I wonder if Rich still thinks we are being too critical
no offense Rich,
No offense taken
The caps earned it (the criticism) last night - for the most part
And...the intent of my original "you guys (including me) sometimes are too negative" post was.....we start bitching well before the 1st period is over. That when reading the negative posts from the first period (reading them the next day) would indicate that the Caps have had/are having a horrible season and are a shit team, which is NOT the case. And that giving up in the FIRST period is a little premature. Just like giving up on this team and this season is a little premature at this point. Am I counting another Cup already? Hell No. I honestly don't think the Caps will get close this year. Am I going to stay and watch and find out? HELL YES. Am I going to be disappointed when they under perform? Of course. AM I going to be over the top negative? No.
They are certainly playing like a shit team of late, but it's a very long season. We have had good stretches as well as bad stretches, but the fan negativity during the bad stretches COMPLETELY outweighs the positivity shown during the good stretches. I know that's just human nature and probably especially true with LONG time Cap fans like myself who suffered long and hard through decades of disappointment. But if all I want to see is negative spew and Caps bashing, I could go to the Hens board (well, okay, let's be reasonable) If I need to hear how bad the Caps organization is I could just filter and read DC's posts
just teasing you DC, you know we love you
(most of the time)I guess I should just be used to it. We won the cup last year and if you read the posts DURING the playoffs you'd have thought the Caps were the worst team in hockey. There was MUCH more negative than positive. Yet, in the end the Caps did what they never had and overcame all the adversity, all the bad luck, all the bad bounces, all the bad D play and just got it done. I am NOT saying they will do the same this year - I;m just saying we tend to focus more on the negative play than the positive. I know hindsight is 20/20, but we tend to be way to fickle IMO. Even in mid-season last year, all the talk was fire Trotz, Trotz has to go. Trotz can't get, never has, never will be a winner. Trotz can't adjust during the playoffs, Trotz can't motivate his team...Blah, blah, blah. Now what? Now he's this great coach and our team is shit without him? I don't buy it. No wonder he left...the Caps treated him the same way as we did.
The only one I remember being positive (during the playoff run) was AJ - who for some crazy reason was saying (in writing for all the world to see) he had confidence in the Caps playoffs chances...even early on he was saying that.
Don't misunderstand me - I enjoy coming to the boards and discussing the Caps. I enjoy seeing other peoples point of view and reading their input about the Caps. It has probably enhanced my Cap fandom. It's like a family (with all the misfits). I don't enjoy the total negativity at times - even if it is earned in the short term. I support and watch and hope and pray for my team. I am no longer an athlete, but I am still an athletic supporter.
GO CAPS and
WAKE THE HELL UP! (and quiet all those fears of massive disappointment we are all harboring)