Life as a New York Rangers Fan

On my debut blog post for Ranger Nation, I would just like to re-post a forum article I wrote before today's game. This was a situation that happened last night and I would like to share it with you all so we as a Ranger Nation can stay true to what we love and believe in, our Broadway Blueshirts.


Last night I was at a bar on Long Island, seeing my friend's band play. 

The last couple days I've been getting myself pumped up for these weekend games, loving the fact that the next six months of my life will be dedicated to hockey. So traditionally, I celebrated this opening day eve by wearing my Brendan Shanahan blue sweater to the bar.

I had Ranger fans walking up to me the whole night getting into every kind of conversation there is. From "We shoulda re-signed Shanny," to "They don't need Avery and Jagr," to "Have you seen this Korpi kid?" and my favorite, "Henrik will win 40, shut out 12 and notch his first Vezina Trophy."

It was a nice feeling, all these strangers immediately becoming family members.  Rangers fans really do have that way about us.  We support each other no matter what—we're one crazy family.

On the other side of the fence, I'm on Long Island, a raunchy, sleazy place, where if you don't know someone you count as their enemy. Really, I can't wait to move to Brooklyn.

So my friend introduced me to this girl and her sister, and we went outside in the lounge and just started talking a bit—you know how it goes. Then outta nowhere, this big dude gets between the two girls right in my space and says "Yo, you ladies don't need to be talking to this piece of trash Ranger fan.  Why don't you come over here and talk to a real hockey fan."

Whoa. Dude, A.) Back off, you're stealing my thunder. B.) Real hockey fan? You're trying to convince this girl who most likely knows nothing about hockey that a fan of the Islanders is a real hockey fan?

The conversation was never about hockey. He just wanted to rub his nose in because he thought that he could steal away my ladies for being an Islander fan. I can't begin to think how that thought process would even make sense, but they have IQs of of about 12 so I forgive.

Second incident of the night: I go up with my buddy's band to sing some Pearl Jam like we do every show. Afterwards, a girl comes up to me telling me she enjoyed that and she used to be in a band, and on and on and on. She's playing beer pong so I take a minute to cheer her on.

It's down to one cup. I'm giving the old words of encouragement, and everything is cool. Then this bulldyke girl from the other team just starts stomping over to me screaming about something. I can't even tell what she is really saying. I kinda hear "season ticket holder since whenever for the Islanders."

She then shows me her wedding ring and says stay the hell away from my wife. First of all, the fact they are lesbians really makes no difference—but she had the nerve to scream at me just for wearing this well-knit blue sweater of pride? I never even mentioned hockey; she just went ballistic. That led to other problems where somebody wanted to break my neck, but I'll spare you the details on that.

Now after these incidents last night, I got to thinking—why are all Islanders fans screwed in the head? They had an amazing four-year championship run, and yeah, that's the only thing they can really write home about.

Besides that, what the hell is their beef? If I'm at a bar and I see some guy with an Islanders jersey, I laugh to myself or friends I'm with, move about 50 feet away from the guy, and that's the end of it. No fights, no talking nothing. I want nothing to do with them.

But I don't think I've ever seen an Islander fan wear their jersey to a bar. I don't know many Islander fans who actually own their jerseys. Every Ranger fan has at least one and always wears it with pride. Islander fans don't do that. They would much rather waste their time being angry at the Ranger fans then supporting their own.

Don't get me wrong. Who the hell wouldn't be—their team is terrible. But I remember Rangers fans standing by their team from '98 until the lockout. We were out of it by November every year, but we stuck by them no matter what.

So use this story not only to be angry at the Island enemies, but to remember who you are and take pride in that. We root for a team from the greatest city in the world, always remember that. Always know where your fellow blueshirt fans are and make sure you have their back. Love them like family.

Because we are Ranger Nation. An irresistable force mixed with an unmovable object. A team with great history, a suffering one, but an amazing story 14 years ago changed that all—and that's something to be proud of.

So whenever the games about to begin, get out of your chairs and start screaming as if you were at the Garden—LET'S GO RANGERS!