RedRockit

I'm watching CBC-- they said Kunitz, not Selanne.

I'm new here, but I'll give this a shot because this topic is very personal for me. I think your question, which boils down to 'why do FANS think the media/refs are pro-Wings?' can be answered very simply: homerism. My best friend is a devout Sabres fan, and quite knowledgeable about finer points of the game, but her homer blinders are super-glued to her head when it comes to believing that the refs, the NHL, the media, and even the concession vendors are out to get her team (in all fairness to her, I think the infamous No Goal gave every Sabs fan a persecution complex-- it's not paranoia if they really ARE out to getcha! I've seen her beliefs about bias against [insert teeam here] repeated all over the 'net for every NHL team's fanbase-- even here, a little bit, especially about the Versus announcers being anti-Wing tools in Games 1 & 2 (I personally can't say, don't get Vs myself, watch on CBC or listen to RW radio-- BTW, it was just horrendous last night, not being able to see what happened. I'm so glad that I came across this site last week and was able to follow your GDT posts here. Bless you... but I digress). I think that some kind of protective instinct kicks in when media/refs don't seem to share an often unconditional love for one's team-- as in: Well, if they're not praising us/calling things our way, they must be AGAINST us-- those hosers!! Anyway, that's my take...... oh s***e, Sens just scored AGAIN... if it's a sweep, SabreFriend'll be bitchin' and moanin' for the next five years..... sheesh, Ottawa, throw 'er a bone, willya ever?

Henkka, thanks for the Selanne article-- verrry enlightening and it helps explain something else. See, I'm still not happy with Rob N. I followed the Panthers on their Cup run in '96 (not sure why, except the FLA is really the southernmost county in Ohio and I've tons of friends down there, or maybe it was the rats!, so endearingly reminiscent of our octopussies) and I grew fond of Nieds The Younger. However, I firmly believe he deserved every bit of his punishment, regardless of whether Pronger got off/gets off scot-free. This guy KNOWS what a concussed head can do a a career-- his own career has never recovered from his own headbangings-- and he DID charge across the ice, and don't tell me he didn't see Pronger moving in fast with blood in his eye and murder in his heart. This morning, I keep wondering why a seemingly decent player like RN would stoop so low... and wondering how deep Pronger's bad influence could run re: his team's attitude and style of play. The Selanne article confirms what I've been thinking-- that, yeahhhh, Pronger's a MOTHER, for sure and all. :!: PS. Newbie to this forum, but definitely not new to the Wings.... I'm a longtime fan, no bandwagon jumper, moi! I stumbled into this place about a week ago, and think it's amazing-- even the opposiition's posters show class. Bless you all especially for being here for me last night, as I don't get Versus and was listening on RW Radio. It helped tremendously to share the joy (and calm down during the scary bits) by reading the posts here. Off to find an avatar and maybe a coolish sig.....