CrashingTheGoalie

by desertdawg
One of the things I learned playing organized sports at a young age was that pre-game preparation was supremely important to game success.
And even as an adult playing in those comical, old-timer beer leagues, I could never understand the guys who showed up ten minutes before game time, quickly donned the equipment, and then strolled out to the ice surface to compete for…well, really, competing for almost nothing except maybe some medals in the odd tournament. But still, I always arrived at least an hour early to the dressing room…lifting out my smelly old equipment from a bag that had duct tape mending a couple of rips, BS-ing with the guys, checking out my sticks (a couple of two by fours marketed by Koho) and generally savoring the moment. And maybe thinking about bulging the twine once or twice and then…just living out the dream
Sap that I am, I still have those medals.
My pre-game preparation for tonight’s game is a little different.

I’m sitting in a First Class Lounge, swilling Courvoisier like it’s diet coke, and listening to Tommy Larscheid and the Moj on Team 1040. Ah, free booze and wi-fi. What better pre-game prep could you ask for?
Tommy is not drinking but just the same, he sounds pretty high. He loves the city right now. Every fan is wearing the colours. Every second car is flying a Canuck flag. Many of the marquees on the hotels and motels are showing support for our guys. Just a magical time of the year.
But let’s not lose sight of the fact that there are fans all over the world right now, from Australia to Thailand, from India to England, and from Ireland to Saskatchewan who are listening to the same broadcast we are.
Communication has changed a bit since my friend Gordie Kerster invited me over to watch coloured TV back in 1965…notice how the eyes seem to follow you…no, maybe that was the old movie The In-Laws. And thanks to satellite TV and the internet, fans all over the world can watch or listen to the second game tonight. The Versus Network will show the game when I arrive back in the desert this evening, just around supper time. But there will be live streaming video broadcasts…I don’t have the link but Google will…and all you have to do is head to the local internet café and for a few pesos or drachmas or whatever, you can cheer the guys on.
As my old Grandpa used to say, ain’t the modern world just grand.
As for pre-game preparation…while I suggest any brandy is probably the most reliable, really any grain or grape will do. And for those of you with Glaucoma, well, then it really doesn’t matter if the game is in High Def or not, does it?
I’m just hoping that Roberto’s preparation tonight is better than mine.