Oilers to finish in fourth place this season!
October 4, 2007
I t’s the beginning of hockey season and the grumpy old men (and women) sports writers have crawled out from behind their computers to make predictions on the Oilers and other teams…As usual, the idiots at the Journal place the Oilers down around 8th, 9th and 10th in the standings. My God they take themselves seriously. For a bunch of wankers who don’t know any more than you or I, they’re sure full of themselves. I wonder how many of them picked the Oilers to be in a game seven of the Stanley Cup playoffs a few years back? Now, having said this, they just might be right. Given the talent pool, and the experience on other teams, and the lack of experience on the Oilers bench, 8th or worse is probably a good guess. But if we’re guessing, and these grumpy idiots are most certainly guessing, why not aim high? Why not entertain some hope? Why not give the local team something to live up to. Dare to be wrong. Take a chance on the management, the coach, the enthusiasm of youth. But these guys can't be seen to be fans, or anything but dry, number crunchers. Really, why bother, guys? Why not just go back to mangling the English language?
I’m not an Oilers fan. I’m a fan of hockey. I think it’s a fascinating game. It contains velocity, and violence, and desire. It has elements of ballet. It’s a morality play. It’s dramatic. It has moments of sheer beauty. And sometimes it’s just plain ugly. Mostly, it's a game played by way of "desire." And it's unpredictible. I am not the first person to say this, but it’s also quintessentially Canadian. Though Lacrosse may be our official national sport, it ain’t. It’s hockey. Come on, nobody plays lacrosse.
So, to offset the idiotic guesses from those faithless, dry and dour Journal writers, here is my prediction, my “guess” for the Oilers this season. They’ll sit in fourth place, and threaten for third by the end of the year. See how easy it is to be optimistic before the first game is played? Piece of cake.
Haven't you noticed, felt, a real sense of enthusiasm this year? It's floating around this city... it's palpable. But the fans don’t play the game on the ice, you’re thinking. True enough. But gosh it feels good.
Oilers in 4th place come April, 2008. Sue me if I’m wrong.
5 Comments
1. Mike had this to say: Oct 05, 2007 ~ 07:45 ~ #
Fourth? Only FOURTH?? After last night, I think we’re on the road to a cup. Seriously. How much more proof do you need?
Seriously though, all the armchair, whiskey-fueled prognostication that surrounds sports is quite humorous and ridiculous. Everyone and no one is an “expert”. Opinions carry arbitrary weight.
I’m with you. I’m not really an Oilers fan. I’m a fan of the game. I love to see a good contest. The love of the game is bled into us.
2. thomas trofimuk had this to say: Oct 05, 2007 ~ 09:43 ~ #
You’re right….the cup! The Cup! Why not!?
Nobody can crawl inside the heads of a bunch of players and determine how badly they want to win, or how connected they are to their team-mates… Stats are just numbers. Hockey is and always will be, so much more than numbers.
Now, talent is talent. Last night’s Thorton goal with ten seconds left was pure talent. He’s the “money.” But Jesus, either he’s a big honkin’ player who “appears” to move slower than everybody else because he’s so big, or he’s slowing down. He looked slow compared to most of the Oilers. Regardless, he put himself in the right spot at the right time and then it was just talent that put the puck in the net.
It was a fun game. The Oil didn’t fold up camp when Thorton’s goal went in. They proved they can finish. The Sharks are touted as cup contenders this year. Crazy.
3. Jamie had this to say: Oct 06, 2007 ~ 16:15 ~ #
I lost faith in hockey a long time ago; the sport is freezing cold, smells funny when played in certain rinks, and most definately favors too much to men. Perhaps that’s just my naivity speaking? Most likely.
In the mean time, a bit of useless trivia; Canada has two official sports, in all actuality. It’s hockey AND lacrosse, not either/or.
Toodles!
4. Laurence Miall had this to say: Oct 08, 2007 ~ 09:05 ~ #
Even from here in Montreal, I think I can sense the enthusiasm. My challenge is to find a bar where I can watch the games. I think Lowe’s decision to completely overhaul the team was correct. It cleansed the team. There is finally a freshness and yes — hope — after the terrible Pronger fiasco.
I predict they finish top of their division, and if our division is strongest, that means top of the conference!!! At the very least, they will make Calgary look like the old codgers they truly are. They will skate through mollasses, “we” will dance upon frozen water.
5. Thomas had this to say: Oct 10, 2007 ~ 08:29 ~ #
Yes, of course, the Oilers in First place!!! This is even better. Thanks Laurence.
And, ohhhhh, I never knew that Canada has two official sports, the recently maligned Lacrosse and the of course, the ubiquitous, hockey. Thanks for that correction, Jamie.