How Not to Panic When Your Favorite Team Drops Three of Four

‘Cause you’re hot then you’re cold

You’re yes then you’re no

You’re in then you’re out

You’re up than you’re down

You’re wrong when it’s right

It’s black when it’s white

-Katy Perry’s Hot n’ Cold

This song perfectly represents the past two weeks in Boston University hockey. I now understand why the fiance and I heard it four times while running errands before Saturday evening’s hockey game against the University of Vermont. It is so the unofficial theme song for this team, who has lost three of their last four games after starting out the darling of the college hockey scene.

But if I’ve learned anything in my twenty-some-odd years, it’s how to be a good fan of bad sports teams. And so, this morning, when the partner-in-crime asked if I wanted the sports section of the Boston Globe, I uncharacteristically replied, “No. The key to not panicking as a sports fan is not to acknowledge what happened.”

“So you’re not going to read the Sports section?” he asked incredulously. I usually make a mad dash for it when the paper comes to the door.

“I don’t know why. There weren’t hockey games these past two nights. I know I was busy the past two evenings, but I don’t know what I was doing.”

Denial works, friends. How have I stayed a Buffalo Bills fan for so long? I routinely “forget” that the months of January 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994 happened. Wait, Drew Bledsoe played for us? I don’t remember. Those misguided Mike Mularkey years? A bunch of malarkey – they didn’t happen.

Seriously, I know this isn’t the end of the road. Hockey East is more competitive top to bottom as its been in years, and losing four games isn’t the end of the road. True, Northeastern keeps winning, but so does UMass Amherst. Boston College can’t ever be counted out thanks to the Bionic Armed Senior Brock Bradford, and UMass Lowell keep making things competitive, even without their star goalie. In football, losing four games is devastating, but in hockey, it’s not. Hockey teams, even the best ones, are going to lose. There are way too many games to play.

But for everyone around me’s sanity, I hope these “hot and cold” moments are kept to a minimum this season.

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Every University of Vermont game is made amusing for me by the mere existence of sophomore forward Jack Downing. Despite his major being listed as business administration on the UVM athletics website, I believe Downing’s name predetermines a future as a newscaster. Couldn’t you see it now?

“Good evening. This is the Action 5 News. I’m Jack Downing.”
“And I’m Ron Burgundy. Our top story tonight…”

Best. Name. Ever. Easy to spell, makes your career decision for you, and it makes you sound extra fancy all the time. Trust me, with a name like Jack Downing, he’ll always be taken seriously. He merely sounds important. Say he uses his degree to go into investments. Wouldn’t you immediately trust a banker named Jack Downing with your savings? I know I would.

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In this edition of the Everyone’s Favorite Goalie Watch, John Curry is still up with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He hasn’t had any playing time, as Dany “I Heard the Versus Announcers Pronounce His Name Sixteen Different Ways the Other Evening” Sabourin has been skillfully handling the goaltending duties in Marc-Andre Fleury’s absence. I know a lot of Pens fans were doubtful of Sabourin‘s abilities prior to the season, but despite Saturday’s loss to the Canucks, he has held his own.

The Penguins have a few days off – they do not play again until Wednesday. I imagine in that layoff, the organization will make a move indicative of Fleury’s injury, which there has been very little news regarding. These extra days between games will either give Fleury the last bit of rest he needs, or it’ll give the Pens time to set a clear timeline for Fleury’s return.

And most importantly, you can order a Curry Penguins jersey. He’s a selection on the drop down menu. If this doesn’t mean a hockey player has arrived, I don’t know what does.

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In other Boston University hockey alumnus news, former captain Brian McGuirk is out for three weeks after suffering a pretty crazy injury in a game last week. I won’t go into the squirmy details, but Syracuse Crunch beat writer Lindsey Kramer does in a recent blog entry. Definitely not for the faint.

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Last, but certainly not least, the Bills won today against the clueless Kansas City Chiefs, 54-31. Where were those 54 points against Cleveland on Monday? I am glad we got to see Trent Edwards, the running quarterback, today. If that’s what it takes to win, then keep channeling Steve Young, Trent.