When I started buying Habs tickets, standing room was only $8. It was $10 or $12 for playoff games. I bought standing room tickets off scalpers for games 3 and 4 of the 89 finals. Game 3 cost me $35 and game 4 was $50.
My dad, a huge Gordie Howe fan, tried to turn me into a Red Wings fan. This is me wity my sister in 1971 wearing my first hockey jersey. He gave me the jersey and instead of "Thanks Dad", I recall asking "Why? I don't like the Red Wings". I don't recall if I got smacked for that or not but it's possible.
instead you were a Bruin honk
When I was a kid I was less of a team fan than a player fan. My 3 favourite players were Orr, Cournoyer, and JP Parise of the North Stars. The only actual franchise that I disliked was the Leafs. Some things never change.
Yes, I can relate. No choice on the hockey-luckily he was born just after the 92 Cup win so there was a VHS tape on the Cup run that he quickly grew to love. But he developed a pretty strong love for the St. Louis Cardinals in baseball on his own, and I found myself becoming a fan. Today they are my team too.
My grandfather used to take my dad to Delormier Stadium to watch the Royals back when Jackie Robinson was there. But he never was a Brooklyn/LA Dodgers fan. My dad liked the Cards back when I was little and my grandfather liked the Mets. My aunt (my Dad's sister) was a university professor in Connecticut so she got into the Red Sox and went to games at Fenway occasionally. But for the most part our family was National League all the way, especially after the DH rule came into effect, which we all agreed (and has been proven to be) the thin edge of the wedge that has now pretty much ruined the game. I was an Expos fan, first last and always. I liked the Bosox because I hated the Yankees but I rooted for the Yankees when they were in the World Series against the Dodgers because I hate all LA teams in all sports. Naturally when the Blue Jays came into existence they automatically became the team I hated most.
I liked the Expos but never really developed a passion for them. Dad was a Dodgers fan back to their Brooklyn days and continued to root for them in LA so I kinda liked them too. But it wasn't until my son became an avid Cardinals fan that I had a true favourite team. Like your family, we've generally always favoured the NL. My dislike for the Jays, though not quite to the degree of the Leafs, came instantly.
