The Jokers are a very special group of sport fanatics. We do enjoy winning but that is never the primary focus of each tournament, nor each game. We often speak in the dressing room of good sportsmanship and we relish in "turning the other cheek" should we be slashed or tripped or punched. There's also lots of talk about girls, gigs, past glorious goals and whether Frank is actually pregnant or not.
There have been a few scandals in our few years together but that's to be expected. After all, these are "show business types". If you read the tabloids, you know exactly what I mean. For example, the accompanying photo caught the Joker defenseman/woman, Sister Cha Cha in an embrace with our captain, Tigerman. They both hoped they could cuddle and kiss in the walkway before the game. The surprising thing was the jealousies this triggered. Wouldn't you know it, the younger Jokers all wanted their own nun.
There have been major sacrifices made by many of the Jokers in their quest for hockey supremacy. If only the Leaf's would sacrifice a thing or two, like maybe some of their overpaid bums. But I digress. The most publicized sacrifice has to be the relationship breakup between our beloved Jay Malone and "you know who". I spoke with him about it and the tears were moments away when he spoke of the children they could have sired and the houses they could have bought and sold (with the able assistance of you know who). The fact is, his future bride just was not good enough to wear the Joker uniform so he did what any Joker would have done, he ditched her unceremoniously. Cruel but necessary.
Rumor had it that Tyler Stewart avoided this year's tournament due to prior Barenaked Ladies commitments. However, the tabloids recently published the truth.... he wanted to avoid the 60 second comedy monologue on Saturday night at Lee's Palace. Hitting a piece of plastic with a stick he can do. Comedy? We think not.
Our opponents today (with one large, 225 lb exception) were mostly gentlemen and we didn't have to smile and grit our teeth. The 225 lb behemoth was loud and silly and displayed everything bad about this wonderful game of hockey. Fortunately, his mouth and his hostile behavior placed him in the penalty box most of the game. The Jokers focused their energies on quick changes and hollering our plaintiff battle cry, "Let's Gooooo, Jooooookers!".
We won both games. The first was against the "Easy Company", a group of actors and movie producers and the like and I must say, we had fun beating them. I can't recall the score. I'm not into scoring and haven't been since I was a young single man. What matters? 1-0 or 10-1?
The second game was against our new favourite team to play, the Fluid Living Arseholes (that is indeed their chosen name). I like playing against them because they're "Arseholes" and also because my favourite graphic artist's (Lisa Levy) husband, John, is their goalie. I don't know them well enough to judge whether they're really Arseholes but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they are.
The games are played at the York University campus. I haven't been there since I graduated in 1975. The student population then was around 1500. I understand it's grown somewhat. I heard today it's close to 40,000? Sound outrageously large to me.
Hats off to organizer Tom Goodwin for this terrific weekend.
The game today determines our playoff future. If we win, we'll release the photos from last years victory party. They're not pretty but stay tuned.