On being spoiled and influencing a game
This post is a bit of a confessional. When it comes to attending hockey games, Earl Sleek is rather spoiled. Or very spoiled. You can be the judge.
You see, I have a somewhat unique ticket-buying situation which I have participated in over the past 4 seasons. Through my old boss, I am connected to a season-ticket-holder who has second-row seats. Basically this means I purchase and pay for 3 out of 41 home games (4 tickets plus parking), plus a discounted preseason game. Regular season, these tickets were $71 apiece.
But check out these seats! We literally get to sit next to the most-recently penalized Duck. It is a fantastic way to watch the game. I am so frickin' spoiled.
In fact, I don't attend many other games, because I'm so spoiled that if I'm not watching up close, I would rather watch a game on TV. Also, I live in L.A., so traffic sufficiently discourages me from being a more frequent attendee.
Playoffs are a different story, in that the Pond (presumably because of a low level of season-ticket holders) offers us an additional 4 lower-bowl seats for the playoffs (same price). In 2003, these were Row R seats in a corner; this year they are Row H. Scheduling is weird, and there are probably 10 parties in our pool for these 8 tickets, but I have made three games thus far these playoffs, once in Row B (G1 Colorado).
Now that I've distanced my readership, let me remind you that I also support the Pond through drinking. With enough drinking (read: courage), I have the liberty to yell directly at players on the ice. Or even talk to Ducks in the penalty box. And at times, I think it can make a difference, though I realize that's probably delusional.
Long story short, Sleek has these seats tonight (now at $121 apiece), and plans to make that difference. Look for me on TV, I'll be the one in the Vishnevski jersey reminding Lupul to play with some discipline or yelling something dumb like "Where's Sean Pronger? He's your ROB. Can't play with your brother?" when Chris skates by.
I'm certainly open to taunt suggestions, though. 
[Edit: This sign has been suggested. I am considering this. I'll try not to show it to Samsonov, though.]
5 comments:
Earl, we definitely will be looking for you on the big screen at the local sportsbar here, in Moscow, Russia, at 5 am (opening face-off) and for the next 3 hours. yes, it takes sacrifice to root for your team (and thank God i don't have to go to work early in the morning right after the game - that's the way it usually works on a regular day).
anyways, if you see our boys Ruslan and Vitaly in the box, tell/yell them there's a crowd of devoted Anaheim fans all over Russia and the former CIS believing in them when the believing's tough.
and if you're up to it, make a sign to show them. let me make the text for you (i know cyrillics can be tough), find it at: http://www.wificard.ru/NHL/RUSSIA.doc it says "Guys, your homeland is with you!!!" you would make our day if you made this sign!
GO DUCKS!!!!!!
with the ducks for the last 10 years, and counting...
Alexey
OK, Alexey. I have printed this out on an 8 1/2 x 11 (regular sized) piece of paper.
Should Vitaly or Ruslan take a penalty (which I would put at about 80% likely) they will see it.
Probably not big enough to get seen on TV, though.
Here's a question: who's that guy with the orange shirt seen every game, standing and banging the glass for the entire game?
I guess orange is our color now. He's the future Anaheim Duck.
Nice sign. I can read it, too. Go, University Russian!
What I want to know is, who was that lady screaming her bloody head off the last five to seven minutes of the game? My aunt did that once at a CFL playoff game, and the whole damn country, never mind the stadium, heard her.
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