Shoes, Ships, and Sealing Wax

Tonight was the night

So back in July, when Olie Kolzig signed with Tampa Bay, I wrote:

"Well, whatever. It'll be interesting, first time the Caps play the Lightning...I'll know by what play brings me out of my seat where my real loyalty is.)"

Tonight was the night.

I was pleased that Kolzig got a warm reception from the fans, and more pleased that I did not hear and jeers or boos.

When Washington scored on the first shot, my completely visceral reaction?

I cringed and said a bad word.

My mom raised her eyebrows.

Then I clapped, and when Olie gave up the second shot too, I clapped, but it probably wasn't as heartfelt a clap as I would normally gave given the second goal of the game.

But it gets worse. In the second period, on a power play, Gary Roberts (who is older than I am, so I automatically love him), set up by Mark Recchi (who is also older than I am) and Martin St. Louis (who is just a kid, but I've mentioned before that he's my favorite player to never play in Washington) scored.

And I...um...was briefly out of my chair with a cheer until I realized what I had done.

I pretty much sat on my hands the rest of the night.

I'm thinking, though: it's Tampa Bay. Technically, divisional rivals, but it's hard to muster any hatred of Tampa Bay. Put a bunch of players you like on a team to which you are neutral, funny things might happen.

I'm pretty sure, if Olie had signed in, say, Pittsburgh, there would have been no divided loyalty at all.

Posted by Nic at November 10, 2008 11:37 PM | TrackBack