Remember when…
I think I’ve written this blog over a thousand times. My objective was to simply express the collective joy the entire nation felt when Crosby scored. I mean, I can’t think of many other experiences where it felt like literally, LITERALLY all of Canada jumped up, pumped their fists in the air and high fived like it was going out of style. I can’t remember where everyone was so united, so proud. I mean even in Prince Rupert people were honking their horns and going crazy. Prince Rupert! Quiet little Prince Rupert! When else does a town this small get to participate in a celebration this big?
And I was glad it was against the US. Not because I hate US hockey (trust me I do), or because I want to talk trash (trust me I did), but because this was one of those moments where both of our eyes were glued to the tv. This was something we shared. Don’t tell me the Americans didn’t watch it or want it. It received crazy ratings. It felt like the entire sports world, was zero’d in on this one game. The networks wouldn’t be able to ignore it. This was THE game.
This was our boy, Bobby Lou in net. Our guy. Johnny Canuck proudly painted on the top of his goalie mask (which looked so cool by the way). I mean, I imagine non-Vancouver fans wondered why the crowd sounded like it was booing Luongo every time he made a save. It was our inside joke, a reminder that the Olympics were being held in Vancouver. Home of the (aptly titled) Canucks.
This was next goal wins. Literally. All those games that we played as kids in the street. Next goal wins? This was it! Next goal gets the gold.
And when Crosby scored, the place erupted. I mean everywhere. All over Canada. You couldn’t help but cheer. You couldn’t help but share in the joy. You couldn’t help but beam with pride.
There are some memories that will stick with us forever. I will remember this forever. Like I remember Jordan shooting over Bryon Russell in Game 6. Like I remember Chris Webber’s timeout. Like I remember Joe Carter’s home run. Like I remember Pavel Bure’s breakaway goal in Game 7 against the Flames.
Except this was bigger.
Those memories, non-sports fans won’t remember.
This memory, everyone will keep.
Canada will always remember.
America will remember too… especially with Canada always reminding them.
