I have to admit, I am kind of bummed. I have always been proud to be a hockey fan.  We (at least us in the States) are a bit of an anomaly.  A community that sticks to their team with passion only found in the NFL after 5 hours of pregame beer and brats.  Or the NBA after dropping a few hundred bucks on some Jordan’s (or Kobe’s?).  And even during the best moments in the MLB (World Series), baseball has that pastoral picnic quality then we can jump in and out of during the course of 162 games. 

If anyone doubts the pure passion hockey fans bring to the table, browse some of the archives posts of A2Y, Malik’s relentless reports or basically anything in the comments section of any post found here (seriously just pick any random post). 

I am secretly satisfied whenever the latest controversy pops up in the other 3 major U.S. professional sports.  Who is the latest to cheat, break the law, talk bad about their team.  What insanely strong man has decided to "teach" his wife a lesson?  Who shot who?  Who got shot?  Money, drugs, fame.  I can’t pretend to understand the world of professional sports other than to know I am more likely to end up on the front page of the paper for doing something stupid then Pavel Datsyuk. 

I know hockey isn't perfect.  We have our fair share of controversy.  I understand that the lack of most Americans caring about hockey probably helps damper the drama.  But still.  Hockey players are walking cliché machines.  They say the right things, they stay out of the spotlight. 

They have foundations and charities and are saving the world one goal at a time.  Ok, maybe I wearing blinders.