A Special Tribute To One Who Fought So Bravely

In Loving Memory to Jennifer Leigh Dire (January 3rd, 1973 - October 23rd, 2009). Wife of my good friend, Mike. May you find the strength you need through this hard time. I will be here for you. All my thoughts and love.

It's never easy hearing that a good friend of yours is going through hard times such as my good friend, Mike. Yesterday I found out that his wife, Jen, passed away yesterday evening from cancer. I won't say she "loss" the battle to cancer. I actually don't like to say someone "loss" to an illness, seems like it labels the person to be weak. So I won't say that. From what Mike described to me, I can safely say that Jen wore her smile til the end of her time here on earth. And say what you want about spirituality but I know she is somewhere better and no longer in pain.

I worked with Mike at Disneyland. First met him on the Steam Trains when I entered the "Westside" part of the parks attractions department coming from Fantasyland. Mike always has a personalty that can make you light up on a bad day. Even though you can say that he can be rather crass and crazy, he's just a great character. I remember him telling me of Jen going through cancer, of the tough times she was experiencing and how it was to see through the eyes of someone being there for his love. I was there for him when they found out the cancer returned 2 weeks after hearing that she was clear. But no matter what, Mike always kept that smile on his face and she always had her humour about herself through her pain.

I never really knew Jen. I never spent anytime with her. But I had the honour and privilege one day to meet her and shake her hand after recovering from her mastectomy when they visited Disneyland. They sat next to my position on the steam train. And although she wasn't physically 100%, she still manage to have that great smile beaming radiantly. I know that all who have been able to spend their time with Jen will tell you that they're better people for doing so. It's not everyday you meet those such as the two.

But I will tell you that I am a better person to know Jen through my friend.

My best wishes are with you, Mike. May you find peace in this time of need and may you carry on that light that shined so bright from her. I know you will.

An uphill climb + the power of supporters

I'll just jump right in and say that a lot of us Duck fans were really excited going into the beginning of the season. During the summer the Ducks did a little bit of "tinkering". Had one of the biggest news on draft day with GM Bob Murray trading away defense powerhouse, Chris Pronger, to the Philadelphia Flyers for former Ducks forward, Joffrey Lupul(in case you don't know yet he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Prongs), D-man Lucas Sbisa, a few draft picks, a pair of shoes, a brand new puppy, brand new wall to wall hardwood flooring in Murrays house... you get it. As well as Lupul and Sbisa coming in, the Ducks penned former Montreal Canadians cap'n and Selanne's fellow countryman, Saku Koivu. Also out was D-man great Francois Beauchemin to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Along with former Tampa Bay Lightning beast, Evgeny Artyukhin and a couple of veteran D-men new to the Ducks, things were looking promising coming into the new season.

However it hasn't been so amazing for the 1st 8 games. As of last night, the Ducks currently sit at the bottom of the mountain in the Pacific Division with a 3-4-1 record and measly 7 pts. With already 2 shutouts to the NY Rangers (Away) and the St. Louis Blues (Home), the Ducks are now looking at a growing uphill climb. At home in Olympia, I've watched each game wearing either my Selanne (away) or Neidermayer (home) sweater, listening to Stevie C via AM830 stream and the video feed going through my telly. I've watched with frustration from the lack of playing coming out of my team. And last night, I hoped for a dominating game out of the Ducks when they played the Dallas Stars. Now, when I say "I hate the Stars", I really really really mean that I HATE them. There are teams that I respect, like the Red Wings. I know that the Wings are a great team and I respect them, I just can't stand their supporters. With the Stars, I don't respect them save for Mike Modano. I hate them and I don't like any of their fans. So I was hoping that the Ducks would go out last night and embarrass them. But it was just hope, the Ducks would get scored on twice in the 1st and once in the 2nd but Ryan Getzlaf would get a goal back towards the end of that 2nd period. In the 3rd, the Ducks would close the gap when Joffrey Lupul put one in the back of the net to get the team within 1 goal of a tie. However dirty, cheap Steve-Freaking-Ott got an open net goal and the Ducks would go on to lose 2 - 4. For only one period did the Ducks look absolutely in control and that was the 3rd, 20 mins. Of course everyone knows that a team has to play all 60 mins doing well on offense as well as defense. I just hope that this kind of playing, or in the Ducks case, barely playing ceases. I'm sure all of us Duck fans think the same.

