Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Remember the old days?

Remember the old days when the Hartford Whalers were a NHL team? There are several responses I would expect from this question.
A. No
B. Yes
C. I don't watch or follow hockey
D. I have no clue what you're talking about.

For those of you who don't know I'll provide some background then dive into the topic.
The Whalers were founded in 1971 and actually played in Boston (part of the WHL). Later they were moved to Hartford in 1974. They then joined the NHL in 1979. To keep this short and sweet, the whalers sucked. They had 3 winning seasons in 18 years, missed the playoffs 10 times and had only one playoff series win..Later earning them the nickname "Forever .500s"
The last game played by the Whalers was in 1997, where they were then moved to Carolina and became a good franchise.

"Brass Bonanza" Hartford Whalers Theme song. --Didnt know they had one


Im gonna pass the torch here to a friend...I actually took the time to interview someone for this blog...

1.) Why do you think people are now starting to wear Whalers apparel?

There are many things that come to mind when I read this questions. I first wonder why some people are certain fans of any teams. You have the rare fan in me who supports both the New York Mets and the San Francisco 49ers, and every time I am asked why, I responded with some means of humors as to defelct my shame for their own going lack of performance. What lets me sleep at night though is that fact that they are a sports team, and I will actually get to either see their games in person, watch them LIVE on TV, or catch highlights on ESPN. What “Whalers fan” (notice the quotes) can do any of that….NONE. The Whalers are a thing of the past, and like any relics of a poor decision their memories should be buried deep down. I understand if you were actually alive and went to Whalers games, but why would you waste your money and purchase new apparel. Is it to wear to the game, no what game could that possible be unless your watching NESN classic. The most obvious and depressing conclusion that any “Whalers fan” should come to is that whenever they see new team apparel they should think, WOW where were this groupies before the Whalers go kicked out of Connecticut. So I say congratulations to the people who buy new apparel, and in doing so mock the fact the team was forced to relocate due to a low fan base. If your looking for acceptance from a large majority you might as well buy a Justin beiber t-shirt and you’ll be welcomed with open arms with people who have similar problems of idolizing a joke.

2.) What do you have against those who wear Hartford Whalers hats and such?

Where are they going to wear this hat, certainly not at a game, so what is the point…To look like you know what’s good by supporting something that couldn’t even hold a fan base. Once again if you wear a new Whalers hat, ask yourself why and the list will be short I can guarantee that. Probably just as short as the list of accomplishments you’ve had in your life. I have an idea, why not take that money you are about to spend on a new Whalers hat, and instead just throw it into the Connecticut river or give it to a bum on Asylum Street near your precious XL Center where the only good thing that has been going on there is the UConn’s women domination and annihilation of unworthy opponents.


3.) Should these pseudo fans root for the Carolina Hurricanes? (The Whalers were relocated to Carolina for those who didnt know.)

These pseudo fans should do everyone a favor and stop laughing in the face of professional hockey. It’s a joke that more and more people who cannot even name a former Whaler or two wear these hats. I am surprised that “authentic Whalers fans” are not as disturbed as I am.

4.) I recently saw a poll reading
What is your favorite NHL team:
A. Bruins
B. Devils
C. Whalers
D. Rangers
E. Other

What are your thoughts about this poll?

This poll seems rather interesting, and I would be curious to how the students at UConn felt. Then upon a second glance I realized something about this pool. That aside from option E (which is where option C should be fall under) all the teams listed actually still exist (once again option C seems to be the outlier). The question is “What is your favorite NHL Team?” Wake up, the Whalers are not a NHL team. I feel no need to further drive this point home as the poll merely adds to my conclusion that CT is a state filled with pseudo fans looking for some form of acceptance.

5.) Fill in the blank. Every time I see someone wearing a Whalers hat, I want to .

Rub my eyes, take three deep breaths, and remind myself that there are those less fortunate and do not have all the synapses firing.

6.) Short paragraph where you can add in anything else you would like to say about Whalers fans.
Your support is about as worthless as Willy Wonka himself making being a keynote speaker at a diabetes convention. Just like the Whalers, Willy Wonka should be given credit for his great products, but honestly you don’t need to go out there and buy those 5 lb chocolate bars for the holidays. Its unreasonable and overkill, and the same can be said of all these “whaler fans” coming out of the wood work now.


Hat rack at Lids 

I Agree with my friend here on every point that he made. However, Ill add in some more points.. Many of these people wearing these hats *coughLITTLEKIDScough* probably dont even know who or what the Whalers were. So its a cool hat to them thats fine I guess. But for those who are old enough and understand or like hockey..you need to move on and find a new team..You sporting a Whalers hat is like holding onto the picture of your Ex-gf from over 10 years ago. Its just not healthy!!! Perhaps you should sport a real team like the badass mamma-jammin BRUINS!!!! 


Also, I just found this...I did a little research and came across this. Hartford Whalers Booster Club? Upon actually going to the site and doing a little eye exercise/ reading...I found there are 456 actual Whalers fans remaining..I think...thats what the site says..You poor souls. 













Acknowledgments: Jo. "HoodRat" Za.

4 comments:

  1. Yes I knew who the Whalers were since I am an avid hockey fan. My favorite NHL team is the Bruins! Did you know that the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL farm team for the rangers) is going to be converting to the Connecticut Whale over this 10-11 season and changing their colors to navy and green. It's sort of weird because number one, they are not being called the Whalers, and number two, they are feeding the Rangers....so why shouldn't they stay Blue & Red? IDK. I think people still rep the Whalers because there is nothing better to do in CT and we have NONE of our own professional sports teams at all. No NBA, NHL, or NFL so the Whalers was the best thing we ever had. Otherwise we have to split between NY or MA teams. The Whalers were the only thing that was really ours so maybe that's why people haven't let it go?

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  2. I am aware that the wolfpack are changing their name to the Hartford Whale. I actually saw someone in my class wearing a Whale shirt. What do you think about my poll question #4 where people were voting the Whalers as their favorite team? They arent even a team anymore.
    Lastly, as I stated before..cheering or repping a non-existent team is like being stuck on that one ex-gf...you gotta move on sometime.

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  3. So you are putting down the WNBA then I see or the other sports that aren't considered to be mainstream?! I was aware that the Wold Pack will be called the Whales rather than Whalers, and this should just add more salt to the wounds then. I get what your saying, but CT is a small state, and people can travel not too far to find a team to claim as their own. The issue I have more is the fact of how young and ignorant these pseudo fans are. Let them go, and it would better for everyone if we had a youthful generation that did not just consume all the media marketing promotions and garbage that is thrown at them daily. Free your mind Neo...

    Go B's!

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  4. CT has a womans basketball team? Do they have one for MLS soccer too? I have no idea and am too lazy to look.

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