Today when going through my daily morning blog, newspaper and other news-related readings I realized the time is finally upon us. It is the time that all hockey fans dread, a handful of weeks that we hope will pass faster than ever.
The weeks sandwitched between the Draft and the start of training camps are those devoid of excitement and suspense. Why? Because hockey’s vacation in the summer months. Even though free agency is upon us and development camp is just around the corner, my beloved sport takes a hiatus. There is no news, no inspirational postings. Empty is my day of the anticipation of an upcoming game that night.
I suppose that being a fan of the Hershey Bears, I have nothing to complain about on this front. We in central Pa have grown quite accustomed to long seasons and short summers. I think, however, that the excitement of winning The Cup makes the sudden drop-off in news and activity that much steeper. For weeks I have been flooded with reports from across the nation (and continent, actually) about our, well, greatness. Championshipness if you will.
But now…nothing. All is quiet on the hockey front.
So this begs the question: what do fans do in the offseason? Resume our daily life of work and try and find other ways to entertain ourselves? (Or perhaps I should say resume work for those of us who quit their jobs to fly to Texas to watch the greatest comeback the league has ever seen.)
I have never been more convinced that this is the very reason why baseball was created – to fill the hockey offseason with a sports distraction until the ice hardens once again.
In this spirit, go Braves and let the offseason pass as swiftly as the season always travels.
