (Tobes and Stevens) will recognise the mismatch of picture and audio - sorry boys)
Big game tonight. If you're going to be in the building, blow that "anonymous" blogger Dwayne's ears off...
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Bandwagons and Paddy Wagons
I think just about everything that can be said has been said about the post-game riots that took place the other night – I only wanted to add a couple of thoughts.
People have been complaining that there shouldn't be a riot after one round, we should wait for something to riot about – as if rioting and looting at any time is acceptable. I will be just as disappointed if the rioting happens in mid-August. The issue is a lack of respect for our neighbours, a lack of reverence for peace and order. Obviously, it looks bad for the city, but at the end of the day, the people rioting probably had little if anything to do with hockey (any excuse to riot, so to speak). This doesn't mean Habs fans are off the hook for this, but it should not take away from excitement and support for the team. It only falls on Habs fans who do respect their fellow citizens to stand up to the delinquents in the minority.
Up until the paddy wagons and riot police were loosed on Maisonneuve, my biggest concern with the fans was a that they would tire themselves out. Let me rephrase that – that the bandwagon would tire itself out. After all, the playoffs are a long haul and the manic depressive ride they have been subjecting themselves to over single wins and losses has been tiring even to an observer.
My good friend, who works across the road from the Bell Centre, told me that people were loitering around outside (call it tailgating if you want) a good 8 hours prior to the puck drop in Game 5. Now, I know we missed a year guys, but perhaps that's a little over the top for Game 5.
As someone who follows the Habs with equal fervour in both thick and thin, I sometimes find it hard to deal with the thought that 3 million people care about the Canadiens beating the Bruins. I suppose it feels threatening to have so many people encroach on what can sometimes be a very private endeavour. But after thinking about it, the bandwagon does also have many merits:
Keep our superior Quebec broadcast afloat George Gillett could use some more fans that like him Propping up team finances by all seemingly having to own a spanking new red Kovalev sweater Spawning new fans for the future (as someone who was born from the late 80s Habs success, I should know)
So, join me in wishing the Habs good fortune (and less complacency) in the next round. Come on you Habs, keep these future hard-cores on the bandwagon long enough to set their imaginations alight. And fans on the street, let's keep those others from tarnishing our reputation and out of the paddy wagons from here on.
People have been complaining that there shouldn't be a riot after one round, we should wait for something to riot about – as if rioting and looting at any time is acceptable. I will be just as disappointed if the rioting happens in mid-August. The issue is a lack of respect for our neighbours, a lack of reverence for peace and order. Obviously, it looks bad for the city, but at the end of the day, the people rioting probably had little if anything to do with hockey (any excuse to riot, so to speak). This doesn't mean Habs fans are off the hook for this, but it should not take away from excitement and support for the team. It only falls on Habs fans who do respect their fellow citizens to stand up to the delinquents in the minority.
Up until the paddy wagons and riot police were loosed on Maisonneuve, my biggest concern with the fans was a that they would tire themselves out. Let me rephrase that – that the bandwagon would tire itself out. After all, the playoffs are a long haul and the manic depressive ride they have been subjecting themselves to over single wins and losses has been tiring even to an observer.
My good friend, who works across the road from the Bell Centre, told me that people were loitering around outside (call it tailgating if you want) a good 8 hours prior to the puck drop in Game 5. Now, I know we missed a year guys, but perhaps that's a little over the top for Game 5.
As someone who follows the Habs with equal fervour in both thick and thin, I sometimes find it hard to deal with the thought that 3 million people care about the Canadiens beating the Bruins. I suppose it feels threatening to have so many people encroach on what can sometimes be a very private endeavour. But after thinking about it, the bandwagon does also have many merits:
- Keep opposition goalies and defencemen from hearing each other:"Aaron Ward was in front of me and the crowd's so loud, he couldn't here me yell 'Screen!' so I didn�t see the puck until he stuck his foot out."
So, join me in wishing the Habs good fortune (and less complacency) in the next round. Come on you Habs, keep these future hard-cores on the bandwagon long enough to set their imaginations alight. And fans on the street, let's keep those others from tarnishing our reputation and out of the paddy wagons from here on.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
A Friendly Jab Back
Goodness knows how any Habs fan found this article.
I know that many Canadiens fans are sometimes a bit arrogant and find it hard to laugh about themselves, but this is slipping to new lows:
Reading the Toronto Sun!
Even if you found the article, I'd be surprised if you could get to the end of the article without taking a break. Apparently, writing in paragraphs is not a requirement for people with penned-up anger for everything from the Canadiens to the Liberal party. It is a tiring read, with plenty of thoughts coming as if from nowhere, only to be ushered out again before any meaningful explanation or evidence is given. Of course, the piece was never meant to do anything more than pander to the readers who probably have many more reasons to hate Habs fans, most of them better formulated than those listed.
