There's something in my DNA that has propelled me to root for teams like Vancouver and Jacksonville.  I have lived in Jacksonville, Florida since 1999 and was stationed here in the mid 90s.  Did a stint in Seattle in 2007 and just HAD to cross the border to just take a look at the then GM Place. 

For the purposes of this, I'll stick with Vancouver.  It all started in Great Lakes, Illinois in 1994.  And we jump...

I was a 19 year old who was in Navy boot camp.  OJ was fleeing.  The Rockets were playing the Knicks.  And a cool team with jerseys that looked like the "Screaming for Vengeance" Judas Priest album cover (tell me I'm lying) absolutely captivated me with their never say die attitude:

via images.uulyrics.com

Anyway, I saw these guys Bure, Courtnall, McLean, Linden.  I just appreciated the way Linden played.  Anywho, I was a young sailor and was lucky enough that one of the company commanders (drill instructors) was a hockey fan and let me watch the games and snag a slice of pizza when I was on watch.  The way they played was just a different style of hockey than I was accustomed to seeing, as most of my hockey exposure living in Florida back then was roller hockey on tennis courts.

So, when I finally went to the fleet, I was the only goofball wearing Vancouver gear.  And now, the only idiot making calls into sports talk in Jacksonville talking the Stanley Cup, and of course one of the hosts is a Chowd!

Point is, glad to be here, been waiting to see the Canucks do something in the playoffs, and here we are on the precipice of something pretty freaking incredible.  Let's see a Canadian team win the Cup!  It will be great for Vancouver, great for Canada, and most importantly, great for the NHL.

Hope this post wasn't too ridiculous, I've been drinking since 4:00 this afternoon.