Nausea. Pain. Suffering. Frustration. Anger. Joy. Jubilation. Exhilaration. I have felt all of these in the span of a weekend watching our beloved Sharks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sometimes I have experienced all of those feelings in the span of one period in one game. One thing I do know is that it ain’t easy being a Sharks fan.
Sunday night the Sharks played in the longest game in franchise history—a 4 OT loss to the Dallas Stars. Anyone who watched it can tell you that it was nerve-wracking and gut-wrenching, and that was just for the casual fan. For the borderline diehard fan (that would be me), well, I could have thrown up the whole game. I just wanted it to end so I could stop pacing, standing, jumping and having a mild stroke. Come to think of it, the last time I wanted something to end so I could be put out of my misery was Gonzales’s tenure as mayor.
When I started thinking about the Sharks in relation to San Jose, I realized that this team parallels a lot of what happens in this town. They start with lots of potential, but end with a lack of execution. Throw in some inconsistent performers, and you get San Jose.
What I do know is that our single, identifiable team is out of the playoffs and San Jose has lost yet another chance to give our city recognition. I still dream of the day we can win the Stanley Cup, have our first championship parade down Santa Clara Street (not Santana Row) and celebrate all the years of heartbreak and nausea together.
Until then, is anyone up for an Earthquakes game?
This year’s Sharks playoff run reminds me that the team is similar to what the Ottawa Senators were before their trip to the Cup finals last year – talented playoff underachievers. It’s the third year in a row the Sharks got eliminated in the 6th game of the second round. See a pattern here?
It should also be noted that, earlier on Sunday, the Stealth indoor lacrosse team lost their home playoff game to Portland, 18-16. The San Jose Stealth won their first division title in their (brief) history just last week. They would have hosted another playoff game at HP Pavilion this weekend if they beat underdog Portland. Another lost opportunity for recognition for San Jose.
Finally, why have the SaberCats not been mentioned? All they’ve done is win three Arena Football League championships this decade. The first one was won at HP Pavilion (then the Compaq Center @ San Jose) in August 2002 – a game I attended. (That game was sold out, too.) The second was won in Arizona in 2004, and they won last year in New Orleans. Their championship wins were broadcast live on ABC, NBC, and ESPN respectively, covering the city recognition component nationwide. The SaberCats are the ONLY big league team in the entire Bay Area to have won their sports league this decade – yet get little recognition for it. It’s sad when the celebration for the SaberCats’ last 2 championships was held at Great America in Santa Clara, not down Santa Clara Street. Someone who follows City Hall correct me if I’m wrong, but I have never heard anything about Gonzales or Reed present members of the SaberCats with keys to the city for what they have done. A disrespect that says that the SaberCats don’t count in a city that no one counts.
Seldom advertised fact about the Earthquakes and their temp home @ Santa Clara U.: Buck Shaw Stadium is within walking distance of the Santa Clara Caltrain Station. You can also get several VTA bus lines like the Airport shuttle, 22 and 60 at the train station. Great way to save some gas $$$.
See you next Sharks season…
I’m with you Single Gal.
Can you imagine how jacked up this place would be if we had game 7 tonight?
I watched the Sharks this season through the eyes of my 10-year old, who turned onto hockey and fandom this year in a big way. And all I can say is: they are a great team to root for—and not just because they had a shot at the Stanley Cup. The way the won games (with grace and skill) the way they lost games (often with never-say-die persistence, see game 4 OT loss to Dallas) and their overall gentlemanly, high-character good sportsmanship found a place in our hearts. Winning is great, but it isn’t the only thing. My son learned alot about competition and teamwork and sportmanship from watching them, not to mention having his vocabulary increase form listening to Dan R on the radio! They’re a civic treasure, early exit or no.
Just wait ‘til next year.
If the Sharks owners ran the Sharks the way they run San Jose politics they would have won 20 years of consecuative Stanley cups. They need to wire the league the same way. Good luck!
#1 UB,
Unfortunately, unless your a team from the top four American sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL), your “championship” won’t be recognized other than by the die hard fans of said sport league (AFL, MLS, Single A Giants and National Lacrosse included). Yes, there’s been some recognition on ESPN and other networks, but it’s always quick blurbs or bottom line updates; you won’t get Super Bowl or “Baseball Tonight”-type coverage for these lesser leagues. This is not to say these teams or there accomplishments aren’t noteworthy; it’s great that many have the option to watch baseball, pro-soccer, indoor football and pro-lacrosse so close to home. But reading an interview last year by Sabercates QB Ben Grieb, he would love for the NFL to come calling. In closing, thank you Sharks for a great season…hopefully next year Lord Stanley will be paraded down Santa Clara Street.
You do not win a Stanley Cup. You earn it. The Sharks are paying their dues, and it will come. All they need at this point is a couple of goal scorers. How many games did they win or lose this season by just one goal?
#7 Alfred:
Why else would you go to Green Bay, Wisconsin if not for a Green Bay Packers game? Outside of those folks who live in and around the city, who else would even know of Green Bay if it were not for the existence of the Packers? I see your point, to a small degree, but what a horrible example…
Sports teams are a pretty shallow way to expect to gain “recognition” for a city.
The Tottenham Hotspurs, the Green Bay Packers, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Edmonton Eskimos—how much real recognition have their sports successes brought to their respective cities?
Granted, any relatively large city can expect to have some sports teams. But would you want to visit Kansas City or Atlanta just because you had heard of those sports teams?
I suggest that 01SJ (http://www.01sj.org/) has a lot more potential to make SJ a place that interests the outside world than any sports team.
(“Baltimore Colts won the Superbowl!—I am so going to take my vacation in Baltimore!”)
Single Gal:
Earthquakes game? At least the Sharks score a goal and win a game once in a while.
To Michael Schwerin:
Did you see the Sharks play their first season at the Cow Palace? Lots of parallels with the Quakes now.
Go Quakes!
Am I still an authentic San Jose resident if I confess that I’ve never been to a Sharks Game? =(
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