No, not as a participant per se (though I WAS on my junior high volleyball and basketball team!), but as an avid spectator. Whatever we had going on at our house on the week-end, most Saturdays at 5 o'clock found my dad, brother and I watching Wide World of Sports (mom always made sure we had snacks for the weekly party).
Basketball, baseball, football, water sports, skiing, golf, even bowling...we watched most everything there was to watch in sports during the late 60's and early 70's.
Except for hockey.
That wasn't a big sport where I grew up in Oregon - maybe that's why we didn't watch. Maybe it wasn't even on Wide World of Sports (though I assume it was and we just turned it off!). I really don't ever remember seeing or hearing much about hockey until literally twenty years ago when we moved to the Czech Republic.
And THEN I got acquainted with hockey! Oh yes...that is most definitely a big sport where we come from there. If you're Czech, you know and love hockey.
Well, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration...though honestly, not much.
While I've been a couple times, it never grabbed me and made me want to be a hockey fan.
Until tonight.
After my first Blackhawk's game tonight in Chicago, I'm hooked!
It's fast paced, intense, and gritty. I understand the game, the fans are fun, the company was delightful (thanks F & W for the invite and time together!), and I was happy to cheer and yell as if those Hawks were "my team".
Who knew that my time in the States would result in me becoming a hockey fan? Seriously, I may have just found something new to follow.
That was plain old good fun tonight!! I really like hockey after all!!
Watching hockey live is so much better than on TV. I can't remember when it was that I used to go to the Portland Winterhawks hockey games, but it was probably after you left for Europe. I used to love being close to the action and see the plays as they develop!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're having some new, fun, fresh times of nourishment to your soul during your time here! Love it!
ReplyDeleteI grew up on hockey. Rochester had the Buffalo Sabres farm team - so players moved up and down between the teams. It meant that Rochester got some great players on the ice. Our youth group went every Friday night during the season and sat in a "church" section that was for families and didn't allow beer! funny.
ReplyDeleteI loved hockey because you could see all the action (like basketball) and it moved so quickly. the only thing that can be boring is if you have a long game with only 1 score. Sometimes there is a lot of skating and little scoring.
I helped with the Liberty hockey club since the school didn't recognize the sport and it didn't get official funding. Ivan & the other Canadian boys were all on the team so I went to most of their games and fundraisers.
It's odd that I didn't follow hockey while in Czech…I didn't know any of those players or teams so it wasn't as interesting as when I was a part of the crowd and knew everyone.
So may be hockey is great live - with people who know their city & team….
Glad you had a good time. Chicago loves their sports teams. What a fun memory!