Maxbone

"This page is all about the Edmonton Oilers"

Boyle, AB • Canada • 40 Years Old • Male

The Pipeline - What the Ek?

So I log into Hockeybuzz this morning and read a massive apology regarding Tanguay to Florida, and the (e5) rating given to the potential signing. By the third paragraph, I couldn't believe my eyes.

One of the things that has always confused me about this web page is the amount of bashing contributing writers get. Thanks to the concept of democracy and freedom of speech, these kind of shenanigans from readers are tolerated. To read sarcasm, put downs and random insults makes for comical, yet perplexing entertainment. I've always asked myself if people think the rumors here are so sad and unreliable, why do they bother to visit the site?

Hockey fans are an insane breed. I grew up in the heart of Western Canada, worshiping the Gretzky et al Edmonton Oilers. When I was in high school, I'd attend a daily argument in the library between a group of friends debating which team was best. While many students were Oiler fans, many others adored the Habs, Flames, and gasp, Harold Ballard's Maple Leafs. The Oilers were clearly the quality team of the mid-80's, but us fanboys really didn't look at the stats when it came to defending our team. Thinking back, the arguments we had were ridiculous, full of sarcasm, put downs, and random insults. It didn't matter that us Oiler fans were right about absolutely everything; the pursuit of logic and reason was not why we all got together to argue. We did it because it was fun.

I do encourage people to take their best swing at anything I write on this site. Why? Because I am going to swing right back, and have a smile on my face while doing it. Hockey is not the meaning of life, or the solution to all the world's problems. It's just a hellava lotta fun, as is this site. The people who bring you the rumors are going to miss the mark sometimes. In an effort to get information out to you readers as fast as possible, sometimes speculation will lead to a mistake. So be it. And furthermore, who cares? This site, like the game itself, is all in the name of fun.

I don't know Eklund personally, nor do I know Strickland, Berger, or anyone else who writes here. What is certain is that they spend alot of time on their cell phones and Blackberries, trying to find interesting stuff to write. Just like in love, gambling, and voting for a Republican, sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. Sometimes the information provided by "sources" is solid and dependable, and sometimes it's not.

When I was seated around the table in the library arguing with my friends about just how much their teams sucked, the truth of the matter was, none of us really had a clue what we were talking about. We were fans; nothing more. Have things changed? Using the Heatley situation for an example: Does anyone really know what has occurred? In the media, Heatley has been made to look like a complete jackass. But maybe there is a good reason why he is doing what he is. Is it something said to him privately by Murray that has made him want to stick it to the Sens? Is there more to his refusal to waive his NMC than a desire not to play for the Oilers? Or maybe he has a friend on the team telling him not to go there. Maybe his favorite cousin in Calgary told him he will be disowned by his family if he moves to Edmonton. We'll never truly know.

Enjoy the site, friends. Write your junk and take your best shots.

No. Apologies. Needed. From anyone.

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