jpr:
Boys on the Bus (1987)
the whole 85 minute documentary about the 80’s Edmonton Oilers
People always give me a lot of shit for liking the Oilers. Probably because I spend a good amount of time in BC, and everyone out here is a die hard Canucks fan, and despite our open minds about things like pot, Tuesday to Thursday work weeks and sexuality, residents are apparently not allowed to utter another hockey team.
I was born in 1988, toward the end of the dynasty. My Dad wanted to name me Wayne and I have a photo of my baby body in a Grant Fuhr game worn jersey that is pretty hilarious. During the better days of the CBC’s Hockey Night In Canada, we didn’t answer the phone if the Oilers were playing. We would drive seven hours in December when I was on break from school just to go to Edmonton to catch a game and to eat every meal at the Rocky and Bullwinkle restaurant.
I could go on, but I won’t, because I bailed on a lot of things tonight and better at least clean my room. The point is, nostalgia nostalgia nostalgia.
I just want to say that giving shit to your friends (and also taking shit from your friends) for liking a different sports franchise than you is a tradition that I hold nearly as close to my heart as watching hockey with your dad. Watching a game with people who all cheer for the same team as you is great and all, but watching a game with a bunch of people with divided loyalties is way better.
Speaking of, my dad and I watched the Canucks help the Oilers in their race down the ladder to the #1 draft position thanks to Luongo stoning all of Edmonton’s young hot shots and Cody “I have stolen Trevor Linden’s soul” Hodgson coming up clutch AGAIN. SO EAT IT, JA (but, like, in that friendly way, where we all drink tons of beers and hurl trash talk at each other until the game is over, when everyone takes solace in the fact that, at least, none of us are Leafs fans)
