[Otto-matic]

A nice article on the resurgence of the Flames in the community, and the excitement that surrounds the team.

“Around the city,” says Calgary Flames’ assistant GM Craig Conroy, “you can feel the excitement. Sounds corny, I know, but it’s there. I talk to people …’’ Pause. “You know I like to talk to people …”

(Editor’s note: Conroy would strike up a conversation with anyone, be they Tibetan monks or Cosa Nostra hitmen, Yukon trappers or in-character street mimes. With his gift of gab, the man could sell snorkels in the Sahara.)

“Funny thing is, though, people really want to talk about it, but they’re kind of afraid to TALK about it, if you know what I mean.
“Almost as if they don’t want to jinx us.

“Everywhere I go,” says coach Bob Hartley, “in movie theatres or on the street, restaurants, minor hockey practices, gas stations, there’s a fire in town right now. A big fire. For myself, I’m just trying to feed as much wood into that big fire as possible.

“I know I keep bringing it up, but those two standing ovations we got after losses last year? You just don’t see this. Anywhere. These people, they deserve a team to be excited about.

For so long, down through the years, in the changing of the tides, they were either to be admired, thrilled to, respected, feared, pondered or, lately, dismissed outright.
Now, they’re to be enjoyed.
Now, they’re “fun.”

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...ts-2004-almost