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 The Blues did play in three
consecutive Stanley Cup championship series’ [from 1968-1970] but
came up empty in all three. Sorry for the bad history lesson and
that I even brought it up. Fast forward or rather back to the
future…
So, when I moved here to the Midwest [to a little town called Mt.
Vernon, Missouri] from my home state of California in January of
1971, I thought I was moving into hockey heaven. I went from the
California Golden Seals, never much of a Stanley Cup threat, to a
team that had just made three consecutive appearances. I thought
they would have to break through soon. Boy, was I wrong. As you can
see my keen sports evaluating skills were even apparent when I was
in high school.
Well, when I moved closer to the Blues to central Illinois in the
70's it opened the door for me to potentially attend even more Blues
hockey games. There was only one problem…I didn’t have any money.
The Blues played in the Checker Dome [some of you know the old barn
as The Arena] and they had crow’s nests behind both nets about as
high and near the ceiling as you could get. The one redeeming
feature-tickets that I might be able to afford…IF I was willing to
sell my body to science…fiction.
No…IF I could come up with some scheme-anything to scrape up enough
cash to buy a seat in the nosebleeds.
I would wait for college night/s for cheap tickets…I introduced
myself to season ticket holders who sometimes gave me their seats to
put butts in the seats, I would look for churches who were taking
church groups and jump in on their trips. But perhaps the best
strategy was one where I organized trips for students right here at
Lincoln Christian! There is nothing better than seeing a bunch of
Christians cheering in the middle of a bunch of rowdy,
liquid-imbibed fans all rooting for the same thing-a Blues victory
much less a trip to the Stanley Cup.
It got even crazier for a while. I met some great friends over at
St. Louis Christian College. Guys like Steve Greiner, Ron Stewart,
Coach Fred Rodkey, & Coach Danny Wolford, Rich Knopp, Ronnie Oaks,
the late great Bob Kurka [seriously-one of the Blues All-Time
greatest fans!], Mike Pabarcus, & a host of others [IF I left you
off the list it was not intentional-I’m getting older & I did not
see this coming-I’m waiting for someone to pinch me]! Anyway, those
guys always had some great ideas for tickets.
Eventually, I learned some of my own
ways. One of the best was to make friends with scalpers. Once the
puck dropped, or bad weather had set in, or they just wanted to go
home, I could sometimes get a ticket I could almost afford. It was
my own fault. I loved Blues hockey and probably always will. [to top of second column] |
Years later I found Blues fans in Springfield like Bobby West, I
found blues fans in Taylorville like David Hawley and his sons
and grandkids, or Monica, Chris & Sarah Wright. And a good group
of Blues fans in Lincoln over the years. What was really great
back in the Checker Dome days was getting a chance to meet some
of the players. They would give fans sticks and pucks and it
allowed the closest contact to professional athletes as most
people could ever get. The Blues operated like one big family.
So, when you hear them talk today about how much this is about
the fans and them- I believe them. They really see the big
picture and that just like the Miracle on Ice 1980 USA hockey
team-we all really are one big family!
That’s what’s made this improbable run so special for me. Yes, I
love beating Dallas and San Jose any time we play them! Yes, I
love being Western Conference Champions. And yes, I love being
in The Stanley Cup Finals. But the greatest thing about this
whole fantastic experience is remembering all the wonderful
memories. Meeting so many great and inspiring friends. And
cheering for a hockey team, a professional sports franchise that
truly epitomizes the most loyal fan base I’ve ever witnessed or
been associated with.
So, even IF the NHL allows Boston more zany things like funky
hand passes, visually irreconcilable video reviews or overturns,
phantom off-sides on made goals, and even If the puck doesn’t
bounce our way, it’s really so nice to be one of only two NHL
teams left standing that anybody coast to coast is even talking
about right now.
Oh, one last thing. I think they call it call it-question
impossible…
Anybody got any tickets? I need two!
[I actually have found new Blues fans in Le Roy, IL Brian &
Aidan Eddy - now we need four tickets…nothing like making the
impossible even harder!]
Let’s GO BLUES!!! [By JEFF MAYFIELD]
Respond to the writer at
jeffqmay@gmail.com.
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