Sunday morning homily VII

As we get ready to embark upon Colin's hockey journey, I figured that a little research would help us prepare for the road ahead. That's why we've started to visit Tampa Bay-area rinks.

For the most part, we've liked everything we have seen so far. The rinks are clean and the staffs are friendly. It's easy to grab a cup of coffee. And there are plenty of attention-grabbing alternatives to keep idle minds busy as they wait to take the ice.

Last night, though, we witnessed a couple of incidents at one of those rinks, the Tampa Bay Skating Academy in Oldsmar, that caused us to take off our rose-colored glasses:

~ Watching a team's hockey dads, in the presence of their charges, grab a couple of beers following a game. Besides what I believe to be sending an improper message to the children, I was also concerned about these "adults" later getting behind the wheel and driving, say, back to the Orlando area. One father apparently couldn't wait for the game to end to start drinking, ignoring a "no-alcohol" policy posted at the rink's door.

~ Hearing a parent loudly question, during the game and after, the rink's decision to cut short the third period by seven minutes to keep the games on-schedule. Though I know that hockey is an expensive sport, and ice time represents a major portion of those costs, I'm not sure that this form of selfish expression served as a positive message. Given that his son's team was getting smoked, 8-1, one would think he'd been grateful.

Now, the last thing I want to sound like is a prude. Lord knows, I've consumed my fair share of alcohol, though that took place 20 years ago. And, anyone who knows me will attest that I'm not afraid to express my opinions.

I'd like to believe, though, that there are better ways to be a role model, especially for your own children.

Say thanks

If you see a member of the armed forces, active or retired, in your community this week, thank them for the sacrifices that they and their families have made.

While hockey fans might think it brave for a player to dive headfirst to block a shot, it pales in comparison to what these truly brave men and women do every day they're in service.

And, while you're at it, say a prayer for our troops fighting terrorism throughout the world.

5 Big Sigs

With the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals coming to town later this week, I'm hoping to add these to the collection:

~ Carolina's Cam Ward on a 2006-07 Fleer Hockey tin cover;
~ Carolina's Eric Staal on a 2007-08 Upper Deck Series I jersey card;
~ Carolina's John Grahame on the American-born goalies stick;
~ Washington's Olaf Kolzig on Tri-City Americans and new-look Capitals pucks; and
~ Washington's Chris Bourque, the son of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque, on a Cushing Academy (Ashburnham, Mass.) puck.