Colorado Avalanche: The Joy of Being a Fan

There are few things as glorious as being a fan of hockey; and — more importantly — being a fan of the Colorado Avalanche is an honor.

I have to write one of these sappy articles about the Colorado Avalanche at least one time a year, and it’s generally this time of year that I release it to the masses.

Let’s just take a moment to discuss fandom across the world. The Hull City Tigers — a European Soccer Club — have one of the greatest chants known to mankind. Let me show you:

“Take my hand, take my whole life too because I can’t help falling in love with you.” In case you’re wondering, that’s not an original Hull City chant, but a song by Elvis Presley adapted to where it truly belongs: as a ballad for the fans to sing to their team.

And when a wise man told me that “only fools rush in” I responded by saying that “I can’t help falling in love with” the Colorado Avalanche. I’ve been lobbying for that chant within the Pepsi Center ever since a good English football gentleman introduced me to his team and their level of fan dedication.

Would you like to see how far that dedication extends? This is a quote by the late Sir Bobby Robson — who is basically English royalty — and it sums up the love I have for hockey, and I’m sure that others have for hockey, quite aptly.

What is a club in any case? Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it. It’s not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes. It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city. It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.

I know it says turf instead of ice, but just ignore that part and take the rest in.

“And, without being able to do a thing about, falling in love…” There’s obviously some other quotable things that stick out like: “the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city,” that could also apply well to the enjoyment of being a fan, but I know that I’ve never been able to do a thing about loving the Colorado Avalanche.

It’s an investment into a lifestyle completely and utterly out of your control, the realization that you might get burned for your love, and the recognition that at the end of the day you don’t give a damn as long as you at least loved and invested fully.

That’s what we’re all doing as the beginning of the season nears. As Jared Bednar takes over the newly vacated helm of head coach, as we deal with the departure of a legend from the fold, and as we prepare for another season of expectations, desires and dedication to a cause we have no control over.

To me — as a fan — it’s about recognizing that I have no control.

More from Mile High Sticking

As a fan, I recognize that I cannot influence the way the team plays throughout the season; the only control I have is in how much I am willing to invest into the team, and how much I am willing to surrender to the idea that I can’t help but fall in love.

And that is what makes being a fan of the Colorado Avalanche one of the most enjoyable things in the world to me; in other words, I have complete and utter control in how much I am willing to invest to the cause, and I am never disappointed by my dedication to loving this team.

So, as the beginning of the season nears, it’s almost like:

If you’ve never listened to the lyrics of this song then I suggest you take the time to actually sit down and listen to the lyrics. Sure, the song itself might be a bit cheesy, but the lyrics are amazing.

It tells the story of a man tired of his wife who finds a fun woman in the personal section of a newspaper, and agrees to meet this lady and escape his wife.

Once he shows up at their meeting location he is shocked to see his wife. He never knew that she liked pina coladas and making love at midnight.

So — and just bear with me here — don’t forget that you’ve been through a lot with this team, that you have experienced her highs, and felt the rock-bottom of her lows. And, that you can’t help falling in love with her anyway.

Next: Jared Bednar is Cause for Cautious Optimism

That’s what it means to be a fan: when you realize after all these years that you have loved the same team, and might still know very little about her, and that she could surprise you by liking pina coladas and making love at midnight.

I’m not sure I could say it better, I’m truly proud of this one folks but unfortunately no one wants to read about what it means to be a fan. They want the premium news; nonetheless, I’m going to put it out there anyway because anyone interested in what being a fan means should read this.

It’s about realizing that the team you love can always surprise you and rekindle the love that was always hot in the coals beneath the fire, and that you ultimately cannot help but fall in love with the spectacle before you.

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