Oh, the Booing and the Cheering


Before the game, I’d said that I was going to cheer for Jagr instead of boo him. Well, Jagr scoring the game-winning goal didn’t make me feel like cheering for him, but I didn’t boo him—and neither did any of the people sitting around me (though I still heard boo’s from places throughout the arena). Not that the boos mattered. Jagr was "on" when he needed to be on, and what I’ve learned from watching Jagr over the years it that Jagr is only the one who can stop himself. (Seriously, Rangers fans. If Jagr thinks he’s hurt and can’t do something, he’s not going to do it. If he’s just feeling like he can’t do something, not necessarily due to injury, he’s not going to perform as you feel he should. The best thing to do for Jagr is to keep him as sane as possible and as mentally healthy as possible. Ron Francis’ skill at keeping Jagr’s head in check was probably among his most underrated skill. For Rangers’ fans, here’s hoping a player like Brendan Shanahan can do, at least a little, for Jags, what Francis did so successfully for many years.)

In any case, the fans surrounding me were polite and respectful of Jagr. The Jumbotron splashed a display congratulating Jagr on his six hundredth goal, and while he didn’t get tons of applause, people clapped politely (a few idiots booed, but there’s a reason I don’t mince words when I call them idiots). The fans around me, all of whom appeared to know hockey, cheered and stood for Gonchar’s 500th point in the NHL. Because, see, as much as we fuss about Gonchar, he’s ours now. And as much as we cheered for Jagr, he’s not ours anymore.

But really—I guess I have so many good memories, mostly from childhood, of Jagr that the idea of booing him just totally repulses me.

Yet I was among the many who stood and cheered for Gonchar (much as I winced every time he was on the ice against Jagr). I wasn’t standing and cheering for Jagr because, well, he’s not on my team anymore. (Granted, if the Rangers had been playing the Flyers in Madison Square Garden, you can bet I would have been cheering for Jagr—but just not against my team.)

In any case, the boos and cheers were what they were. And I was relieved not to be near any idiots who thought it appropriate to boo the achievement of 600 NHL career goals. (Sure, Pittsburgh fans know hockey, but there are always a few…..)