You might ask: Isn't responding just giving petulant columnists like Strobel more ammunition?
Firstly, I may be whiny, but I'm not arrogant. The man has a job as a sports writer. he's not seeking out little Habs blogs to see how amateur hockey writers react to his pieces. If he did read it, I'd be flattered.
But, honestly I couldn't leave this quote alone, could I?
Matt-y? Is this guy for real?
I know that many Canadiens fans are sometimes a bit arrogant and find it hard to laugh about themselves, but this is slipping to new lows:
Reading the Toronto Sun!
Even if you found the article, I'd be surprised if you could get to the end of the article without taking a break. Apparently, writing in paragraphs is not a requirement for people with penned-up anger for everything from the Canadiens to the Liberal party. It is a tiring read, with plenty of thoughts coming as if from nowhere, only to be ushered out again before any meaningful explanation or evidence is given. Of course, the piece was never meant to do anything more than pander to the readers who probably have many more reasons to hate Habs fans, most of them better formulated than those listed.
You might ask: Isn't responding just giving petulant columnists like Strobel more ammunition?
Firstly, I may be whiny, but I'm not arrogant. The man has a job as a sports writer. he's not seeking out little Habs blogs to see how amateur hockey writers react to his pieces. If he did read it, I'd be flattered.
But, honestly I couldn't leave this quote alone, could I?
Then there's Boom Boom Geoffrion.
What kind of fans, outside a strip joint, call their stars Boom Boom? Or the Rocket. Or the Pocket Rocket. Or The Flower. Or Big Bird. Or St. Patrick. Or Gump.
Leafs fans never do that. We just add "er" or "y" to everyone's name. As in Caber, Steener, Matt-y, Arm-y, Ponikarovsky.
Matt-y? Is this guy for real?
Coincidence: RDS's Bruins Fan Piece
It's funny. I was going to write a piece very much like the RDS one myself.
Clearly, I wouldn't have to go "undercover" as I can just be a regular fan and still manage.
Anyone who has been to a Habs game when Boston is in town will be familiar with the banter that goes on. It is for the most part harmless, as most Bostonians choose to resort to irrelevant arguments like baseball and football when the hockey goes sour. Most outspoken Boston fans, despite their need to have the last word, adhere to the rules of sports banter: keep it to sport.
It's always disappointing to hear that some people resort to personal attacks, such as the one in the RDS post. I like to believe it comes from a minority – hence the reason I chose not to post on it myself (until now, anyway).
I was thinking just yesterday, however, how tame the response of home fans is to armies of (often obnoxious and inebriated) away fans is in North America. Having attended several football matches in the UK and Italy, I can tell you this RDS reporter got it lightly. Several times I have had to pretend to cheer for the other team and keep my emotions in check when finding the scalper's last tickets were in the away section. In Italy, I thought it best just to enjoy the game for the game and not really support anyone. How ridiculous is that? I suppose, it's something we can be thankful for and be proud of in North America – that supporting a sports team does not often spill into matters of survival.
As for Boston fans, I bet if you caught the same Bruins fan on a different day, he would be deep into an explanation about how his team with Patrice Bergeron would be sticking it to the Habs. What's more he'd be doing it in a sweater numbered 77...
Clearly, I wouldn't have to go "undercover" as I can just be a regular fan and still manage.
Anyone who has been to a Habs game when Boston is in town will be familiar with the banter that goes on. It is for the most part harmless, as most Bostonians choose to resort to irrelevant arguments like baseball and football when the hockey goes sour. Most outspoken Boston fans, despite their need to have the last word, adhere to the rules of sports banter: keep it to sport.
It's always disappointing to hear that some people resort to personal attacks, such as the one in the RDS post. I like to believe it comes from a minority – hence the reason I chose not to post on it myself (until now, anyway).
I was thinking just yesterday, however, how tame the response of home fans is to armies of (often obnoxious and inebriated) away fans is in North America. Having attended several football matches in the UK and Italy, I can tell you this RDS reporter got it lightly. Several times I have had to pretend to cheer for the other team and keep my emotions in check when finding the scalper's last tickets were in the away section. In Italy, I thought it best just to enjoy the game for the game and not really support anyone. How ridiculous is that? I suppose, it's something we can be thankful for and be proud of in North America – that supporting a sports team does not often spill into matters of survival.
As for Boston fans, I bet if you caught the same Bruins fan on a different day, he would be deep into an explanation about how his team with Patrice Bergeron would be sticking it to the Habs. What's more he'd be doing it in a sweater numbered 77...
