I see a lot of people ranting and raving, in person and online, and it really makes me wonder what they are thinking.
And no, this has absolutely nothing to do with the looming election in many municipalities — although the above statement could certainly apply to that as well.
Nope, this is all about the individuals we call fans. Then again, a more applicable name should be fanatics.
In Alberta, it’s normal for a segment of the groups that follow professional sports in the province’s two biggest centres to pick on each other in the month of September, given the football match-ups and hockey’s pre-season tilts.
However, it seems this year all of those ‘fans’ are more agitated than usual and are expressing their feelings at numerous targets — the two leagues, all four teams, the players, management, owners, officials. You name it, the ‘fans’ are taking a shot.
With the Edmonton Eskimos, much of the angst stems from the team faltering with five straight losses after racking up seven straight victories.
So, in some cases rightly so, the fanatics are fuming about some of the calls made for and against them or railing against some of the coaching decisions in addition to calling out some of the players for how they have performed. Talk has also been about a few of the judgments by the CFL brass that look to have come from out of nowhere while the league remains hush on what’s perceived as larger issues.
On the hockey side of the ledger, Oilers faithful don’t have too much to complain about, but it isn’t stopping some fans.
From griping about tighter enforcement of the current face-off and slashing rules to speculating on which players should be on what line to beefs about washroom and concession lines, the only thing that seems to be off limits is grumbling about Conner McDavid.
Meanwhile in Cowtown, the obvious discussion making the rounds is something Edmontonians finally put to bed last year — the need for a new arena.
The topic recently exploded with the Flames ownership group breaking off talks with the city, only to have the city release certain details about their last offer, which ramped up the rhetoric with a month before a new council is elected.
However, that’s not the only beef being expounded by the hockey devotees. The price to see a game there has always been a subject, but tires being kicked include possibly signing Jaromir Jagr to if the team find a ‘real’ goalie plus something more obscure (and pie in the sky) thoughts like the Flames winning the Stanley Cup.
Even ardent supporters of the Calgary Stampeders, who have dominated the CFL so far this season, are finding things to moan and groan over.
And it isn’t the same issues other CFL fans are squawking about — blown calls, terrible replay officiating, telling the Eskies to stop whining. No, these aficionados of the league leading 10-1-1 club are troubled by the play of their quarterback, annoyed with being on the backburner of the new stadium debate and calling the coaches of other clubs names.
Sure, I’ve been known to spout off about my favourite teams and their performances, or lack thereof, and even toss a few barbs toward my friends regarding their, oftentimes, questionable choice of club to support.
However, maybe it’s the changing climate or cabin fever, but this fall seems to have brought out more wackiness than normal.
But that is…just an observation