2 to 1

It will come as no surprise to most people that I am not much of a sports fan. I don't often watch games on TV, but I do enjoy going to actual games from time to time.

On Wednesday night I went to a hockey game with some coworkers. We had a luxury suite that was fully catered and a great view of the ice. And that's where I watched the Ducks lose to the Redwings by a score of 2 to 1.

The action on the ice had me screaming on my feet throughout the game. The first period was especially heated when it seemed a new fight broke out every time the puck hit the ice. In theory, fighting is a bad thing. It's not good for the sport. Professional athletes put themselves at unnecessary risk of injury. It sets a bad example for kids.

But at the arena, the fights are AWESOME. The tension and excitement is palpable. In the crowd you feel the waves of energy crest as the players throw down their gloves.

When they actually played hockey, that too was amazing. The speed and physicality of the game was simply amazing, and I had a much easier time following the action than I expected.

And somewhere along the line, I became something of a Ducks fan. I'm not sure how long that will last, though.

It was quite different from the last time I went to a game at the Pond.

I was there about 7 years ago in another luxury suite for another work function. I knew nothing about the sport except for what I learned growing up -- make fun of the Rangers. That didn't help me much at this game, though.

That game also featured the Ducks versus the Redwings. And again the Duck lost. The atmosphere was different though.

That game was before the Ducks won their first Stanley Cup and their fan base wasn't as strong. When you looked out on the crowd filling the seats, it was a sea of red. The Detroit Redwings fans were out in force, practically turning the arena into a Detroit home game.

This time, though, the Redwings fans were more subdued. There was still plenty of Redwing paraphernalia, but the Ducks fans were clearly the alpha-fanatics now.

Like any sporting event, every break in the action had a sponsor. They gave away tacos, salads, zamboni rides, and just about anything they could thinks of.

I doubt I'll be a regular, leaning up against the boards to catch the random flying tooth, but the occasional game is a great way to spend an evening.