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News-Sentinel.com Your Town. Your Voice.
Tailing the Komets

Can I make a suggestion?

First off, today's story is here. I'm not going to post the notebook because it's pretty much already in the Game 1 notes I posted.

OK, i think there has been some very interesting and very needed discussion going on about the anthem, and I love it. It shows how good this blog can be at its best and I thank you for that.

I totally understand what Hoss was trying to do, and it took some guts for him to make the attempt. I don't think he was doing anything wrong. At the same time, I never thought it would work in Fort Wayne, but a lot of things that work elsewhere don't go over in Fort Wayne. That's part of why we are who we are. We're conservative, behind the times, stuck in the 1950s, family-oriented folks who hate change -- and those are our good qualities. LOL.

My suggestion is this: For Game 2, let's all really cut loose and SING the anthem. Don't just mouth it or stand silently for two minutes or even sing softly, but let's really belt it out. Let's show how much respect and love we have for our country and each other. Yeah, it's corny and maybe not cool, but hey, we're Fort Wayne. When have we ever been cool? But we are Komets fans AND patriots. Let the people next to you hear you are singing and if enough of us do it, maybe a few more people will join in. Get your kids to sing, too. (I know, pipe dream.) Let's try to inspire each other as well as the players. Isn't that really what the anthem is all about?

Plus, it will loosen up your lungs to really get the players going afterward.

Posted in: Komets

Comments

Ron
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 10:15am

Sorry, Blake, but I have to disagree. It certainly wasn't a death penalty offense (and didn't deserve a lot of the reaction it got), but it was in bad taste. And it isn't really Hoss' job to get the crowd fired up. I don't go to the game thinking "Wow, I wish some idiot would yell at an inapproriate time. That would really get my adrenaline pumping in anticipation of playoff hockey." Forgive me, but I would just as soon leave the "firing up" to Messrs. Curadeau, Chaulk, Shafranov, et al.

Andrew
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 10:30am

Where he went wrong was yelling "Go Komets" and "drop the puck". That made it sound like he just wanted to get the anthem over to start the game. Blackhawk fans are yelling in support of the country and the flag. Hoss was yelling in support of the Komets. The Anthem is about the country and those who have died for it. Support them, not the Komets during the anthem.

GameMisconduct
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 10:44am

If Canada can do it, we can do it even better!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meLpuF9UMvk

Great idea, Blake

Hoss
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 11:20am

I never yelled "Drop the puck" I did yell "Go Komets!" and "Let's Go!" and "HooWhooo!"

I agree it would be great to have everyone sing with the anthem!!!

Alan
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 11:32am

Please read my post which appears under "Notes on Game 1"

Mark21
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 12:10pm

Apparently no one watches Chicago Blackhawk home games. Most of the channels go to a commercial during the singing of the national anthem, in Chicago they make it a priority to stay on for the National Anthem....I think most people are blowing this WAY out of porportion, and I'm not saying that because he's my brother in law, I'm saying it because I really believe that...

In Calgary, and probably everywhere in Canada the whole crowd starts singing the Canadien National Anthem, and that sends chills up my spine..an incredible sight to be seen...and I'm an American...Fort Wayne is way to conservative for any of that...

Blake Sebring
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 12:17pm

We don't watch no stinking Blackhawks -- unless it's when the Red Wings are pounding them! I love the way Chicago is setting itself up for more major disappointment. That said, I'm also a Cubs, or drubs, fan.

Chaulker
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 12:58pm

I use to read Blake's blog, but the above comment really cut to the core....... : (

Dan
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 1:12pm

LETS SING!!! GREAT IDEA, Blake!!!!

Hit Somebody!!!
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 4:07pm

Is this the first time someone has yelled during the National Anthem at a Komet Game in the MC?.....NOOOOOOOOOO. I can remember several times in the past 14 years of my Komet Hockey life of fans yelling something when the anthem goes quiet in between verses. It happened everytime Jim Duhart was in our building...did anyone moan and gripe then? DUHART SUCKS!!!! Several players have been called out during the Anthem. Several times in the past 14 years I have heard Go Komets!!! in between Mr. Didier's final verse of the Athem. Is it right...is it wrong....does it really upset people....should someone die over it....is it all in fun.....is this country worse off because of it......is our Anthem butchered by singers and Icy's alike......is this just another chance for do-gooders to whine......are we not patriotic enough.....does patriotism solve everything.....isn't this the best country in the world?

