OhioSabreFan
June 2nd, 2006, 3:22:10 PM
Yesterday at about 11:20 a.m., I was on this board when I decided to lookup flight information for Raleigh, just as a tease. I called up my girlfriend at her place of work and I asked her, "Am I crazy?" She of course asked me why.. and I told her I just looked up flight information to Raleigh for (yesterday) and said the roundtrip was only $301. She then said "You should go!" with excitement (I already know she was a keeper forever, but she knows nothing about hockey other than Chris Drury because he is #23 and thats her favorite number -- and here she is encouraging my love for the Sabres!!).
I then got on this board and used the shoutbox to tell them I am contemplating a 300 dollar roundtrip flight from Columbus, Ohio to Raleigh, NC and the flight was leaving at 12:15 p.m. The great people of this site didn't hesistate, they told me you should go! you may never get another shot in your lifetime for this experience. With that, a quick call to my boss, I jumped in my car ran home (2 mins from the office), long enough to grab my Sabres jersey, and change out of my shirt and tie and into jeans and a t-shirt. I then jumped on the highway at approximately 12:30 to take the normal 25 minute drive to the airport. On the way, I called my girlfriend to tell her to get on ticketmaster and have it ready and if I got my flight, I would need her to order me tickets. I got to the airport at 11:50, just 25 minutes before the flight was to take off, out of breath, sweating, I told the lady at the desk I needed a roundtrip ticket to Raleigh. She said "The one at 12:15?!!" with amazement, and after my yes reply, she said "God Love you!".
I then jumped into the security line after a few minutes there, had my cell phone and called my girlfriend another time to tell her I needed her to purchase the ticket!! VOLA!! My trip is booked, I get to the gate as they are boarding the last group and I'm off to Raleigh.
I have a quick layover in Baltimore where I met three more Sabres fans, two of which did the same thing I did basically, except they came from Buffalo. As soon as we got to Raleigh, we went into the bar there, had a quick bite, and had the cabby drive us to the Citgo station by the RBC Center. We then picked up a few bottles and headed to "Sabre Alley" where there was about 800 people like us that were tailgating before the big game. Chanting "LETS GO BUFF-A-LO!" and booing the brave Carolina fans that crossed our paths. What a time it was, even the Raligh Police stopped for pictures with us, talked with us a lot, they were all great.
Game time, we all got in there, it was a great feeling. Knowing what I went through and others did as well to go and cheer the Sabres in Game Seven. We all had the sense we needed to make a difference with the absent defensemen and Timmy. Unfortunately, Carolina scored that first goal and the crowd was so darn loud. We scored our two goals basically right at the end of the 2nd period, which might have hurt us. Because it was the start of the third period, that crowd was amped and momentum quickly shifted to them as they tied it up right away. When Campbell dumped that puck over the glass, I knew we were in trouble but we're capable of fighting through it. Sure enough, we know the rest. I couldn't help but think, even with 50 seconds left, and a two-goal deficit, I thought to myself GAME ONE- OTTAWA. That's what this team was all about, they NEVER gave up this season, they never let adversity overcome them. They always went out there and gave it their all. I think thats what us Sabres fans did yesterday as well. We traveled near, far, just to root on our beloved team.
Sure the outcome was not in our favor, but the Sabres fans I met, the adrenaline rush I got, and the feeling I felt in that arena for Game Seven, it's an experience I would never trade and I will always cherish it forever.
There's no doubt in my mind, we have the best fans in the NHL. Thanks to the Buffalo Sabres for a memorable season!!!
I then got on this board and used the shoutbox to tell them I am contemplating a 300 dollar roundtrip flight from Columbus, Ohio to Raleigh, NC and the flight was leaving at 12:15 p.m. The great people of this site didn't hesistate, they told me you should go! you may never get another shot in your lifetime for this experience. With that, a quick call to my boss, I jumped in my car ran home (2 mins from the office), long enough to grab my Sabres jersey, and change out of my shirt and tie and into jeans and a t-shirt. I then jumped on the highway at approximately 12:30 to take the normal 25 minute drive to the airport. On the way, I called my girlfriend to tell her to get on ticketmaster and have it ready and if I got my flight, I would need her to order me tickets. I got to the airport at 11:50, just 25 minutes before the flight was to take off, out of breath, sweating, I told the lady at the desk I needed a roundtrip ticket to Raleigh. She said "The one at 12:15?!!" with amazement, and after my yes reply, she said "God Love you!".
I then jumped into the security line after a few minutes there, had my cell phone and called my girlfriend another time to tell her I needed her to purchase the ticket!! VOLA!! My trip is booked, I get to the gate as they are boarding the last group and I'm off to Raleigh.
I have a quick layover in Baltimore where I met three more Sabres fans, two of which did the same thing I did basically, except they came from Buffalo. As soon as we got to Raleigh, we went into the bar there, had a quick bite, and had the cabby drive us to the Citgo station by the RBC Center. We then picked up a few bottles and headed to "Sabre Alley" where there was about 800 people like us that were tailgating before the big game. Chanting "LETS GO BUFF-A-LO!" and booing the brave Carolina fans that crossed our paths. What a time it was, even the Raligh Police stopped for pictures with us, talked with us a lot, they were all great.
Game time, we all got in there, it was a great feeling. Knowing what I went through and others did as well to go and cheer the Sabres in Game Seven. We all had the sense we needed to make a difference with the absent defensemen and Timmy. Unfortunately, Carolina scored that first goal and the crowd was so darn loud. We scored our two goals basically right at the end of the 2nd period, which might have hurt us. Because it was the start of the third period, that crowd was amped and momentum quickly shifted to them as they tied it up right away. When Campbell dumped that puck over the glass, I knew we were in trouble but we're capable of fighting through it. Sure enough, we know the rest. I couldn't help but think, even with 50 seconds left, and a two-goal deficit, I thought to myself GAME ONE- OTTAWA. That's what this team was all about, they NEVER gave up this season, they never let adversity overcome them. They always went out there and gave it their all. I think thats what us Sabres fans did yesterday as well. We traveled near, far, just to root on our beloved team.
Sure the outcome was not in our favor, but the Sabres fans I met, the adrenaline rush I got, and the feeling I felt in that arena for Game Seven, it's an experience I would never trade and I will always cherish it forever.
There's no doubt in my mind, we have the best fans in the NHL. Thanks to the Buffalo Sabres for a memorable season!!!