I went to my first Los Angeles Kings game around 1986, when they still played at the Forum, wore the original uniforms, and weren’t a playoff team.
By the end of the first period, my fandom was cemented. I loved how fast the game moved. I loved how weird it was to play ice hockey in Southern California. I loved that nobody I knew was into hockey, so this was something that belonged to me. In the 80s, being a hockey fan in LA was to be part of a subculture that took a little bit of work. Like, it was easy to be a Lakers fan during Showtime. The Dodgers weren’t that great in the mid-80s, but by 1988 they were in the World Series again, while the Kings were pretty mid, if my memory is correct.
Years and years ago, I wrote something about how much I loved getting off of work at Paramount, driving down La Cienega through the oil fields, and sneaking into Inglewood around the traffic on the 405 and 110. I would have been 16 or so, maybe just barely 17, when Gretzky came to the Kings, and my subculture exploded into very mainstream Los Angeles sports culture. I took an extended break from the NHL — and all sports, really — when my kids were little. We couldn’t justify the expense for tickets, and when I had a choice between going out for something or staying home and enjoying my family’s company, I always stayed home.
But in … I think it was 2010? 2011? … the Kings were in the playoffs against St. Louis, a couple seasons before they won their first Stanley Cup. I knew from experience that there is nothing in the world like playoff hockey, and that I had my best chance to introduce Anne to the sport, the team, and that part of me. So we went to game 3 of the series (I’m going from memory. I could look all this up and be sure about the dates, but I’m going to write this parenthetical, instead.) We sat behind the goal, about 7 rows up, not the best place to get a full view of the game and watch plays develop, but really great for dropping you right into the middle of the whole thing.
Anne was completely on board by like the third or fourth whistle. She was hollering with me, stomping her feet, the whole thing. It was great. We got season tickets the following season, and we have had them ever since.
Last night, she had an art class she’s been looking forward to for weeks, that she joind before the playoff schedule was set, so I took our son, Nolan, with me. He’s been so busy with so many things, we haven’t had many opportunities lately to just go out and hang, so I was looking forward to that even more than the game, itself.
Holy shit the game, itself. I’ve been feeling like this team is the first team the Kings have put out in years that has a real chance to get past Edmonton. Fucking FINALLY. As I wrote only semi-jokingly in yesterday’s post, Edmonton has one line and a bunch of guys. Their goalie is very beatable, and if the Kings can shut down McDavid (who, we all have to admit is the greatest player in the world right now), they should advance.
The vibe inside Staples Center was immaculate. Fans chanting in the streets, in the concourse ahead of the game, in our seats before they introduced the players. For the first time since opening night, the place looked to be nearly sold out. It was the playoffs, man, and it nourished my soul to be there.
The game was exciting and nerve wracking. The Kings took their foot off the gas at the beginning of the third, as is traditional, and let the Oilers back in. McDavid did his thing (I hope Edmonton nerds know how lucky they are to watch him year after year) and I felt roughly 17000 people go “oh fuck my life not this again”.
And then.
And then, Phillip Danault and Warren Foegele did this, with 7 seconds left.
Nolan and I jumped up out of our seats so fast and so hard, we practically hit our heads on the roof.
The Kings held on for seven intense seconds, and after blowing a huge lead, managed to win it 6-5 in regulation. It’s the first time they’ve won a playoff game in regulation in three years. I screamed so much, my throat hurts today and my voice is hoarse. Not the best thing before I start an audiobook tomorrow. Good thing I heal like Wolverine.
On the drive home, I looked over at Nolan and said, “Look, it’s the playoffs, and I would never admit to this in public or on my blog, but it’s after 10 already and I did not want to be leaving here after 11, so I feel like not only did the Kings win, we also won.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t going to say anything, but … yeah.”
We laughed about that a little bit.
I said, “I guess I know that I’m old and tired because I’m not completely sure I wouldn’t have suggested we race home during the intermission so I could watch OT on TV and then roll right into bed. I don’t even know who I am.”
He started to reply, then said, “Look out!” because a stupid fucking dipshit idiot driver whipped across three lanes without signaling to gain a car length while I was — with my turn indicator on because oh my fucking god why is that so hard for you people to do — safely changing lanes like an adult.
I yanked my wheel back to my left, was grateful I drive a Mini with a low center of gravity, and dad mode automatically engaged. “You fucking idiot fuck,” I spat at that guy. “My fucking kid is right here! What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“You okay? Sorry about that.”
“Yeah, that was intense.”
My parental anger faded as quickly as it flared. “I’m really glad you saw that. I would have missed it entirely.” In my dad brain, a vivid series of violent car crashes played in high speed.
