Image created with ChatGPT: make a drawing of a formula 1 style car with a montreal canadiens themed livery
The 2024-2025 NHL season is finally over. Awarding the
Stanley Cup in the second half of the calendar year is stupid.
Anyway …
Prior to late summer of 1975 I’d been living overseas and
had no clue what hockey was. In December 1975 my Dad took me to my first ever
NHL game at the Montreal Forum. The Habs were playing the Toronto Maple Leafs
(ptooey!). I became an instant fan of the Canadiens. My fandom was rewarded
with four consecutive Stanley Cup victories, all of which were decided before
the second half of fucking June! In fact, all four of those finals were over
before the end of May.
Yeah, I have an issue with the NHL season dragging out this
long (I’m not alone in this). To be honest, once Montreal’s season ends, my
interest in hockey pretty much falls off a cliff. If a Canadian based team
(except the Toronto Make Believes) makes it into the final two rounds I’ll pay
attention. Regardless of who’s in the final, having game 7 (if necessary) on
the first day of summer is just dumb.
I’m one of those fans that needs to have a team to cheer for
to have any interest in a sport. This is why Major League Baseball has been
dead to me since September 2004. I have no interest in basketball, football
(NFL), or soccer. As for CFL football, I’ll watch the odd Montreal Alouettes
regular season game (if I remember and have nothing else going on), and the
playoffs if they make it. The only sport I follow without having one specific
player or team to cheer for is Formula 1.
Back to hockey …
The 2024-25 season is done and I’m waiting for the 2025-26
season to get going. However, there’s an entire off-season to get through.
Highlights of the off-season include the entry draft and free agency; these
interest me minimally. I do not get worked up by who the Habs do or don’t sign
as free agents. I don’t get worked up about who they draft. I don’t get worked
up about what trades they make. I save getting temporarily worked up for the
games.
I mostly just observe others getting worked up on social
media about trades, draft picks, and free agent signings. It’s mostly fun
unless people lose their shit like many did over Montreal’s 2023 fifth overall
pick (that was really over the fucking top). I will chime in once in a while,
but not too often.
Sports are supposed to be entertainment, nothing more. There
is absolutely no reason to get abusive towards players, management, players’
families, or other teams’ fans. None. Good natured ribbing is fine. Being
critical of performance is acceptable, but don’t make it personal. If you lose
a bunch of money betting on sports, that’s on you for making poor choices in
your selections. Note that I am not trying to imply that betting on sports is a
poor choice.
When I say I hate a player or a team, it’s sports hate, not real-life hate, which is a waste of emotional energy. Come to think of it, other than a few vegetables, I don't think I really hate anything or anyone.
I’m looking forward to the next several Montreal Canadiens
seasons. There is much to be excited and optimistic about. I’ll pay attention
to the moves they make during the off-season, but I won’t get overly worked up
about them, mostly because we won’t know if they’re good or bad for a while. So
I’ll just enjoy. And I’ll wait until October when I can enjoy hockey and
Formula 1 on the same weekend.
In the meantime, enjoy the off-season & have some summer fun (unless you live south of the equator)!
Be great today, be better tomorrow!
Cheers!
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