It’s Not Just a Game!

Do you ever get this one? “Relax man, it’s just a game”. I beg to differ:

It’s the most patient, loyal and hopeful fans in North America.

It’s skateboarders, CEO’s and ESL students sporting their Canucks Blue in downtown Van.

It’s endless uniform changes, none of which were great, but we wear them all proudly.

It’s lacing up your sons skates, beside a Sedin twin and thinking, “Holy Crap, it Daniel! Wait, its Henrik! err . . . what do I say?” It was Henrik, my son asked.

It’s games being broadcast in Punjabi, a community joining in on the celebration at 72^nd and Scott Road after every win and in doing so, exemplifying everything that is great about Canada.

It’s Bure and Mogilny, brilliant but flaky.

It’s Smyl and Linden, rock-solid but wanting.

It’s Naslund, a little tragic.

It’s Messier, the best leader in sports until he came Vancouver. What the hell?

It’s reading a box score and instantly memorizing the stats.

It’s accepting that Luongo will let in a bad goal and put “foot in mouth” every second game. Who cares, he wins games.

It’s sending and receiving every email over the last month with the signature, Go Canucks Go!

It’s huge goals: Burrows, D. Sedin, Kesler, Bieksa and Burrows.

It’s Finish, Swedish, Canadian, American, German and Danish players admitting in a heartbeat that the Cup is bigger than the Olympics or any World Championship

It’s huge hits, killer power plays, biting and loving Bieksa’s pummeling of Marleau - you play with the bull, you get the horn –

It’s forty years of ups and downs, mostly downs. Questionable draft picks, some inspired (Burrows). A parade of owners, gm’s and coaches. Two cup runs, many early exits and now  . . .

Two wins away.

Go Canucks Go!