Los Angeles

I live in Los Angeles and fell in love with the game of hockey in 1987. I certainly became ecstatic when the “Great One” came to Los Angeles, I purchased season tickets and started buying hockey memorabilia like it was going out of style. I subscribed to SportsChannel to watch more hockey, I went out and bought a satellite dish to watch more hockey. I became a complete fanatic of the sport, I got my whole family and all of my friends into the sport and we have enjoyed it as a major part of our lives for the past 15+ years. Two of my friends went on to become ushers at the Kings games at the forum, then on to jobs for the Kings at the Staples Center. My younger brother’s birthday is in October and all he has wanted for his birthday is a new Kings hat or shirt and to go to the Kings home opener. This has been a tradition for 10 years for us. This year his son is old enough that he wanted to take him to his first Kings game. I have noticed a decline in the quality of the product in the last 10 years, but being a diehard, I continue to watch and hope for the best. The last work stoppage was disheartening, but we moved on. This year is different… I waited through the summer hoping for a miracle, when training camps were scheduled to open I hoped for a miracle. My brother’s birthday came and went, we hoped for a miracle. Now Christmas has come and gone and for the first time in over a decade I am trying to forget about the sport that I have been obsessed with for so long. My two friends that worked for the Staples Center have left their jobs due to the lock out. My nephew doesn’t understand why he has to keep waiting to see his first hockey game. My family and friends don’t get together nearly as often as we did when we would get together for hockey night. I can’t understand why the player’s can’t see the writing on the wall and agree to the best possible terms under this situation. I really feel like the player’s don’t give a care at all for the fans that support them. Now the most disappointing part of it all is that I am losing interest in one of the most wonderful things that has ever happened in my life. The lockout could end tomorrow and I am not sure that I would watch the game this season. I am not sure if I would watch it next year. I don’t know if I can get over the roller coaster of emotions this stoppage has forced me to feel and the problem is now I think that I may have been pushed too far. I am afraid that I am “over” hockey. I pray that the enthusiasm will return, but only time will tell.