Battle of Alberta Talk ....

[BurningSteel]

If by battle you mean giving the ultimate wedgie with their thong underwear to them then yes.

[bubbsy]

it is very telling that the oilers fans/media have to use the flames as a measuring stick for success to make themselves feel better. the oilers should be head and shoulders better than the flames given that they are about half a decade into their rebuild. Of course the oilers finished 10 points below the flames in the standings. That's laughable.

at the end of the day, the oilers rebuild will fail yet again. Everyone talks about how good the youth is and that it's just a matter of time. This isn't true. Eberle isn't elite, and is soft. RNH isn't elite and is soft. Yakupov may not even be a good nhl'er, let alone elite. gagner's gone for next to nothing. Hall is great offensive player, but not a leader (which he was touted for after 2 memorial cups), not willing to invest the energy towards a complete/200ft game.

within 5 years when folks look back at the oilers franchise, and what came out of the streak of 3 straight years of #1 picks, and be completely disappointed. Over the last decade or more, their 3 #1 picks in succession will be viewed as the worst possible sequence.

[ballin]

I can not wait for those No Gooders to meet the goon squad. I get a tingly feeling in my nether regions when i think about it.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

it is very telling that the oilers fans/media have to use the flames as a measuring stick for success to make themselves feel better. the oilers should be head and shoulders better than the flames given that they are about half a decade into their rebuild. Of course the oilers finished 10 points below the flames in the standings. That's laughable.

at the end of the day, the oilers rebuild will fail yet again. Everyone talks about how good the youth is and that it's just a matter of time. This isn't true. Eberle isn't elite, and is soft. RNH isn't elite and is soft. Yakupov may not even be a good nhl'er, let alone elite. gagner's gone for next to nothing. Hall is great offensive player, but not a leader (which he was touted for after 2 memorial cups), not willing to invest the energy towards a complete/200ft game.

within 5 years when folks look back at the oilers franchise, and what came out of the streak of 3 straight years of #1 picks, and be completely disappointed. Over the last decade or more, their 3 #1 picks in succession will be viewed as the worst possible sequence.

Try 3/4 of a decade.

[Shawnski]

Originally Posted by troutman

Spector is writing a book about the Battle of Alberta, and is looking for fan stories too.

Aeneas has some classic tales of bus trips to Northlands in the 1980s.

Here is a title suggestion.

"Aeneas To The Rectum"

Sounds like a short trip to me though.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by troutman

Spector is writing a book about the Battle of Alberta, and is looking for fan stories too.

The one thing I always say about Edmonton fans, and clearly this is a generalization and not a rule, is a higher level of class. They don't like the Flames, they heartedly cheer against them, but they seem a lot more like the Calgary fan base than those from Vancouver.

Canuck fans are almost intolerable, while I've found you can sit beside an Oiler fan and they get it.

They know ups and downs, winning seasons, rebuilds, and the like.

Different animals.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by troutman

Aeneas has some classic tales of bus trips to Northlands in the 1980s.

I remember in the late 90s/early 00s, i won a radio station contest for a trip up to a Flames/Oilers game on something called a "Molson Battle Bus". They handed out free beer the whole ride up, so by the time we got there everyone was hammered. Needless to say it didn't go well. Several people got into fights with opposing fans, and one guy even got stabbed (or did the stabbing, not sure now). On the way back, things were even more out of control, and the bus driver had to pull over a few times to threaten to kick everyone off the bus like they we were school children.

I won the following year was well. This time it was mostly families on the bus, and there was no beer at all. Not surprisingly, a lot quieter experience.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

More Battle of Alberta stories! I was just a tike when the BoA as its peak, so I love hearing these nasty recounts both on and off the ice.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The one thing I always say about Edmonton fans, and clearly this is a generalization and not a rule, is a higher level of class. They don't like the Flames, they heartedly cheer against them, but they seem a lot more like the Calgary fan base than those from Vancouver.

Canuck fans are almost intolerable, while I've found you can sit beside an Oiler fan and they get it.

They know ups and downs, winning seasons, rebuilds, and the like.

Different animals.

Agreed. I said this for years when I first joined, and got taken to task by some of the old guard on it the first few times I said it. Maybe even you Bingo? I know Jiri did once. Basically the same ol' 'well every fan base has it's jerks and idiots, it's largely the same everywhere'.

Edmonton fans are more knowledgeable and more bearable. I often wonder if it's because they have had success and know what it takes to get there. Whereas Vancouver, not only has never won the cup, but actually has one of the worst records in the league when looking at all time records. So not only do they not know success, they have a huge frickin chip on their shoulder about it.

The Edomonton kool-aid is getting pretty funny though. But I think a large part of that is the organizations, and more importantly, the media's inability to be honest. All organization overrates their prospects of course, we're no different, and every organization feels good going into a new season. But the level of kool-aid dreams up there right now is getting to be a little weird.

