This post is dedicated to professional athletes who get “it”. The players who knows what’s truly important, when all is said and done. Some days it seems like the number of athletes who do indeed get “it”, dwindles each and every season, so I felt it was time for a stick tap for those who enrich a sporting culture.
For some reason I was struck this morning (more so, than most days), by the Capitals’ players treatment of the fans in Kansas City Wednesday night. Not that this was an exception to any other game, but for some reason, last night resonated with me, more so than most.
For example, Braden Holtby, taking time during the game to give a smile, and a lifetime memory for this young and excited hockey fan:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLM7CM_D7Ac/
Or the Captain, giving his $400 twig to a fan, who he will likely never see again:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLNHrOqD12I/
Or Nate Schmidt, Jay Beagle and John Carlson, obviously making sure they knuckle-bumped each and every awaiting hand as they came out of the tunnel.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLNDSq-D8sz/
Or TJ Oshie, giving away his stick from warm-ups
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLM1kx9D6Ei/
I’ve been a serious fan of most mainstream sports in my lifetime, and quite frankly, a few of them are turning me sour, as the fan experience continues to erode over time. It may be a case of unrecognized cognitive bias, but I feel the hockey community continues to provide an unrivaled experience for fans.
To me, the hockey fan experience somewhat resembles the baseball fan experience in the 1970’s. Attending games at old Memorial Stadium in Baltimore gave me a lifetime of fond memories. Memories I’m not sure can be completely replicated in this day and age. However, it’s great to see that hockey still gets what’s important.
By Jon Sorensen
