That’s Hockey, Right?

It’s really hard when someone hasn’t heard of your favorite team.

I didn’t go to some remote area half way around the globe.  I only traveled to relax and find some sun seeing as how it’s been MIA in Ohio.  Metaphorically and for real.  As a matter of fact, when I roll into my driveway in a day, I’ll come home to (say it with me, everyone…) rain, colder than usual temperatures and grey skies.  Oh, San Jose Sharks you are looking better and better! 

So, anyway…there I was.  In this store with miles of sports jerseys of every color and size and shape and every weirdo foam beer can keep-it-cold deal you can think of.  Stupid toys and magnets and socks and even dog clothes with team logos.  I was thinking, “Holy Smokes, BO-NAN-ZUH, Blue Jacket crap and lots of it…

Wrong.  And this is where it gets spooky for me.  Spooky and really heart-breaking at the same time.  I was wandering around the store with my little hockey fella, ready to spend some cashola, and this young man asks if I needed anything (loaded statement, and Kristina from Cardiac Cane, mind your manners on this…)  and we said we were looking for Blue Jackets stuff, please just point…

And this fella looks up toward heaven and screws his face up and asks, “That’s…uh…hmm…oh-Hockey-? Right?”  And then he looks at me like I should be real proud of him (he was a handsome kid) and maybe give him a high-five or a prize for getting this obscure as hell Jeopardy! question.

“Um” he says…we really don’t have any hockey stuff (and listen, this place was the Home Depot of sports stuff…a big ol’ warehouse thing) and I interrupt this lad and ask “Not even Panthers or Tampa Bay?  You realize Tampa Bay could take The Cup this year…you’re not even gonna jump on board with all that?”  He shakes his head and says “Nah.”  

Oh…My…GOD!! 

…And then he says…nobody would know what the heck it is.

(And this is the part where Mary’s head spins around, effectively and absolutely freaking everyone in the store out and permanently scarring young children.  My 6 year old’s head was already spinning like a broken Nash bobble-head.)

The boy and I backed out of the store, feeling like kids who just found out Santa’s a big fake.  You mean there are people who DON”T know about the Blue Jackets?  They don’t know who Rick Nash is or Brass or Mase?!  Really?

Do other fans feel insulted when someone doesn’t know who their beloved team is?

Is that hockey.  Geesh.