I had to bring back Sports Wednesday. When I started to write this blog, back in 2017, I focused a lot of attention on sports stories. While I hadn’t worked in sports media for many years, I never lost the interest, or quite frankly, the passion, for sports. Yes, I am a sports fan.
The first sports-focused story was posted just over eight years ago, on Wednesday, May 24th, 2017. It was my introduction to my love of sports and how I instilled that love in my son, Matthew. I am fortunate that early in my career I was able to parlay my love of sports into a job, first in radio then in television.
I learned about the business of sports, the industry of sports, and my gosh, the fanaticism of sports! I thought I was a huge baseball and hockey fan, and then I worked in sports radio where I quickly realized there was a world of sports knowledge and obsession I never knew about.
Which brings me to another blog post from my early days of Kinetic Motions – posted on Wednesday, June 14th, 2017, when I explained why I am a fan of the Carolina Hurricanes. If you didn’t work with me in sports media years ago, or you haven’t read all my posts (that’s okay, I forgive you!), or you aren’t my mother, then you may be thinking – what? Why does this person from Toronto, in Canada, love the Carolina Hurricanes? Or, why did she? Does she still?
Yes, I am still a big fan of the Carolina Hurricanes. I made that promise over 20 years ago, when I was a young, inexperienced and humble journalist. Back then, this scrappy hockey team was relatively new to the Raleigh-Durham area, after it’s relocation from Hartford. They received limited local media coverage, and team leadership were thrilled when a national Canadian radio network gave them attention (me, the newbie hockey producer!). I became a fan then, and yes, I am still a huge fan today.
Since the team’s stunning, incredible, amazing (how many more adjectives can I offer?) Stanley Cup win in 2006, my team has been up and down. They’ve had a few good playoff runs, but they haven’t hoisted the Cup in almost 20 years. When was the last time the Leafs brought the Stanley Cup back to Toronto? Was that almost 60 years ago? But I digress.
If you are a hockey fan, this is a great time of year. Actually, spring is always a great time of year for those of us who are sports fans, especially those of multiple sports. Basketball playoffs are in full swing, baseball is cruising along, and the NHL has settled in to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Players are skating injured. Super-fans are showing up at work exhausted some days, after they stayed up to watch a double or triple overtime. Sports bars are packed on game nights, and you can hear screams and sighs, depending on whether the home team scored.
It’s a bit of a festive season in May for the sports fan, especially if your team wins. My team, yes, the Carolina Hurricanes, played game one of the second round last night, in Washington DC. The game was tied 1-1 at the end of three periods. And so, off to overtime they went.
If you are a sports fan, you know about that special kind of anxiety you feel when it’s the playoffs and your team is playing in overtime, or extra innings. It’s like the air suddenly changes. Even watching from home, you can feel how tense everything is.
That was me last night. But once again, my super team came through and scored just over 3 minutes into overtime. Phew. They won the first game! I cheered! I screamed! My family ignored me.
Most people roll their eyes, or they just plain make fun of me, when I remind them, or share with them, that I’m a Carolina Hurricanes fan. Even if I don’t know who half the players on the team are anymore, and if I don’t watch every game, I am a committed fan.
And yes, if you are wondering – if, yes if – the Hurricanes make it to the third round – and if, yes if – the Leafs do, they will play each other. And yes, I will be cheering for the Carolina Hurricanes. No, I’m not a homer. I’m a loyal fan of my Canes.
Being a sports fan, I believe, is joyful. There is so much in life that is hard, or is upsetting, but sports brings us together in a special way. Even if you watch with someone who supports the rival team, you are connected through your love of the game. I tease Leafs fans incessantly (and you know who you are!), but I will watch a hockey game with you any day.
Especially when our teams make it to the third round of the playoffs – and my team beats yours!