Sweet Tea, Barbecue, and Bodychecks

So–a SlugThug has decided to engage me in the commentbox of this post, claiming that the Hurricanes are “one of the 5 worst champions of the last 20 years” (let me guess, the 1999 Dallas Stars are in that group too, right?) and that “the numbers prove it”. He’s blithely ignored requests from one of my compadres to explain the Sabres’ craptacular record against the Southeast Division in 05-06 by invoking the “everything I say three times is true” rule, and he’s apparently decided to come back and attempt to reassert whatever dominance he thinks he’s already asserted after a two-week hiatus (gee, couldn’t have ANYTHING to do with the Sabres advancing to the ECF now, would it?)

I get what he’s trying to do–he’s trying to browbeat me into “admitting” that the ‘Canes “stole” a Cup that “rightfully” belonged to the Sabres last season. He’s trying to maneuver me into “admitting” that the Hurricanes “didn’t deserve to win” a Cup that “belonged” to the Sabres (even though their team’s name is not now and never has been on it). And that’s not going to happen. That’s never going to happen–and you know why?

Because the team that deserves it is the team that wins it. Always. Breaks or no breaks, great luck or not-so-great luck.

I believe I have mentioned something like this before–not my fault if you choose to disregard it, kids (and hey, whaddaya know, I also said something in the past about acting the fool in another team’s house–hey wow, the more things change…)

You can claim that Buffalo has more thuggish better fans (which makes me laugh, considering that their attendance was worse than the Hurricanes’ at the start of this decade–and the Rigas debacle is not an acceptable excuse, Sabres fans. If the Leafs could sell out their building year after year in the 70s and 80s despite incompetent/criminal ownership and a bottom-feeding team, you should have done the same), you can claim that Buffalo is a festering cesspit a better town, you can claim whatever you want–but the cream always rises to the top, whether one likes it or not. If the Sabres win–and that is still a huge IF, because they haven’t even started the Conference Finals yet much less the Cup Finals–then, obviously, they deserve it despite the genetic sludge that comprises the overwhelming bulk of their fanbase and good for them.

But you can’t have it both ways, bittermen. You can’t claim that the Hurricanes were 2nd in the East only because they play in the Southeast Division without admitting that the Sabres are 1st overall because they played well in the Northeast Division (with an identical divisional record to the 05-06 Hurricanes, I might add: 18-11-3).

You also can’t bash the N&O for trying to cater to n00b fans last season without bashing Buffalo’s mayor for talking this season about how the Sabres have attracted a bunch of n00bs (NYT link, login required) that didn’t follow hockey before.

But I guess none of that counts, since the Hurricanes are south of the Mason-Dixon Line–right?

Riiiight.

Go to Hel, Buffalo–and take the Red Wings with you.

1. roddie says:

   7 May, 2007 at 1:52 pm

   1997 Dallas Stars?
2. Leo says:

   7 May, 2007 at 6:42 pm

   At this point in time, I just want one of the teams from the Western Conference to win the cup. In that case, it’ll either be Detroit or a team from California.

   It’d be so much more amusing for one of the California teams to win.
3. BK says:

   7 May, 2007 at 8:25 pm

   You know, I’ve read this blog since the ECF last year. I’ve left a few comments. On the whole, it’s been kind of fun, the give and the take and whatnot.

   But I’m done now. You are so bitter and mean-spirited that I don’t even get mad at your posts, I just end up feeling sorry for you as a person. I am sure you are sub jected to all sorts of mean crap from Buffalo fans, too – but if you play that game, I guess that’s what you get.

   I am a lifelong Sabre fan. Loved ‘em since I was a kid. But whatever, that doesn’t matter. I’m sick of defending them in forums like this, or getting angry over the attempts that “prove” how the team really sucks, despite what the numbers say. If they win this year, I will be elated. If they lose, I will be crushed.

   But you know what? It’s just hockey. When I start to see my city refered to as a “festering cesspit” and our fans described as “genetic sludge” then I know it’s time to check out.

   I don’t know why you blog if it makes you so angry. I hope you find whatever it is that is missing in what must be a difficult life for you, because obviously the Stanley Cup didn’t fill it.