And speaking of fellow supporters, today I received my Ducks Care Package in the mail from fellow fan, Vicky. I was excited to get it inside and open it up. In the package was a Ducks t-shirt from this past Saturday's shutout against the Ducks game, a programme from Opening Night, a magnet schedule and one thing that I've been trying to get for a few years: Scott Niedermayer's autograph on a puck. Which was the biggest surprised. Here's a photo

The fact that someone sent me this care package was really touching. When I looked at the the programme, I couldn't help but get a little knotted in the back of the throat. The hardest thing is being away from my home and being able to watch games with my fellow supporters but when I looked at it, holding it in my hands, It felt like home. So with that, I want to give my sincerest Thanks to Vicky. Ducks fans are the best, hands down. And the Ducks are the best of course. I just want them to start winning!

And it begins... PT III

2008-2009

It started out with at the end of summer. Attending all 4 Ducks training camp practices(called out sick from work for two of them). I was deep in it. Their disappointing early exit of the first round from the previous post season left all of us fans wanting more and needing it. I was by then a hardcore supporter and it was like being a 12 yr old kid again. Fascinated with the game and with my team. I was joining Ducks message boards, keeping my eyes on the news as much as I could (I didn't have the NHL Network then), going to every Ducks Watch Party that I could, attending practices and other events(the free ones). Like I said, I was in deep and I loved it. I looked into getting the lowest priced SSH package but by the time I looked into it and talked with a Ducks SSH representative, they were sold out. Next package was the 'Buy two-get two free" however, at $1,500, I wasn't able to afford it. I did the next best thing, Ticket-Exchange and Stub Hub were my way of seeing games. I also had met fellow SSH's that would have an extra ticket here and there. My girlfriends-friend who took us to a couple of games the previous season, also helped out and there was craigslist.com. Overall, I missed about 10 games the whole season and that includes 1 from the pre-season. I also went on my first away game to Glendale, AZ. It was the Ducks last game of the season against the Coyotes. The night before, I attended the Playoff clinching game with who happen to be my most hated team, the Dallas Stars. The following day, my girlfriend and I hit the road to AZ. It was a fun trip and was three months away from what would be coming...

In 2007, my girlfriend and I visited her hometown: Olympia, WA. I will say that when we first started dating and when things got serious she had mentioned to me that it was her plan to move back home. We spent two weeks and I feel in love with the state. It was a big change from living in Anaheim, and personally I wanted something new and different, somewhere were I could live and not have to pay an arm and a leg. So after giving much thought about it. We decided that we would move in the summer of 2009. I knew that I would be leaving a lot behind: My friends, my family and yes, my team. It's was a tough decision that I am still trying to adjust to this day. I knew that the only place for me to drive to see a proper hockey match would be in Vancouver, B.C.

For a proper send off, I made sure to attend at least one post-season game. I had always wanted to be in a playoff atmosphere. We attended game 3 which was at home. The Ducks were coming into the post as an 8th seeded team but didn't show it when they took games 1+2 in San Jose. They lost game 3 at home but won game 4. I was not satisfied going to a losing playoff game. I wasn't able to get a ticket for game 6 which was back at home after the Sharks took game 5. It would have been the ideal game to go to being that the Ducks closed out the series to upset the Sharks and moved to round 2.
I needed to go to a 2nd round game and through my roommate he surprised me the day of game 3 with a club seat ticket that his dad gave him! It was amazing! The Ducks V The Red Wings in a Semi-Final series. The Ducks had won a few days before back in Detroit in an triple OT goal by Todd Marchant. They would go and win game 3 but lose the next to. The morning of game 6 at home, a few of us went to the Pond at 6 in the morning. One of the local news stations was doing a morning piece and fans were invite to attend. My roommate, my good friend and I myself entered the Pond and we were directed through one of the section 200 tunnels. Another dream came true that day, we saw other fans walking out on the ice and so we joined. Along with that, we sat on the teams bench and took part in the event where it ended outside and all who attended were given two tickets for the do-or-die match!

