Nice Guys Finish First - JAN.14.08
<table width=90% align=center><tr><td><img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/09/bear_head.jpg border=0 align=left vspace=1 hspace=4>I'm glad I am not a fan of the Flyers. My sensibilities as a West coast pseudo-hippie with socialist leanings would be offended by the brash Republican style of hockey the Flyers play. If I cannot be a fan of George W. Bush, then I cannot be a fan of any team associated with his hockey equivalent: Bobby Clarke.
I am glad I am not a fan of the Flyers. They play hockey like the Americans play foreign policy: through bully tactics and a lack of understanding of the opposition.
By that same token, I am glad I am not a fan of the Leafs. As if languishing in mediocrity for 40+ years wasn't bad enough, they are also from Toronto. The Leafs are to hockey what the Yankees are to baseball, except without any success. Toronto calls itself the centre of the hockey universe, which is enough to draw a chuckle out of even the most cynical of hockey fans.
I'm glad I'm not a Flames fan either. If I don't want to be American, I certainly can't cheer for Canada's most American hockey market. Any province that hails Ralph Klein as the king of anything is enough for me to cheer against them.
<a href="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/12/121207_ana23_b.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/12/121207_ana23_tt.jpg" align="right" border="0" hspace="4" vspace="1"></a>No, I'm glad I am a Canucks fan. Despite our lack of cups, I am happy to be a fan of this team for one reason more than anything else. I believe that sooner or later, nice guys will finish first.
The Flyers are the broad street bullies. They lead the league in suspensions, thuggery, and aggressive moves by a now-fired GM (pre-Kevin Lowe anyway, but I digress). I would be ashamed of any team that puts a product on the ice that relishes the goonery of the game rather than the skills.
It is the same reason I cannot cheer for the Leafs. As if the politics of Toronto weren't enough, as if the arrogance of Leaf fans didn't tip the scales, as if the ex-pat Leaf fans didn't buy all the tickets when they visit our fair city, they have Darcy Tucker. They have also had on the ice a collection of some pretty dirty players over the years (Shane Corson, anyone?). I'm surprised they haven't signed Sean Avery… which is yet another reason not to like the Rangers as well.
The Flames? A look at the rumors regarding Kristien Huselius and his days in Florida will tell you why I can never cheer for a team that has him on their roster… that and they are Vancouver's biggest rival.
So what is it about the Canucks that I like so much?
It is Dave Nonis. I have had the privilege of witnessing first-hand how generous this man can be at charitable events, and how genuine he is when some stranger approaches him with the latest scheme to land Crosby in a five-way deal.
It is Trevor Linden. The man never takes a day off from being a good guy and donating his time and energies to people who really need it. If you look up "good-guy" in the dictionary, I'm sure you'll find his picture.
<a href="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/12/121207_ana04_b.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/12/121207_ana04_tt.jpg" align="left" border="0" hspace="4" vspace="1"></a>It is Matt Cooke and Brendan Morrison. Every time I see Cooke in his yard, he is playing with his kids or chatting with his neighbors. He may drive opponents nuts, but he is a good father and husband, and the same can be said for Morrison. I can't help but think he is enjoying his time with his family almost as much as he enjoys playing hockey.
It is Roberto Luongo who recognizes that hockey is second to the birth of a new human being in this world. It is also the Canucks organization for gladly giving him the time off.
We may not have the silverware, but the reasons I am a Canucks fan are more important than that. I am lucky. I get to cheer for a team that plays hard every night and then goes home as good human beings as well.
Charles Barkley may have said that he isn't a role model, and he is right, but these players we have in our city make me proud to be a fan… even when they lose.
In my books, nice guys finish first.</td></tr></table>
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