Randy Tieman and Montreal Canadien Fans-Pathologically Optimistic

THE MYTH

Randy Tieman,sportscaster on CTV Television in Montreal and talk show host on The Team 990 all-sports radio station is a "glass half full" kind of guy. I respect that he can take a nothing day and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile...Mary Tyler Moore would be proud! Unfortunately, Tieman's philosophy on life extends itself to Montreal's "provincial treasure"...The Montreal Canadiens...To the point where he is pathologically optimistic about this team. "I want to see what this team can do once everyone is healthy!", "Wait until Andrei Markov comes back", "We're early in the season", "We're only 10 games,20 games,40games into the season","The team will be well rested after the Olympic break...And should get better" were just a few of the optimistic chants often used by Tieman since the first game of the 2009-2010 season when Andrei Markov went down with a serious injury. Injuries befell the rest of the team all season long...And we never did see how this team could "perform and dazzle" if everyone was healthy. Now that the Canadiens have made the playoffs, the new mantra for Tieman is "Anything can happen in the playoffs...You never know who can get hot!". Tieman's battle cry is shared by another hopeful individual...THE MONTREAL CANADIEN FAN(ATIC)!

Montreal Canadien fans have the same positive outlook as Tieman, only their blind optimism is focused on one thing and one thing ONLY...The hockey team. A Montreal Canadien fan can be best descibed as schizophrenic...Showing a love for this team and its players(see:Alex Kovalev,Ottawa Senators) so powerful it can manifest itself into rage...And hate (see: Saku Koivu,Anaheim Ducks). With Canadien fans, the team comes first, before any individual player or coach. If that player or coach becomes the unfortunate target of their frustrations, not even the mighty Bob Gainey can save them from the boo birds "hiding in the shadows" ...And it is most certain that their days in Montreal are numbered. Through the years, players come and go but the team's past(see:1943-1979 seasons) glories and success live on, as if Montreal fans believe a winning season, a playoff run and Stanley Cup win is preordained and part of the fans birth right!


THE TRUTH

RANDY TIEMAN,
-Healthy or not,I think it's self evident that the Canadiens are what they are...MEDIOCRE.
-No team is ever completely healthy...So don't hold you breath.
-This is a team assembled to play just well enough to make the playoffs and appease the fan base.
-It seems that very little was planned for the FUTURE(see:Scott Gomez)of the team(see:Capologist)
-The forwards are too small(see:The Lollypop Guild in The Wizard Of Oz)and cannot compete five on five.
-The defense(Spacek,Gill,Mara,O'Byrne,Bergeron,Hamrlik)is weak and non imposing.
-Andrei Markov is not as great as advertised.
-Halak and Price are future stars;unfortunately,the "goaltender controversy" has done little for either ones confidence.
-Is making the playoffs really good for the city of Montreal?(see:Montreal Canadien Fans Riot,2008,1993,1986).
-Let's hope the Canadiens win at least one game against the Washington Capitals so Nos Glorieux can lose the series on THE ROAD.
-There's nothing wrong with OPTIMISM for, the moment...But over a prolonged period, with all we've seen of this team; all that we hold as self evident...Who's fooling who?

THE MONTREAL CANADIEN FAN(ATIC),
-Singing the "Na,na,na,goodbye" song in the first period of any game is bad timing,bad taste...And embarrassing.
-Singing the "Na,na,na,goodbye" song on April the 10th, 2010 with 2 minutes remaining in a tie game against the Leafs is embarrassing.
-Squeeking into the playoffs with 1 point and giving Nos Glorieux a standing ovation for their "achievement" is embarrassing.
-Booing Carey Price in a Canadiens loss,regadless of his strong performance is embarrassing.
-Booing the American anthem is tasteless, ignorant and...embarrassing.
-Believing that the ghosts of the Montreal Forum exist is...silly.
-And embarrassing!
-Believing that wearing the CH gives the players "secret powers" to the past is...silly.
-Rioting in the streets of Montreal after a win or a loss in the playoffs takes away from the thrill or agony of the moment...It just cheapens our belief system...And it's damn embarrassing!
-French Canadian stars Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur have long retired, so stop searching for the next "chosen one".
-As long as management keeps searching for a French Canadian star, the future of this team will always be compromised.
-Thinking back at how proud and efficient and victorious this storied franchise once was makes us all think...Man were Canadien fans spoiled.
-Today, fans grasp at anything that gives them a tiny, minute taste of past glories; an 8th place finish in their conference; a mediocre French Canadian player; Alex Kovalev and his resemblance in style(and hair) to The Flower...HOW FAR THE MIGHTY (FANS) HAVE FALLEN.