My National Pride is Worth $300

Pride is a tough thing for one to associate a value. I mean you ask an American what his flag is worth and he might threaten your life for even associating money with that which he values most. You go into the College and Bathurst area of Toronto after Brazil wins its most recent world cup match and money is a non issue in relation to the genuine joy and emotion that national unity brings to a whole community. I, on the other hand, have established my patriotic price thanks to that which Canadians pride themselves upon most: Lord Stanley's Mug.

At the start of the playoffs I sat down with my step-father's work friends and was a part of a 15 person playoff pool at a buy in of thirty whopping dollars a person. Each of the fifteen participants was to choose 10 players partaking in the NHL playoffs, in a draft format where no player could show up on more than one person's team.

Tonight is game seven of the championship series between the Oilers of Edmonton and the Carolina Hurricanes. I am currently in second place in the playoff pool sitting 3 points behind the leader and thus 3 points away from a 3 hundred dollars. While it seems everyone north of the border is forced to root for Edmonton due to loyalty to the flag, I currently have 3 Carolina Hurricanes , and so I have sold my canadian soul in hopes that tonight I see Eric Staal, Frantisek Kaberle, and Justin Williams each pop a goal or a couple assists.

To tell you the truth, I think its great if Edmonton wins tonight. I have a few conditions however. Chris Pronger needs to break his leg on the way to the arena, Matt Cullen needs to devlop a case of ebola before ice time, and Jaret Stoll needs to have the game of his life scoring a heroic overtime goal to warrant my little payday.

My Prediction : Edmonton 4, Carolina 3, Eano 300, or 100 for second place and a little bitterness.

posted by mr. tomas ubik @ Monday, June 19, 2006