OK, to help start getting you fired up for Thursday, take a look at this list which will be the first comment. A friend once came up with this list of What The Komets Mean to Fort Wayne... and I added a few. Add some more to it and see what we can come up with.
Comments
The only team everybody in Fort Wayne roots for
Consistent playoff runs
Fans traveling to road games
Roy Chin's grin
Mitzi Toepfer's growl
Dinner at "Mom" Ruth Wiegmann's
It's hockey night in Fort Wayne
The Franke's tuxedos on opening night
Bob Chase's enthusiasm
Playoff beards
Janice Shepler's signs
Tom Didier's arm waving
Eddie Long still playing
Twister's aerobics
Reggie Primeau's inspiration
Former Komets coaches going to the NHL
Thanksgiving night and New Year's Eve
George Drysdale's stories
Report card nights
School talks
Ken Ullyot's wit
Colins: Lister, Chin and Chaulk
Guy Dupuis: every shift, period and game, every night
Moments of silence
Legends introductions
Len Thornson's quiet class
Hall of Fame nights
Komet charities
Former players in the NHL
Mike Emrick's beginning
Grace working the souvenir stand
Kids, kids, kids
Autograph zone
Sunday skates
Chin, Warner, Baldassari, Ullyot
Great goaltending
Captains
Taking a swing at Huk
Classic uniforms
Army swear-ins
Postseason fan party
Memories
Jack Loos
End of warmups pucks
Tim and Randy
Nicknames
Playoff overtimes
Leatherlungs
Superstitions
Hating shootouts
Ref heckling
Rivalries
Role models
Unsung heroes
Scott Sproat's wealth of ideas
Hit somebody!
Black players
Opposing players to hate
Players who leave and come back
Long-time fans and friends
Stability
Intermission youth hockey
Icy's antics
Mr. Ali decking Icy
Giant American Flag on the ice
The old days with the San Diego Chicken
The old days with the different cast of characters like Elvis and the Blues Brothers
History
The "Trumpitor"
Denny McClains "Turkeys"
Barbershopper's Singing at Christmas
Rock and Roll part 2
The Goal Horn
...those would be my faves ;-)
I'm with FWKRTJ
Funny, I thought he was taken by Ashley. Hmmm.
Let me reword that. I agree with FWKRTJ
"He Shoots, He Scores!"
213 yelling "SUCKS!" during opposing teams introductions, followed by "THEY ALL SUCK!"
Blake,
That is a very thorough list. The only thing that I could possibly add to the list is outstanding newspaper and blog coverage.
"Go Komets!" on local business signs (kinda goes with your first one, Blake)
From the pre plexiglass days, standing along the boards getting autographs during warmups
SECTION 1 (later Section 32 after they put in that first suite)
Bob - great point, I don't think any other IHL city has as much media coverage as the Ks.
A few things I am fond of over the years:
Coming back from behind (down 3-1 in TWO series to win (Rockford/PH))
Superstitions begetting superstitions (St. Pierre shaving his playoff beard/goatee in that same Rockford Series)
Last second scores
"Hurry up and lose so we can get outta here"
"Hey Larry, how much time's left?"
Goosebumps
Nights where we do the lights-out, full lineup introductions
Welcome to the Jungle (wow, surprised this isn't on the list yet)
Chaser's call of Venedam's game winner in 2003
Having so many fans in the 2007 Season Ender at Kzoo Chanting "Tarry Cup"
Road Trips--Seeing/Passing (being passed by) the Bus on the way
The smell of the Coliseum that first night of the season
Friends
The Home-win streak from last year
-Hating the alarm clock the morning after an overtime (or multi-overtime) game, but knowing it was worth it to watch the K's win.
-Watching Icy fly onto the ice with a little kid strapped to the back of a 4-wheeler while all the non-seasoned fans gasp.
-Didier singing the national anthem (I guess that's kind of up there already with the arm waving).
-Counting out the goals to the hells bells.
-Never catching a chicken (or last year a "scoop") because the Broaster Boys/Scoop Guys always throw everything to their friends in Upper 212
-Hoss sitting up in his corner with his crown made of Turner Cup signs after killing everyone in the wings contest
-Sneaking at work the day after Komets' games to see the reactions on tailingthekomets.com
-That smell halfway through the 2nd Period that everyone blames on someone else
-Being accepted by the veterans into the season ticket holder crew
Traveling about the USA with some form of Komet logo on and people asking about the K's.
Elvis in section 1 in the 90s
These are great! Keep it going.
The whole section 1 gang who finally had to grow up (sorry guys) and now have kids. LOL.
Jim Amstutz - for starting the Jungle and giving me my big break.
Tina Mohr's scrapbooks, which if you've never seen are works of art and are very worth bidding for at the jersey auction. Right, Burgee?
Brings back sooo many memories! You putting this in the paper? What about 1-0 Joe???
Muhammed Ali night? So cool!
Kids all around me screaming at Icy during the game, then when he finally comes over, they scream, cry, and reach for their parents. Of course, he walks 15 feet away and all you hear is "ICY! IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!" Can't beat it.
Hit Somebody!!! it made the list!!! Awesome.
*Blogger Musical Chairs.
*Icy's Nutcracker Suite.
*The smell of Elephant Poo the first game back after the Circus. Funny the Komets always go on a role after that smell.
*Guy Dupuis being in a Komet's jersey forever.
Super Fan....LOL
The one thing I want to see that everyone has done in the NHL is have a white out....or in this case an ORANGE out....Come on guys...tell your friends, your neighbors, your fellow season ticket holders, get on the phone, send emails, sends text messages, do what ever you can....Lets get it done. Fort Wayne has the best fans in the league...Wear Orange for the rest of the playoffs!
Orange and Black is the way to go! Lets Go Komets!!!
Wear Orange!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For upper 204 it would have to be:
-Sit Down!
-Hukie!!!
-He Shoots, He Scores...Scores...Scores.....Scores....
-High Fiveing everyone around you in the same order after each goal.
-Watching my son dance to "Welcome to the Jungle" even when it's from the NASCAR com. on TV
-"SCORES!!!!!"
-"Security"
-Yelling "Too Many MEN!" "Come on!" or "OH!" anytime and everytime
-Sitting in the same seat every game and it's not the one I have a ticket for
-Friends!!!
-Family!!!!!!!
-Getting a friend to buy a mega popcorn when I know she will only eat half and give us the rest!
-Having to put up with Doug always winning chuck-a-puck
-Seeing my son jump for joy when there is a Buddy's empty net (or see him cry when we walk out when there wasn't)
-"NEW GUY!"
-"L-A-R-R-Y!"
-Being the "dumb guy" that everyone looks at like he's a joke, but making my son happy and have a good time doing it!
While we are stealing ideas from the NHL, I think we should go ape-crap-crazy while the national anthem is 3/4 over like they do in other barns. There is nothing that give me chills more than when the crowd starts the game fired up!
Anyone for starting something new???
And while I'm at a double post, might as well make it a triple...Thanks RunningKomet! I'm glad someone liked it!
I will start yelling with you during the anthem Hoss...but you go first...lol
Remember to Wear Orange....tell everyone you know...