Panthers

Sunrise, Florida is the home of the Florida Panthers.  According to the folks we talked to around the arena (those that didn’t work directly for the arena, mind you), the Panthers don’t have any real fans.  Now I don’t really believe that, but after the game when we walked across the street to a local establishment in search of jubilant Bruins fans and dejected Panthers fans, we found precious few souls. Most were in Bruins jerseys and there was a curious young man sporting a Burrows Vancouver jersey.  He was also not too appreciative of me asking him if he was lost. He tried to bite my hand but I waved him off!

But I digress!  We had a very long drive all day Sunday from Raleigh to Sunrise – 787 miles. Most of it on 95 South.  This was pretty boring, except that Dave insisted that we stop at South of the Border.  I drove up and down the east coast so many times, deliberately avoiding Pedro’s incessant beckonings.  It took Dave’s “C’mon, it’ll be fun” and I was there. We got a shot glass for our collection and I got a magnet that reads “Chihuahuas Rule!”  My life is complete.

Florida is a very long state.  You think you are all set when you hit Jacksonville, but not so much.  It took 3 5-hour energy drinks for Dave to get through that drive!

Bruins vs. Panthers

Dave and I headed over to the arena early in the day to do our standard recon – check for security policies for the camera and ensure we know when the doors open, etc.  We were chatting and yukking it up with security for a while, even mentioning that we are the crazy Bruins fans with the “Old Time Hockey” sign, etc.  We asked about our telephoto lens and was told that was fine.  We also were able to just walk into the arena because there was a Police vs. Fire game going on.  The arena is an icebox.  They keep it so cold, probably because of the air outside, but no flip flops for me during the game. 

So Dave and I take a cab over to the arena when it is time for the game to start.  Security lets us through, just making sure to tell us not to hold the signs over our heads too much.  We told him that we are professionals.  Only during time outs and even then, we move it and hold it sideways so the people behind us can see.  So imagine our irritation when another security person came up to us during warmups and confiscated our signs.  She said that one is not allowed to have signs larger than 2’ x 2’ in the lower bowl.  Our signs are bigger than that.  So we lost our signs for the duration of the game.  The entire section we were sitting in was full of Bruins fans.  And one very obnoxious Panthers fan.  He is apparently the only one!  He was making snarky remarks about Horton and Seidenberg which doesn’t really fly with me.  Oh I forgot to tell you that one thing they didn’t confiscate was the Stanley Cup Champion flag I had folded in my camera case that is as big as one flying over a car dealership.  I made sure I reminded Obnoxious Panther Fan that Horty and Seids brought their awesome games to contribute to the glorious Championship. Thank you very much.  The fans in Carolina said that about Seids too.  He played a few places before catching on with the Bruins. I am very glad that he is on our team. 

I was very glad to hear that Dennis Wideman was selected to the All-Star team from the Caps after he was run out of Boston.  I get very irritated when Bruins fans boo specific players on our team.  They did that in a brutal manner with Wideman – to the point where he was dealt.  It may have been the right thing to do to trade him, but I don’t believe it helps players play better to boo them in their own building.  Just my humble opinion.

Pics to follow.