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Hockey Nihilism
by Alanah McGinley on 03/31/09 at 01:25 PM ET
Comments (5)
The other day on Inside Hockey, James Murphy asked me if the Vancouver media are unreasonably negative, in response to GM Mike Gillis’ accusations last week where he pointed out that he himself is someone who looks “forward” not at the past.
“The slowest group to come around is clearly the media because they look at everything as if it’s 20 years ago and something is going to blow up and explode. [...] Our preference is not to reflect back and look at history but to look forward and look at the things we’re doing and know we’re going to get results from those things. So that’s why it’s probably easier for me to be optimistic than a lot of people, because I don’t share that history and I’m not going to.”
My first thought upon hearing this was “how very nice for him” and that Gillis would do well to remember he’s new to this show, while many of the rest of us have been enduring the experience for decades now.
I’d say we’ve earned our wary cynicism fair and square, and that it’s perfectly reasonable to be a bit suspect about this team’s management and execution at this point.
But I also understand why Gillis made the comments he did.
To his mind, it’s “Us Against the World”, as he creates an underdog mentality to drive his team forward into the playoffs. It’s good management, really. The team is on a roll, but needs to be sure it never gets complacent. Developing a persecution complex for them to focus isn’t a bad thing.
Anyway, after that interview on XM radio I was surprised to be (politely) accused of being too negative by a couple of listeners/acquaintances. In mentioning my befuddlement to my friend Michael yesterday (you’ll know his book and tv series on the history of hockey) he responded with this funny-yet-grisly assessment of the last 4 decades:
“That’s funny about being thought too negative. Vancouver Canucks, founded in 1970, championship titles 0, trips to the final, 2, implosions, self-destructions, and general disasters: priceless, in psychotherapeutic terms. The fact that we even pay any attention to them at all makes us raving optimists of the ilk that would make Candide look like dour nihilist.”
Perfectly stated, I think.
Bottom line, the fact that I attend games when I can, keep buying PPV broadcasts, own jerseys, jackets and other Canucks merchandise, and generally manage to maintain any hope at all about this team (and I do, I live on foolish hope as much as everyone else) is a testimony to the fact that I am one of those “raving optimists.”
But that doesn’t mean I can’t also execute common sense when it comes to critique, and an eye towards history is part of learning to be better in the future.
Mike Gillis wants the media and fans to give his team a chance, and I don’t blame him. But he shouldn’t begrudge our sometimes-cynical attitude for lack of optimism about the future. If we were really all that negative, would we keep selling out the building and coughing up our time and cash on this team? Not likely.
We are all Canucks, as the marketing slogan goes. Hopeful for the future, and masochists to the core.
___________________________________
Regarding the title, I was thinking about what a really negative hockey fan would be like, reflecting on this definition in the Wikipedia:
“Existential nihilism is the belief that life has no intrinsic meaning or value. It can stem from scientific analysis that shows only the physical laws contributed to our existence. With respect to the universe, a single human or even the entire human species is insignificant and without purpose and can make no real change in the totality of existence.”
Now THAT’S a cynic. Canucks fans and media are all sunshine and musicals by comparison!
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Comments
I’m not a Canuck fan, but as an external observer I think Mike Gillis should spend a little more time building a team fans can be positive about and a little less time worrying about why people are negative.
Noone’s going to be negative if you win a Cup, Gilly. When you are the relatively new GM of a team that hasn’t been out of the second round in 15 years, mayyyyyyyyyyybe there’s a little bit of a reason for fans to have something of an edge, no?
Posted by HockeyinHD on 03/31/09 at 01:09 PM ET
Winning the cup shouldn’t be the only measure of success. If that’s the case, there are 29 unsuccessful teams every year. Do you think Columbus or St. Louis consider this season a failure?
Posted by Birrell from Seattle on 03/31/09 at 01:38 PM ET
I think Canucks fans can seem too negative as well, but I tend to think of it as “self-defense"… we expect the worst and hope for the best.
And from your mouth to God’s ears, Birrell… entertainment through May and June would be awesome! But I agree with your other comment, too - winning the Cup isn’t the sole measure of a successful season. But I don’t think most other fans would disagree with that, either. If they did subscribe to that point of view, I imagine they would’ve given up long before now. 
HockeyinHD - Being a Canucks fan necessarily requires a high tolerance for pain. Fortunately there’s always booze to take the edge off…
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 03/31/09 at 01:47 PM ET
Birrell’s totally right. The fact this team picked themselves up after January and is now, tonight, playing for a shot at the division lead it ridiculously good. They deserve a lot of credit in that (as does Gillis).
All of that said though, I’d still like Vigneault to go. Old habits die hard
Posted by Yankee Canuck on 03/31/09 at 02:44 PM ET
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About Canucks & Beyond
Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003, sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen. In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla’s Korner, Alanah is one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast, as featured at Canucks.com.
She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.
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Great post Alannah.
As a non-Vancouverite looking in, I would tend to agree that the press attitude (and that of its fans) is a bit on the negative side. This is coming from someone who, living in Seattle has been seasoned to be a cynic (similar stats to the Nucks: in over 40 years the number of championships for ALL pro sports is 1, finals appearances for ALL pro sports 4, and oh yeah the team responsible for most of those numbers was stolen last year, but I digress). However, it is so easy to forget that sports is entertainment, our way of escaping our mundane lives and unavoidable hurdles of life. Sports allow us to think big, to dream the impossible dream and have just a little bit of hope throughout the year.
This team right now is poised for a deep run in the playoffs. They are peaking at the right time, are getting great line balance, have outstanding team chemistry and not to mention Luongo is hitting his stride coming off the injury. People, enjoy this while you can! In the salary-cap era teams are cyclic, good for 3-4 years, then down for 3-4 years. Looking at the start of this season, this team was expected to maybe get the 7th or 8th slot at best - and now they are challenging for the division with two weeks remaining. Unless this team falls flat on their face to end the season schedule, or is completely blown out of the water in the first round, I think you have to call this season a success. Long-time Canuck fans should know by now, it could have been much, much worse.
Let’s go Canucks! Keep me entertained through May & June!
Posted by Birrell from Seattle on 03/31/09 at 01:07 PM ET