CROSBY HOLDS MORE GRASP OF HABS LORE THAN MONTREAL RIOTERS

There was a time when a berth in the Wales Conference Finals would render little more than handshakes from Atwater to St. Denis streets.  Nowadays, it appropriates looting and pillaging of storefronts, injuring police officers and service animals, and burning Olympic heroes in effigy.

Montreal police indicated that the trouble came from non-fans.  But internet photos, including one of Sidney Crosby being burned in effigy, suggest otherwise.  How ironic.  As a student of the game, Crosby has a far deeper grasp of Canadiens lore than the delinquent miscreants mocking his image.  Go ahead and boo.  That’s healthy and expected. Such is the dynamic of sports bigamy* created by Olympic hockey.  You think Jonathan Toews felt the love in Vancouver this past week?  Think again.

But before they break another window or toast another beer to their beloved Habs, these “fans” should reflect on the true spirit of hockey, a spirit celebrated peacefully across Canada this past February.  Perhaps they might embark on a study of the Canadiens teams that came before, and attempt to understand with certainty what a 25^th Stanley Cup would give to their shining city.

Remember that you are your city.  And in the end, let the winner be the game of hockey that you claim to love so much.  Let that remain.  Take coach Vince Lombardi’s advice.  Act like you’ve been there before.

* credit to Bill Simmons of ESPN for the term “sports bigamy”