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
The Bruins And The Habs: Poles Apart
This series is heating up. The games are interesting. The banter between fans almost more so. I have been reading around a bit and it got me thinking about how I cannot relate to anything Bruins fans say about their team, my team or, indeed, hockey.
In fact, growing up during an era when both the Bruins and the Canadiens were perennial fixtures (and often favourites) in the spring dance, I have come to appreciate that the Canadiens, the Bruins and their respective fans inhabit different planes.
Both sets of fans can watch the same game with the same players and the same referees. And come the end, most of the time, both sets of fans truly believe that their team was the better team (at least in past years). If Habs fans take the loss, we complain that our team was a victim of dirty play and inconsistent officiating. If the Bruins lose, their fans will lament the diving and whining that got the Habs the victory.
Don't buy it? I know I had conversations about the change in officiating with other fans and only just scrapped a piece I thought sounded a bit childish about inconsistent referees for the blog. As for the Bruins fans, check out this from a blogger on one of their sites (Ghosts of the Garden) in response to inflammatory jibes from an overzealous Habs fan:
The difference in club cultures
The difference in cultures goes beyond the perception of injustice. For as long as I can remember, the difference between these two teams comes down to the players the select in the draft, the ones they trade for and suit up and to the people they put in charge to run affairs.
If you look at the current edition of the Canadiens, the rule in building the franchise seems to have been players with skill and at least some character (some exceptions do exist, of course). The Bruins, in contrast, have put together a very large team. This was their preference. This was their plan. While the Habs jettisoned passengers like Downey and Dagenais, the Bruins continue to carry Reich and Thornton.
The Habs gave their highest ever contract to Andrei Markov. the Bruins gave theirs to Zdeno Chara. Things go wrong in the playoffs, Boston bench their smallest and most skilled forward. Montreal at their turn looked to try and get their 20-year-old phenom a better foil.
All this plays to the fans of course. Habs fans love goals and exciting, fast hockey. Bruins fans love winning just as much, but are often seen settling for a lot of huge body checks and oodles of "spirit". In Montreal, 5 years of plodding, hard-working hockey is remembered as one of the darkest periods in team history. Habs fans, while they admire the Lucics of the world want a goal now and again.
So what's the truth? (from a Habs fan's point of view, of course)
About the teams: probably that the Habs are a year or two ahead of the Bruins in a rebuilding process and that we got luckier with that free-for-all lottery and the gift of Carey Price.
About the fans: probably that we're all right and we're all wrong at the same time. The passionate nature of being a fan lends to irrational thought and to extreme bias in the analysis of what is right before your eyes. The fact is, both groups of fans are too engrossed in their own team and their own hockey culture to have time for silly things like self-awareness.
About the approaches of the two teams: skill has trumped size over the years. And that giants with competitive skills are harder to find than skilled players with a willingness to punch above their weight. Considering that the league was changed to favour teams like the one the Canadiens have built since that time, the Bruins fans may have to swallow many difficult pills if they want to hold onto their approach.
About the hard luck: you make your own luck. If you stick to an approach despite all evidence to the contrary and discount every failing as bad luck, you are bound to experience less success than others who don't
About this series: if the Bruins coaches and players can't put their heads together to find a way to score they are facing an impossible task – they won't beat the Habs, they wouldn't beat anyone. Even if they do, the odds are still against them.
I can see the responses coming (like this one from a pot calling a kettle black):
Now that nonsense is off my chest, I'll leave you with a "Go Habs Go" and a "Long live playoff banter".
In fact, growing up during an era when both the Bruins and the Canadiens were perennial fixtures (and often favourites) in the spring dance, I have come to appreciate that the Canadiens, the Bruins and their respective fans inhabit different planes.
Both sets of fans can watch the same game with the same players and the same referees. And come the end, most of the time, both sets of fans truly believe that their team was the better team (at least in past years). If Habs fans take the loss, we complain that our team was a victim of dirty play and inconsistent officiating. If the Bruins lose, their fans will lament the diving and whining that got the Habs the victory.
Don't buy it? I know I had conversations about the change in officiating with other fans and only just scrapped a piece I thought sounded a bit childish about inconsistent referees for the blog. As for the Bruins fans, check out this from a blogger on one of their sites (Ghosts of the Garden) in response to inflammatory jibes from an overzealous Habs fan:
too bad your team stinks too. lets face it the bruins are a team that probably do not deserve to be in the playoffs. your whining, diving and "skilled" team has barely won the the last two they have just meaked out.
what i saw was a bruins team that worked harder than the the "skilled" team. and what exactly are these skills? diving? slashing? trying to take out players knees? anyway what i saw from my team is a team that played honest and harder and did not get rewarded for it, ill take my team thank you.
and remember if you make it to the next round dont get your hopes up, your having a difficult time against the 8th seed.
