I was born in southern Alberta the same year the Flames came to Calgary. I didn't know anything other than the Flames growing up. I think I was only vaguely aware of Edmonton because they were our biggest rival.
By the age of 6 I was living and breathing hockey all winter long. A couple years later the Flames finally won the cup and I knew then there would never be another team in my heart.
I took it pretty hard when the team started being dismantled, ending with Fleury's trade. At that point I took a step back from the team. Watching the games here and there, but not paying much attention to the progress of the team or even individuals. I think I only recognized Iginla was a big talent by 2000 or so.
Sutter brought respectability back to the franchise and made it worthwhile to be a hardcore Flames fan again. Throughout my 20s I found myself becoming more and more fanatical. Watching every highlight, evaluating every player in detail, defending the team at all costs against what could only be called "honest" criticism.
At one point, after watching the Flames lose to the Oilers with my Edmonton-fan friends, I lost it. I got really angry and started slamming doors and calling out my friends. I went home and felt really ashamed about the way I acted and I decided I would never let the team get me angry again. I would be upset or even sad, but never angry.
I've been living in California for the last 3 years which makes the non-playoff years a little easier to bear. I think if I was still living in Calgary it would be so difficult to deal with. Here you can just tune it out and go on with your life as there is so much else to do here all year round. It also helps that I've been so busy with chiropractic school that I haven't had time to follow them a whole lot.
Now that school is winding down, I find myself watching every game on Center Ice. I am a realist as to where this team is at now, so I don't get upset anymore when things don't go our way. The California road trip was hard for me to watch, but I got over it a lot quicker than I would have 5 years ago. I just want to watch the games because I want to see where this team is heading. I still think there's plenty to be excited about and I try to focus on that rather than the few guys that give me headaches as a fan.
I post on CP because I miss talking hockey and getting opinions from everyone as to what's going on with the team. There's just no substitute for talking hockey to a Canadian. American fans just aren't the same...when I can find an actual hockey fan.
I must admit, I am surprised by the lack of moderate viewpoints on this site. It is either extreme viewpoint at all times. There's only a handful that I notice will not overreact to every little thing that happens. Maybe that's because the moderates are too apathetic to bother posting about a bad team? More than likely the case. I still find this site a great source of information about the team, especially since there is ZERO sports news coverage of any team outside of the Sharks here, and even then it's barely adequate coverage.
I find myself doing more research on the team than ever. I'm avidly watching the draft and prospect pool grow as I think that's the next group of players I could get truly excited by. I would say I put in about 30 minutes a day getting caught up on the comings and goings of the team. Not much more than that.
Game nights involve me watching the game and scanning the game thread on CP for any clever posts or fun topics. It really just enhances the game as I am usually watching it with my wife who really doesn't get into the game too much and will often read a book during the game.
I would say I spend far less time worrying about or thinking about the Flames. They are an interest still, but they've fallen way down the priority list in my life. Career, family, health, and personal growth have all come ahead of it in the last few years...as it should be.