People, please relax. Take a deep breath or two. This is not the end of the world. 99.9% of the people at the games stand, some sing, some put hand over heart, some salute the flag, some meditate, some pray, some remember, some cry, some yell, why do we do these things.....because we are Americans. We have freedom because of the men and women who serve our country. We owe them alot more than they will ever recieve, but for people to react this way to someone who yelled at the end of the Anthem during a Hockey Game......wow.

Let's concentrate on treating one another with compassion and respect instead of threatening someone for this. Life is too short to be so uptight.

If you wanna be mad at Hoss...be mad at him because he ate all most 20 Chicken's wings to entertain the masses in game 3 of the Kalamazoo series. Dang you Hoss...you chicken hater you....Colonial Sanders would love you though.

Chicken Hater!!!!

Hit Somebody!!!
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 4:28pm

Quick Question for Super Fan.....

Why has the Canadian Anthem been removed from the IHL playoff pre-game routine? It used to be tradition that both Anthems were sang before IHL playoff games....even before that, I can remember both being sung during regular season games.....

I know someone will say...."This is the US of A and we aren't in Canada so that is why you moooorrrroooonnnn!!!!"

But think of the number of Canadian born players that represent their country in the IHL. This is the INTERNATIONAL Hockey League.....Right?

Just wondering.....yours truly....Hit Somebody Square Pants!!!

Hoss
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 4:43pm

Hit, you can question my yelling or my love for the country or the love for my team, but Gosh Darn it! You better not question my chicken wing eating passion!!!

IT WAS 26 WINGS!!!!

LOL...and I could have done more.

BAM24
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 4:47pm

Lay off my Blackhawks, Blake. Our time is coming. They are pretty damn good for being the youngest team in the league. Rough start to Round 2 last night, but they will bounce back. As for my opinion for last night. I sit in 216, and everyone thought Hoss was an idiot too until I explained what he was attempting to do. Fort Wayne is not ready for it. I appreciate what he was trying, but it will never work here. People don't get it. The over reaction by the red coats and the men in brown was a bit much. Go K's and Go Hawks!!!!

Blake
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 5:06pm

We are all doomed! Hit Somebody is now the official voice of reason -- run for your lives! LOL.

Hit, I have no idea why they don't sing both anymore. I'll try to remember to ask.

Five Minute Major
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 5:27pm

Blake- you hurt me with the anti-Blackhawks comments! :( I'm a relatively recent convert to Blackhawk Nation, I guess I decided I need another Chicago team to break my heart on a yearly basis.

Blake Sebring
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 5:29pm

Don't worry, it's still not as much as the Red Wings would hurt the Blackhawks.

Donnie Baker
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 5:32pm

Shut up Randy.

Shutterbug
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 6:28pm

Chicago

55kometfan
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 6:50pm

LOL Donnie Baker!!! I about spit my drink out!!

Blake, I'm sickened to hear of your poor choice in teams, namely the Red Wings!! Get ready to watch a change of guards in the Western Conference as the Blackhawks rise to dominance. Go K's and Go Hawks!!

flipshot
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 7:31pm

Looonnng... sorry.

I read this blog like a junkie several times a day and never post, but don't know how to keep my mouth shut on this.

I absolutely flat-out love the USA and am more "star-struck" when meeting men and women who have put their lives in harms way to defend me, my family, and everything I love (and even what I don't love) about this country than I have been when meeting the Hollywood famous. And I love the anthem

Hoss
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 8:00pm

Thanks flipshot! You should post, not just read!!!

SteveLL
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 8:19pm

I hope you can find the answer on the Canadian national anthem Blake. I remember when the old IHL stopped it but I can't remember all the reasons given and I think there were more then one.

It use to be sung because most of the hockey players in the US were Canadians and so it was done out of respect for them and Canada, believed to be the father (or mother) of hockey.

