Page 11 January 2009

PANTHER POST

“SPORTS

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Sports vs. The Movies

By Kate VanGerven Panther Post

Wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy a night of entertainment for free just by flashing a card? No, not a visa, (you actually have to pay with that one.) The card in question is your UPEI student id, and as a student with this small piece of magic, you’re entitled to free entrance to all UPEI sports games.

Watching the Panthers of either gender play basketball is like watching an action movie in theatres, except it’s happening live in front of you, and again...as a stu-

One less hockey virgin in ‘the world

Sports editor Kate VanGerven introduces a student from the Bahamas to Canada’s favourite sport

By Kate VanGerven © Panther Post

Hockey games typically at- tract three kinds of fans to its stands: the devout fans who would undoubtedly paint their chests if they had the nerve, the social fans that are afraid of missing something exciting, and then there are the hockey game “virgins.” Devout fans understand the complicated system of arm waving and whistles from the referees and are usually at the arena specifi- cally to watch the game and make obscene gestures when something bad happens. Social fans are a different breed all on their own. These

people are the ones who travel to the games in herds and spend a lot of the game in deep conversation briefly punctuated by enthusiastic cheering and clapping when a goal is scored or a fight breaks out, and then just as

quickly revert back to their

casual conversations.

The men’s game against Dalhousie on January 9 was going to be a fun night for this sports editor, who is still making the transition from social fan to devout.

On the way to the game however, our small group picked up Shavato, who had never attended a UPEI hockey game. Shavato, an

international education stu-

dent from Bahamas, is what

I would deem a hockey vir- gin.

While he knew about hock- ey, he had never truly expe- rienced it like we have the chance to.

Now, writing about sports is quite different from know- ing everything about them, but when Shavato had ques- tions I found myself answer- ing them with ease.

Granted, they were most- ly common knowledge. At the end of the first period when everyone retreated to

the concession stand or the

warmth of the lobby Shavato turned to me, puzzled about where everyone was going.

I explained the break and that the time between periods was for the teams to figure

out what they did well and what they needed to do dif- ferently in the next period, as well as to flood the ice. He accepted my explanation and proceeded to watch the zamboni, remarking how impressive the driver was to flood it so accurately.

Throughout the remainder of the game, I told him of the game having three periods, what they do in case of a tie, and I told him that, yes, those men in suits were in fact the team’s coaches.

I think in general, this game was a positive experience for both Shavato and I. He learned something new about a piece of Canadian culture, and me....I got to introduce him to it. —

dent, you get to experience it for free.

Not convinced? At least give the comparison a chance. So how does this relate to basketball at all? Let’s begin with something simple. Good versus bad. Clearly, UPEI represents the good guys, while the bad is our opponents.

But what’s even more amaz- ing, albeit in a completely different way, is watching them come so close and be foiled by ‘the bad guys’.

After the basketball ver- sion of a crash there’s usu- ally a chase. For the ball that is. The Panthers are running around that court attempting to throw off the opposition in hopes that they’ll slip up somehow which would allow UPEI to get their momentum back. As in the movies, car

chases don’t always work

out.

The ending is also simple to comprehend. At the end of the 4th quarter UPEI either wins...or loses with a vow to win the next one.

Straightforward so far, right? Most likely makes more sense as well. So, after understanding what’s right under their noses on campus, why would anyone pay ten dollars again to go watch a movie when they can watch TWO basketball games for free?

They’ve got everything an action movie does, even the good-looking-ego-stroking girls. Well maybe not girls but hey, who can stroke ego’s and pull off a skirt better than a male in the cage crew?!