This would be my last game at home before moving up north. I didn't know who else I wanted to spend it more than with my girlfriend whom, bless her heart, has to deal with my addiction(it's like Fever Pitch). The Ducks would win game 6 but lose game 7 by one late goal in the 3rd Period after they rallied to a 3 goal comeback to tied it up. I wish they could have gone to the Conference Final. I would have been there. I would have been there if they made it to the Stanley Cup Final. I know that when it happens again, I will make the trip down. So the move was made on May 31st and we arrived in Olympia on June 1st. Like I said, it's been hard to adjust without my team and my new friends that I have met since who still live back home and get to attend games.

And that brings us caught up to today...

My reason for this blog is to share what it's like to be a fan outside of my home, outside of my beloved Pond. For now I have been following the early new season through Center Ice and Game Center Live. It's interesting as well being that Washington state has no NHL hockey team, which I could see one being here. So far it's the WHL and I hope to see a couple of games but until I fly down home, this is were I will be unless I can make it to Vancouver.

So here we go. My thoughts on the game and on the Ducks for all to read. I hope this is a success and I hope my team wins.

We are go....

And it begins... PT II

I was submerged and I was loving it. The end of the 2005-2006 season saw hopes fade quickly as the Edmonton Oilers, the 8th seeded team, took the Conference Final series at 4-1 against the Ducks. I had yet to go to my first live match. It was something I wanted to do for a very long time.

It wasn't until February 7th, 2007 my dream came true.

A friend had bought the tickets for me as an Xmas gift. It was at home against the Sharks, being that I don't like San Jose, I was looking forward to it. It was surreal. Walking through the doors of the Pond were amazing. Every time I had passed it on the freeway on my way to work (5 days a week), I'd longed to watch a Ducks game. The whole event is a blur to me. I was like a kid again. Passing fans in the hallways, wearing their sweaters, supporting their team. This is what I wanted to be apart of.
Our section was 408. I know, top section but I find that the real fans sit in the 400's. My heart beat quickly and til this day I can say that time slowed down when I emerged from the tunnel with the cool draft breaking along the skin of my face, moving through my hair, to stand and to view in panoramic glory:

The Pond.
In it's entirety.

It hit me. It was a new feeling. A great feeling. Sure I have been to baseball games at Angels Stadium but this was different and I embraced it. There's something about seeing a hockey game that sets itself apart from seeing any other sport live. I haven't watched a live basketball game so I won't lump that in but there's something in the air at a hockey arena and it's literally the smell. Also the fact that it feels nice and cool, but hockey rinks have a certain scent about them and it's amazing. I guess my experience of walking from the hallway and into my seat can be compared to sitting in the Millennium Falcon and looking out the window whilst starting the jump into hyperspace where the stars are just stars that begin to stretch then you shoot into fast speed. In case you need a reminder what that's like...

I was glued to my seat for the entire 60 mins of the game. Well, I jumped up when the 2 Duck goals were scored which were so amazing, I can't even remember. With a 2 - 3 loss to the much hated Sharks, a couple of beers drunk. We were heading out the door but not without looking back before walking out the tunnel to take one more view of what would be my new home. It was the only game I would be able to attend that season. A season of which saw the Ducks hoisting the Cup for the first time in a game that I watched whilst on lunch break at Disney when I was working the Main Street Parade with a group of other Duck fans cheering on our team to take the series from Ottawa. One of our supervisors even made the announcement "Do not drive on Katella going back to the 57. Avoid all streets close to the Pond tonight, the Ducks just won." I was wishing that I was with my fellow supporters inside that arena celebrating. That was the night of the Cast Member preview of the Finding Nemo attraction. Which I had a ticket for. That's when I saw my friend Jasmin, whom was donning her Ducks sweater with black, gold, white, and orange ribbons in her hair along with confetti. I ran to her to hug her in celebration when she told me, "I was there!" Sure I was in awe of her but I was also jealous. Needless to say, it was a great season and a great summer.

