Our Milton Waddams Award goes to Hockey fans in Greenville - both of them. It seems that the Grrrowl franchise is no more, after 8 seasons. It's a common story... Florence lost the Pee Dee Pride after about the same amount of time. The parallels between the two franchises are startling. Early success, followed by championships (Greenville won the Kelly Cup, Florence won the Palmetto Cup). Then eventually fatigue set in, along with high expectations, and worst of all, not much of an understanding of the game.
When the Pride came from Knoxville back in 1997, I had to explain literally all the rules to my friends - offsides, two line passes, icing, etc. Then a fight broke out, and everyone loved it. However, a couple things happened on the way to Hockey Heaven... The NHL went on strike, fighting was almost eliminated from the game, and towns found out that they didn't have enough Yankees to sustain attendance when the locals stopped being interested.
That leaves us with two teams in the ECHL - Charleston and Columbia. Will they both survive? I hope so. I always thought it was pretty arrogant of the Stingrays to call themselves the South Carolina Stingrays , instead of Charleston- but they may end up proving me wrong.
My condolences to the fans - may the Grrowl Rest in Peace... But at least you have a new trophy for the cabinet- a Milton.
4 comments:
"I always thought it was pretty arrogant of the Stingrays to call themselves the South Carolina Stingrays , instead of Charleston"
Ditto the thought with the Charlotte Panthers. Running the same notion on naming, the MLB rejection (for the now Riverdogs) of Sharks when another, non baseball team had a Shark name. The Richmond VA hockey franchise then surfaces with the name Riverdogs, Charelston had it first, Hockey league doesn't give a non gratum rodenta annum about similar names.. go figure.
Likewise new MLB franchise, after Charleston ECHL franchise is on the map is named the Devil Rays... double standard enough for me to likewise not give a rat's bum, even if the mudpuppies were their farm team.
Oh well, I'll blame it on teh full moon.
So Mikey, gonna go with Fayetteville, Columbia or Charleston for ice hockey, eh?
No doubt on that one.. I've got family a stone's throw from the N. Chas Coliseum, so I'll be attending Stingrays games, followed by a side trip to Red's Icehouse at Shem Creek.
When Clemson University or lets see Manning or Greeleyville gets a team then I buy the tickets until then enjoy yourself at the game. I will meet you at Shem Creek.
Mike, try Madra Rua at the East end of Montague in North Chuck. Now that soccer fever is over it's a fine little Irish Pub and might be in the SC6 district...
Post a Comment