Thursday, June 16, 2011

Classless in Vancouver

Game 7 in the NHL is almost always a memorable thing.  Yesterday we revisited 5 of the greatest to decide the Cup.  Sad to say, this one does not crack that list.  The Bruins dominated this game as soon as the first goal was scored.  It was an intense 1st period with hard hitting and great goaltending on both sides.  But once the B's opened the scoring late in the 1st, it was all but over.  A hard working goal by stand out rookie Brad Marchand early in the 2nd, and a short handed goal late in the period spelled out what was going to be a 3rd period that was tough to watch.  The Canucks came out very flat, and listless in the 3rd and looked more like a AHL team;on par with the Hershey Bears. But the game, and the Bruins domination of it was not the story here.  After the final horn sounded is when the real action in Vancouver started.  During the trophy presentations Gary Bettman and the Bruins were shouted down by the Vancouver faithful.  Full out boos were heard as the Conn Smythe trophy and Stanley Cup were presented.  I've been watching sports for almost 30 years now and I have never seen a losing home crowd in a championship game behave with such a lack of class.  I have never seen a home crowd boo the winning team so viciously. I've seen the Yankees celebrate at Shea stadium, and we were respectful. The Pens in 2009 celebrated in Detroit; a city who is rabid about it's hockey team and they behaved with class. Even Philly (here's to you Jay) behaved with class when they lost last year's final in a dramatic 6th Game Overtime on there home ice. They stuck around around and gave respect. Maybe not to the Blackhawks, but to the Cup itself, which it so richly deserves.  No trophy is as recognizable as any in all of sports.  I even saw a Yankee crowd behave respectfully after the Red Sox stunned them in Yankee stadium in a Game 7 after coming back from 3-0 down in the 2004 ALCS, and that is the most heated rivalry in sports. The Vancouver fans forced Commissioner Gary Bettman to shout, while using a microphone, over the boos during the Conn Smythe trophy presentation to Tim Thomas who clearly deserved the award and clearly outperformed Roberto Luongo. The B's outscored the Cancuks in the series 23-8.  It has to be the most lopsided 7 game series ever.  When Luongo blew up, it was seismic. The boos continued throughout the presentation and parading of the Cup by the winning team, which is a storied tradition in the NHL.  Canuck fans behaved like petulant children who didn't get there way and threw a collective tantrum marring what has always been in my eyes a classy hockey town.  However, it didn't end there.  And now that I think about it, in 1994 when the Canucks lost to the Rangers, Vancouver behaved like crybabies and did the same thing. Riots and looting broke out in the city of Vancouver, and were still raging as day broke today.  WTF?  It's a hockey game. There were injuries, 4 deaths reported and cop cars were set on fire.  Now I've seen some devastating things happen to my teams, but it never made me want to go out and overturn a car, or break some windows.  Maybe a wall in my house, but someone elses walls or glass, NO! As you well know by now, we here at The Riot! are all about Canada and love the city of Winnipeg (which i know would never pull this crap) but this is insane.  I know it sound hypocritical considering we are called "The Sports Riot!" but this is not what we meant.  I will not take responsibility for the actions of people causing a riot.  See, we write it differently.  We are The Riot!  They are having a riot, and it's stupid.  See the difference.  Riot! riot and it's stupid. OK, now that that is out of the way, Boston misbehaved a little last night too, but it was easily contained, and they were letting 30+ years of frustration out so, a pass to you Boston, Congrats.  But in Vancouver tear gas had to be used.  Well fine police officers of Vancouver I hate to tell you, with crybabies like Canucks fans, there are already tears flowing in Vancouver, your gas is doing nothing. What a bunch of children.  A collective <YUCK> to Vancouver. Until last night you were known for having snow, great hockey and hot strippers.  Now you are known for being a bunch of bitches.  Congratulations Boston on beating these crybabies.

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