This Conversation Seems Like A Dream

I would say...

...that this would be the last sports-related entry for awhile, but I'm honestly not sure.

I had to write this, though...it started last night after the game--I had to write part of it before I could sleep last night.

I also sent it to 'fan mail' on the Sharks website. I don't expect anything to come of it, but part of me still holds out this hope that they'll see it, somewhere. :)

An open letter to the San Jose Sharks players and coaching staff of the 2003-2004 season

Last season, 2002-2003, was my first as a season ticket holder, the first year that we didn't buy a Shark Pack. It was going to be so exciting, it was going to be so wonderful, it was...wow. So very much not what anyone expected, probably not even in their wildest of nightmares.

And yet, there was never a question in our minds that we would renew for the 03-04 season. No question at all, it was simply fact, simply there. We waited to see what the off-season would bring. We cheered when Patrick Marleau signed early, and cheered again when others followed suit. We puzzled a little over Selanne's departure, but ultimately figured that it was for the best (little did we know!). We wondered at who Scott Parker was, and whether he'd be a good fit. We were glad to see that Stuart and Thornton were healthy again and ready to go.

The excitement and anticipation grew as the season grew nearer, and were certain of Parker even then, impressed by the grit that he showed during the pre-season. Who fights in pre-season games, after all, and with such passion?

And then...then, finally, came the regular season. There were hints of promise here and there, enough ties that we were certain we'd take then NHL record by the time all was said and done, and at last, for the hometown faithful, that first home victory of the season. The amazing goal by Patrick Marleau parked out in front of the Nashville net.

There are so many other highlights of the season, for me, that it'd take pages to list them all. Every single player on the roster this year made at least one play that rendered me speechless. The chemistry that we saw on the ice was amazing, and we were grateful for Drew's locker room Shark Byte segments. We knew there was something special, something magical in that locker room.

We watched Nabokov post a career year for shut-outs. We watched Vesa's brilliant play while Nabby was out. We watched and cheered until we were hoarse for Ekman's penalty shot, then did the same for Cheechoo's. We watched, and worried, as Marco was lost for the season, wondering what kind of effect that would have on the team, particularly on his linemates, and we were happy to see the result, even when it took a little longer for some than others.

Then came the last few games of the season, and the agonizing waiting game to see how high the Sharks could go. Wayne Primeau's OT-winning goal against Dallas to give the team 100 points for the first time, the closest Dallas ever got, in the end. The shut-out against the Kings to clinch the second seed in the playoffs, to tie the record for most road wins in a season.

And then...then, there was the last game of the season. The Kings, with their two goal lead, late in the third. Stuart's two fastest goals, and Vinnie's OT-winner...I thought the roof was going to blow off the place. It was an amazing moment, such a wonderful feeling just to be there, to watch that, to feel like I was a part of it, even for just one moment.

Excitement ruled for the playoffs, and it seemed the team was as fired up as we were. Game one, Vinnie with the incredible presence of mind to warn Niko off the puck, then push it forward to him. Marleau driving the net, and then... My Boston-born husband beside himself (as were we all) when Niko stole game one with that brilliant shot. Game two, and Patrick's hat trick...the hat trick that we'd waited and hoped for all season, the chance to see it at home, and it came in the playoffs. Wild. Incredible, wild, and wonderful. Korolyuk's brilliant effort in the game three loss. Nabokov so strong and huge in net, the whole series. The fast pace of game four, and bringing it home to win in game five, with the crowd going wild as the handshake took place at center ice.

Up next, Colorado, and once again, Patrick and his hat trick, and some great play by Niko. Cheechoo's amazing goal that left Blake and Aebischer staring at one another, wondering how in the name of all that was holy had that puck gone in. The stellar defense from the big four--McLaren, Rathje, Hannan, and Stuart. The 1-0 shutout. The two worrying OT losses, but a brilliant game six...so brilliant that I couldn't argue that it happened on someone else's ice.

There were so many others, too, who stood out: Smitty and Goc. Harvey. McCauley back in the lineup, then Thornton's return. A true team effort that was amazing to watch.

And then, Calgary. There's not so much to say, here. It's hard enough to go through as a fan, I can't imagine what it must be like as a player. It's hard to talk about, so soon. I couldn't watch the handshake, I heard later about the ultimate in class acts from Darryl Sutter. I'd have given almost anything to hear what he had to say, but it's still a bitter, bitter thing to swallow.

Now, the next day, the ashes have cleared a little, but there's still a Sharks-sized hole in my heart that won't quite be filled again until the next season starts, whenever that happens to be. There'll be reason to at least pay attention to the World Cup: Marleau, Ekman, Goc, Sturm, Ehrhoff.

And now we come to the point of this letter.

This is the part where I say a great big THANK YOU.

Thank you, Patrick Marleau, for a wonderful season, for doing justice to that C on your sweater.
Thank you, Jonathan Cheechoo, for those goal celebrations.
Thank you, Scott Hannan, Brad Stuart, and Mike Rathje, for the amazing defense.
Thank you, Marco Sturm, for the speed and power, and for being able to come back next season.
Thank you, Kyle McLaren, for that punishing hip-check on Petr Cajanek in the first round.
Thank you, Evgeni Nabokov, for every game you played, for every moment.
Thank you, Vinnie Damphousse, for playing like a man ten years younger.
Thank you, Wayne Primeau, for that OT-winning goal against Dallas.
Thank you, Alex Korolyuk, for the incredible way you played all year long. I am so glad you're back.
Thank you, Mark Smith, for beating Sean Avery like a rented mule--twice in back-to-back games!
Thank you, Vesa Toskala, for the smile you gave me at the autograph session, and for being so utterly brilliant in relief of Nabokov.
Thank you Nils Ekman, Alyn McCauley, Scott Parker, Jim Fahey, Mike Ricci, Scott Thornton, Todd Harvey, Marcel Goc, Rob Davison, Curtis Brown, Christian Ehrhoff, Tom Preissing... thank you ALL.

Thank you, Ron Wilson, Tim Hunter, and Rob Zettler, for a brilliant coaching job.
Thank you to the training staff, I wish I knew your names, for taking such good care of the boys in teal.
Thank you, Randy and Drew--we missed you in the conference finals!
Thank you, Dan and Pete, for being another voice, another perspective on the radio.

Thank you, everyone. Thank you, thank you, a thousand times thank you.

Because of all of you, I am proud to say that I'm a Sharks fan. I'm proud to say that I was a season ticket holder this year, and will be again next year. I feel so lucky, so honored to have been a part of this, however small that part may be, for someone who's just a fan, a fan of a team that she truly loves. It has been a true joy to watch you this season, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds.

Here's to this year, and the future.

With high hopes, I remain,
A loyal fan.

Posted by Liz at May 20, 2004 06:46 AM