Chasing Dreams

DO YOU BELIEVE? What can I say but this was bloody amazing!!!!

I mean we WON GOLD in Vancouver.  More Importantly I was in Robson Square in Vancouver and Crosby scores the winner in OT against the USA.

I am not even sure where to begin this tale.  The important thing is that WE WON THE GOLD!!!  By a process of elimination of venues I had watched Canada previously there was only one choice.  I had done in Ontario Pavilion 200 feet from Canada Hockey Place, Molson Hockey House, Boston Pizza with a friend,  Richmond Library, Outside of Ontario/Inside Ontario Pavilion, at home on the couch therefore there were only two options left inside Canada Hockey Place or outside a Robson Square.  Lacking the $20,000 to get in the arena (and that seriously was a price from a scalper by the arena and that was cash only, who the heck has that in cash, seriously???) I decided to go for the heart of the party.

Now this wouldn’t be one of my cool stories if I didn’t some how upgrade my setup.  Best way to describe it was people were trying to get seats on wet cement, this is what Robson square is.  The first photo is of people trying to get near the screen at Robson Square.  Any ways I am standing on the lowest step trying to see over people.  I over heard the guy on his cell phone at the top of the steps with a wooden thing you can lean sit against talking about how his buddies were standing in line at a pub.  He and his brother were debating if it would be better to watch the game at a pub or here.  I encouraged them that the pub would be awesome and that they should leave me their news paper to sit on the wet cement steps with.  I don’t know how good a pub is compared to Robson Square, I do know sitting on a newspaper vs standing on wet cement is a no brainier.  And with that they took off to cut line and I was up one newspaper.

This all happened 1.5 hrs to game time.  While I waited told the people about my trip and chasingdreams.ca.  I got a flurry of text messages asking about where I was watching the game.  At first I was wondering why is this spot the best, then when I saw several thousand people line up just to get in here I realized if I had taken 10 more mins to get here I would never have gotten this spot.

The game began.  I was glad the Toews scored early so we could breath easily.  Then Perry got one.  Well this should be easy.  Oppps gave 1 back no worries.  Third period kinda wish they would try and pad the lead but we seem to be getting away with clearing the puck.  2 mins left the crowd is beginning to buzz.  1 min left we are getting read to roar.  What the heck!!! (I am sure that is what I said) They scored!!! We are tied.  How does a tie work.  Okay 20 mins and then a shoot out.

Flashes of the World JRS came to mind.  Pins and needles we will either be celebrating or I am in the heart of what will become a mob and riot very quickly.  And come all the way to Vancouver and watch them lose that would be horrible.  I tell the people beside me about buying my jersey from, Red Deer and having it Express Posted to where I am staying. It arrived in time for the Russian game. As cool as a Crosby jersey was the guy kinda disappeared on Friday and today.  Ah well here we go over time.

I hate end to end hockey where 1 shot will end the game.  Okay it is amazing hockey just my Leafs never condition me for what it feels like to win a close game I only know what it feels like to blow 3 goal leads.  Who is going to be the hero, Nash, Thornton, Getzlaf, Toews, Perry, Iggy.  Side note I have never heard 3000 people go from about to explode in celebration to dead silence as they did when the USA tied it up.  That was a cool pass to Crosby, and Crosby Scores.  HOLY COW I CAN’T BELIEVE IT.  WE WON GOLD.  THE ROAR WAS INTENSE.  I just opted for screaming instead of using the cow bell.  Hugging strangers, High fives all around,  People grabbing me and yelling Crosby and pointing to the jersey I am now very glad to be wearing.

WE WON GOLD IN VAMCOUVER IN HOCKEY!!!!  INSANE.  Take to the streets because it is time to party like it is 1999.  I thought the games had been intense. Ha I was so wrong.  I litterly just went with the crowd because you were so packed in together you litteraly had no control of where you moved. It is an odd feeling having people so thick moving that you have no way to actually control where you are going.  The cheering, the flag waving, the anthem be song, people saying to way to score that goal (at first I was like I didn’t do anything but after the first 10 it was just easier to celebrate as if I were Crosby and scored the goal)  People coming up behind you say way to go Crosby as they pat you on the back, throw their arms around you and simply just cheer.

I would be interested in hearing other people’s stories of where they were when Sidney Crosby scored for Canada and won GOLD just 8 months after winning the Stanley Cup by beating the Americans in over time at the 2010 Games in Vancouver and how you celebrated after words.  I heard from BJ that Legends was rocking pretty hard and Adam said the family farm was hopping well.

I believe in the power of You and I.