The Painful Play-Offs

[Carla Muller]

I hate the play-offs this year. I just do. As the Kings’ blogger on Hockey Buzz, I am far more attached to the Kings than I ever was before this gig, no doubt. The partners at my new job make cracks about the team’s ranking, and the losses feel more personal. Heck, after the last game this year, this overwhelming feeling of sadness hit me. It hasn’t left yet….

I am trying to enjoy the play-offs. Only sporadically can I – most of the time it just hurts. Being on the outside looking in, holding onto hope and the future … sometimes that is not enough. It definitely doesn’t feed my soul. Perhaps that is why the second season this year makes me sad. The off-season this year feels interminably longer.

I will concede that having the Ducks’ season being over makes it easier …. to be a Kings’ fan, but not easier to enjoy the post-season. The best way I can explain it is to say this all seems so personal now. Before blogging, hockey was my passion along with my career and my faith. After blogging, this is a whole different experience. I guess I am now like Jimmy Fallon’s character in “Fever Pitch” … except my apartment doesn’t look like Team L.A.’s wares. My shower curtain has flowers not the Kings’ logo. Go figure... the transformation is apparently more internal than external.

The funny thing is I don’t know that I would go back to being a hockey fan first and a Kings’ fan second. Once something becomes a part of me, it sticks. The games now do make me feel more alive. In many ways – win or lose, the escape from my everyday life is complete when the Kings play. Watching other teams, especially other teams that are more successful than mine (by definition) this year … remind me of what I am missing with Los Angeles out. Perhaps as other teams join the golfing set, this may hurt less.

I could easily see it hurt more. Heck, last year, when it was the Ducks who got to the Holy Grail, on another internet site, I changed my screen name from ‘Hockey Gal’ to Kings’ Hockey Gal’. The thought of even one more person congratulating me on Anaheim’s success... irked me to no end. I pretty much told anyone then … and especially now, that cheering on the Ducks or bagging on my team was pretty much the functional equivalent of ‘fighting words’ …Like I said, this whole fan experience once your team gets under your skin, there is no substitute.

I am trying to cheer on the other teams and players as they and their fans continue their own dreams. The trouble is that it only reminds me even more that my team’s dream is even farther away. During the season, as long as there is a game in play, the addict that I am gets my fix. Any positive sign (crumbs will do as a supporter of the nearly last place team) gets me going. The problem is that once the regular season ends, fans for teams who didn’t make it like mine... well hope is gone until next year when the slate starts clean.

With a muddied record, a future premised on tomorrow and the day after that – in other words, not now – the only thing to hold onto now is the draft and free agency. For the first time, ever, I want the play-offs to be over so that the playing field gets leveled (at least in my mind) until training camp opens.

I hope others can do a better job than I can and enjoy these play-offs. As for me, this is definitely one of the negative perks of this gig. If anyone is handling this better than I, then all suggestions on how you do it … bring it on.

Carla Muller

Carla.hockeygal.@att.net

[saudiboy]

The question you have to ask yourself is, "Am I a fan of this game?"

If you are a fan of this game, then it is difficult to understand how you could not appreciate and enjoy the level at which the game is being played in these playoffs.

If you are just a fan of a particular team, then the game itself is irrelevant.

[TONGA]

She writes a blog for Eklund, love and knowledge of the game is not required.

[fansince67]

This is the silliest post I've ever seen from a hockey fan. Playoff hockey is the best hockey you'll ever see. Just because one team is in/out should make no difference to a fan. Trust me, the Kings aren't even taking this as hard as you are!!!!

[mcsorleyminute]

Oh boy.

There is no way to deal with that feeling.

You should have stayed far, far away from the Kings.

[Carla Muller]

Originally Posted by saudiboy

The question you have to ask yourself is, "Am I a fan of this game?"

I have been a fan of 'this game' for a long time. That being said, the notion that a particular team's fan might have a disconnect watching other teams in the play-offs is not such a foreign concept -- a comment I feel particularly comfortable making from some privately received e-mails to this blog. The fact that you and others can enjoy play-off hockey for love of the sport does not mean that other fans like myself have found it difficult are wrong -- just different from others.

[Carla Muller]

Originally Posted by mcsorleyminute

There is no way to deal with that feeling. You should have stayed far, far away from the Kings.

I hear you. The nice thing is I have the privilege to write a blog and learn that others have the same affliction. Once I become a fan, I don't stay far, far away anymore. This Kings' affliction appears permanent for me, but please save yourself!!

[saudiboy]

Originally Posted by CarlaMuller

I have been a fan of 'this game' for a long time. That being said, the notion that a particular team's fan might have a disconnect watching other teams in the play-offs is not such a foreign concept -- a comment I feel particularly comfortable making from some privately received e-mails to this blog. The fact that you and others can enjoy play-off hockey for love of the sport does not mean that other fans like myself have found it difficult are wrong -- just different from others.

I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm saying that if you hate the playoffs, you are not a fan of this game. You are a fan of a particular team that happens to play this game. All of that is ok.

I watch the playoffs, and I see hockey that I wish the Kings could play. Aside from a dysfunctional hatred of the Ducks (borne mainly of the board and the ineptitude of the Kings organization), I love the post-season. I wouldn't miss a chance to watch hockey at this intensity and level or to become emotionally involved watching hockey at this level.

Sorry, but a love of this game and a hatred of the playoffs are incompatible. But again, there is nothing wrong with that view.

[mcsorleyminute]

Originally Posted by CarlaMuller

I hear you. The nice thing is I have the privilege to write a blog and learn that others have the same affliction. Once I become a fan, I don't stay far, far away anymore. This Kings' affliction appears permanent for me, but please save yourself!!

Too late.

The Kings's secret slogan is "Misery Loves Company", ask anybody on LGK.

[KingsFan19]

I have followed hockey for as long as I can remember...longer than the Kings have been around and although the playoffs are exciting and the intensity is there...the Kings are not there so the intensity of my passion for the game does slack off a little bit. I do record the games so that I can see them and I appreciate the teams that are competing. Let's face it, hockey without the Kings is still hockey and most of the playoffs is d@amn good hockey at that.

Tips...

One way to make it more personal is to find an ex-King to cheer on during the run for the cup...D@mn near every team has an ex-King on it so i guess that's a fairly easy way to go about it. (although, finding an ex-King that you like may be a little more difficult to do)

Another thing I try to do is focus on the teams we hardly see. I want to see some of those "right coast" teams that rarely make it out here...I hate the NHL's scheduling. It is flawed in so many ways. It is supposed to improve some next season but it still won't be right.

I am excited for the draft this year and excited and somewhat apprehensive about training camp and how things will shape up for next season...Having said that; it's gonna be a long summer once the playoffs are finished. (I am hoping for more Game 7's)

Go Kings!