Why, and Why Columbus

My first blog is going to be why I became a hockey fan. I want to make some things clear. I am not a hockey expert, I am not the biggest Columbus Blue Jackets fan, and this blog will not be the best out there. All I want to do is post my thoughts as a new hockey fan and an outsider. I know I don't best grammar in the world, but I have always been a fan of content. My back ground is in speech, not writing, so I will try to do my best. I have written literally hundreds of blogs about racing, including one that lead to a fast food chain removing and add campaign. With that being stated...lets learn why I watch hockey.

I didn't get into to hockey like most other fans. A lot of people have friends or family who are into the game, or they live in a city that is the home base for a team. Well, no one in my family was into hockey, nor were my friends. As for living near a team, that is not the case either, I live in West Virginia where there are no professional sports teams. So, what was it that made me watch hockey, and pick the Columbus Blue Jackets as my team?I am a person that has a lot of varied interest. I am into cars, racing, and films. That pretty much does it for "masculine" interests. However, I love to cook, devout "Project Runway" fan, and love the Theatre. I realized that my feminine hobbies were starting to pile up, and my others were ones in which I was finding boring. So, about 14 months ago I decided that I needed a change. I was lying in bed and thought "I should start watching hockey." That night I did a search with my Dish Network DVR and found a few games.When I initially started to watch I was pretty sure I was going to follow the Coyotes. Keep in mind I had no prior knowledge of the sport, and only knew of a few teams: The Red Wings, The Rangers, and The Coyotes. Now, one may ask "Why the Coyotes?" That won't be answered here...sorry. The Blue Jackets were nowhere on my radar, and I, like most non-hockey fans had no idea there was a team in Ohio. In fact, In December of 08, I vowed to never go back to Columbus after a very bad Speech Tournament, and being attack by a homeless person.

So, how did I become one of the people who were about to rock? Where I live the only Fox Sports Network available is FSOHIO. Thus, I had no choice but to watch the Blue Jackets.That alone did not make me a fan. I started watching a few months into the incredible run that Steve Mason was having in net. He was getting a lot of attention, and the media was making a big deal about his play helping to possibly get the team to the playoffs for the first time. This led to research, and I found out that Columbus is really an underdog team. I watched the team march to the playoffs for the first time and became a fan.

I was not able to go to a game in the 08-09 season due to school schedules and so on, but I did go to the Draft Party. I managed to drag my sister along for the two hour drive...she was hooked shortly after that. I met Jared Boll during the the autograph session, he signed my jersey, shook my hand, and in that instance I knew I could never beat him in an arm wrestling match. The thing about Boll i found interesting was that he was genuinely happy to meet the fans. Since that time I have interacted with him on a couple of different occasions, and each time he still seems to enjoy the fan interaction.In October my sister and I went to our first game. In total we have ventured to Columbus seven times this season. (Six games and also Hockey Fest) Before the season ends we will make one last trip to Columbus for the last game of the season. We have sat in the front row, and above the IGS Energy blimp...and most places in between. I love the goal horn, the Cannon, and the overall patriotic aspect of the team. I must say that I am glad that I found this sport, and this team. I truly believe the Columbus Blue Jackets Organization treat their fans better than any other team in the league. The Blue Jackets have great players, a great arena, and it all makes for a great experience.

OVERTIME: (I am going to end all of my blogs with a funny story.)At the draft party we had to choose which player to get into line for in order to get an autograph. I chose Boll because everyone else was going for Mason. I thought I would do the "Right Thing" and go for Boll. People were leaving his line in herds to get in line for Mason. I felt bad for Boll and stayed. I had my sister get in the Mason line because she liked him, and really wanted to meet him. I ended up getting stuck behind a Kate Gosselin clone and her family. This was one of those Upper Middle Class types who spoiled her brats rotten. Her kid was upset about not getting to meet Mason, and mommy decided to have a teaching moment right there in the entrance to the HD lounge. I t was at that moment I caught a whiff of mommy's breath and it smelled like the entire Miller Brewing Company. She was drinking...a lot. They were sending people to Boll in small groups. The woman ran off to other line and decided to leave her daughter, who was maybe three or four years old behind. She just forgot about her. I motioned for the security guard asked him to take the girl over to her family and was amazed by total lack of parenting. I thought I had a horrible experience dealing with people, but I was wrong...Ashley Simpson Wrong.I caught up to my sister who was still sitting in line to meet Mason. She had been there for about an hour and looked somewhat distraught. She did not say why at the time. She met mason, who also signed my jersey, and we left Nationwide. I asked on the way to my car what had happened. She then informed me that the man to her right, who was elderly, decided to tell her his life story...including the fact that he was a bisexual, and told her about what his turn ons were. Now I am as open minded as they come, but that's not really what I call "first interaction with a stranger" topics. In the end, we had fun, and even got to know the colorful rainbow that is Columbus Ohio.