The 2007-2008 season, I returned back to the Pond for 3 games: Stars (who I absolutely hate), Sharks, and the Avs (a game that I took my father to, it would be our first together and being that I was into the Avs in the mid 90's I wanted to see them even though they weren't the same team).
I was back living in Anaheim with a complete nutter as a landlady, who sued me and won-apparently when you old and crazy judges believe you, watching as many games as I could on tv. Halfway through that season, my girlfriend(who I started dating at the end of 2006) and I decided to move in together and did so in West Anaheim. I was free to fully enjoy the games from home, being able to scream and throw my arms up in sheer excitement every time a goal was scored. It was great!
Sadly the Ducks weren't able to get past the Stars in the first round of the post season and defend their title. It was a disappointing series. But what can you do when you have the "Hangover"

The next season, I would pretty much become an unofficial SSH as well as making a big life-changing decision....

And it begins.... PT. I

Where to begin.
What to say.

I guess I won't go the direction of your usual proper introductions. Just going to plainly say what my whole blog thing is about in one sentence:

"I am a fan of hockey, more importantly I am a die-hard Anaheim Ducks supporter."

Yes, THAT Anaheim Ducks team. The team with the "Dirty Goons". The "Disney" team. And whatever outside Duck fans say to us. I've heard it all. But I am proud to be a fan of this talented team. And of course I am of fan of the great sport of hockey in general. Sure there are teams that I hate and there are teams that I really respect and like. I love the sport.

My journey:

Well don't know if I would call it a "journey" more like "My Story". What is my story? Well, I was born and raised in Southern California. Got into hockey right around the early 90's and I will honestly say that it was the "Disney" film, yes, THAT "Disney" film that help sparked my interest in the sport. No one in my neighbourhood played hockey, my father was a baseball, basketball, American football fan. My friends were into video games. I was on my own, 12 years old, a Southern Californian kid. It's sad but true what people say about SoCal hockey, or shall I say the lack of attention it draws and of course it has changed since '92 but back then, I didn't know anyone who had interest in the sport, and after that film was release, after I saw it, I was hooked. Say what you want about how silly it is to support a team that was started by Disney, I don't care. Hell, I think Disney should never be allowed to start a franchise and/or own a sports team again. But that was the past, the Ducks aren't that team anymore and they aren't own by Disney and any smack talk or linking the Ducks & Disney is rather sad. It's pathetic and just know that all of the current supporters of the team think it's pure jealously now because our team since then have proved that they are a legit team, ask Lord Stanley.

I wasn't able to follow the Ducks that much in those early years due to the fact that my father had been laid off 3 years prior to the teams inaugural season, so pretty much the only channels on the telly that we were able to get were a whooping number of 4. We had to cut the cable because frankly, we couldn't afford it(hell, I could tell that my father was sad at the fact that he couldn't do anything to help his son after it was known that I wanted to learn how to play the sport). And being that I was a kid who didn't have much of an attention span, let's be honest, all young boys don't, I kind of lost touch with the team after a year. It wasn't until 1995 when my interest was sparked again. This time the team was one led by Joe Sakic in Colorado along with players like Foote, Forsberg, Lemieux, Deadmarsh, Ricci, Ozolinsh, and Roy. By that time, I was a teenager barely able to hold steady on the roller blades that a family friend bought me and long gone were the days when I would outline a goal with duct tape on the front of the garage door so that I could practice my wrist and slap shots. I was on my way of learning how to rock and roll. By that time my main focus was music and learning how to play it.

Throughout the years I would keep dipping my head back into things around the NHL and the Ducks, it was the Avalanche in '96. In 2003 the Ducks had made their first Stanley Cup final having a go with the NJ Devils to 7 games and failing to hoist the cup. By that time, I was getting ready to live out on my own, moving from where I grew up in Riverside, CA to Anaheim, CA. I had yet to watch a game live and really wanted to but, I was involved with someone who thought sports were stupid and would mock me whenever I turned on the telly to watch hockey or footie(soccer). Needless to say that relationship was over in 2005 and I was back living in Riverside but still working in Anaheim. That hockey season was, well non-existent and when it was time to restart the NHL for the 2005-2006 season, we saw a different Ducks team, one that wasn't owned by the evil rat, one with newer and less embarrassing sweaters/colours. With better players. It was an exciting time and my ears were perking up, my eye brows were raising, my interest was renewed. I'd say it wasn't until the last half of the 2005-2006 season that I decided to take the deep plunge. The water felt fine and was ready.

I jumped in head first. Who knew that I would never want to get out?