The make up of teams changed and now their rosters include players from many countries so an argument can be made that we either sing just our anthem or the anthems of all the countries represented by the players.

As I recall the trend for bringing in players from countries other then Canada, at least en mass, was started by Detroit. They transplanted about half of all Russian/Soviet block players to Detroit. Of course it was only fitting they did so, a natural with a name like REDwings. Russian was taught as a second language in schools, restaurant menus were bilingual Russian and English (French was banned), and street signs were duplicated in Russian.

U.S. and Canadian players in the Detroit organization who were upset with the situation were sold, traded, or baned to the minors and ended up on teams like the Komets. A prime example of this was Max Middendorf who made his dislike for Russian players well known both on and off the ice going so far as to club them to the ice with his stick.

Even great teams like the Blackhawks and the Komets soon caved in to the trend and started bringing in players from Soviet block countries but ultimately it's the REDwings we can blame because the Canadian national anthem is no longer sung at hockey games in the US.

:-)

Jerad Shaw
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 10:38pm

I remember games when I was a kid when they sang the Canadian National Anthem before every game. I still to this day know it by heart. It's sang before I enter the MC before every game that I attend, much to the dismay of my significant other.

As for Hoss, I see absoulutly nothing disrespectful to what he did/tried to do. If you haven't been apart of the signing in the United Center, you wouldn't fully understand. The passion displayed when the fans cheer during that anthem is incredible. I still will never look at him the same knowing that I could have definately put down more wings then he could! ;)

Hit Somebody!!!
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 10:48pm

Doubtful...Hoss could eat you....and you....and him.....and you....

Jerad Shaw
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 11:24pm

I'm not so sure about that. I really beef upped during basketball season. Easy to do when McDonald's is the only thing open in a small town at 10:30 PM after a loss and a long night of tape watching to follow!!!

Hit Somebody!!!
Fri, 05/01/2009 - 11:37pm

Well then, the two of you can eat him, and you , and you, and that guy, and them, and those.......lol

Blake Sebring
Sat, 05/02/2009 - 12:00am

JS, where have you been? Still want me to sign that book?

Wendy
Sat, 05/02/2009 - 12:10am

True that people have yelled things before during the anthem and it went over quite well. The difference, I think, is that Hoss didn't just yell one thing and stop. He was yelling throughout the whole thing. I couldn't even tell what he was saying from where I was sitting. It just sounded for all the world like some drunk screaming goodness knows what at the top of their lungs, and it was... well... awkward. Just really awkward and kind of annoying. I had read about his plan beforehand, so I actually knew what was going on, but yeah, it really REALLY wasn't working. I was cringing through most of it, hoping Hoss wouldn't get thrown out by the red-coat gastapo.

And Blake... The Red Wings? I hate to tell you this, but they are going to get stomped by the Bruins, assuming someone else doesn't do it first. :D

Alan
Sat, 05/02/2009 - 11:22am

Speaking of the Canadian National Anthem. My recollection is that the Canadian National Anthem was played only on Opening Night. It was to salute the birhtplace of hockey. Of course, it was also played when the IHL had Canadian teams in the league. I remember the Windsor Bulldogs and the Chatham Maroons. Maybe I didn't understand the post from Jerad Shaw. It seems like he thinks it was played before every game. It wasn't. One reason more people do not sing the Star Spangled Banner is because it is a hard tune to sing. The range of notes goes beyond the normal persons singing range. In the past there has been some discussion on whether the National Anthem should be changed from "The Star Spangled Banner" to "God Bless America". "God Bless America" is a beautiful song that expresses a love of country and also is much easier to sing. Also, remember when Kate Smith would sing "God Bless America" before any important Philadelphia Flyers game? The fans thought it brought them good luck and was so well received that even today, many years after her death, they play on the scoreboard a replay of her singing it. Go Komets, get game two.

Burgee
Sat, 05/02/2009 - 12:01pm

I remember both being sung in the old I, BUT I was very young and could have been in Saginaw at the civic center or here, can't remember. Whoever sung it faced the canadian flag then turned to the american flag and I'm pretty sure it was a real organ.

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