I want!
Yay! It's finally been reprinted. But is it worth $30?
Discovering Perspective
Monday, June 11, 2007
Friday, June 08, 2007
End of Hockey Season Enlightenment
During a news cast the other night prior to game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals, I was a bit annoyed to hear in the same report, (1)the reporter state her surprise that when she was in Toronto everyone was routing for the Sens as "Canada's Team", (2) more of the usual Toronto bashing. The most enlightening part of the report was when a Sens fan said that he used to be a Toronto fan until the Sens started up. A light bulb clicked. Ottawa was probably the centre of Leafs/Habs divide. Who was going to jump ship when the Sens were looking to develop a fan base? Well, Habs fans are closely tied to Quebec/French pride and weren't likely candidates to route for another Ontario team. And it isn't easy to change teams *UNLESS* that team is *EVIL*!!! I think Ottawa had to vilify the Leafs in order to justify changing their allegiance.
The only Leafs fans that "hate" the Sens are those unfortunate enough to live in Ottawa (or some other close connection to Ottawa) because of the constant harassment. As a Leafs fan who grew up in Southwestern Ontario, I'd never even heard about the Sens let alone incubate a deeply routed hatred for them. When I moved to Ottawa, I assumed they were an OHL team like my London Knights.
It would be near impossible to disrupt the long established Leafs/Habs rivalry. It starts in kindergarten with the Hockey Sweater (I was a confused child growing up in London and going to a French school). It's been a source of confusion since moving to Ottawa. I don't hate the Sens. I didn't know anyone back home who hated the Sens. I knew lots who hated the Habs. My mom is a Habs fan and actually had a waiter ask if she would pay with another credit card because he didn't like that her card had the Habs logo on it. So why is there so much hostility on a one-sided fight?
The question I'm left with is whether this was a constructed and conscious strategy or just happened naturally.
It just illustrates how much "your team" is usually a matter of proximity and constructed identity. It is the one that the local news is more likely to follow. It is the one you are most likely to see play in person. It is the one that you can share with your community and talk about around the water cooler. I know my Leafs aren't doing well or at least don't play the type of hockey that will win in the Eastern NHL conference. How "good" the team is isn't really the reason for picking a team to call "your team". I don't even really care that much about hockey in the first place. Two years ago I didn't even really know anything about hockey. I enjoy the excuse to get together with friends and share something. Even if I'm the *EVIL* (but necessary) leafs fan and the butt of all the jokes.
The only Leafs fans that "hate" the Sens are those unfortunate enough to live in Ottawa (or some other close connection to Ottawa) because of the constant harassment. As a Leafs fan who grew up in Southwestern Ontario, I'd never even heard about the Sens let alone incubate a deeply routed hatred for them. When I moved to Ottawa, I assumed they were an OHL team like my London Knights.
It would be near impossible to disrupt the long established Leafs/Habs rivalry. It starts in kindergarten with the Hockey Sweater (I was a confused child growing up in London and going to a French school). It's been a source of confusion since moving to Ottawa. I don't hate the Sens. I didn't know anyone back home who hated the Sens. I knew lots who hated the Habs. My mom is a Habs fan and actually had a waiter ask if she would pay with another credit card because he didn't like that her card had the Habs logo on it. So why is there so much hostility on a one-sided fight?
The question I'm left with is whether this was a constructed and conscious strategy or just happened naturally.
It just illustrates how much "your team" is usually a matter of proximity and constructed identity. It is the one that the local news is more likely to follow. It is the one you are most likely to see play in person. It is the one that you can share with your community and talk about around the water cooler. I know my Leafs aren't doing well or at least don't play the type of hockey that will win in the Eastern NHL conference. How "good" the team is isn't really the reason for picking a team to call "your team". I don't even really care that much about hockey in the first place. Two years ago I didn't even really know anything about hockey. I enjoy the excuse to get together with friends and share something. Even if I'm the *EVIL* (but necessary) leafs fan and the butt of all the jokes.
