Monday, March 1, 2010

Cracked under Pressure


I have watched a lot of hockey.

I come from a hockey family; both my brothers played, my Dad played and we watched Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday night.

Hockey-watching newbies think the game is in the bag if the home team is up a goal or two with a couple of minutes left to play.

I don’t feel that way.

I have seen the home team loose with seconds left in the game.

Case in point, the Olympic gold medal game between Canada and the U.S.

We were up a goal with a couple of minutes left and while my husband was confident, I was holding our son a little more tightly than was necessary.

And at the 30-second left mark, what I fear will happened, happened.

The U.S. scored, tying the game and pushing us into overtime.

And then I cracked.

I don’t need that kind of stress in my life. So my son and I went home, played, had dinner and a bath.

When I heard the door open about a hour later, my heart sank.
‘Well?’ I asked.
We won.

Phew.

Later, while watching the highlights, I remembered the other reason I don’t need to watch hockey any more.

The other goalie.

Perhaps because my older brother is a goalie, my heart goes out to those who play this position.

And when I watched the U.S. goalie fall to his knees after letting in Canada’s winning goal, my heart broke.

Hockey watching just isn’t for me.

5 comments:

Danielle said...

Congrats to you all. I have never been able to get into hockey. But it is hard for me to watch basketball, it is VERY emotional at our house! LOL

Heather said...

Congrats to you!

Since becoming a mom, anytime anyone loses, I want to cry, thinking how I would feel if it were my child.

Thanks for stopping by my blog this morning!

CoconutPalmDesigns said...

Your headline had me seriously worried! I'm sorry to say it but I am glad it was you who cracked and not the Canadian hockey team!

Go Canada Go!

Missy said...

Congrats to Canada.
Although, I have to say that I am not glad that they won. ;)

Stopping in from SITS.

Sarah and the Gentlemen said...

I think I have the same kind of dread for the athletes. When the U.S. 4 man bobsled team was racing for the metal... I wasn't certain they would get it, I was hoping for their sake that they wouldn't blow it.
That hockey game was certainly intense!