“I barely did.”
“Yikes. That’s scary. We were so close to being in a serious crash because of that guy, and he probably has no idea.” I wondered how many more near collisions this dude would cause on his way to wherever he was going.
“Yep.”
We drove in silence for a little bit. And then, after we’d merged onto the 134, I said the thing that had been on my mind since we’d left the house hours earlier.
“I’m so grateful you chose to come to the game tonight. Thank you for making a special memory with me. I cherish this time together, and I want you to know that.”
“I do know that, but I’m still glad you said it. I didn’t expect to have as much fun as I did. It reminded me of the times we went before.”
“That was so much fun. I’m so happy that you remember it the way I do.”
When Nolan was in high school, the Kings had ticket packs for super cheap (they were NOT a good team, then) so I got him like 6 games for Christmas, mostly so we had an excuse to go do something together. At one of the games, we were screaming and cheering for the boys and they put us on the Jumbotron. Someone in the organization grabbed it, and made that video snip part of the opening montage for the rest of that year. Every game I went to, with Nolan and without, I got to see it and remember how fun it was when it happened. It was so long ago, the memories have faded to a point where they are unreliable. Last night was an echo of those memories, and it refreshed them enough to restore their clarity.
Anne’s got tickets to a show tomorrow, and Nolan is my first choice, if he’s feeling it, to be my +1. So maybe we’ll get to make another memory together tomorrow night that involves the Kings going to Edmonton up 2 games to none.
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Also, before I go, I am on Michael Rosenbaum’s podcast, Inside of You, this week. I’m working on a post about it, just struggling to get WordPress to play nice with a bit of embedded video. Until then, here are some quick links:
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Awesome that you were at last night’s game even though it most likely took year’s off our lives. Your story brought back some very fond memories of being at the “Frenzy on Figueroa” and of also being at the infamous game in which Courtnall ran Storr, O”Donnell rightly fought him but was the only one penalized (5 min major!) and the Kings lost. Kinda ruined making the JumboTron that night. Anyway… #GKG
As a Canuck fan, I share your joy at putting the Oil back in the can. As a Canadian…well, I’m dreaming for a Jets / Canadiens (just can’t cheer for the Leafs) Final.
Enjoy the ride. Missed the game, what’s the Victory Song? “Gloria” drove the Blues. Who ya got?
Our victory song USED to be I Love LA by Randy Newman, and it was awesome.
Now it’s Hollywood Nights? By Bob Seger? Like, what? We went from rocking to workin in the yard in 1982? I am not a fan, just don’t get it.
I thought of you when I saw the end of that game and hoped you were there for it! My Blue Jackets just barely missed, so I may root for the Kings this year. (BTW Edmonton’s goalie is Stuart Skinner, not to be confused with Jeff Skinner who ALSO plays for them but is a winger).
Godammit I knew it was Stuart and my fingers betrayed me. I even chanted “SSSSSSSKKKKKIIIINNNNNEEEERRRRSSSSSSSSS” to get complete coverage.
How wonderful that you and your son were at the game! An exciting one, for sure. I have been attending and watching hockey since I was 13. I am now 73. I grew up in NJ and the original Jersey Devils were an EHL team that was not very good but was beloved. The year before NHL expansion, the Flyers organization brought in players and coaches who would go on to work/play for the Flyers.
It was fun season as they made it to the finals for the first time ever. The first year of expansion gave us all the opportunity to see the NHL in person. My parents were friends with several front office senior officials. I grew up with two future NHL GMs – David Poile and Ray Shero. Lots of old players and fans remain friends to this day. Cole Caufield, who plays for the Habs, is the grandson of old friends. His grandfather played for the old Devils in the EHL.
I love hockey. I watch several games a week and every playoff game, all teams. Although the Leafs are my hometown team for many years now, I love watching any other team. There is something special about the game. And I’m happy to see any team win, well, other than the Panthers. 😉
Some of my favorite memories, in the past few years, are the baseball games that my wife, son and I go to. We mostly travel to Seattle, from Portland, for Mariners games, but in the last few years, we’ve tried to throw in local MLB games where ever we travel.
Some of my favorite times: watching Boston, New York, and Chicago. Teenage crush on Phil Esposito, Ken Dryden, Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe, and more. I guess I’m dating myself.
The Phoenix Roadrunners were my local team. I was there when they played the Soviet team. Good times.
I tune in to Rosey’s podcast every Tuesday and was thrilled to see that you were the guest today. Thank you for visiting!
I love your new Storytime podcast too.
Canes/Kings finals? Dare we hope?
I vote for this!
I have a Honda CRX and a Mini Countryman. I am astonished at how easy it is to use a turn signal. I wonder why a lot of drivers cannot figure it out.
