I did something rather momentous a couple of days ago. It's not really Ireland-centric, aside from the fact that it happened while I'm living here. So I'm counting it as appropriate to this blog.
Before I do the big reveal, I feel that I must regale you with some backstory.
As far back as I can remember, I have loved hockey. Being born and raised as I was in Minnesota - the State of Hockey - that's nearly a prerequisite for citizenship.
Quite frankly, I couldn't even tell you how I was introduced to the sport. Neither of my parents were huge sports fans. We'd watch the Vikings and college bowl games (Dad would get gambling tickets from his buddy - which I think was illegal but that was nearly 50 years ago, and he's dead, so what're you gonna do, coppers?). Dad loved watching the AWA (American Wrestling Association), so we'd see Hulk Hogan asking "Mean" Gene Okerlund, "What're you gonna do, Mean Gene, when you got these 24-inch pythons wrapped around your neck?"
But I don't recall that Dad ever had the North Stars on his small TV in the kitchen corner where he had built a nest for himself.
I would play hockey with my older cousins, walking a mile in the winter so we could chase pucks on the frozen Elk River. Well, mostly frozen. I remember one year when there was a large hole in the ice; we tried not to shoot the puck close to the gap because no one dared retrieve it. I took a hard slapshot to the ankle which made hobbling home very unpleasant.
Back in the day, there were no subscription services or cable sports packages so I had to be content with watching North Stars' games on the local Fox affiliate, KMSP Channel 9. They didn't broadcast every game so there were nights where you would find me like this: Listening to the game on a small transistor radio, writing goals and penalties in a notebook. I think that's a copy of Hockey Digest or something lying open against that pillow; interesting to see a Winston cigarette ad on the back of the magazine. (This was taken in 1982)
I don't remember how old I was when I rewrote "Twas the Night Before Christmas" using North Star themes - "Twas the night before the playoffs and all through the rink..." I mailed it to either Channel 9 or to the North Stars and thought nothing else of it. While I was watching the game one night, they were going to commercial break during the intermission and the screen graphic said something like "Next: Poetry from the masters."
And Bob Kurtz, long-time play-by-play announcer, READ MY POEM ON THE AIR. I was so embarrassed that I hid in the bathroom, but I could still hear it.
I sent many fan letters to my favorite players, and they always rewarded me with an autographed photo postcard (I still have them). Sometimes the player would write a personal message on the card, which would thrill me to no end.
In the early 80s, the North Stars brought a young player named Dino Ciccarelli up from the minors. Oh my (North) stars, I developed a HUGE crush on this kid. He was known for doing a dance after scoring goals and was nicknamed "Disco Dino." Someone wrote a song called "Disco Dino" - I bought the 45 record. I think I also had a lavender-colored off-the-shoulder shirt that bore his signature on the front.
My cousin Rick was able to get playoff tickets one year, and he drove us to old Met Center in Bloomington. I remember one concessionaire sold these ungodly large slices of cheese pizza that cost a buck and were wonderfully greasy and delicious.
We were only able to get standing-room tickets and by "standing room," I do mean "standing room." Behind the last row of seats on the lower bowl, there was a narrow ledge and that's where we stood for the entire game, backs pressed up against the cold cement wall.
I don't recall if this game were against the Chicago Blackhawks or not. I do recall an instance where we nearly got into it with a group of Chicago fans. Minnesota/Chicago had an insane rivalry back in the 80s, and the hatred of each fanbase for the opposite team's players was legendary.
In 1993, owner Norm Green moved the team to Dallas. His name is not spoken in Minnesota or if it is, it's met with snarls and narrowed eyes. We don't forgive and we don't forget.
The Minnesota Wild began play in 2000. I was living in Texas at the time, so I wasn't able to follow them very much. I got back up to speed in 2003, when I moved back to Minnesota.
The Minnesota Wild began play in 2000. I was living in Texas at the time, so I wasn't able to follow them very much. I got back up to speed in 2003, when I moved back to Minnesota.
An anthem was written for the Wild:
We were raised
With the stick
And a pair of blades
On the ice we cut our teeth
We took our knocks
In the penalty box
Our mother was the referee
This sport was here
Before we came
It will be here when we're gone
The game's in our blood
And our blood's in the game
Lay us down under
A frozen pond
We will fight to the end
We will stand and defend
Our flag flying high and free
We were born the child
Of the strong and Wild
In the State, the State of Hockey
A big blue line runs around our state
A line that can't be crossed
The day they try to take this game
Is the day the gloves come off
We will fight to the end
We will stand and defend
Our flag flying high and free
We were born the child
Of the strong and Wild
In the State, the State of Hockey.
The game was definitely in my blood. I couldn't imagine that anything would ever erase the love I had for the sport.
Then along came the US Men's Olympic hockey team, celebrating their gold medal with an FBI director who's protecting pedophiles and proving daily how utterly incompetent and vile he is. Laughing at a misogynistic joke made by a felonious president with none of them offering any defense of the US Women's Olympic hockey team.
As far as I know, none of the players have offered any kind of apology for their behavior. Some of them have doubled down, digging an even deeper hole for themselves.
Bill Guerin, the general manager of the men's team, is the one who invited the FBI director into the locker room. He's also the GM of the Wild. He has since said that he doesn't care what anyone thinks. I'm sure he's MAGA, which makes him filth in my book.
When Renee Good and Alex Pretti were murdered in Minnesota, the Wild couldn't even be bothered to have a moment of silence for them. (By contrast, the Timberwolves postponed their basketball game to the following night after Alex was executed.)
The NHL overall doesn't seem to have much interest in promoting matters of social justice. I have a feeling many of the owners are Right-leaning and won't allow any of that "woke garbage" near their team.
I can't really explain it but after seeing what happened with the Olympic team, something inside of me snapped. It was like a switch suddenly flipped from ON to OFF. I felt revulsion for the NHL and didn't want anything to do with it.
I haven't watched an NHL game since the Olympics ended. I haven't bothered to check the scores or the standings. I had a dream that I was watching a Wild game on TV, and it horrified me.
The big reveal is this: I cancelled our NHL subscription package and don't plan to reactivate it unless something radical happens. (For those wondering: Eli and I talked about this, and he said he feels the same way - that he's done with the NHL until/unless something changes. And if you know Eli, you know this was a momentous decision for him as well.)
I am sad and hurt but what I feel most is anger. Anger that something so special and important in my life could be destroyed in an instant by the thoughtless and selfish actions of a small group of individuals. I know some people might think "what's the big deal?" but I refuse to support an individual, an organization, or a league that thinks so little of basic human decency.
