CrashingTheGoalie

by Ron Spence

It’s monsooning here in Kumerung. When I go for walks, I have to watch out for the snakes.

I sit in front of my computer, and things are a little empty without the Canucks – gone are my hopes, my disappointment….

Life will go on, and so will another season – always a season of hope.

I followed most of the ‘nucks’ campaign from my computer – when the internet was working. Sometimes the rain storms would wipe out the phone lines.

Hockey in rural Thailand.

When in Canada, I watched the games at the Sharks Club, my buddies’ homes, and one for a period and a half on a B.C. Ferry.

On another ferry television was Tree House and Bob the Builder. Some of the ‘nucks’ GMs – from the past – should have watched those shows. Bob could have taught them a thing or two.

I’m not including Mike Gillis in this lot, as I think that he is the best thing that the Canucks have going for them.

But, most of my ‘nucks’ fix came from radio, online newspapers and blogs.

When I think back to the season, I remember Tommy and the Dawg.

I knew that it was going to be an interesting game – 6 – when “Tony O” was dropping the puck, and Tommy asked Shorty, “Do you think that he’s had some work done on his face?”

courtesy of duffersnight.com

I just cracked up – my pre-game tension had abated – and Tony Esposito does have that generic Paul Anka face lift look.

Tommy takes no prisoners. When someone is playing well, Tommy is his biggest supporter. When he f…up, Tommy calls him out right away.

I always know when the Canucks have erred – before Shorty has a chance to articulate it – when Tommy groans.

Regardless of who was calling the game, Tommy was always the same. He was the ‘nucks’ constant, and I didn’t like listening to the tv commentators who covered the Canucks. They were too analytical, showed little or no emotion and wouldn’t really name names.

I hated those bogus Team 1040 cell phone ads, and could have sworn that I heard an ad for a facelift doctor – maybe Tommy’s getting a deal.

Tom Larscheid, like myself and the Dawg, is an old cat who sees the game through a ten-years-old’s eyes. He’s never lost his love for the game, interacting with the players, talking about people from all walks of the hockey world.

And I enjoyed the Dawg’s work as much as Tommy’s this season.

Bill equals Tommy in enthusiasm, love of the game, and hockey knowledge.

The Dawg is a professional musician who fit in the games with his gigs. He would write his pre-game bit, watch part of the game, and then tape the rest when he was out playing.

He never missed a blog.

I got a kick – on more than one occasion – listening to the game in Vancouver, filing the dawg’s piece quickly when I had reached the Taipei airport, and then rushing to catch the plane to Bangkok.

What I particularly like about the Dawg’s work is that he hangs it out – says what he really feels – and adds his personality into his writing. He sees the big picture, as well as the details.

He’s as far from a main stream columnist as you can get – although he’s a former newspaper guy and broadcaster.

The Dawg’s also a trained psychologist, which was important in dealing with this year’s Canucks.

*****

I sit remembering the 2008-09 season – and thanks to Tommy and the Dawg – the ride was almost as good as a Cup win could have been.

Well, not quite….