Spending time with our kids is so precious. Enjoy it every time. I personally am not a fan of hockey, (Sorry.) but I love the spa days with my daughter. BTW, she is a long fan of yours too. She grew up watching you on Star Trek. Were those the days. She even had more than one Trek costume. See told you. Memories with our kids are precious. Hold them dear. I do hope the kings go all the way for you! 😀
Aw, that is so cool! When my wife and I were living in Nashville I was able to take my oldest (who was very young at the time and is getting married in June 😳) and she just loved the atmosphere and Gnash, of course. Good times…sigh.
I’m glad you guys are safe from the crazy driver but it made me think of <I_turn_now_good_luck_everybody_else.gif>
Wil, I’m so glad you and your son got to see a great playoff game! When I was in Junior High, my dad was given tickets to the first Kings home game at the Forum and it was surreal. I knew next to nothing about icing and offsides (in hockey terms) but the Fabulous Forum was the biggest place I’d ever been in! I’ve never been to the Crypt, but one of these days I have to go watch Kopitar do his thing!
Memories with your kid. Best things EVER!!!
I love reading your stories, especially those with your kids. What awesome memories!
A woman I follow once said that her father wanted to be the father and grandfather he didn’t have, so he did. It sounds like you became the father you never had, and I love that for you.
Great post! As a parent who rarely gets time with my grown kids, I so appreciate your sentiments here!
I grew up with season tickets during an era of GREAT Div 1 college hockey, and I wouldn’t trade the memories of going to those games with my dad for anything. As much as I LOVE hockey, I loved being there with my dad even more.
As a kid, I was DRAGGED to baseball and football games that I did not want to go to, by a father who did not care whether I wanted to go or not. He just liked the idea of pointing to his young daughter and calling her a sports fan and showing her off to players (whose names I did not then or now know) and getting autographs for “her” that he then took for himself. I spent a lot of that time developing a very honed ability to look interested (because I was yelled at in the car if I was visibly unhappy or bored at these games) in something while my brain was miles away and playing in my imagination instead.
Reason #284 why “I Hate It Here” by Taylor Swift makes me Feel All The Things.
I LOVE hearing that you and your kid went to games and had fun, because it reminds me that my bad experience is probably drowned out by the beautiful and fun and touching stories of parents and their kids bonding over sports games. I’m trying to get better about not hating things as a whole (such as football or baseball) just because I first experienced them in a bad way. Because now that I am starting to focus on becoming a parent myself through adoption, I don’t want my dislikes to colour my kid’s developing worldview. I could end up with the sportiest kid in the state and I want to be HAPPY taking them to games.
Also, every single time I was downtown by Staples Center and a Kings game was happening, I would wave at the stadium, figuring you and Anne were probably in there, having hockey dates with your favourite humans. 🙂
I’m glad you got to go with your son and enjoyed yourselves! I wish I’d gotten to go to see a Red Wings game when Joe Louis Stadium was still around. I went to my first NHL game to watch the Bruins at TD Garden.
I miss living in San Diego since I’d go to bars in my Brendan Shanahan jersey and watch the Red Wings on TV.
(Hopefully I’ve figured out WordPress and can leave a comment now; my last two didn’t go through)
Hopefully this comment processes the second time around (new-ish to blogs, who me? Is there an FAQ I can look up sweatdrop emoji)
I’m so glad you went with your son! Hockey is an amazing sport and I love it! I’m an all-around hockey fan, and my home team are the Red Wings, adopted teams are the Pens and Bs. When I lived in San Diego, my roommate and I would go out to bars and I’d wear my Brendan Shanahan jersey, focused on watching the games. I used to watch sports with my dad and Gram (grandmother), who were my two safe humans in my family.
I’m listening to the Michael Rosenbaum episode and everything both of you are saying resonates. After my dad died, and my mom went back to her trauma patterns (chose a toxic abusive alcoholic of a man to be her next husband) and was his wife and mother to his kids while I was the isolated scapegoat. She controlled my narrative most of my life and her siblings continued that pattern. I’ve been doing IFS and EMDR with my wonderful trauma-informed therapist, and that’s the piece I’m really stuck on that I need to bring my younger selves into the present with me, because they’re still stuck on my life before my dad died, and the changes after he died. I don’t point my family’s toxic behaviors out anymore, there’s no point, since they’re ignored (can’t have the truth be seen) and I’m still struggling with how they try to guilt and shame me into behaving because “family” is on their terms.
Sounds like you had a fabulous time with your son. And I wanted to thank you for using the phrase “near collision” because “near miss” annoys the ever loving hell out of me!