My Favorite Sport---NCAA Frozen Four

[lee]

This has got to be the best event out there. I've been to three frozen fours and they are absolutely amazing. To have 30,000 fans cheering for college hockey....absolutely amazing...first one i went to was in 98...bc vs michigan finals...amazing game...went to overtime, one whiff, one post for bc...michigan won...after being outplayed....

went to the 99 frozen four and 2001 frozen four...BC finally won in 2001...great game as well...bc lead into the third, UND tied it up with less than a minute to go (2 goals in the last 5 minute? forget but it was quick)...went into overtime...was ready for a repeat of 98...but kobasew had a sweet move for a breakaway and won it...absolutely sweet....

college hockey rules...

Go BC gotta get a win this weekend against UNH...thats all it takes...1 out of 2

the beanpot is the worst event out there....how can we consistently be a better team than bu, but never win the beanpot...they've won 8 straight...we've been one of the best teams out there since 97 or so...with the exception of last year...thats just me being disgruntled...3-1 against bu this year...1 loss in the beanpot...great game though...buddy set me up with seats in the Fox Sports New England Box...free beer, free food, free hockey....best combination out there...

end of rant..

[lee]

sorry, meant kolanos scored the goal in 00-01...

Go BC gotta get a win this weekend against UNH...thats all it takes...1 out of 2


Lee,

Indeed College Hockey is a great spectator sport we are lucky to be in the heart of Hockey East...great to watch live. Mrs. NOO surprised me on Valentines Day this year, took me out for a few beers and then off to the UNH vs. Northeastern game...solid gift :D

Don't be dissin the Wildcats (class of 93). Good chance I'll be at the Saturday game if Friday goes well.

Infact I'll bet you 10 clams UNH ends up number one...

You game?

NOO

[joe]

we are lucky to be in the heart of Hockey East

And we're even more fortunate to be close to all the great ECAC games.

I guess this has something to do with where you went to school. Going to college hockey games is a blast.

I've never been to the frozen four, though it will be coming to the Fleet Center in 2004. The 2003 Frozen Four sold out last spring.

[Mr_Cheeze]

I hate to burst your bubbles, but college and high school hockey don't even compare to the pro level in any regard. If it's all you watch I can understand getting used to the speed and level of play, but pro hockey is faster, crisper, with harder hitting and better officiating. I have tried watching the frozen four and, although exciting because of the tournament aspect, it's just so much slower than the pros that I get bored. Yes, I realize I am spoiled.

Aside from all of that, you may want to bring up the point that the "purity" of amateur level sports makes it somehow better. This is usually a false argument for it only betrays one's envy or distaste for the heightened salaries of the professionals, as if this somehow takes away from the purity of the sport. If that argument were true, you would find women's hockey every bit as exciting. Somehow I doubt you will make that claim.

I don't know about you, but the level of play in the Stanley Cup playoffs every year is enough to convince me, time and time again, that these guys want to win every damned bit as much as any amateur athlete. You like the Frozen Four? Fine by me. But don't try and make it seem like it is somehow better than the pro level because it just isn't. Not even close.

And let's not bring high school into this, shall we? We all understand a parents's personal interest when their kids play. The rest of the nineety nine percent of the population really could care less. I'm not trying to be mean. Just helping with the reality check.

Ok... have at me.

[lee]

can't disagree with you there, except that if you don't have any ties to a team, the NHL ( or any pro sport) doesn't excite you (although fantasy football rules, but i root for players more that a team)...i grew up all over the country and never had ties to pro teams and haven't been able to get into the bruins since living in boston...(red sox are a different story)...i guess my problem with the NHL is that I can't spend $50 a pop to see a game...thats whats so great about college hockey...$10 to see BC vs. UNH 2 of the best college teams out there...can't beat that...i might be able to get into the NHL if i could go to more games...but i'm not going to spend $50 to see them play, plus 15 to park, 20 on food..

plus having gone to BC, there is a certian pride that goes along with watching your school do well, or shame in them not doing well as is more often the case...there is a level of school pride that is so much greater than any pro team will provide me with...i grew up watching college sports (dad at Nebraska, brothers at ND and Alabama...big time football) and there is a level of do or die that i don't get watching pro sports...can't explain it...its more in my blood than NHl or NFL...

plus i spent $130,000 to go to the dang school, so that gives me a lot to cheer about...all that debt...

i will admit that pro hockey is much better hockey than college...but it just doesn't do it for me...

[quote author=NOO link=board=36;threadid=1275;start=0#9213
Infact I'll bet you 10 clams UNH ends up number one...


