On Friday night, the 21st of September 2012, I launched forth in these forums a (perhaps ill conceived) outcry bemoaning the fact that the UAA FAN BLOG by Donald Dunlop will in all likelihood soon be defunct. Some of you may remember that particular blog post, some of you may not. Said post was here for a scant 8 hours or so. I will admit here and now that I was not in the best state of mind (don't ask) to utter a good case for the blog that I have so much respect for, and that is why I subsequently deleted it that Saturday afternoon (sorry to all who had posted a response to it). I would like to apologize for writing, and later so quickly deleting, that hasty response to Donald retiring his blog. It's not that my sentiment wasn't valid, but I think there were certain things that could have been expressed better or more tactfully.
Having said that, I would like to restate my sadness and disappointment (in a proper state of mind this time) that Donald will soon no longer be contributing to the UAA Hockey Fan Blog. This also goes for JimJamesAK, who was a co-contributor to the blog and produced much wonderful content including insightful post-game interviews with Coach Shyiak and the team. I know that many of you know of Donald, and that many of you probably have em, well, certain opinions of Donald that probably would not be fit for print in almost any news stand in America. Regardless, for me Donald was and still is the very definition of a true fan. He followed the UAA Seawolves (if I have my facts right) since 1984. This is quite remarkable for a place like Anchorage, Alaska. Don't get me wrong, I love (and will always love) Anchorage. It was where I was born and will always have an affinity for. However, I must say that college hockey fandom here is, at least today, embarrassing. Yes, we have a core group of followers that would make ANY WCHA team proud (yeah I'm looking at you Suze, JimJamesAK, Arcticfox, A Seawolves Fanatic, AKfan), but unfortunately that following is small and not often heard. It doesn't diminish their contribution.. no, but it's sad knowing that the true UAA fanatics are but a ripple in the tsunami that Anchorage fandom once was (soldout Sullivan arena in the 90's!) and could be in the future.
In spite of all of that, Donald's UAA FAN BLOG was truly a beacon in the night. Not to diminish their hard work in promoting the Seawolves, but the phenomenon created by Donald's blog is one thing that the UAA Sports Administration couldn't have conceived of or executed even if they had thrown a hundred thousand dollars at it. This is because at its core was a writer who had the balls and grit to say what he felt needed to be said, and had the wit, humor and, may I say even brilliance to somehow take what was, and sadly still is, a mostly basement dwelling program and at least give it some well deserved dignity, and even hope. And it was that hope that brought his blog's faithful readership back, time and time again, and the naysayers back, time and time again. There are FAR too many brilliant quotes that Donald bestowed upon his blog throughout the seven years that he contributed to it. Yes, I know, much of what I'm about to post stung (and will sting) many of you er, um, Midwestern WCHA fans, but please keep in mind that what he said was in the spirit of fandom. That's a fact. Having said that, let me regale you with some of the choicest bits that sprung forth from his mind:
Yes, this is the kind of insightful invective we are soon to be without. Admit it, you laughed. The dude has a way with words and withering humor that few college hockey bloggers ever had and perhaps ever will. And this was just from his first year. Sigh.
Donald, this UAA Seawolves fan (and I'm sure countless others, will miss you). Can a Chicago Blackhawks blog be in your future? One can only hope. :-)
Having said that, I would like to restate my sadness and disappointment (in a proper state of mind this time) that Donald will soon no longer be contributing to the UAA Hockey Fan Blog. This also goes for JimJamesAK, who was a co-contributor to the blog and produced much wonderful content including insightful post-game interviews with Coach Shyiak and the team. I know that many of you know of Donald, and that many of you probably have em, well, certain opinions of Donald that probably would not be fit for print in almost any news stand in America. Regardless, for me Donald was and still is the very definition of a true fan. He followed the UAA Seawolves (if I have my facts right) since 1984. This is quite remarkable for a place like Anchorage, Alaska. Don't get me wrong, I love (and will always love) Anchorage. It was where I was born and will always have an affinity for. However, I must say that college hockey fandom here is, at least today, embarrassing. Yes, we have a core group of followers that would make ANY WCHA team proud (yeah I'm looking at you Suze, JimJamesAK, Arcticfox, A Seawolves Fanatic, AKfan), but unfortunately that following is small and not often heard. It doesn't diminish their contribution.. no, but it's sad knowing that the true UAA fanatics are but a ripple in the tsunami that Anchorage fandom once was (soldout Sullivan arena in the 90's!) and could be in the future.
