My Thoughts

Dear Washington Capitals,

You did it again. You were poised for greatness and now you are an afterthought of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Disappointed, chokers, and heartbroken represent a short list of the many words I have heard to describe the events of this Caps season.

While I am upset, my level of devastation has now dissipated and I am completely at peace with what transpired over the course of the last week. I am finding the people who seem to be most distraught by the Caps sudden eviction from the playoffs are the "bandwagon" fans. The people who are the newly minted "Rock the Red" era fans, the ones who can't stand to see another DC sports team become the punchline of the sporting world.

First and foremost, I do not have any problem with "bandwagon" fans. I love to see so many people showing an interest in the sport, and I harbor no bitterness towards them. When it really comes down to it, we are all, to some extent "bandwagon" fans. None of us came out of the womb with a Caps t-shirt on. Every single fan's level of passion was sparked by one singular event, for some that event occurred at an earlier place in time.

For me, my first Caps memory came when I was five years old. I went with my mom and uncle to see the Caps play the Flyers at USAir Arena. I have almost no recollection of the game, except for the score (3-0 Flyers), and Dale Hunter's disallowed goal. The ensuing sight and sound of the Caps goal siren will be forever etched into my memory, and my love for the team and the sport grew from there.

I have been a die hard supporter of the team for the majority of my life, and there is nothing in sports that would make me happier than to see the Caps win a Stanley Cup. However, them losing does not eat away at my soul like it does to many. I have read too many articles, tweets, and Facebook posts that would lead me to believe that there is a direct correlation to the Caps losing and an end of the world scenario.

I began to wonder why my level of frustration did not parallel that of many other fans. I knew the answer was not because I lacked the passion for the team, or that I did not care about the team. I was somewhat perplexed by the question, and then it hit me.

I love them unconditionally. In fact there are very few things I love in life more that hockey, and more than this team. My love, however, does not come from idolizing players, or because the Caps are trendy and hip. Instead, it comes from the profound impact the Washington Capitals have had on my life. Some of my greatest memories are a result of experiences I have had with this team.

I was there when Petr Nedved iced the Caps in the 4th Overtime. I felt like I had lost a friend when Jim Carey was traded. I was there when Peter Bondra got a hat trick on souvenir cup night at USAir Arena, and there were thousands of broken pieces of plastic on the ice from the cups being hurled in celebration. I remember Joe Juneau's goal that sent the Caps to their first Stanley Cup, and I was there for Game 4 of the ensuing sweep at the hands of the Red Wings. I even sat in the Garden and watched the Caps lose in a 16 round shootout to the Rangers.

I was at Verizon Center many nights when it was so empty that the noise level was comparable to that of a public library. I was there for the infamous "Fire Hanlon" game, and the next home game, which was coincidentally Bruce Boudreau's first.

I was there for Hunter, the Chief, Simon, Killer, Tinordi, Peat, Brashear, and the rest of the never ending list of pugilists. I've seen Bondra, Pivonka, Ridley, Langway, Johansson, Miller, and of course Ovechkin. The name Esa Tikkanen makes me cringe, but Segei Fedorov always can bring a smile out of me.

I sat through the good times and the bad, I was there for Jagr, the firesale, the rebuild, and the now. Abandoning the team was never an option, they have become way too much a part of my life. I have an infinite amount of great memories with them and no matter how much they disappoint me I will always support them.

I suppose it really is not about the wins or the losses, but instead its the feeling I get every time I walk into Verizon Center for a hockey game. Whether they are a last place team of NHL journeymen, or a first place team made of first rate superstars, the Caps are the Caps, and for that I will always love them.

For better or for worse, I have been there, and I will always be there. The wins are nice, but the memories are even better.



Sincerely,

A Fan for Life