It’s different now
There’s simply no separating being a true sports fan and experiencing the pain and suddenness of the season being over in negative fashion. Over the course of the year I intensely follow the Bruins as well as a number of other Boston/BC teams. As good as those teams have been over the past decade, more often than not at least most, if not all, will have their seasons end in a losing fashion every year. So it’s something you have to get used to even though it always feels so sudden. With the Bruins it feels most acute because the friends and times I share over Bruins hockey make up such a huge part of my life.
But… it’s definitely different after last year’s euphoria. I’m disappointed and empty that after having Bruins hockey until June last year, it’s over before the calendar turns to May. But I don’t feel angry; I don’t feel bitter; I’m not rueing the injuries to Horton and McQuaid (it happens) or calling for anyone’s head on a platter. Sure, there are people who probably could’ve played better (Lucic comes to mind). But mostly I’m just wishing I could close my eyes and skip by this offseason, bring everyone back healthy, add Dougie Hamilton (and, if I’m really dreaming, Tommy Cross), and drop the puck.
I was pretty glad that my general reaction to Ward’s shot going in was “well that sucks, but what are you gonna do?” Of course, that’s the only logical response any of us can ever have, because none of us can really do anything about it… but when you’ve had nothing but disappointment the pain and sadness of a disappointing, upset exit can linger all summer.
Now the only thing I expect to linger is the boredom of weeks without pregame trips to The Four’s, occasional trips to the Garden, Bruins chatter at work and on Twitter, and the nailbiting drama of close games. But those will come back, they always do, like clockwork. And I’ll be there, waiting and ready.
