Your Marriage

If your team is (or could be) missing the playoffs, what are you going to do?

The possibilities of my Senators missing the playoffs are remote. Therefore, I will discuss the obligations of a fan in such a hypothetical circumtance.

First, you must consider how much you believe in your team. Then, you must consider how necessary hockey is in your life. I don't expect many fans to become hockey celibate, but to the other end, I would be extremely disappointed in a fan who jumps right onto the bandwagon, without pausing to inspect for sharp nails or shoddy workmanship, without a backwards glance. I don't think fans who wholeheartedly embrace another team once their original team is absent are fulfilling their role as fans. A certain expectation of loyalty comes with the fan title.

Think about it this way: your fandom is a marriage. While your husband is in a temporary coma, there's nothing really wrong with taking note of other fine men. You are a woman, after all. However, your commitment is still with your comatose husband and he still demands your loyalty and heart.

The line is drawn at paraphernalia, the sports equivalent of a wedding ring. Embracing, say, 87 & Co. when your Panthers are out of the running to the extent that you purchase a Crosby shirt is unacceptable (... unless you black-out the Pens logo) .

In my hardened experience as a Senators fan, I've had to witness many disgraceful playoff exits. I have never jumped on another team's bandwagon, but I've hoped for a contender to win, while somehow always manipulating the reasons befitting to the Senators. I.e., I hoped for Calgary to win in '03-'04 because the Tampa Bay and Ottawa franchises were born in the same year, and having them win something before us was a nauseating thought. However, I wouldn't touch any of those flaming C's, even with Zdeno Chara's stick.

You're still allowed to be a hockey fan and enjoy the teams, but remember where your loyalties lie.