OUR ANNUALISH-FORAY INTO HOCKEY HULLABALOO: Congratulations and best wishes to fans of both franchises as we approach tomorrow night's Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, and Deadspin asks a good question: if the Vancouver Canucks become the first Canadian team since 1993 to win the Cup, should they be invited to the White House?
[Notes Deadspin: "There are more Americans on the Vancouver Canucks than there are on the Bruins. There are more Canadians on the Bruins than on the Canucks."]
If the Canucks win (which I'll get back to), wow, a White House visit would NOT go over well up here in Canada. They'll definitely get an invite to 24 Sussex (the Prime Minister's residence)... but regardless of the players' nationality, the Canucks are currently seen as - shudder - "Canada's team".
ReplyDeleteI live in Calgary - home of the Canucks' most bitter rival team. And I'm from the east coast, where there are a LOT of Bruins fans. I'm a lifelong Bruins fan, so I'm clearly a little biased here... but man, I hate the Canucks. Their fans are the smuggest, most arrogant fans in the NHL... which is really rich, since they've never won anything. (I can deal with Canadiens fans being smug, since they're the Yankees of the NHL.) And it really gets my blood boiling when people say "Well, I'm cheering for the Canucks because they're the only Canadian team left." And these are CALGARY FLAMES FANS. It's like a Red Sox fan saying "Well, I might as well cheer for the Yankees, since they're the only AL east team left in the playoffs." No. THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.
Regardless, this has been a HELL of a series. Three really close games in Vancouver that, really, could have gone either way... three blowout games in Boston. The Bruins have all the confidence right now; everyone in Vancouver and on the Canucks must be crapping bricks. If it comes down to goaltending, I would most DEFINITELY rely on Tim Thomas (who is completing one of the alltime greatest seasons by a goaltender) rather than Roberto Luongo or his backup Cory Schneider.
Vancouver does have a little history on its side though: The Montreal Canadiens won in 1977... the year after Montreal hosted the Olympics. The Calgary Flames won in 1989... the year after Calgary hosted the Olympics. Can Vancouver continue the trend? God, I hope not.
I would invite them, even though they look like they would get two invitations. I suspect if President Obama didn't meet with the Canucks, should they win, Canada would also be upset. President Bush met with the Blue Jays, so even though baseball is more American than Canadian, there's at least some precedent. Though the 1993 Habs didn't go to D.C., Clinton just wasn't in the habit of greeting Stanley Cup winners, though Obama is.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter, though, because Luongo is shaky, and it's terrible how much suffering these Boston fans have had to endure the last few years.
"It doesn't matter, though, because Luongo is shaky, and it's terrible how much suffering these Boston fans have had to endure the last few years."
ReplyDeleteYes, it must be terrible being a sports fan in Boston, what with the World series in 04 & 07, back to back Superbowl wins in 03 & 04, and there are probably still fingerprints of the Celtics on the O'brien trophy from 08.
Vancouver fans are obviously content with the Grey Cup win from 06... no suffering here... nope...
<span>I wish I could Super Like this. From another Calgary Flames fan who would rather sit on a hot brand than jump on the Canucks bandwagon. "Canada's team"? Pffffffft. Go Bruins!</span>
ReplyDeleteI have no opinions of my own, but man, I did enjoy this comment. As a fan known to hold grudges, I salute you.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's good to be a Bruins fan right now. After what happened last year w/ Philly, this is just sweetness. I just have no words...
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