Preds add another fan to ranks

Being from the south, boys and girls are generally raised on southern sports such as football, baseball and basketball. At a young age, parents buy their kids a baseball glove or basketball, and throw them into the little league programs.

The same is true for kids in the northern states, but instead of baseball or basketball being the first sport they learn to play, hockey is the featured game above the Mason-Dixon line.

Those that know me know I’ve never been a big hockey fan. But over the past 10 years since the Predators have been in Nashville, the game has grown on me.

Admittedly I’m not a die-hard hockey fan like some here in Warren County, but the game has earned its spot in my heart. Every year my wife and I go check out a game or two and it’s always been a very enjoyable experience ‘ and makes a great date night.

After the Predators won their first playoff game against Detroit last week, Teresa thought it might be fun to go and experience the excitement for ourselves. We had never been to a hockey playoff game and from hearing others talk about it, it sounded like a lot of fun.

So we quickly snatched up a couple of tickets for Sunday’s game, and I’m glad we did, because it was a sellout.

Now, I’ve been lucky enough over the years to have attended some division playoff games in baseball and even made my way to the World Series in 1991 to watch the Braves and Minnesota Twins play, unfortunately the Twins captured the title that year.

I’ve been to a couple of football playoff games and several in basketball and they have all been exciting. It’s fun just to be a part of something like that. So I really wasn’t sure what to expect at Sunday’s game, but I knew it would be exciting, too.

‘Exciting’ may be an understatement. Predator fans had the Sommet Center jumping and rocking.

Electricity filled the air and you couldn’t help but stand on your feet and wave your Predator rally towel, while cheering at the top of your lungs. I could only relate the enthusiasm in the first and second periods to the World Series game I attended and maybe to the excitement at Neyland Stadium back in 1982 when Tennessee beat Alabama in what was Bear Bryant’s last game against the Vols.

In short it was the most fun I have had attending a sporting event in several years. The only thing I was disappointed in was the Predators’ loss to the Red Wings.

In the first period the Predators played with a lot of intensity. But after the lucky short-handed goal in the second period by Detroit that intensity started to fade.

I’m not sure if I’m more disappointed with the Nashville loss or the lack of effort by the Predators in the second and third periods.

After the Red Wings’ first goal, the Predators played as if using Phillip Fulmer’s philosophy, play not to lose instead of playing to win.

The team can’t blame things on fan support. Nashville and surrounding area fans have done their part in supporting hockey in Nashville.

Despite all the challenges this season had with new owners and the unloading of some of the Predators’ best players. The team from Nashville surprised a lot of hockey fans ‘ and even the Red Wings to extend the series to six games.

All in all the Predators’ effort this season was solid and gained respect from this fan. Not bad for a town known for country music and football. Hopefully the Predators are here to stay and I’ll be going back a lot more next season.