Navin R Slavin
Fifth line center
Sometimes I wonder why I'm a sports fan at all.
I mean, life is full of enough frustrating ******** as it is without actively volunteering for more platefuls of it -- and being a fan of a team like Your Carolina Hurricanes often feels like it's just begging for heartache for no reason.
I've had reason to reflect more on my fandom -- just lately in general, and today in particular -- and I kinda think I've figured out what it is that keeps me investing my time and emotional energy in this dumb stickpuck sport.
It's you guys, mostly.
I spend a lot of time on this board, as it turns out!
Like, a *lot* of time. It's basically wired into my fingers. When I'm bored at work, when I'm on the crapper with my phone, when I should probably be listening to my wife, I'm surfing to see what's new with you guys.
I've spent a big chunk of my life in participating in, and ultimately making my living from, online communities. I still remember dialing up BBSes from my old 9600 baud modem when I was a goofy-looking, nerdy, lonely kid in Zebulon NC. Those old message board days were amazing. Before the internet, they connected me to worlds and people that I didn't know existed -- and one of the reasons I've got such a fondness for HFB is that it hearkens back to those days. The only ones who stick around a message board, at this point, are the ones who *really* want to stick around.
One of the things I've learned as I've studied community over the years is that the thing you're talking about is never just the thing you're talking about. We talk about the Canes, sure -- that's why we're here -- but we're really talking about ourselves and each other. Day jobs, health scares, lots of beer, food, music, the proper use of Klingon bat'leths, Chad LaRose's dreamy smiles, wives hot and otherwise, maybe even a little politics now and then before we regain our senses.
On one hand, I don't know any of you guys at all. In another way, I know you better than I know some of my own family members. You certainly get more of my time and attention than some of those family members.
And from what I've seen, y'all are the tops. You're smart, passionate, deeply knowledgeable fans of a franchise that gets constantly **** on and ignored. Collectively, you all know Carolina Hurricanes hockey better than damned near anybody on the planet, with the (possible) exception of people of who actually work in the org. For my money, you're the best little fan base of any team of any sport in the world, and I mean that.
And because we're such a tight knit little group, I think maybe I react a little more... uh, aggressively?... than I might otherwise when some carpetbagging Big Hockey types come in and throw their weight around.
If I should ever shoot my mouth off once too often one day and end up with the asterisk next to my name, I'd hate to have never told you how much I value our friendship in this weird little corner of the internet.
Dave, GP, THH, thanks for everything you do to keep this motley crew together.
I mean, life is full of enough frustrating ******** as it is without actively volunteering for more platefuls of it -- and being a fan of a team like Your Carolina Hurricanes often feels like it's just begging for heartache for no reason.
I've had reason to reflect more on my fandom -- just lately in general, and today in particular -- and I kinda think I've figured out what it is that keeps me investing my time and emotional energy in this dumb stickpuck sport.
It's you guys, mostly.
I spend a lot of time on this board, as it turns out!
Like, a *lot* of time. It's basically wired into my fingers. When I'm bored at work, when I'm on the crapper with my phone, when I should probably be listening to my wife, I'm surfing to see what's new with you guys.
I've spent a big chunk of my life in participating in, and ultimately making my living from, online communities. I still remember dialing up BBSes from my old 9600 baud modem when I was a goofy-looking, nerdy, lonely kid in Zebulon NC. Those old message board days were amazing. Before the internet, they connected me to worlds and people that I didn't know existed -- and one of the reasons I've got such a fondness for HFB is that it hearkens back to those days. The only ones who stick around a message board, at this point, are the ones who *really* want to stick around.
One of the things I've learned as I've studied community over the years is that the thing you're talking about is never just the thing you're talking about. We talk about the Canes, sure -- that's why we're here -- but we're really talking about ourselves and each other. Day jobs, health scares, lots of beer, food, music, the proper use of Klingon bat'leths, Chad LaRose's dreamy smiles, wives hot and otherwise, maybe even a little politics now and then before we regain our senses.
On one hand, I don't know any of you guys at all. In another way, I know you better than I know some of my own family members. You certainly get more of my time and attention than some of those family members.
And from what I've seen, y'all are the tops. You're smart, passionate, deeply knowledgeable fans of a franchise that gets constantly **** on and ignored. Collectively, you all know Carolina Hurricanes hockey better than damned near anybody on the planet, with the (possible) exception of people of who actually work in the org. For my money, you're the best little fan base of any team of any sport in the world, and I mean that.
And because we're such a tight knit little group, I think maybe I react a little more... uh, aggressively?... than I might otherwise when some carpetbagging Big Hockey types come in and throw their weight around.
If I should ever shoot my mouth off once too often one day and end up with the asterisk next to my name, I'd hate to have never told you how much I value our friendship in this weird little corner of the internet.
Dave, GP, THH, thanks for everything you do to keep this motley crew together.
Last edited by a moderator: