Sure, Hockey’s Free To Watch On TV, But …

Hockey season’s starting back up soon (October 4th to be exact).

While I ramble on and on most days about saving on “this”, or scrimping on “that”, one thing is certain: for your money, the NHL really gives you a lot of bang for your buck. It’s a fast-paced, different kind of entertainment, and while I dearly love the other sports (football, baseball, and basketball) hockey will always have a special place in my heart. Whenever the Flyers come down to the BankAtlantic Center (where the Panthers play) I am there — no questions asked.

While there are never any two-for-one coupons in the papers or magazines, and I never find a bargain on anything dealing with the sport, it sure doesn’t stop me from going. You see, I’m an obnoxious “Broad Street Bullies” fan, and that will never change.

If you have never been to a game, let me tell you what you have been missing:

The electric atmosphere. The energy of the stadium is sick (in a good way). What I love about it, though, is when the whole crowd is in “uniform”: think of a black, orange, and white crowd screaming at the top of their lungs, in perfect harmony. It’s heavenly (unless you’re not a Flyers fan)!

Injuries don’t stop players. Broken fingers? Who cares! Bloody nose? “I’ll get it checked after the game, coach.” Try witnessing this during a baseball game. It takes cojones for these players to keep playing when they have been injured. To go on with that kind of pain shows incredible strength and determination (and sometimes stupidity. Ok, most of the times).

Back-and-forth games. Try watching one of these games when you don’t know who’s going to win until the final buzzer. It’s exhilarating to say the least! When this happens, I can’t usually get to bed right away (my heart won’t calm down for hours). That’s how sweet it is!

Sudden-death overtimes. Ok, most teams have an overtime period, to break a tie, but hockey does it right: they get rougher and even more thrilling (I don’t know how they do it) up until the moment the one team scores. Memories of these games are burnt into my memory from an early age.

Come from behind victories. There are times when your team is down 6-0 in the beginning of the third period when suddenly: a goal! Then another … then … the score is now 7-6 and your team’s ahead, with 36 seconds to go! After those endless few seconds, you win the game and the other guys, who were laughing at you earlier, are now stunned, and off you go out into the parking lot with your head held up high … WHEW!!!

The parking lot parties. Long lines of cars driving past you, people leaning all the way out their windows screaming the fight song as loud as they possibly can, and laying on their horns in celebration is what you’ll see. The party starts at the stadium, but it usually winds up miles away, and continues at a lot of different after parties. At least, that’s how I remember it. Florida doesn’t do it right!

Some people get pumped up by blowing their cash at the casinos, and others by drinking it away. Me, I usually try not to waste my money on anything, but like I said before, this is one of my true “needs”. Let me have this one, and I’ll let you slide on something you really love. Fair enough? Thanks for your understanding!

GO FLYERS!!!