Before reading any further I would highly suggest turning on your iPod to a soft background volume and tune it to “Please Don’t Go Girl” by NKOTB (c’mon I know you have it somewhere on there). You may have to place it on repeat so it continually plays while you read. But every time they use the word “girl” insert instead “boy” or “guy” or “man” depending on how masculine you want to get. I went with “boy” just because it flows easier but to each their own. And it has a much more teeny-bopper feel which goes with the song better.
Saturday, July 3, 2011 dawned beautifully for me. I had submitted my final paper for my grad course the night before and I was ready to relax and enjoy my weekend. So I went to the barn, daydreamed about hippos and spent some time with the fam. I went swimming with my nephew (1 year old and cute as a button) and then went back to the barn to take care of the best behaved horses ever (believe that and I’ll tell you another). My mom suggested we get a snowball…small sized of course to cut back on sugar.
And then it happened…my phone went off at 6:29pm. It was a text message. From Sarah. And it held the dreaded news…
Dagger.to.the.heart. That one hurts a bit.
Needless to say that snowball got a bit bigger. And I asked for extra chocolate syrup.
(I was going to insert an image here to show you the extreme change in size here but apparently a chocolate snowball is actually some decadent looking little morsel that I have now looked up the recipe for so I can make them sometime within the next 15 years like all the other recipes I have. But just envision a big ball of shaved ice completely smothered in Hershey’s syrup. Yep you’ve got the idea.)
But the important part is that Pinner will no longer be a Hershey Bear or become a full-blown Cap. For those who don’t know him by his beloved nickname (I’ll admit I hated the nickname Pinner at first) I’m talking about Steve Pinizzotto.
The 27 year old, 6’1” Ontario native Right Wing that has a “take no prisoners” approach to hockey and is a complete badass. I mean look at him – badass right? One game I went to I think he fought more then he actually played. Bad.ass.
The news pretty much took me into a small state of depression for the rest of the day. Actually I’m still not over it.
It’s like being a kid and finding a kitten on the street that needs someone to love and cuddle it until it grows into a hissing ball of fur.
So you take in the freaking adorable kitten, give it milk, let it sleep in your bed and play with it all day long. Because it’s the best kitten. EVER. And since it’s the best kitten ever you convince your parents to let you take it on vacation to say…Vancouver. And while you’re in Vancouver, oblivious to everything but the best kitten ever, your parents suggest you go whale watching. And while you’re whale watching (aka sitting alone in the corner petting best kitten ever) a whale comes up to your boat…
And out of NOWHERE best kitten ever flies out of your arms and jumps into the water magically transforming into a whale and swimming away while you stand there dejected believing that best kitten ever couldn’t have left.
So to say I’m having a hard time seeing him in Canucks colors is an understatement…
As I was discussing some of the recent changes in the Caps line-up with Sarah today she reminded me that it’s said you should “love your team, not a player” BUT I would argue we all have a favorite player (or more then one). Even if you’re not willing to admit it and wear a particular player’s name on your jersey there is SOMEONE on the team that you enjoy watching more then the others. And when it came to the Bears Pinner was the one player I enjoyed watching most. So naturally I hoped he would work his way up and play for the Caps this season or at the very least remain a Bear so I could see him when I make the trek to Hershey. (And I secretly envisioned getting to meet him again at the Bears meet ‘n greet game. Best hockey-related moment ever.)
When your favorite player signs with another team it’s a test of loyalty not only to your team but to the player you claim to be a fan of. But there can be a balance. Like I will always support the Caps & Bears – there’s nothing that can change that.
But I will always be a Pinner fan. And I wish him the best in his ventures to Vancouver. Now he can have moose in his backyard and speak in a Canadian accent without fear of having to listen to the awful American renditions of Canadians. So Pinner be thankful for that eh?
Well, I guess I should mosey on over to the Canucks store. Thankfully they have a pretty awesome logo that I can definitely see myself rocking on a shersey…
Good luck to all the guys who are moving on to new teams, moving out, moving up or just moving in general. I look forward to supporting the Caps and Canucks this season (until we play each other of course and then that’s just a crazy predicament right there).
This post is dedicated to all the fans out there whose favorite player has moved onto a different team. Keep the faith in your player kids!
