tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647778869943037030.post5880667441288321459..comments2023-11-05T01:59:40.697-07:00Comments on The Boys On The Bus: Dispatches from Mordor Part 1JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09989293954366334806noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647778869943037030.post-35269379686623424772009-07-01T11:08:56.992-07:002009-07-01T11:08:56.992-07:00That is probably the best response to that query t...That is probably the best response to that query that I have ever read.raventalon40https://www.blogger.com/profile/09882869475576224211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647778869943037030.post-23800904177254043782009-07-01T09:21:52.154-07:002009-07-01T09:21:52.154-07:00I was born and raised in sunny Southern Alberta. I...I was born and raised in sunny Southern Alberta. I have been a lifelong fan of both the Oilers and the Eskimos, and I have had always a vitriolic hatred of the Flames and Stampeders. It has been my personal preference and choice as an adult to live and to work in Calgary after living in Vancouver for a few years to attend university. I like all three cities, with Vancouver having by far the most agreeable climate, and perhaps also being the coolest and most cosmopolitan destination; Calgary is certainly the most driven and focused of the three cities, possessing an almost-Darwinian competitive atmosphere centered around youth and success; Edmonton to me has been always a bit of a rough and rugged blue collar town with a lot of heart and soul and culture. <br /><br />My brother lives in Edmonton. I live in Calgary. I really don't think it would make much difference to either of us if we changed cities.<br /><br />Maybe players are scared off by the intelligent and hyper-engaged fan base and media in Edmonton that is perhaps too willing to hold everyone accountable at all times.<br /><br />Maybe Kevin Lowe et al have earned themselves a reputation as hard-asses or cheapskates or both.<br /><br />Maybe Edmonton is not as attractive a destination as some other places, but if someone were to offer me millions of dollars to play a game I supposedly love, I'd be happy to live almost anywhere on the planet to do so. And if one of my options was a small and quiet city with a rich tradition of winning championships, it would be likely at or near the top of my list.<br /><br />Maybe Edmonton and its Oilers need to stop trying so hard and stop trying to pretend to be something they are not.<br /><br />Maybe the city, the Edmonton Oilers, and the fans need to all embrace that it is a small market with a relatively quiet and perhaps less glamorous lifestyle, and seek out players who are looking for that very thing.<br /><br />The Green Bay Packers do not seem to have a problem attracting free agents, trading for great players, staying competitive, and continuing perennially to be a marquee flagship franchise and occasional champion in what is arguably the most successful and competitive professional sports league in the world.<br /><br />Maybe the Edmonton Oilers should take a page out of the Green Bay Packers franchise playbook and embrace the mystique of legends playing their game on the frozen tundra.JKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09989293954366334806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5647778869943037030.post-63055770115205387412009-07-01T02:37:11.519-07:002009-07-01T02:37:11.519-07:00This is a ripoff. Why do players like CGY so much ...This is a ripoff. Why do players like CGY so much better than EDM? They're pretty much the same. It must be the administration itself that's scaring players off.raventalon40https://www.blogger.com/profile/09882869475576224211noreply@blogger.com