Hockey Night In Canada

Sunday, what a great day to recover! I feel a bit like Carrie on Sex In The City - or perhaps I wish to feel like Carrie on Sex In The City!;) I sit here at the computer reflecting on my day and am writing to YOU about my observations. My city has gone nuts. Last night my hometown, Ottawa, Canada, which is the nation's capital, had a severe case of hockey fever. Our NHL team, The Ottawa Senators, are in the race for the Stanley Cup with the Mighty Ducks. The Premier of Ontario has a bet with the Governor of California over who is going to win. Gee, I wonder who will win that arm wrestle? Arnold Schwarzengger vs. Dalton McGuinty. Yeah duh! Our mayor has blocked off a whole city section called the Elgin Mile whenever the Sens play so people can party, watch the game, bar hop and general have a good time. (Un)fortunately for me, I work right on Elgin Mile. Whenever there is a game on, I know it. My office sits right atop of it. Practically everyone in the city noisily converges onto Elgin Street, honking their horns, waving their Sens flags, wearing red which is the official colours of the Ottawa Senators. There are pep rallys for the Sens around the city that are seeing over 15,000 people attend, all in the pursuit of the Stanley Cup. What is this cup that everyone seeks? It all started back in 1892 when Lord Stanley, the Governor General of Canada, thought it would be a good thing if there were a challenge cup which should be held from year to year by the champion hockey team in Canada. Bringing the cup back home has been the pursuit of every Canadian NHL hockey team ever since. Last night, I was one of the many revellers on Elgin Mile. I watched the game - we won by the way 5 to 3, it was way too loud, drank way too much beer, and stayed up way too late. But I had fun - a little too much fun if you know what I mean. Recovering at home on a Sunday evening, what struck me was the amount of synergy, energy, gathering of people, and overall cohesion that this pursuit of a silver cup has created. Not since the Grail, has such a pursuit created. I wonder now as Carrie would, why would such a successful movement of human potential be invested behind a game involving wooden sticks, a puck, and frozen water be so passionate versus the pursuit of saving our planet, saving the children, saving the whales, the pandas, the bees, Darfur.....?? I wonder how my society got so ass backward that a hockey game could unite a country - Canada vs. US - them vs us - and not something that could save a species, a planet, a country or a child?? All for one and one for all. I interviewed Brian McClure who created the Universal Flag project - see www.universalflag.com for more information. You have to see his design. I think it could be the flag for the entire planet one day, I am sure it will if Brian has anything to do with it. It's beautiful. I hope one day to see this same kind of fevour, energy, passion, action behind a movement that will affect all of us seven generations into our future. Don't get me wrong. I like hockey. I get it. If you live in a cold climate, hockey becomes something you look forward to playing or watching. I used to be a Puck Bunny and attend the Sens games but now other things occupy my time. I dated a NHL'er once, highlight the once! I have acquaintances on the team today and they work hard for their paycheques under enormous expectation and pressure. However, I still dont get how a whole city can be united behind a game and not something larger. I wonder if there is a formula to creating such a successful marketing buzz? If there is, all Light workers should try it and see what kind of Light gatherings we could create that would affect us all in a positive way. I wish I knew the secret formula. It would be great to turn society's attention to intention and action. One day. Today, go Sens Go!