I had an email exchange today with Eric W who said something that really stood out about life as a Ranger fan:"BTW, if it was easy being a NYR fan, everyone would do it."
Boy is that the truth as no fan knows frustration like a Ranger fans does. Forget the 54 years between Cups as no franchise drives their fans insane like the Rangers do. Sure Cub fans know what losing is but they can not match a franchise that makes more dumb trades, more dumb free agent signings or wasted hires than the Rangers?
Anyone who has been a Ranger fan for any length of time has their own story about what was their worst moment as a Ranger fan. It seems the longer you have been a Ranger fan the more stories of Ranger frustration that you have.
The funny thing is that when you see the way how people post on the web today; how they swear that they are done with the team but the very next day they are right back posting about the Rangers. The venom one sees on the web makes one wonder how any of today's "fan" would have handled the beating Dale Rolfe took, Eddie Giacomin being waived then returning to the Garden as a Red Wing or any of the dumb trades that Ranger's history is littered with.
Seriously today's Ranger's fan are tame compared to those who were at the Garden on Nov. 2, 1975 AKA "the night Eddie returned". The Garden faithful did not turn on the team when Messier came back as a Canuck or Leetch as a Bruin.
Today's Ranger fan gets upset about Wade Redden's signing calling it the worst move in Ranger's history but they have no idea when you compare it to trading Rick Middleton for Ken Hodge. Trust me signing Redden is nothing compared to this deal.
Yet year after year, game after game, boneheaded move after boneheaded move there we all are upset, angry and frustrated at the Rangers.
Then we are right back for the next game, for the next season and arguing over the next move.
Eric is right; it is not easy being a Ranger fan.
Oh Rangers take on the Panthers on Friday at 7:30/4:30, we will see you then.
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Got this one from the OHL and if you are surprised then you have been living in a galaxy far away.
Kal Tire OHL Rookie of the Month – Evgeny Grachev
Evgeny Grachev scored eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 11 January games with a plus-minus rating of plus-16. He recorded points in 10 consecutive games including five multi-point games. The Battalion went 10-3 in January and currently enjoying a 12 game winning streak that began January 11 when Grachev scored the overtime winner to beat the Barrie Colts 2-1 as third star of the game. Grachev was named first star of the game three times, second star once, and was twice named third star of the game. His first star outings were all three-point games including his two goals and one assist performance January 18 in a 7-2 win over the Sarnia Sting.
This is the 2nd time for Grachev to earn this honor and while we are happy for him there is a need for us to urge that Ranger fans not expect this to mean that Grachev will make the direct jump to the Rangers next season.
Grachev still needs work on his development as a player and if you are going to use numbers as your basis for determining Grachev's future then realize that Grachev is not the leading scorer among Ranger prospects, Chris Doyle is.
Nobody is predicting superstar status for Doyle who at 23-37 has 2 more points than Grachev.
We are not saying that Grachev will fail either but what we ask is that we slow down the hype for Grachev and allow him to develop at his own pace with reasonable expectations.
(Eddie Giacomin courtesy of EddieGiacomin.com)
Kal Tire OHL Rookie of the Month – Evgeny Grachev
Evgeny Grachev scored eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 11 January games with a plus-minus rating of plus-16. He recorded points in 10 consecutive games including five multi-point games. The Battalion went 10-3 in January and currently enjoying a 12 game winning streak that began January 11 when Grachev scored the overtime winner to beat the Barrie Colts 2-1 as third star of the game. Grachev was named first star of the game three times, second star once, and was twice named third star of the game. His first star outings were all three-point games including his two goals and one assist performance January 18 in a 7-2 win over the Sarnia Sting.
This is the 2nd time for Grachev to earn this honor and while we are happy for him there is a need for us to urge that Ranger fans not expect this to mean that Grachev will make the direct jump to the Rangers next season.
Grachev still needs work on his development as a player and if you are going to use numbers as your basis for determining Grachev's future then realize that Grachev is not the leading scorer among Ranger prospects, Chris Doyle is.
Nobody is predicting superstar status for Doyle who at 23-37 has 2 more points than Grachev.
We are not saying that Grachev will fail either but what we ask is that we slow down the hype for Grachev and allow him to develop at his own pace with reasonable expectations.
(Eddie Giacomin courtesy of EddieGiacomin.com)
2 comments:
Jess, thanks for posting. Heaven knows it is NOT easy indeed!
Jess, thanks for posting. Heaven knows it is NOT easy indeed!
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