Why our community matters

These blogs, online communities, meetup groups and fan clubs are the arteries to the heart of the New Jersey Devils.  In greater numbers and better organized, we're stronger.  I'll tell you a little about why I post on here like a madman (besides the fact it's the best Devils stuff out there) and why I also co-organize the Devils' meetup.com group.  Here we go to getting personal . . . .

I don't have many Devil fan friends.  While I can list my Ranger fan friends on over 2 hands and Flyer fan friends on about that much, all of my hockey fan friends are not Devils' fans.  I have one colleague who knows the sport and is knowledgeable.  She watches, but she's also got 2 newborns.  This unfortunately has been the story for most of my life.  And I know many of you have similar stories.  

I think because I haven't had that core around me during the Devils' best times, it has really had a deep effect on me as a fan.  I never got to celebrate the championships the way a fan should.  Cue music

You know that way?  It's like how I celebrated when I was in Lucca, Italy during their World Cup victory in 2006.  Now I'm not going to compare the Devils Stanley Cups to the World Cup . . . or maybe I am.  Because for me, those Stanley Cups were MUCH more important than the World Cup.  But even after some of the Devils biggest wins ever, I can't say the atmosphere in North Jersey has been that crazy or overly exhilarating. CAA contributed a lot to that, but we need to make sure that our first playoff victory at the Rock is memorable.  Let me break it down.

In 1995, I was graduating high school and this was the time of my life.  I did have other Devil fans in HS and I alternated taking friends to games and went with my parents.  However, I know I took a Ranger fan to a Boston game and a Flyer fan to one of the Flyer games.  After the Game 6 ECF, I enjoyed beeping at Flyer fans once we crossed exit 8A on the turnpike . . . . especially when they thought they were in "safe territory."  I was hooked.  And unfortunately I was in Chicago for SCF Game 4, but even if at home, I would have been with more apathetic Flyer fans anyway (which don't get me wrong - would have been sweet, but still).

In 2000, having graduated college the year before, I was living near Atlantic City - moved because of the job and didn't know anyone.  Also - that's hard core Flyer country down there.  I was working on the Ocean City, NJ Boardwalk when I heard all of the Flyer fans yell after Elias's goal. That was the best I could get that year: hearing other fans angry. Mom and me were prepared to celebrate at Game 5, but Mike Modano delayed things.  I did have one Devils' fan to relish it all with, but when Arnott scored, he was working.   I went to the Irish Pub in AC and hung out with a crowd that didn't care.

In 2003, I scored one ticket (they wouldn't sell me two - I like to think it was the last ticketmaster ticket) to Game 7 and couldn't believe my luck.  Afterward, I asked people around where the party was.  They said, "The Grasshopper" in Carlstadt, but I couldn't find it and the parking lot at the Meadowlands had no bars around and we all know how awful it is.

So the Internet, in its advanced age, has made it easier for us to meetup, gather, organize, plan, etc.  All of this has the potential to make our communities stronger.   But even though I've been  in North Jersey for a couple years, I don't know a lot of Devil fans.  Now you should play this and read the rest.  And that's why I'm here and trying to be everywhere.

Look, I'm not getting any younger (neither is Marty).  I'm getting married this summer and hopefully planning on having kids a couple years after.  My future wife supports me going on to these meetups, doesn't complain about me being on the computer a lot, allows me to play in beer hockey leagues in NYC, and sing karaoke at Hell''s Kitchen after some games.  I'm not trying to say life ends with marriage and kids.  But my window is limited with the excess time and energy.  I'm going full force with getting the PR out there, getting the word out there and most importantly - trying to make the New Jersey Devils fan community stronger.  My ultimate goal?  When we play the Rangers - to see a wave of Red and little Blue at the Rock.

And you say I'm a dreamer - and I say "What have YOU done lately?"  

You can support this blog and buy a t-shirt like I just did.  You can comment or  come to our next meetup in Hoboken if you want. . . . or you simply look into single game or limited plans now.  Or you can do as I suggested before and simply hang a Devils' flag outside your apartment window or house on game days.  You can connect with In Lou We Trust on Twitter or Facebook.  

I am sure you can write a defense of why watching the game on your living room HDTV is pure heaven.  But like Kevin Smith said, to "Being a Devils fan, you just have to try harder."     We don't have the allure of MSG or NYC than Ranger fans living in NJ seem to be enamored with.  They're merely lemmings in my humble opinion.  We have our state and we have Newark.  It's harder to like Newark, right?  Well, parts of it could look like Hoboken in 10 years.  You could also start by giving the city some props to your friends.

And if you don't do any of this, just know: I love the Devils, you love the Devils and everyone else can go to hel . . . um, Detroit.