In spite of all of that, Donald's UAA FAN BLOG was truly a beacon in the night. Not to diminish their hard work in promoting the Seawolves, but the phenomenon created by Donald's blog is one thing that the UAA Sports Administration couldn't have conceived of or executed even if they had thrown a hundred thousand dollars at it. This is because at its core was a writer who had the balls and grit to say what he felt needed to be said, and had the wit, humor and, may I say even brilliance to somehow take what was, and sadly still is, a mostly basement dwelling program and at least give it some well deserved dignity, and even hope. And it was that hope that brought his blog's faithful readership back, time and time again, and the naysayers back, time and time again. There are FAR too many brilliant quotes that Donald bestowed upon his blog throughout the seven years that he contributed to it. Yes, I know, much of what I'm about to post stung (and will sting) many of you er, um, Midwestern WCHA fans, but please keep in mind that what he said was in the spirit of fandom. That's a fact. Having said that, let me regale you with some of the choicest bits that sprung forth from his mind:
"I'd imagine part of being a freshman on a WCHA team is a sort of deer-in-the-headlights glaze that's got to come over you a time or two playing in some of the road arenas in this league. Whether it's 10,000 automaton-prairie-susies (and it's thousands of images of a decapitated aboriginal adorning the Italian marble) interrupting the national anthem with their "and the home of the Siouuuuuuuuxxxx" crap; or the redundant spelling lesson from apparently repressed elementary school teachers escaping their corporate responsibilites at the Mariucci (hows that go? M-i-n-i-s-o-d-a?); or when the inevitable result of beer, brats and way too much cheddar in Madtown turns out to be cheerleading???; or even the beer induced rabble from St. Nothingelsetodoville overstuffed into a concrete mausoleum causing all the Polaris satin jackets to rub together and chirp like crickets; they're all distracting enough to make a rookies eyes go "What the ****?"
"Hundreds of other D-1 players toil in near total anonymity getting little or no scholarship money but showing up for practice and standing ready to play whenever asked by their coaches. Without kids like these making personal committments to their teams (without any chance at glory) and donating their blood and sweat to the effort; D-1 hockey would be lessened in my eyes."
"in all this apparent fit of "dysfunctional gopher-love" is that UAA's only goal this weekend as a team should be ..."
"I'd think of every single metaphor for and example of great sports upsets. I'd pull Knute Rockne out of my ***."
And then there's always the SCSU inspired comments I've made:
"I have some advice; (It's the same sort of thing I would say to any miserable trailer-park fudge packer raised by monkeys) ..."
"The abyss of your stupidity apparently knows no bounds. You and your pre-menstrual concubine are pretty much the only 2 SCSU fans devoid of reasoning faculties."
"The secondary benefit of twisting your pink panties is just a bonus provided for real SCSU fans that already know what an insipid little tool you are."
"Dirty was out walking his neighbor's dog when his Grandma sees him and says, "What are you doing with that flea-bitten dirtbag?"
And the dog answers, "Bark ... bark bark bark. Bark bark bark bark."
"Hundreds of other D-1 players toil in near total anonymity getting little or no scholarship money but showing up for practice and standing ready to play whenever asked by their coaches. Without kids like these making personal committments to their teams (without any chance at glory) and donating their blood and sweat to the effort; D-1 hockey would be lessened in my eyes."
"in all this apparent fit of "dysfunctional gopher-love" is that UAA's only goal this weekend as a team should be ..."
"I'd think of every single metaphor for and example of great sports upsets. I'd pull Knute Rockne out of my ***."
And then there's always the SCSU inspired comments I've made:
"I have some advice; (It's the same sort of thing I would say to any miserable trailer-park fudge packer raised by monkeys) ..."
"The abyss of your stupidity apparently knows no bounds. You and your pre-menstrual concubine are pretty much the only 2 SCSU fans devoid of reasoning faculties."
"The secondary benefit of twisting your pink panties is just a bonus provided for real SCSU fans that already know what an insipid little tool you are."
"Dirty was out walking his neighbor's dog when his Grandma sees him and says, "What are you doing with that flea-bitten dirtbag?"
And the dog answers, "Bark ... bark bark bark. Bark bark bark bark."
Yes, this is the kind of insightful invective we are soon to be without. Admit it, you laughed. The dude has a way with words and withering humor that few college hockey bloggers ever had and perhaps ever will. And this was just from his first year. Sigh.
Donald, this UAA Seawolves fan (and I'm sure countless others, will miss you). Can a Chicago Blackhawks blog be in your future? One can only hope. :-)
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