Lee,

Technically, since BC and UNH "share the title" but UNH got the number one seed for Hockey East due their record against BC, I won the bet and you owe me 10 clams. However, I won't send Moose and Rocko over to get it from you because I wasn't raised that way. We can say we are both winners but I know that I am actually the only winner. That is good enough for me. ;D

Anyway - great series. The tie on Friday was a nice touch. My better half is a BC alum and since I have the maturity level of a six year old, it makes me smile that I can rub it in her face. Goes back to your argument about pride in your alma mater. UNH can't really compete in any other Men's sport at the big boy level so I gotta work with what I got.

Good stuff. I look forward to the HE tourney and NCAA.

*************************************************

Now Cheezey -

I'm not clear on the intent of your post. You state you like pro hockey. Ya for you! I too think the NHL has its merits. Not sure what else to say on that.

Next, you ask us to bring the point of purity. Not a topic Lee or I addressed. But since you brought it up...I'll say the following: You appear to enjoy thought provoking dialogue and come across as a informed and learned individual. As such I hope you truly do not feel as though college sports are pure? It would be naive of you, and would disappoint me, to think that in a world where "perks" are provided to many of the outstanding collegiate athletes and to the schools for which they play, there can maintain a sense of purity. So, although you asked for us to play the purity card, it is a weak argument here. Not one I would bring up.

Next you referenced high school sports, "And let's not bring high school into this, shall we?" were the words you used. Well, guess what Mr. C. - You are the only who brought up HS sports in this thread. The only relevance they have here is to hit upon a point that Lee brought up. At the college level especially, there is a certain level of pride you can take in a team, especially if you are connected somehow to the team (alma mater, live in the town, family connection, etc). This is also true at the Professional Level and invariably so at the high school level. If you disagree the pick up a copy of "Friday Night Lights" or "Fall River Dreams". Fine examples of how families, towns, and alumnus support high school teams.

So, I agree. NHL is fine hockey. If that was the intent of your post, then congratulations. Let's all be friends. Remember NEMBA Unity.

NOO

[Mr_Cheeze]

I'll readily admit that my motive was to provoke some college vs. pro debate. I fully realized when I submitted my post that I was introducing topics not necessarily related to the original post. Arguments are often made that amateur sports in general are more "pure" varieties of their professional counterparts. I've heard the topic very well debated on radio, on TV panel discussions, etc. So, yes, I tried dangling a little bait there to anyone who would take up the mantle for such an argument. So please do not misinterpret my aggressive stance as looking for trouble. On the contrary. I was looking for a good argument. Big difference. Nothing wrong with that, right?

I'll readily admit that my motive was to provoke some college vs. pro debate. I fully realized when I submitted my post that I was introducing topics not necessarily related to the original post. Arguments are often made that amateur sports in general are more "pure" varieties of their professional counterparts. I've heard the topic very well debated on radio, on TV panel discussions, etc. So, yes, I tried dangling a little bait there to anyone who would take up the mantle for such an argument. So please do not misinterpret my aggressive stance as looking for trouble. On the contrary. I was looking for a good argument. Big difference. Nothing wrong with that, right?


Mr. C -

I figured you were trying lure someone in for a good ol' discussion and there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, in the spirit of the forum you shouldn't have to worry about your aggressive stance as looking for trouble...as long as certain lines aren't crossed and clearly they weren't.

I didn't debate the subject because I have feeling we might share similiar view points and I didn't think I could provide any info worthy of your retort. So, instead I took the low road and picked apart your intent of the posting ;)...as you distracted from the main point that UNH was going spank BC :o

Cheeze, I encourage your thirst for a healthy discussion across all topics on this forum.

As far as this topic goes:

Huge fan of most sporting events.

Played hockey from the age of 5 to high school. The NHL satisfies my passion for the sport. Not for a team (Although I grew up going to Bruins games I have not made an effort to make them my team). College Hockey (UNH) satisfies my passion for a team.

Baseball is a different story. Red Sox are my team and give me one more thing to grip about.

[lee]

we looked pretty sloppy sat night, thats all i know...two bad plays led to two goals...oh well...hope we'll do better in the HE tourn...good news is patrick eaves is supposed to play thursday...so that could be huge for us if he is really healthy...seing as he had 17 pts in 10 games as a freshman....he'll be awsome next year at least...

and what is up with bc Bball...tied with UConn for the Big East lead? how'd that happen...should be a good week if we can at least beat nova...it;d be nice to beat uconn and nova going into big eat tourney...we'd get an ncaa bid if we could do that...we'll see...craig smith is awsome...

i just hope merrimack doesn't spank us 6-1 like last time we played...somehow i don't see that happening though...we've got something to prove now...

Lee-

I was hoping for a BC - UNH Hockey East Final. Oh well. BC did a good job of running BU ragged in doubletime. Then a single OT win in the finals. Good tournament.

Tough break about BC's bid for the NCAA B-ball tourney.