November 10th, 2003
My rant today is against the intolerant old crab-ass who sits behind me and my dad at the hockey games. Let me explain: I have season's tickets for me and my dad to see our local junior hockey team (WHL), the Vancouver Giants. There is a group of people in front of us, and a group behind us who all have season's tickets as well. So we all go to the same games usually about twice per week, and we all know and recognise each other.
Well, the family in front of us is comprised of a lot of teenaged girls and their teenaged friends. You could say they are -erm- enamoured of the young boys on the hockey teams. It's amusing to watch, and the presence of mother and grandmother render it harmless. These girls are intelligent, mature, well-spoken, and fun to talk to and cheer with (in fact, my faith in our future has gone up a notch thanks to them). They are very fond of my father (most people are).
The other thing is, they bring supportive signs to the hockey games and wave them between plays, and when the players come onto the ice. In case you are wondering, they are very careful about lowering the signs before the puck is dropped, so that play is never obscured.
Well, the oldest man in the group behind us suddenly started complaining the other night--and in loud unpleasant terms, too--about the signs. He complained and beefed and made a fuss, even calling over an usher (who did nothing, since there's nothing wrong with what the girls are doing). But now the atmosphere at games is a little chilly these days. The thing is, there was no reason for him to complain; the girls are careful not to shield the play (I sit right behind them, so I can attest to that) and it is nothing but harmless fun for them and support for the players.
I got the sense that he was complaining because he didn't like the sight of the girls having fun. I dunno, maybe he had quiet restrictive teen years and cannot tolerate the idea that there are teens out there who are growing up less twisted than he did ....
What an old fart.