The difference in club cultures
The difference in cultures goes beyond the perception of injustice. For as long as I can remember, the difference between these two teams comes down to the players the select in the draft, the ones they trade for and suit up and to the people they put in charge to run affairs.
If you look at the current edition of the Canadiens, the rule in building the franchise seems to have been players with skill and at least some character (some exceptions do exist, of course). The Bruins, in contrast, have put together a very large team. This was their preference. This was their plan. While the Habs jettisoned passengers like Downey and Dagenais, the Bruins continue to carry Reich and Thornton.
The Habs gave their highest ever contract to Andrei Markov. the Bruins gave theirs to Zdeno Chara. Things go wrong in the playoffs, Boston bench their smallest and most skilled forward. Montreal at their turn looked to try and get their 20-year-old phenom a better foil.
All this plays to the fans of course. Habs fans love goals and exciting, fast hockey. Bruins fans love winning just as much, but are often seen settling for a lot of huge body checks and oodles of "spirit". In Montreal, 5 years of plodding, hard-working hockey is remembered as one of the darkest periods in team history. Habs fans, while they admire the Lucics of the world want a goal now and again.
So what's the truth? (from a Habs fan's point of view, of course)
About the teams: probably that the Habs are a year or two ahead of the Bruins in a rebuilding process and that we got luckier with that free-for-all lottery and the gift of Carey Price.
About the fans: probably that we're all right and we're all wrong at the same time. The passionate nature of being a fan lends to irrational thought and to extreme bias in the analysis of what is right before your eyes. The fact is, both groups of fans are too engrossed in their own team and their own hockey culture to have time for silly things like self-awareness.
About the approaches of the two teams: skill has trumped size over the years. And that giants with competitive skills are harder to find than skilled players with a willingness to punch above their weight. Considering that the league was changed to favour teams like the one the Canadiens have built since that time, the Bruins fans may have to swallow many difficult pills if they want to hold onto their approach.
About the hard luck: you make your own luck. If you stick to an approach despite all evidence to the contrary and discount every failing as bad luck, you are bound to experience less success than others who don't
About this series: if the Bruins coaches and players can't put their heads together to find a way to score they are facing an impossible task – they won't beat the Habs, they wouldn't beat anyone. Even if they do, the odds are still against them.
I can see the responses coming (like this one from a pot calling a kettle black):
Montreal and their Fans have always been arrogant and irritating!!
Always over sure of themselves always ranting!!!! Never able to deal with the whole picture!!
Now that nonsense is off my chest, I'll leave you with a "Go Habs Go" and a "Long live playoff banter".
Friday, March 07, 2008
The Players Like Us
Apparently, the players of NHL teams believe the Canadiens have the best fans in the NHL.
A bit of a landslide victory too!
I have to admit, apart from the denizens of the Bell Centre, the Canadiens fans on the internet have proven to be a very good bunch too. I can't count the number of blogs (and great ones too) exclusively devoted to original thoughts on the Habs. And the blog readers know their stuff too.
Polls are polls, but it's nice to be patted on the back from time to time. And, after all, it's the players not the writers or other fans who chose. It's nice all the opposition players like us, but I still don't like them...
A bit of a landslide victory too!
I have to admit, apart from the denizens of the Bell Centre, the Canadiens fans on the internet have proven to be a very good bunch too. I can't count the number of blogs (and great ones too) exclusively devoted to original thoughts on the Habs. And the blog readers know their stuff too.
Polls are polls, but it's nice to be patted on the back from time to time. And, after all, it's the players not the writers or other fans who chose. It's nice all the opposition players like us, but I still don't like them...
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Welcome to the hardcore Habs fan
Not really a hockey post, but something that I've been thinking about.
I've been watching the stats on this site lately and the numbers of readers have fallen since early October quite a bit. Worried, I started looking at other blogs. Comments were down, posts were dwindling.
So, I'm happy that we at Lions in Winter are being visited by so many truly hardcore Canadiens fans – the people who still care about the team through thick and thin – just like myself and Tobalev.
So thanks for coming. We'd love to hear more of your thoughts and suggestions, that is before the Habs go on a 10-game tear and fan numbers expand to bursting point again...
Go Habs Go.
I've been watching the stats on this site lately and the numbers of readers have fallen since early October quite a bit. Worried, I started looking at other blogs. Comments were down, posts were dwindling.
So, I'm happy that we at Lions in Winter are being visited by so many truly hardcore Canadiens fans – the people who still care about the team through thick and thin – just like myself and Tobalev.
So thanks for coming. We'd love to hear more of your thoughts and suggestions, that is before the Habs go on a 10-game tear and fan numbers expand to bursting point again...
Go Habs Go.
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