Condors taste like Garlic Fries

Local sports teams. From pee-wee leagues to high school teams, to the over priced, over hyped pros. Lordy, we love our sports.

Being a resident of Bakersfield for over 20 years now has sparked a sense of loyalty in me to follow and cheer for our local teams. We have our share of little league and AYSO and high school squads. When these teams make it into the regional or state finals I always check the paper or internet on their progress.

But when it comes to the college or the pro teams from our area, I start to get a tad more worked up. Maybe a tad more than a tad. Alright... I freakin' lose my mind! Happy??

Case in point... our local hockey team, the Bakersfield Condors.

Yes, Virginia, we have hockey in the middle of the California desert. It's VERY popular. I'm not kidding. Ask anybody on the streets of Bakersfield (thank you, Buck) what an icing call is, or what the purpose of the blue lines are, or why hockey has a point system rather than a win/loss system and you will get a blank stare... for the most part. But if you ask them about their Condors, they'll tell you who's the hot shooter, where the new goalie is from, and how the team ranks in the ECHL standings. I'm at a loss to explain it... I don't even try anymore. All I know is...local hockey has one hell of a following in Bakersfield, CA. I'm one of the fanatics as well.

Which, friends, is why I'm putting digits-to-keyboard tonight.

I'm not here to berate the team, it's players or coaches, ownership, fans or anyone else. I'm just a fan of a hockey team who fell behind in the playoffs tonight and look as though they will not see the next round of said playoffs. I'm pissed off, is what I am.

About a hockey team... from Bakersfield, CA... a town I'm not even from. AND... I'm burping up garlic fries. They serve THE BEST garlic fries at the games.

Where am I going with all this? Nowhere, I guess. I actually had a great time tonight, hanging with friends, eating food that's not all that good for us, and cheering for the Bakersfield Condors.

Oh, yeah.... I remember now. I love my local teams. Where ever they my turn up in my life.