Also, I assume you tip your waitress well.

I mean, I love me some Red Wings, and have from day one.
But I do not like spicy foods too much.

So am I a bad fan now?

I'm confused. Someone hold me.

I'll admit to being torn, like you. I want to see hockey succeed, because I love it and I love that it gets a higher profile. I feel like this because I grew up in Canada, where hockey is the alpha and omega of sports up there. I'm used to it being covered extensively, and it's been an adjustment to find good, knowledgeable hockey insight down here from the MSM. Having said that, I also love that hockey is ours – the fans that have been following it for years. We can understand icing and offsides, but we can also discuss the subtle nuances like shift length and defensive strategy the way most people down here can analyze college football.

Much like a new job, I wish there was some sort of "orientation" we could offer to new hockey fans: a 2-3 day course where the rules are explained, teams identified, and players shown. Such a world would be a wonderful place.

And while it definitely had an "angry" tone, it was not "I'm going to find you and shoot you" kind of angry – it was more "I'm a little perturbed and might shake a fist at you" angry.

It's HIS brother-in-law (on the other side of the family) that I would bean with a beer bottle.

Man, this came off a little angrier than I wanted it to…