This Sucks

So enough denial. Enough trying to tell myself it’s not big deal. No more trying to ignore the tide of emotions that are building inside of me.

THIS SUCKS.

I’m talking about the Canucks. My beloved Canucks. The NHL’s 2011 President’s trophy winners. The Canucks with the league best defense and the league best offence. A Vezina trophy finalist in net, and a Jack Adams winner behind the bench. These were the Canucks with two Art Ross trophy winners and a Selke finalist leading the way.

If this team wasn’t a sure thing, then such a thing does not exist.

These Canucks dominated.  These Canucks prevailed. Injuries couldn’t stop them. Bad bounces didn’t affect them. They kept rolling forward with momentum no team could match. Their worst stretch of games in the regular season was when they couldn’t line up 2 wins in a row, but instead alternated win/loss/win/loss.

Until round 4 of the playoffs.

Suddenly, they ran out of steam. Suddenly, their potent offence dried up. Suddenly, their stellar goaltending faltered. Suddenly, their depth at defense appeared thin.

And they lost. They managed to get all the way to the 7th and final game of the final round, 60 minutes away from hoisting the coveted silver trophy, and they failed.

And it SUCKS.

It sucks for the players. It sucks for the organization. And it sucks for the fans.

At first, I tried burying my feelings of disappointment. I tried telling myself that it didn’t matter, that it was just a game, that they’ll be back soon. I tried focusing on the amazing season and great run that they had. I tried even being happy for a few of the Boston Bruins that I actually liked.

But today, I’m letting myself feel, today I’m dropping the facade. This feeling just plain sucks.

There’s no other way to put it. No other way to explain it. I’ve only been a Canucks fan since 2001, really. Since then, I’ve seen a team gradually get better and better, slowly making their way into the top of the NHL’s elite teams. This year, I didn’t want to let myself believe but they were so stunningly convincing in their play that I was suckered into hoping, believing, and before I knew it, I was convinced this WAS our year.

And by all rights, it should’ve been. In one week, in just a few days, what was a sure thing was suddenly ripped right out from under our noses.

And so my rant of the day is that this really SUCKS.

Sure, I know we have a great team. These Canucks deserved to be in the final. They didn’t get there by “beating the odds”. They didn’t get there by luck. They got as far as they did because they are an amazing group of guys, full of talent. And the majority of those guys will still be around next year, meaning that we can expect many years to come of being one of the elite NHL hockey clubs.

But that doesn’t mean a hill of beans right now. Right now, it hurts. Right now, the mountain of disappointment is too real to be satisfied by futuristic dreams and hopes. Right now, I need to simply face the emotions.

It’s just a game, but that doesn’t make this feeling any less real.

The Stanley Cup Finals and our Human Nature

Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals is tonight. And my beloved Canucks are playing for the coveted cup. But, before they do I have a rant that I need to get off of my chest today. This rant is too big for a simple Facebook post, so I will post here instead. And where else should I post it but here? This seems like the perfect spot. I come here to get things off my chest that annoy me, and lately there have been quite a few. So, without any further adieu, let me dive into what’s bugging me today…

• First of all, why are the bullets on this blog flowers and how can I change that? Not very ranty-like if you ask me…
• In regards to Luongo and the scrutiny he’s been under. He apparently can’t handle pressure. He did happen to win an Olympic gold medal for his country, but whatever that obviously doesn’t count. He’s also not consistent? That must be why his stats year in and year out have been in the top amongst NHL elite goaltenders. And, finally, he can’t be trusted to start in goal tonight. Really? If it wasn’t for Lu in games 1,2 and 5 this series would’ve been over at 4 games. Give your head a shake, people!
• Also, in reference to the Sedins being “weak”. All I can say is wow, wow, wow. Weak? Any fool can punch someone. It requires extremely little brain power and physical means to punch someone. My baby girl can’t stand on her own two legs, but can manage to slap me pretty good in the face if she wants to do so. Real strength comes through in spades when you are able to take constant abuse and walk away. Especially when that abuse goes un-punished night in and night out. Do you seriously think they enjoy turning the other cheek? Do you think it comes easily to not try and lash out in revenge? If you do, you have not had any hardships or unfair experiences dealt to you in your life. No dice, pal. We all know how hard this act is. By walking (skating) away, the Sedins have set an impressive example of what it means to truly be a man. How would they explain their retaliation to their kids? “No, little Sedin, you can’t hit people.” “But Dad, you did in your hockey game!” “Well, that’s different. Daddy was playing a game and that man wasn’t being nice. But you have to walk away even though I don’t do it in front of millions watching…” But, they are weak. Seems to me I recall many other great men of history that turned the other cheek and they are upheld as great examples of strength and resolve. Yet the Sedins are weak because they refuse to set an example to those of us watching of something bigger than a game of hockey.

And this is where our human nature comes in spades. The quick ability for us to focus on the negatives (Lu’s 3 losses, not his 3 wins that got us to game 7). Our desire to inflict pain as a method of revenge. Our lack of ability to see beyond the moment and look at the big picture.

That is all.