   Best of luck in the future, and I hope that the wonderful sport of hockey can someday be more to you than just another forum to express your frustration and hostility.
4. acidqueen says:

   7 May, 2007 at 9:11 pm

   You are so bitter and mean-spirited

   Speak for yourself much? I mean, really–all that you’ve done here is get ill with me for having an opinion and refusing to take drek from drekheads.

   I’m sick of defending them in forums like this, or getting angry over the attempts that “prove” how the team really sucks, despite what the numbers say.

   Who said I was trying to prove that the Sabres suck? Not me. But what I am doing is calling out a double-standard. I guess that’s just not acceptable, huh?

   When I start to see my city refered to as a “festering cesspit” and our fans described as “genetic sludge” then I know it’s time to check out.
   

   I’ve heard far worse things said about my city and the people who live there by Buffalo fans–so I’d say that turnabout’s fair play.

   Angry? No. Willing to give like for like? Absolutely.
5. acidqueen says:

   7 May, 2007 at 9:13 pm

   1997 Dallas Stars?

   Doh! Damn typos.
6. Christopher Schmidt says:

   8 May, 2007 at 2:36 pm

   You know, I am probably counted among one of the worst people Acid Queen can think of when it comes to Buffalonians, or Sabers Fans. On another site the two of us argue so badly and spit so much venom at each other that we often risk being banned from the site all together.
   But you wanna know what.? She is absolutely correct. Buffalo lost. I am a dyed in the wool, hardcore, played on the Junior Sabers, attended Hasek’s training camps, had season tickets since i was 4, SABERS FAN. But I have accepted the fact that they lost last year to a better team. No excuses, no more what if’’s, or they only lost because, no more Carolina stole the Cup. Plain and Simple. Buffalo had an amazing season, but lost to a better team. I have accepted that, just like I accept they lost in 1975. I won’t mention 1999, because like the city of Buffalo as a whole, I still don’t accept that call. I accept they lost, just don’t accept the call. The Sabers lost last year and the Hurricanes went and won the cup. I finally accept that, and give credit to a very very good team. What is it you always say AQ? No undeserving team ever won the Cup. That is 100% true. The Hurricanes out played Buffalo, and then Edmonton and they won the Cup like they deserved. Some of the Sabers fans make me look like a damn church mouse by comparison. Yes, our beloved city lost 4 Super Bowls in a row, lost the cup in 1999 due to bad call, but that doesn’t mean you have to go around sounding like some inbreed half witted idiot all the time.
   We all know Buffalo is know for it’s rabidly loyal fans, but we also forget that many also view us as poorly as fans of the Oakland Raiders because 85% of the fans act like 5 year olds on sugar highs, tossing snow balls a commentators during bills games, throwing beer at players as they come onto the ice, or toss garbage at opponents of the Bandits. What does that prove? That we are such loyal fans. No that the bulk of the fans are retards. I’d like to count myself among the other 15% but its difficult to do when the rabid 4 year old make the rest of look bad.

   Quit dwelling on last year. Quit making excuses, and do what the damn Sabers did. focused on this year and the Quest for the Cup.
   ~C
7. Kate says:

   8 May, 2007 at 8:00 pm

   What will do if it is a Sabres/Wings final? Move to another country? LOL. Talk to you soon!
8. acidqueen says:

   8 May, 2007 at 8:20 pm

   On another site the two of us argue so badly and spit so much venom at each other that we often risk being banned from the site all together.

   And I am giving you and the Sabres just as much respect as you gave to me and the Hurricanes all last season and all this season–none.

   The “feud” that you feel exists is entirely one-sided; to me, there is no feud. I simply return like for like, and I frankly want nothing to do with you because you’ve shown your true colours time and time again.

   (And the Sabres did not lose the Cup in 1999–they lost the opportunity to force a Game 7, nothing more and nothing less.)
9. redblackhockey says:

   8 May, 2007 at 9:46 pm

   ….and that game seven (presuming the Sabres would have won game six) would have been in Dallas.
10. WufPirate says:

    10 May, 2007 at 6:14 am

    Once again:

    The Buffalo Bills have won as many Super Bowls as the Sabres have won Stanley Cups.

    This Sabres team has been extremely fun to watch. No team can drive the offensive zone like they do.