I actually kinda liked the team and the fans in the late 90's. When they would play hard and accomplish more than the sum of their parts. Hopefully, that's what we're in store with the Flames right now, as evidenced by last year. But, when they'd sneak in the eighth spot as they did a few times, and take out the first place team, as they did once, maybe twice, I was happy for them and their fans. It was pre-cap and you just wanted any Canadian team to do well. Maybe not go all the way, but at least have a good battle.

Maybe 'like' is a strong word. Respect is the perfect word. And that's I guess the point. There is more respect back and forth between our two clubs fanbases than those knuckle draggers on the coast. And I respected their knowledge back then too. They weren't getting swept up in kool-aid dreams as they do now. They were just enjoying their teams accomplishments, not masturbating to three first overall pics in a row.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Daradon

I actually kinda liked the team and the fans in the late 90's. When they would play hard and accomplish more than the sum of their parts. Hopefully, that's what we're in store with the Flames right now, as evidenced by last year. But, when they'd sneak in the eighth spot as they did a few times, and take out the first place team, as they did once, maybe twice, I was happy for them and their fans.

When Todd Marchant went on that breakaway and scored the Game 7 OT winner against Dallas…well I think that was about as close as I'll ever be to feeling some Oiler love (although in retrospect, it may have just been gas).

That was the era where you cheered just a bit more for the little guy against the big American teams who bought their way up the standings. The Oilers were in the same crappy financial position we were, and it was nice to see someone stick it to the big clubs…even if it was just for a round or two. You are right though, there weren't a lot of egos on that Oilers team. If only the current squad had the same level of heart, they might actually have accomplished something by now.

[PeteLFan]

Wtf, happy for the oilers and their fans when they did well?

I have never once been happy for them or their fans, and I want them to lose and suffer as much as possible. If it was possible going 0-relocation this season would be best.

The battle of Alberta is dead, because we killed and burried that nasty city years ago, and they are not coming out of the grave.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by troutman

Aeneas has some classic tales of bus trips to Northlands in the 1980s.

Originally Posted by Table 5

I remember in the late 90s/early 00s, i won a radio station contest for a trip up to a Flames/Oilers game on something called a "Molson Battle Bus". They handed out free beer the whole ride up, so by the time we got there everyone was hammered. Needless to say it didn't go well. Several people got into fights with opposing fans, and one guy even got stabbed (or did the stabbing, not sure now). On the way back, things were even more out of control, and the bus driver had to pull over a few times to threaten to kick everyone off the bus like they we were school children.

I won the following year was well. This time it was mostly families on the bus, and there was no beer at all. Not surprisingly, a lot quieter experience.

I went on a couple fan bus trips to Edmonton in the late 80s. Insane piss-ups. First beers cracked as we left the parking lot at 8:30 am. More beer during lunch at Mother's Pizza in Edmonton. And then on to Bourbon Street at West Ed mall for the afternoon. By the time we got to the games, everyone was a mess. The fact you couldn't drink in your seat in Northlands was probably a good thing. Still, good times.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Table 5

When Todd Marchant went on that breakaway and scored the Game 7 OT winner against Dallas…well I think that was about as close as I'll ever be to feeling some Oiler love (although in retrospect, it may have just been gas).

That was the era where you cheered just a bit more for the little guy against the big American teams who bought their way up the standings. The Oilers were in the same crappy financial position we were, and it was nice to see someone stick it to the big clubs…even if it was just for a round or two. You are right though, there weren't a lot of egos on that Oilers team. If only the current squad had the same level of heart, they might actually have accomplished something by now.

What a sickening story. Close to feeling Oiler love??? Gag. We might have to kick you out of the Oilers Haters Club.

You were one of the good ones Table 5. Where did it all go wrong?

[Table 5]

If 5 seconds of sympathy almost 2 decades is the only moment of weakness, I can live with that. Even then it was more about hating Dallas than anything.

Thank goodness I've gotten more bitter and petty as I get older.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Table 5

If 5 seconds of sympathy almost 2 decades is the only moment of weakness, I can live with that. Even then it was more about hating Dallas than anything.

Thank goodness I've gotten more bitter and petty as I get older.

Horray, you're saved! That was a close one!

If my hate ever dulls I just think back to that overtime where Greztky comes down the wing and scores over Vernon's shoulder. That was soul crushing and hate fuelling at the same time.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by PeteLFan

Wtf, happy for the oilers and their fans when they did well?

I have never once been happy for them or their fans, and I want them to lose and suffer as much as possible. If it was possible going 0-relocation this season would be best.

The battle of Alberta is dead, because we killed and burried that nasty city years ago, and they are not coming out of the grave.

I feel the same way. Dido against the Canucks as well.