Winners Never Quit
by Deb Beckers

WINNERS NEVER QUIT AND QUITTERS NEVER WIN...

...I QUIT!* ~Deb

Last Week’s Picks

I don’t want to talk about it.

3 out of 7’s not bad right? Certainly better than last week...

I’m not picking teams anymore. Fek ‘em. (and by ‘em I mean you).

Let’s get straight to the rant shall we?

Mini Rant – now in Boooo Hooooo berry flavour.

Arena seats

I like hockey arenas, I really do. There is nothing quite like the smell of stale popcorn, fresh ice and sweaty men. It’s the smell of hockey and it makes me happy.

Now the old style arenas have bench seating. Harder than rock, put your ass to sleep in 5 minutes type of seating. The thing I really like about the bench style is not only can you squeeze in more people (for playoffs), but there is a sense of togetherness in sharing a blanket, sit-upon or something of that sort. Warming your hands on the hotter than Hades drink they call hot chocolate (the one with the inch of sediment at the bottom), and sharing a laugh, a concern (like the fact that the arena staff never freakin’ turn on the heat) or just your day with the other die-hards at the rink. I like the bench style – it fosters a sense of community.

The new one’s, I have a problem with - no togetherness, no sharing warmth because the seat designed for an 8 year old’s ass doesn’t quite fit your over 20 (yes I’m being nice) year old one. You can’t even share a blanket without one of you having something plastic jammed in some pretty uncomfortable places.

And don’t even get me started on NHL Arena seats. Also designed for 8 year olds and squished so tightly together that the guy sitting beside you better not fart or your entire row is going to go tumbling from the balcony onto the platinum and gold seat assholes below.

At least you get to snuggle with strangers.

Like many here at FTTW I like lists. In fact it’s hard for me to get through a day without them, even WHEN I take all my meds.

So I’m gonna do a list. Because I can.

Best moments in Hockey

(Next week we’ll do the “worsts” so start thinkin’)

Here’s my top five...

1. The “Summit Series” Canada vs. Russia (1972)

Will it make you sad to know that I wasn’t even born yet and it’s still my #1? Just old eh?

This game is imprinted into every Canadian. Hell I even bought the anniversary DVD and re-watched the game over and over. THAT was hockey before the commercialization of the sport.

Winners - Hockey Column (1 Dec 06) (V2).doc.jpg


2. Canadian Women win the Gold Medal (2002)

GIRL POWER!!!! Some seriously ass kicking girls, who score AND talk about it afterwards.

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3. Domi’s fight with a Philly fan...

Brings a tear to my eyes.



4. Ray Bourque finally lifts the Stanley Cup (2001)

I have admired this man’s style and skills for years. It was really rice to see him hoist the big prize.

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5. Canadien’s win the Stanley Cup with Maurice “The Rocket” Richard scoring the tie breaking goal (against Boston), injured, with blood streaming down his face. (1952-53)

This is the man so revered by Montréalers and Quebecors in general that when he died in 2000 he was given a state funeral. Played his entire career as a Hab.
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What are yours?

* Not writing the column dumb ass.

Deb is. The End. Archives

Comments

1980 Miracle on Ice

*insert something about the mighty ducks here to piss deb off

1952 during the Red Wings' Stanley Cup run. Octopus on the ice during a hockey Game in Detroit.

Feburary 1954, Tiger Williams was born. Most NHL penalty minutes, career, including playoffs: 4,421.

Fuck yeah

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1. Islanders win the Stanley Cup - 1980
2. Islanders win the Stanley Cup - 1981 (I was at the game)
3. Islanders win the Stanley Cup - 1982
4. Islanders win the Stanley Cup - 1983
5. Miracle on Ice
6. Dave Gillies knocks out Eddie Hospodar with the first punch of the fight
7. Any bench clearning brawl involving the Isles and Flyers
8. Isles/Capitals - Easter Sunday 1987. Division Semi Finals. FOUR overtimes. The game ended at 2am, the Isles won.

I could go on. But I won't. Yet.

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1. Islanders win the Stanley Cup - 1980
2. Islanders win the Stanley Cup - 1981 (I was at the game)
3. Islanders win the Stanley Cup - 1982
4. Islanders win the Stanley Cup - 1983

figures....

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I have to say my greatest hockey moment was seeing Ray Bourque hoist The Cup. Still gets me misty seeing the replays. (My kids were also made during game 6 of that series. Too much info?)

Close second was 1980 when The US beat the Russians. I remember that moment vividly. My Dad jumped up from his chair, fists raised, and put two giant holes in the ceiling. Fucking classic. (The holes remained for many years).

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Deb is serene, your waving around of feathered water fowl does nothing to "piss" me off.

Don't get too comfortable though. The new medication will adjust momentarily.

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1980 Miracle on Ice, I was in Europe at the time and remember the results being announced in school. Despite knowing the result (even now) watching the tape-delayed rebroadcast is as exciting as ever. I wish I had this game of DVD.

Everything else is simply memorable moments and two that come to mind are:

1997 All-Star game, Owen Nolan's "called shot" -- He points, he shoots, he scores (on Hasek in his prime no less). In baseball Ruth's called shot is legend, in hockey Nolan's is fact. I know. I was there.

August 9, 1988 -- Wayne Gretzky is traded from Edmonton to LA. Not great for Oilers' fans, but it revitalized interest in hockey south of the border.

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I wish I had this game of DVD.

http://www.hdhockey.tv/miracle

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If I was mean I'd say to michele...

"Every other year the Isles started playing golf early...

Good thing I'm not mean =)

Also, the woman sitting beside me on the train smells like she shit her pants. She reading over my shoulder.

I love commuting.

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If I was mean I'd say to michele...

"Every other year the Isles started playing golf early...

Good thing I'm not mean =)

Also, the woman sitting beside me on the train smells like she shit her pants. She reading over my shoulder.

I love commuting.

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I was there watching ESPN for three and four. The Avs had been my favorites since the first time they won the Cup (I think I was like 6 years old) and I nearly died during the 3rd period of the final game in that series. I was gonna blow up my neighborhood if Ray didn't get to hold the Cup.

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I don't know what rank they're in, but my favourite moments are:
- The Canadiens winning the Cup in 1993. Roy is still my hero (even though I've grown up to realize how much of a douchebag he is). 11 overtime victories that playoff run...this shortened my life by 20 years, I'm positive.
- Bourque and the 2001 cup. Agreed. I made sure I watched this game alone so nobody could wreck the moment for me. I totally bawled. Patty Roy gets Conn Smythe #3 also.
- Paul Kariya comes back from the dead. I forget which year it was, but the Devils played the Ducks for the cup. Scott Stevens sets up Kariya in the "Last Ride" tracks and KILLS the man. Kariya miraculously comes back in the third period and scores a goal on a blistering slapshot. I'll never forget those visuals.
- Canada defeats the USA for the 2002 Olympic gold medal. Sadly, the US team didn't do anything stupid afterwards like trash their hotel rooms. This time.
- Anything Ron Hextall. This guy was awesome to watch - the same way NASCAR crashes get you hot. He was always a heartbeat away from murdering you, your teammates and your puppy. I saw him up close in Hamilton and nearly shat out my heart. He's a scary, intense dude. Like the Undertaker. Except shorter, and with skin colour. Hextall will never die - *mental note* do not drown him in Crystal Lake.

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