I wanted to teach myself some basic HTML, ASP, and
Database manipulations. I combined that with my interest in (some
would say obsession with) Hartford Whalers Hockey, to give fans
a "one stop shopping" site for Whalers information.
The Long (if you're really interested):
The seeds were sown way back in 1980. Being 10 years
old and having one TV in the house (3 network channels plus whatever
you could tune on UHF) we watched as a family. Being the youngest
of five, I didn't get much say in what we watched. Like many other
American households, the winter Olympics were on almost every
night. Not being a big sports fan, I remember catching bits and
pieces of Team USA's play. However, like most people, I do remember
vividly the game vs. the Russians. Who could forget the crowd
chanting, the countdown, Al Michael's now famous call, the ecstasy
on the players faces, the utter dejection of the Russians, goalie
Jim Craig searching for his father. Talk about leaving an impression
on a kid. Now my interest in hockey might have went no further
after that had it not been for my future brother in law. About
a year later my sister started working at a local fast food restaurant.
It seems the manager had the hots for her. They started dating.
The parent company of this fast food place had season tickets
to the Hartford Whalers. Needless to say at the time they sucked.
(Foreshadowing?) Since they were not doing so well my future brother
in law was privy to getting the tickets now and then. Of course
he asked my sister to go. My sister (always looking out for her
little brother, Thanks Coke!) insisted that I go along. I don't
remember much from that first game. I know they played the Blackhawks
and found a way to loose 3-2. I should have walked away right
then. The next time my future brother in law got the tickets he
of course asked my sister to go. She, having no interest in sports,
and having sat through one game already, was done. She suggested
that he take me. Now I doubt that he wanted to take along a little
punk kid. But still having the hots for my sister (and wanting
to stay on her good side) he went along with it. That was it.
We went to many games after that, and I was hooked on the Whalers!
(Thanks Bill, or should I say you Bastard!) As the Whalers started
getting better (finally) the tickets were harder to come by. I
would buy tickets when ever I could. If that didn't work, I would
watch as many games that were on TV, listen to Chuck Kaiton on
the radio, and read the Courant every day. In 1987, I went away
to college in Columbus, OH. It seemed like hockey didn't exist
there. The only mention in the newspapers was the box scores.
Remember that the Internet hadn't become what it is today. I was
going through hockey withdrawals. I had to get newspaper clippings
sent from home to keep up with what was going on with the Whale.
(Thanks Mom!) Of course now Columbus has their very own NHL team
with former Whalers Kevin Dineen, Geoff Sanderson, and Andrew Cassels. After
school I moved to New York, and would drive two hours one way to catch a few
games on the weekends. After about a year there I moved back to CT and became a
Whalers season ticket holder. It turns out the only year I had season tickets
they won only 12 home games. That year I was able to get my brother hooked as
well. (Sorry Billy!) He held season tickets until the end. Soon I headed west to
San Jose and started watching the Sharks, but still rooting for the Whalers. I
attended my last home game on January 4, 1997. I saw my last Whalers game in Anaheim vs. the
Ducks on January 31, 1997, (Thanks Glo!) not knowing that the
team had a little more than two months to "live". And
to think that I almost bought a season ticket during the "Save
the Whale" ticket drive. I listened to the final game over
the Internet. Once they left Hartford they were no longer my team.
I'm a Sharks fan now, but will always bleed green!
