Hockey: What a sport!
As an avid football fan, and I’m talking about proper football, not that American rubbish, I have been largely disappointed with the state of the sport in Canada and North America. Sure, it is there, but it’s not as big as it is in England and I am certainly missing it greatly.
However, another sport has managed to fill the void quite nicely, and that is Ice Hockey. The energetic, quick pace of the game makes it entertaining to watch and the fact that on any given day, any team could be another team, makes it so marvellously unpredictable. It is a colourful and well followed sport which helps and is certainly very physical, as sports should be.
The other major sports such as Baseball, Basketball and the aforementioned American Football, are too “stop-start” with very little going on. American Football is just a slower more boring version of rugby. Basketball confounds me no end with its “no contact whatsoever” rules and Baseball is just dull.
I’m sure all these sports are a lot of fun to play, as most sports are, but I’m talking about them from the point of view of a spectator. I like my sports hard and fast and that is why Hockey is working out so well for me.
Of course, after realising I liked it, it was time to pick a team to follow, as sport matters so much more when there is someone or some team to support. It gains a meaning and purpose. As I was based in Edmonton at the time, I was encouraged to support the Oilers, and with their successful past and history I was intrigued. However, I am a sucker for underdogs (I support Southampton F.C in England). So after hearing about all the trouble the Phoenix Coyotes were in and how they were slated to struggle all season, I knew I had found my team.
Also, on a more shallow note, their logo and colour scheme is simply fantastic. So, with Jersey in hand and an unquenchable thirst for Hockey now ingrained into my head, the NHL has found itself another life-long supporter and follower of one of the world’s greatest sports.
Funny thing, I was talking with my mate last week and he reckons that in the recession lots of firms are turning towards corporate event london to motivate the employees. I don’t really know how I feel about this, I mean it’s a pleasant thought but it is never going to encourage people as much as a nice big cash incentive is it?