And A HUGE Thank You
I was a “kid” of about 22 years old in 1997, on the day the NHL announced it would be placing one of four expansion teams right here in Columbus, Ohio. I was a reporter for a small-town newspaper in Southeast Ohio at the time, and on that particular morning, I was picking up the sports section of the Columbus Dispatch, as was my ritual to go with the second or third cup of coffee.
And my jaw dropped. Then I became just flat-out giddy. That year, I had already cursed the Hockey Gods because the Detroit Red Wings had cruised to their first Stanley Cup in 40- or 50-something years, and a plan to bring the Hartford Whalers to Columbus had recently fallen through.
But that day, I got a wish that I had longed for since I had begun really watching hockey maybe five years before: I would have an opportunity to see NHL Hockey in my hometown.
Some time later, they announced a name and logos for the upcoming Columbus Blue Jackets. Some seemed to like it. Others seemed to really hate it. Officials talked about the “bug with an attitude” concept. I tossed it around in my head – including what I figured would be many references to an expansion team “buzzing,” getting “swatted” or “squished.” Sure it was kind of odd, but I just didn’t care. I was getting an NHL team to watch.
"I could count acquaintances who watched hockey on one hand, and a local store in Portsmouth had more UK merchandise than OSU."
It was a few more weeks before the local sporting goods store would have Blue Jackets merchandise – obviously, hockey was not a big sport down there. I could count acquaintances who watched hockey on one hand, and this store in Portsmouth actually had more UK merchandise than OSU. The only CBJ item available: A plain white Starter ball cap… plastic snapping strap that we never see anymore, little Starter logo in the back, and the original CBJ banner-and-stick logo in the front. I still have that hat.
I got my first CBJ jersey from my significant other, nine years ago, on my 25th birthday – I’m not sure that poor woman realized what she was getting herself into back then. Sure, she had sat through some of Colorado’s regular season and playoff games with me – although she slept through the everlasting image of Ray Bourque finally lifting the Cup in ’01. I remember being so excited to tell her when I’d ordered tickets for our first live NHL game: Columbus against my/or formerly beloved Colorado Avalanche.
On her birthday.
Was it any wonder that I had been single up to that point?
She got through it. She is still an incredibly patient woman to this day. She can watch hockey live – she loves the fights… hey, it's something. Watching it on TV is still a struggle, but she tries. I have to admit, last year’s season tickets wore her down by March. She truly believes Ohio's pro sports teams are cursed. Then again, she is from Cleveland… and she doesn’t watch basketball, so my arguing that point doesn’t work. I’ve tried.
Well, the Playoff curse for the Blue Jackets is over… our boys are finally over the hump. Appropriately enough, it was against Chicago – the Blue Jackets’ first-ever opponent, who came back from a 3-0 deficit to win 5-3 in the Jackets’ inaugural game. This time, the Jackets came back from trailing 2-0 and 3-2. And the clutch, game-tying, playoff spot-clinching goal came from none other than captain Rick Nash, who scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game against Chicago some years ago.
"This long-awaited playoff run is for all of us. But most of all, it’s for John H. McConnell."
And once again, I am giddy. Sure, everyday life has its ups and downs, the economy is… well, eccch, and the world is far from perfect, but life is also a series of moments.
And at this moment, I am giddy once more.
And somewhere up there, John H. McConnell is smiling. It’s hard not to think of those moments from the Jumbotron montages, with “Mr. Mac” decked out in a Blue Jackets hat, a big smile, a warm wave of his hand, and the thunderous applause he would receive every time. It wasn’t just a show of gratitiude for the man that made it all happen, but also a salute to a fellow hockey fan. Most of us in that arena never knew Mr. McConnell personally, but in a strange way... I think we felt like we did.
Twelve years ago, Mr. Mac fulfilled the dream of Columbus hockey fans. Last night, the Blue Jackets fulfilled all of ours. This long-awaited playoff run is for all of us.
But most of all, it’s for John H. McConnell.
Thank you, Mr. Mac.