We Have Lift Off!

Well Rioters!, I have to say a tear came to my eye last night as I watched the first game of the new look Winnipeg Jets go down at the MTS Center in Winnipeg. I know it's only a preseason game, but I saw things that were very encouraging.

*The new jerseys may be the best in the NHL right now, and they are not over-the-top gaudy to get attention.  They are somewhat understated and just badass.
*You Jets fans are the epitome of Advanced Fandom. We have adopted your Winnipeg Jets not because the team is good, or we had rooting interest as a kid (we had a history though, see "May" articles in our archives) but because of YOU, the fan; the Winnipeg Jets fan might be the best in all of sports. I have never seen a welcome like that for any team especially in the preseason. You cheered every save, deke and shot on goal and you damn near tore the roof off of the building when the Jets scored midway through the 1st period for the first goal. Chants of "Go Jets Go!" were present throughout the game. Winnipeg, you deserve this, your unconditional love of your hockey team is an example of Advanced Fandom not seen anywhere else in sports.
*The fight 37 seconds in was definitely reminiscent of a day long gone.  I saw the purple jerseys all over again. Now all we need is the Hartford Whalers to come back and have the Vancouver Canucks bust out those awfully awesome V-neck sweaters. Now you're talking old school. Also I think the Minnesota Wild should have a North Stars night, or whenever the Dallas Stars play there they should where North Stars jersey.
*Oh, the Jets won 6-1 over the BJ's, so a good start for Winnipeg.
*Yesterday some NHL predictions came out and many picked Winnipeg to be a "dark horse" playoff squad this season.

My final observation on this night of otherwise meaningless preseason hockey is a thought on second chances. Winnipeg got their second chance to cheer the team they love, and has always loved, after nearly 20 years without them.  The Jets were moved for no other reason than pure greed on the part of the NHL and the former owners. Those people are gone now and I hope if the team ever starts to flounder again they turn them over to the city of Winnipeg; like the Green Bay Packers. The fans of the Green Bay Packers carry that fandom around like it's an appendage, because they partly own the team.  The Town of Green Bay owns the Packers, not some corporate entity.  So The Packers will always stay in Green Bay, and so should the Jets always stay in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They love their team and wehn they left in 1992, it was like having an arm amputated. They suffered for all this time, but now it's over and it's time for NHL hockey in Manitoba, eh. So without further ado, let me be the first American to say GO! JETS! GO! Congrats Winnipeg.