1. Ice: Yes, the Penguins actually play on ice. Not sure who originally thought it would be a good idea to st
rap blades to their shoes, skate across frozen water and use a crooked stick to shoot rubberized plastic into a goofy net, but there you have it - hockey in a nutshell! It was very odd to be inside for an event (I really wanted them to open the roof!), and even stranger to be inside and still be cold!2. Cup holders: There weren't any. What is that? Who can possibly balance a beer on their knees while jumping up to cheer for their team? I guess I'm not that talented. I suppose this has something to do with the fact that the Arena was built in the 1960s (although I know they had beer then) and didn't think to include them. I just hope that the new arena gives these the attention that they deserve!
3. Offsides: Okay, so there's offsides in football. I understand that rule, totally know what they mean when the referees call it. But there's also offsides in hockey. What the heck? I can't figure out this rule to save my life. My little cousin tried to explain it to me once, but despite his valiant efforts, I remain clueless. I know it was called once against us, and another time Sidney Crosby skated all the way back down into our territory for no reason that I could see before going back to aim for the opposing team's goal - I assume to avoid an offsides call? I think it has something do do with the blue lines...
4. Song Choice: There were waaay more songs played at the Pens game than there have been at any Steelers game I've gone to! Plus, who authorized polka as an acceptable music genre? I understand we're in Western Pennsylvania, but I'd rather see those eastern European roots come to fruition through delicious pierogies, and not through obnoxious music!! I actually felt like I was at a baseball game. There was a lot of visual stimuli happening the entire time.
5. Elvis: So, there was a guy sitting in front of me who was dressed as Elvis. He had on a white jumpsuit with gold sparklies, yellow-tinted glasses, sideburns, the whole works. And
he was absolutely no fun. Now, if Elvis attended a Steelers game, he would be jumping around like a maniac, doing everything in his power to draw the attention of the cameras and make it on the jumbo-tron. The Pens Elvis just sat there. The camera guy actually was close by at the beginning of the game and had the camera trained on him, and still Elvis just sat. Seriously?? What's the point of dressing up if you're not going to have fun with it? Worse, I think he's a season ticket holder - some other attendees seemed to know him and were trying to get him to dance, but he wouldn't unless they bought him a beer (they didn't. I wouldn't have either).6. Fights: So, I get that there are fights in hockey. And I get that fans love to see two big, burly guys pummel each other. But I don't get that the refs just stand and watch. What is that all about? I can appreciate that if they want to fight, they're going to fight. But for the refs to literally back away as soon as a duo starts to circle one another or pull of their gloves seems just a little to accepting to me. I couldn't get over how they let this keep happening.
So, my conclusion is that Steelers football will for sure remain my favorite sport. I understand the fans, the rules, the stadium much better than I'll probably ever appreciate the Civic Arena. I'm happy I got to see a Pens game, especially before they rip down the Arena to make way for the new one. The Pens wound up winning the game, thanks to a rally in the third period that was super exciting. And keep an eye out for my next post, when I talk about the pinnacle of a Steelers fan's game attendance - I got to spend Sunday's game in a Luxury Box Suite!!
6 comments:
Everything you listed (minus no cupholders, what is up with that?) is why I love going to hockey games! In fact I may be going to one on Halloween! I understand hockey more than football so maybe that is why I enjoy it more. And it is weird because I hate the cold so how can I be in a frigid arena and be happy? But I love the energy and the music (there is no polka here...must be a midwest thing) and the fights! And the refs can not interfere with a fight unless they hit the ice. That is the rule. How cool is that!
I did have a good time at the game. I only really started to have a wee tiny interest in hockey last year when the Pens were in the playoffs, so this is fairly new to me.
I know if I was a bigger fan I would have been more into the game, but it was still fun when we scored. I still don't get the fight thing, but at least it was entertaining!!
As for offsides... it's as confusing in hockey as in soccer. Unless you play/coach the sport it can be difficult to follow.
As long as you aren't at a baseball game, I'm good to go. I've been known to fall asleep in a pro game before (even in the beloved Pirates PNC Park). Such a long, boring game... (and this is coming from a lover of sports).
I am fairly anti-baseball as well. I think PNC Park is beautiful, but unfortunately it doesn't make the game any more interesting! And you'll never catch me watching it on TV or listening to it on the radio!
Offsides in hockey is when a player crosses the blue line before the puck crosses it. Crosby had probably skated to the opposite side before rallying back to let his team do a line change - the players only spend 30 seconds to a minute on the ice before they switch it up. Sometimes shorter and sometimes longer, but yeah. I heart hockey.
Thanks for the clarification! I knew what the penalty meant last year during the playoff games but that info managed to leak out of my sieve-like brain over the summer!
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