    It’s not the team themselves that draws my angst. The dislike factor stems from how rude and obnoxious the Sabres fans were in Raleigh during the ECF in ‘06.

    Sure, it’s fine to be rowdy and cheer on your team. But smashing the hoods of cars in the parking lot? Throwing punches in the stands because you can’t handle your booze? What a disgrace.
11. acidqueen says:

    10 May, 2007 at 8:34 pm

    But smashing the hoods of cars in the parking lot? Throwing punches in the stands because you can’t handle your booze? What a disgrace.

    That’s not a disgrace–that’s a sign that they’re “good, loyal fans”. Come on man, get with the pogrom here.
12. Doogie2K says:

    14 May, 2007 at 10:40 pm

    You know, they’d probably get bored and go home if you didn’t rise to their bait every damned time.

    “Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”
    –Oscar Wilde

    Just a thought. As you were.
13. acidqueen says:

    15 May, 2007 at 8:30 am

    You know, they’d probably get bored and go home if you didn’t rise to their bait every damned time.

    Oh, I dunno–whether I ignore them or not, they keep trying to post.

    Hopefully the Sens will finish them off on Wednesday (and hopefully you’ll update the webcomic).
14. Chet Zeshonski says:

    17 May, 2007 at 10:35 am

    You are a bitter, bitter person. I skip this site most of the time because of that bitterness. I don’t care what some drunken fans did to cars, I don’t care that you can’t admit that 500 games carry more statistical weight than 40 games, I don’t care that you can’t admit the Hurricanes got all the breaks, and I don’t care that you do all the “three times” crap around here and blame everybody else for disagreeing with you. Also, I’m quite tired of your lame “we don’t count because we’re south of the Mason-Dixon Line” rhetoric. It has nothing to do with anything I or anyone else has said.

    Also, because you’re too lazy to think through your Hurricane Haze, I’ll provide you with the list of Stanley Cup champs 16-20 over the last 20 years in reverse chronological order:

    16. 2006 Carolina Hurricanes: Got more breaks than a shattered legbone, yet still needed 7 games to finish off their last two crippled opponents.

    17. 2004 Tampe Bay Lightning: No goaltending to speak of, didn’t beat any team of consequence, and somehow a 40-year-old Dave Andreychuk was one of their best players.

    18. 1993 Montreal Canadiens: Won a record number of OT games, largely on the strength of Patrick Roy and nothing else. Got a huge break when Alexander Mogilny broke his leg in the first round of the playoffs.

    19. 1990 Edmonton Oilers: A non-descript team that somehow got into the finals as a very low seed with no stars. Just a complete fluke.

    20. 1986 Montreal Canadiens: Another out-of-nowhere team. Ran a molten-hot Patrick Roy to a title, did nothing for the next 7 years.

    Gee, look at that – the 1999 Dallas Stars (a very good team) aren’t on that list. I’ll leave you to your idiotic “all teams that win deserve to do so” mantra and your likely “all champs are therefore equally ranked” corollary. God forbid you should open your mind up to the possibility that there have been better and more deserving champs than your beloved Hurricanes. Enjoy the rest of your bitter blog.
15. acidqueen says:

    17 May, 2007 at 2:59 pm

    You are a bitter, bitter person.

    As I said to your hanger-on “bk”:

    Speak for yourself much?

    And for that matter, please explain how the 1995 New Jersey Devils aren’t on that list–after all, they failed to make the playoffs the season after winning their first Cup too.

    Or better yet, don’t. You say that you don’t care, and yet you keep coming here. If you find this blog so onerous to read because I keep saying things that make you so uncomfortable, then feel free to go elsewhere.
16. mntineer says:

    18 May, 2007 at 12:20 pm

    I’m curious who’s really bitter here Chet, AQ, whose team has already won the Cup, or you, a fan of a team who has never won a Cup and is yet again looking at into the pit of finals obilivion?

    It would seem to me that someone bitter would seek to justify failure, which seems to be the refrain of most of your commentary on BBST. Chet, you’re truly the bitterman here.

    Why dontcha start hanging out on the Sens blogs and think up reasons why Ottowa as been sooooooooo lucky vs. Sluggalo. I’m sure the Sens fans would love to hear all about it.