Hockey Night In Canada?

It is with dismay and disgust that I write this post today.  And profound sadness.  Upon a devastating loss to the Boston Bruins, onlookers that took to Vancouver streets to watch the Canucks figured the best way to vindicate their team would be to destroy the city that many people call home.  Perhaps even these rioters, destroyers, angry hateful goons, call Vancouver home, too.  That is certainly hard to believe, however.  If you can destroy the very hand that supports you, what the hell is going on with you?  Are you waking up this morning in a pit of shame and inner disgust?  If this is your home and you took part in the destruction of it, then by Lord, you should feel shame.

Look, people, this was a HOCKEY GAME.  Yes, I know, it was a big one, and I get all the hype about the loss to an American franchise, but COME ON!  Seriously.  We are Canadians and this is not how we roll.   Or, maybe it is?  Have we lost the sportsmanship of our Canadian selves?
Seems to me the true sportsmanship of this Canadian game was lost long ago, and while it is still exciting to watch playoff matches, and it is still fairly fantastic to think our team will win, tell me why we can't be proud of how hard the team worked to get to that spot?  Why can we not celebrate the MANY victories instead of debase ourselves, the host city and our Nation by acting like grade five bullies who have severely disgraceful sportsmanlike conduct?  Sorry, that is an absolute put down to grade five kids.  In the case of a 10 year old hockey player losing his cool, I would bet that A) his anger stems from the greater disappointment of a parent he is modeling and B) he is still learning, and will eventually grow out of that type of behavior.  That is of course if he is taught properly by said parent.
This is what is fundamentally wrong here.  This corporation of hockey has taken these events to a bastardized level of encouraging such animosity amongst its players and fan base.  The media, hungry for viewers, play on the emotions of avid sports fans who have probably been raised in the Canadian hockey culture and who are full of aggression when it comes to this sport.  And finally, our society in general has lost touch with what it means to enjoy a sport.  It is entertainment.  It is for fun.  It is competition that helps the players feel accomplished and gives young ones heroes to look up to.  But all of this has been bastardized and sullied to the point that it all seems meaningless.  Kids coming up through the ranks of this and many other sports are egged on by aggressive moms  and dads who live vicariously through their children.  They push and bully and demean their own children into thinking that  winning is the only option and the only source of pride.  How about the hard work it takes to get to the top?  That is worth so much for a kid, but if all his or her worth is derived from the glory of winning, then where does their self image go?  In the toilet.  And they end up in their early adult hood, drunk on the streets of Vancouver ready to riot and destroy the livelihood of honest business owners and the pride of the city's citizens.  Not to mention the pride of Canadians.  We are a national disgrace due to the sad and terrifying aggression of these young angry people.  And that is a sad mark defining our Nation, this province and the sport of hockey.
Today, I am alive.
Today, I still have healthy self regard.
Today, I am a Canadian and I love my country.
Today, I am sad that people are so angry and are willing to hurt others in order to feel better.
Today I pray for those sad souls and I pray for those who are facing a rebuild of their life because of Hockey.
Today I promise to make sure my children know that sports and competition is for fun and for the love of sport.  Not for creating animosity or anger.  And I will teach my children about the evils of blind media consumption.
Today, although marked with sadness, is still the very best day.
Today.