Funny Letter in the Sun Today

[rubecube]

Listen to this whiny 'Chucker.

From the Calgary Sun:

I've recently been relocated to Calgary from Edmonton. I've noticed the support this city gives to the Flames. I was overwhelmed with the flags on most of the vehicles around the city. For the most part, I believe there is a friendly rivalry between our cities and I think that is healthy.

I was appalled listening to one local radio station. Not only did it laugh at the fact the Oilers had recently lost to the Hurricanes, it promoted hatred towards the Oilers and Edmonton.

It played songs making fun of Edmonton, the Oilers, and their fans. I seem to recall the Flames getting booed by their own fans when they played so poorly that last game.

This station tried to justify its poor taste by saying Carolina has so many Canadian players we should cheer for them. It's not about how many Canadian players the Hurricanes have, it's about keeping the Stanley Cup in Canada!

T. Cummings

Even Oiler fans gotta laugh at this joker. BOA isn't a friendly rivalry. We respect each other but we all know better than this.

This isn't a call to dump on Edmonton or Oilers, so let's keep that out of here. Just wanted to point out someone who clearly doesn't get a rivalry and was born without a sense of humour.

On a side note, I was at Brewster's last night while the game was on, when Carolina scored I cheered and got the stare of death from some people.

[red '00]

I'm just plain tired of hearing about Oilers this and Oilers that, and their fans either boasting endlessly or complaining wildly. Shuuuuut up already.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by red '00

I'm just plain tired of hearing about Oilers this and Oilers that, and their fans either boasting endlessly or complaining wildly. Shuuuuut up already.

Actually this topic was more aimed at discussion on how fierce the rivalry is/was. Again, no need to pile on Edmonton or the Oilers, been quite a bit of that going around already.

[red '00]

well yeah and thats just it, isn't it? the flames and oilers have one of the best, if not THE best rivalry in the NHL, and it's filled with history and great moments.

that's exactly why I get so ****ed off about all this bandwagon jumping, and constant "Oilers this and Oilers that" stuff around Calgary. It's as if some people have no concept of a rivalry at all, and it baffles me. All the people who were cheering for the Flames earlier this year and are now the Oilers biggest fans make me sick, and all the Edmonton fans that complain saying "why are some people so mad about this?" make me shake my head.

what really did it for me personally, was walking into a sports store and seeing Oilers t-shirts displayed right at the front of the store saying "YOU'RE IN OIL COUNTRY". wtf is that about? 1) we are NOT in Oil Country, and 2) displaying stuff like that totally defeats the point of a rivalry.

It's not what it once was.

[J pold]

People like the guy who wrote the letter don’t understand the Rivalry we have, that is what has bothered me about this hole “lets cheer for Edmonton” do I hate the Oilers? Yes but the reason I cheer against is because I love the rivalry we have with them

Do you know what saved baseball after the strike (other than the home runs) the Boston Red Sox’s and the New York Yankees, in the 03 02 ALCS the entire sports world was captivated by these 2 teams the hatred they had for each other and there great rivalry and ever since then no Regular season game is more hyped up than Yankees VS. Red Sox, that rivalry is great for baseball

Back to the NHL, when they came out with there new schedule they but the emphasis on rivalries, because they know that it sells, that if we can start good rivalries in our league people will tune in, and the BOA should be the best in the league, but instead you have people from our cities that want to hold hand and cheer for each other, what kind of rivalry is that? The BOA is great for hockey, and people who think its ok to go and cheer for our provincial rivals are just destroying what should be the best rivalry in sports

[Buff]

Yeah, it really ticked me off to go to Jersey City here in Lethbridge. Displayed on a clothing rack noticable by all who walk into the store (or those who walk by for that matter) was that shirt in question. I disheartened me to go to Calgary a couple weeks ago and see the Oiler flags flying in Calgary. I lived in Calgary during the height of the BoA. I learned to hate the Oilers and anything that resembled or supported them.

There was a restaurant in Lethbridge that was waving Flames flags during round 1. Late into round 2 they put up Oiler flags, citing that they had a lot of complaints from their patrons. This kind of thing just ticks me off. Cheer for one team or the other, not both.

You don't expect a Habs fan to cheer for the Leafs or vice versa, why should Flames fans cheer for Oilers and vice versa?

[RedMan12]

awww, everyone put on your Flames jerseys and Oilers jerseys. Group hug!!

[red '00]

Originally Posted by Buff

There was a restaurant in Lethbridge that was waving Flames flags during round 1. Late into round 2 they put up Oiler flags,

I've seen several cases of that actually. There is a bar near my place here in Calgary, during round one of the playoffs, and even before that later in the regular season they had signs posted saying "come in and watch the Flames", "Go Flames Go" etc. And now, today I walked passed and what do I see? The same signs, altered to say "come watch the Oilers" and "let's go Oil".

