Because its the Cup

If you are a hockey fan, unless you have been living under a rock, you know that the LA Kings won the Stanley Cup last night. As a Blue Jackets fan, this event was a combination of honoring the sweet tradition that is the awarding of, in many opinions, the greatest professional sports trophy there is; celebrating that, finally, the god-forsaken season that was 2011-12 in CBJ land is over; and, acceptance/ bitterness/ jealousy that Jeff Carter did indeed help bring a Cup to his team – it just wasn’t us.

All post-season, I had been saying, “I just don’t want to see Jeff Carter raise the Cup.” This particularly frustrated me because I love the story that is Jonathan Quick and, my irritation came only from the fact that I believe Jeff Carter is good, and I so desperately wanted Carts to be here, and stay here, and succeed HERE. So, last night, as the outcome was inevitable well before the start of the 3rd period, I thought of Bernier sitting in his dressing room, and I thought of the many professional athletes who’ve commented over the years on if they do, or do not, watch the championship celebration if it is not their team. Growing up, I was raised in the ways of the NFL so I am well accustomed to statements like “I refuse to watch the [insert trophy name here] celebration until I’m the one receiving it,” “I don’t want to allow myself to be on the field until [my team name here] is the one celebrating,” “its all about the other team, time for us to leave the [field/ice/diamond]”.  Yes, the cliches of professional sports extend even into how we discuss dealing with defeat when we are so close.

But, this morning, I offer a contrary opinion. If you play professional hockey, whether you lost in Game 6, lost in round 1, or didn’t make the playoffs at all watch the awarding of the Stanley Cup. First, the tradition is unparalleled. The celebration remains one that isn’t completely overtaken by media pomp and circumstance (I’m looking at you NFL) and it remains one that perfectly balances the celebration of the team while acknowledging each individual. It takes over the entire field of play and brings joy, elation, tears, relief, and the allowance of pain together in one perfect crucible of a moment.

However, second, and more importantly. If you didn’t win the Cup, I want it to tick you off. I want you to watch those players celebrate and I want you to want what they have. Bad. You see, I’m known for believing that one of the major keys to success – and what our Blue Jackets team needs to grow within themselves – is that you need to hate to lose MORE than you love to win. You need to refuse to accept anything less than all you can give and then give more, you need to find the drive and determination that fuels your every move – off season, pre-season, mid-season to focus on one goal and that goal is to be the best.

So I sat and watched. I watched Carter pose with the Cup. I watched Quick receive the Conn Smythe. I watched highlight videos today and looked at the photos posted on twitter, facebook and blogs of Carter raising that cup high above his head. I felt the season of impossible bad happenings finally, finally ebb away. And then something new rose in its place – the demand for our team, our beloved Blue Jackets, to somehow, some day have that moment.

So to every fan, to every player. Don’t use your cliches, or excuses, or the pain you know you’ll experience absolve you from watching the LA Kings celebrate their incredible achievement. Because really, let’s face it, not watching is just avoidance. And avoidance prohibits you from tackling the obstacles that lie in your way. Make yourself watch – no matter how much it hurts – because that hurt, can make you stronger, better, more full of heart if you let it. And THAT, no matter your role, can make you great.