Stay classy, Edmonton.

With the arrival of Chris Pronger looming on the horizon, Edmonton has been wondering what kind of welcome he deserves. I am lucky enough to have tickets to see that game. Message boards and newpaper inboxes alike have been overwhelmed with opinions. Some say that booing is never classy. Some say that because Pronger played so well for Edmonton last season, he deserves a hero's welcome. They're wrong.

Well, partly. While booing might never be considered classy, there is a time and a place for it. It would be considered unclassy to boo someone else's national anthem. I think that we can all agree that that should never again happen in Edmonton. But booing a player who behaved like a petulant child and disrespected your city is not classless. It's harmless, and Pronger will be expecting it (the only thing better would be to not utter a sound. That would damage Pronger's ego much more than booing ever would. It's also impossible, for all 16 000+ fans will not agree). It's harmless as long as the line is drawn there. Throwing shit onto the ice (unless it's frozen beef prior to a playoff game) and having the booming Rexall voice remind you not to three times before resorting to threats makes Edmonton look like a city full of rednecks.

If you're at the game tomorrow, boo if you'd like but keep your hands to yourself. Then, as Alana said, we can get on with our lives.

Comments

Tonka Time said…
Fun Fact: I was rooting through the stats for our blog when I noticed that one way for people to reach our blog was to use the search term "chris pronger and condom." Further reasearch revealed that we're not the top search result though.

You guys are!
Alana said…
eyeris, that made my day.
Anonymous said…
Yes there is a time for booing. Obviously that time is now, and I shall be there tonight to boo heartily and classily.
Loxy said…
Hopefully people can keep the expletives to themselves at the game.
Anonymous said…
I can't wait for tonight!!!!! 5 1/2 hours to go. I want to see some great signs, too.
Anonymous said…
much appreciate, the restrain from throwing things on the ice... the boos, yes, expected, and I'll respect it.

I know, at this particular moment in time, I am representative of the enemy as a Ducks fan, but I would like to say, if I were an Oiler fan, I'd boo Chris Pronger too.

My props to you for advocating the no-tossing-crap-onto-the-ice.
Jordi said…
I hate when that happens. The Bruin fans got mad in the actual final second of the 3rd period since the Habs got the GWG in the last second and they just threw crap until they ended the game for the hell of it.

Yeah. No one throw crap at Pronger. Throw it only if it's fucking made to kill.
thehockeychick said…
My comment would've taken waaaay too much room. So I posted it on my own site... check it out at http://www.thehockeychick.com.
Alana said…
hockeychick - I read your post, but I can't comment over there. The primary reason that Edmontonions have such a hate-on for Pronger is not because he helped them get to the SCF last year. You say :"Chris was in Edmonton for ONE season!" -- That's exactly the point. We're pissed because he broke a 5-year contract after only one year, and did so in a childish, elusive manner (after fleeing to Mexico). It's really not a matter of how talented he is, althought that definitely doesn't help the pain. The reason him leaving really rubs us the wrong way is bacuse he knew exactly what Edmonton is like before COMMITTING to 5 years with the Oilers. And yet the reason he left is because his family didn't like the city. Brett Hull broke no such commitment. He was a UFA when he left, and there's really no comparison.
Jordi said…
And how many articles have been made on not hating Pronger are there? There's so much backlash and attempts at trying to look like a victim of fickle fans. Everything that spews out of Pronger's mouth is ultimately bile, we're not actually pulling quotes out of context, he's just that bad at defending himself.

If Pronger held a press conference himself, and told everyone rather than fleeing to mexico - I actually wouldn't hate him and give him credit for being a man about it. Instead his agent leaks it, he comes back and goes "hey, don't blame me. Personal reasons". He still doesn't believe that he himself was the ultimate reason to move. He had the power to choose so but everytime he goes "It's the decision of my family - and oh wait, since it's my family they don't have any responsibility! hah! NAILED!". I mean every single article defending him is almost saying as if he didn't want to leave, it wasn't his fault yadaya. And the minute he comes close to admitting he's sorry for letting down the fans, he quickly covers it up to make himself seem like a martyr for regarding the fans yet placing himself on a higher pedestal.

This was an event that damaged the morale of the fans and the team, the bitterness is just the kicks of the passion.
Tonka Time said…
Another fun fact: (Just wanna break up the "is Pronger a dick? If yes, how so" talk here) But if you check out Sykora's profile pic on Yahoo, it's his old Duck's photo. It's as if the people at Yahoo doesn't like his emo Oilers hair as well!

Okay, now go back to the pronger-talk.
the Prez said…
The confiscated all the signs. Boo. But they didn't strip me of my t-shirt. Mwahaha.
thehockeychick said…
Yeah, sorry about not being able to comment on my site. The spam has been out of control, but I'm working on moving over to wordpress.

Alana, I understand what you're saying and I do agree. He definitely didn't handle the whole situation the right way. But I was simply using the comparison of another big player leaving a city and getting booed when he returned. The media made it sound to me as though Oilers fans were mad that Pronger left after taking the team to the SCF. So I apologize if I was misinformed on the reason for the Pronger hatred of the fans by believing what the media said. I should know better, I have a journalism degree ;-)
Alana said…
No worries, HC. I'm bored of Pronger. Let's talk about how cute Roli is!
thehockeychick said…
LOL... well I went to check out the pics and bios of your team and GOOD GOD those are some mug shots. They really shouldn't have that much of a close-up on a guy who's broken his nose at least a dozen times. But you do have some cuties there --
Anonymous said…
Roli is a hunk!

The boys on Battle of Alberta were wondering who has the best team with regards to looks in the league. Maybe this is a project for Hot Oil??
Anonymous said…
Roli is probably the hottest 37-year-old EVER. He's currently 4th in save percentage in the NHL with 92.4%..if that's not sexy I don't know what is.

By the way, your blog kicks ass. Keep up the great work! =D
Alana said…
I saw Andy's post at BoA, but I don't think us Hot Oil ladies could ever perform an objective evaluation. We're all blinded by hockey lust! The Oil will always be the best-looking team in the league to me.
Jordi said…
To be honest you need to define sexy first. Is it a symmetrical face? All your teeth? Pretty sparkly eyes? Then there probably aren't that many hunks on the roster. But if it's quirkiness and "you know my favourite Oiler has...", then we win on being pretty hardcore on knowing what to love about certain Oiler hunks.

I mean Hemsky has a neck as thick as his head but you don't hear the fangirls complaining.
Anonymous said…
The Oilers are hot because they are Oilers. I mean really, Smyth and Horcoff are kinda weird looking but put that Oiler jersey on them, and hot stuff!!!
Anonymous said…
I mean Hemsky has a neck as thick as his head but you don't hear the fangirls complaining.

AHAHAH... what a description. I think it'd make a great HLOG post, arguing the hottest looking team.

Smyth and Horcoff are kinda weird looking

I actually think Smyth and Horcoff are pretty cute. ahhahaah, maybe I'm strange, but I do. I'm a big Ryan Smyth admirer.
thehockeychick said…
Well Finny, you've already established that you don't like one of my favorite players (Mike Modano), so yes, I think you're strange to be a Ryan Smyth admirer. Although he is a hell of a player.
Jordi said…
Was it the pimp ugly coat on Smyth? That definitely did it for me. I mean woah. Pimp coats are hot stuff.
the Prez said…
Roli...the hottest 37-year-old ever? I believe you mean one of the hottest 37-year-old ever!
Jordi said…
Are there going to be mid season Hot-Offs with players not on IR?

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