Hello New York and everywhere else, I'm Bird and you're in the Birdcage. I was hoping not to have to write this article but after reading the boards here at Hockeybird and elsewhere, I've decided some things need to be said....now, rather than later.
Now before I go any further I'm sure some of you will read this and ask, "who the hell are you telling me what kind of fan to be?" Fair enough, I'm just a dumb guy with a website. I've told you that in the past and I see no reason to change now. Sure, I know a little about the game and have followed the Rangers for 40 years.....but that doesn't make me a better fan than someone else. That said, there is an element out there whose whining and crying, bitching and moaning has gone too far. STOP BEING A SPOILED LITTLE BRAT!
There, I said it.
Almost as if by magic the "fire Sather" crowd was silenced from opening day on. Even the most angry Rangers fan smiled when the team cruised into the Olympics as a legit top ten NHL team. Hell, some power rankings had them as high as # three. But the slide at the end of the regular season combined with the loss of two playoff games has some fans crying like Nancy Kerrigan after a whack to the knee. I've even read on more than one board that some fans are so upset they may never watch the Rangers again. Boo hoo.
I find it funny that people who seem to understand the game quite well can suddenly act like a child who is in desperate need of a nap. I could list many accomplishments for this season but why bother? I'll be told that it's all meaningless now as we're going to lose to the Devs in the playoffs. How short sighted of you. Did you really expect to get your dessert even though you hardly touched your dinner? C'mon now, calling for Tom Renny's head? The guy is a candidate for coach of the year and yet some would fire him.
This is the reason the a lot of writers spoke of how rebuilding will never happen in NY because the fans won't tolerate the losing that comes with a rebuild. Well tough cookies....the rebuild is on, it continues and as of right this moment we're way ahead of the game. Fans of teams like the Bolts waited years just to make the playoffs and years more before the rebuild paid off big time with the Stanley Cup. You didn't really expect a Cup this year.....did you?
Look, nobody hates to lose more than me. I hate losing more than I enjoy winning. But I'm realistic in that since the fire sale of '04, this team is doing exactly what I asked of them. The players are skating hard and not giving up. You wanna blast certain guys for bad plays....go ahead. The young ones are supposed to make mistakes now. The older guys are signed for one or two years. The rebuild is in full effect. look at the list of kids down on the farm. We have a 30 win rookie goaltender and a 30 goal scoring rookie forward. That in itself should put a smile on any Ranger fan.
But noooooo, you want second helpings of dessert before the dinner bell has even rung. You want it all and you want it now. And, if you don't get it you're going to hold your breath. Or scream. You have become the Verucha Salt of hockey fans and you're acting like a spoiled brat.
Funny, during a mini slump this season one of our posters responded to a spoiled brat post by saying, "I watched every game over the last 8 playoff-less seasons. I could do a five game skid standing on my head!". Now that's a fan.
When my little girls act up they either get a pacifier or a spanking. Today I have given you a spanking. While I think you deserved it, it doesn't mean I don't love you. ;-)
Winning cures everything. It may not come this season....but it's coming. I have hopes for a huge game Wednesday night. The crowd should be in rare MSG playoff form. I would hope for one night that the babies keep quiet so us adults can enjoy the game and salute our guys. If nothing else, this team has given us a reason to enjoy our passion again, the New York Rangers. For that they should be supported, even in the tough times. My hat's off to those who will be there cheering for the boys.
Let's Go Rangers!
----}- Bird
Posted by Bird at April 25, 2006 10:11 AMeMail this entry!
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