Driving home tonight, I heard The Tragically Hip's "Fireworks". I love that song, and it always makes me think about hockey. Here's the opening verse.
If there's a goal that everyone remembers,
It was back in ol' 72
We all squeezed the stick and we all pulled the trigger
and all I remember was sitting beside you
You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey
I never saw someone say that before
You held my hand and we walked home the long way
You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr
Damn, that's sweet. It doesn't get more Canadian than that. When I hear Gord sing this verse, think about the ties that bind this country. I think about our national team successes and the NHL. I think about the sport I love.
Games that actually count begin tomorrow. According to my handy dandy Toronto Mike Countdown Clock, there are only 6 days, 0 hours, 36 minutes, and 58 seconds left until the Maple Leafs opener. I can't wait.
Another thing I realized while belting out "Fireworks" at the top of my lungs is that I haven't seen the Hip live since February 8, 2007. That's the longest I've gone without a Hip concert in over a decade. We're way overdue for a Toronto show.
