Shut Up and Smile

This weekend our local minor league hockey team, the Memphis RiverKings, lost. Twice.

I’m still smarting. Upset like I was on the ice. Or that someone owes me a win. That’s what fans do. We cheer when the team does great, and pout when they don’t. It doesn’t matter that these were the first two games of the season, and we still have a very long way to go. All that matters is that we lost.

Now, this may start to sound very touchy-feely for a hockey fan. But don't worry, I promise I won't get too sensitive or offer anyone a hug.

Hockey players have it rough. All professional athletes do. Except maybe professional dodge ball players. (I’m still not convinced anyone is watching that.) But professional athletes have to do their job in front of everyone. And they hope everyone is watching. Can you imagine? I can’t type if just one person is looking over my shoulder. I can’t imagine performing in front of hundreds or thousands. But for 64 games this season, our RiverKings will skate hoping that we’re all looking. Do they hope for all the criticism that comes with that? I hope they’re not all sadists, but I guess it’s possible.

I know that there are people who say that they don’t have real jobs. They get paid to play a game. And it’s true. But they’ve earned that right. If everyone played hockey that well, we wouldn’t need the NHL. But they’re stars. They’re incredible athletes, with amazing talents. And I’m not just saying this because I’m no good at it. I haven’t played hockey since the 5th grade, and even then, I was bad. (My mother cringes about that time in my life, if anyone asks. But that’s another story.)

These guys get paid to play because they deserve it. And they have to do it in front of hundreds of spectators looking for them to mess up, or score the game winning goal. Sometimes we fans are dying to see a hat trick, or the save of the year. Sometimes we’re just praying no one falls down. The point is, as fans, we’ve come to count on something from these men. We pay for our tickets, and then we expect a good game. And we can be remarkably harsh when we don’t get it. I know that as professional athletes they live in the public eye, and should anticipate this kind of scrutiny. But at the same time, just because we’re a ticket holder, that doesn’t give us the right to critique the players like they’re our personal whipping boys. They’re grown men with families and responsibilities like the rest of us.

Article Author: Mad Cow

I am a crazy, bohemian mom, wife, deep fried Southern Belle, and hockey nut. I'm also a Mad Cow.
In what little spare time I have, I enjoy reading, Sci-Fi books and movies, and everything to do with my family.

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