[Superflyer]

I am not sure, as I cannot remeber anything about this, but when we made it to the finals last year, were fans in Edmonton running out and buying Flames jerseys and car flags and cheering after ever Flames goal.
Doubt it. They were probally screaming Lets Go Lightning.

[GrrlGoalie33]

Originally Posted by Buff

Yeah, it really ticked me off to go to Jersey City here in Lethbridge.

I saw ultimate sacrelige at the Sunridge Mall Jersey City. Not only was everything at the front of the store oilers (not even Stamps, but oilers), they had oilers car flags stored in Flames tin pails...

Now all oilers stuff belongs in a garbage can, but NOT in a flames can...

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Yeah, I don't get it either.
Everyone I talk to who is cheering for the Oil keep saying things like "But they're the only Canadian team left"

Hey, the three teams I hate the most are all from Canada, so there's really only a 50% chance that I'd be happy if a Canadian team won it.

I love the Flames so I hate the Oilers, and I'm sure there are a lot of Oilers fans who feel the other way. That's what a rivalry is.

[The Unabomber]

Talking about the BOA as the best rivalry in hockey is absurd, think Leafs-Montreal and you might be looking at the best rivalry. The BOA was an amazing battle once upon a time, and until they meet in the playoffs again it's going to be just that. Even the players and Sutter were saying during the regular season that they play eachother way too much to find the ability to get up for the big "rivalry" that once was. The league can say they are focusing on rivalries all they want, playing a team 12 times in the pre season and regular season is terrible.

And to answer your question about Oiler fans throwing their support behind the Flames last year, many did and many more across Canada did. Like i said, there really is no hatred between the clubs like there use to be and until we meet in the playoffs again i will say this trend will continue. Everyone hates the Canucks, why? Because we had a great series with them last season and that's what causes foes, something that happened 20 years ago can't continue with the intensity that it once had.

If bettman was serious about starting the whole rivalry thing again then he would have brought back the divisions that play each other in the playoffs.

[J pold]

Originally Posted by The Unabomber

Talking about the BOA as the best rivalry in hockey is absurd, think Leafs-Montreal and you might be looking at the best rivalry. The BOA was an amazing battle once upon a time, and until they meet in the playoffs again it's going to be just that. Even the players and Sutter were saying during the regular season that they play eachother way too much to find the ability to get up for the big "rivalry" that once was. The league can say they are focusing on rivalries all they want, playing a team 12 times in the pre season and regular season is terrible.

And to answer your question about Oiler fans throwing their support behind the Flames last year, many did and many more across Canada did. Like i said, there really is no hatred between the clubs like there use to be and until we meet in the playoffs again i will say this trend will continue. Everyone hates the Canucks, why? Because we had a great series with them last season and that's what causes foes, something that happened 20 years ago can't continue with the intensity that it once had.

If bettman was serious about starting the whole rivalry thing again then he would have brought back the divisions that play each other in the playoffs.

I don’t feel like typing a lot here so read this article

just a bit from it

Battle of Alberta (circa 1980s)
Call it Montreal-Toronto West. During the 1980s, the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames housed some of the best players in history. Unfortunately for the Flames, they had to contend with the Great One. Edmonton edged Calgary in the Smythe Division finals in 1983, 1984 and 1988, winning the Cup two of those three postseasons. Steve Smith's own-goal gave Flames fans some vindication in 1986 as they edged the Oilers, but Calgary would only win the Cup in 1989, a year they did not meet Edmonton in the postseason. With the Flames sporting arguably the league's best player in Jarome Iginla and the Oilers' revamped lineup, the Battle will be extra sweet this season.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print...427&type=story

It pretty much sums up my point

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by The Unabomber

Talking about the BOA as the best rivalry in hockey is absurd, think Leafs-Montreal and you might be looking at the best rivalry. The BOA was an amazing battle once upon a time, and until they meet in the playoffs again it's going to be just that.

Isn't the last time the Habs and Leafs met in the post season 1979? So on one hand you say the BOA isn't what it used to be because they haven't had a playoff series recently and yet you hold the Leafs/Habs up as a better rivalry even though they haven't met in 25+years?

Strange argument man.

[pope04]

Originally Posted by The Unabomber

think Leafs-Montreal and you might be looking at the best rivalry. The BOA was an amazing battle once upon a time, and until they meet in the playoffs again it's going to be just that.

There've been five playoff BOAs since Montreal last played Toronto in the playoffs.

Oops, should've read Jiri's post before I posted this.

[Robbob]

It's been a hard playoffs because for every game it seems like I have to explain myself and why I don't want Edmonton to win. Funny thing is it is the die hards on both sides that understand each other in this rivalry.

In regard to the habs and Leafs, maybe its just me but I think that the Senators have become a bigger rival now days.