Hockey: The butt of every joke, the swayer of police fines

Back in '93 I was able to witness my first hockey game. It was the LA Kings vs. the St. Louis Blues. My pops got four tickets, two tickets up in the rafters and two tickets on the glass. My brother Sean and I started the game on the glass. I never moved from those seats and hockey has been an intricate part of my life ever since.

However in general, hockey is mocked by friends, family, ex girlfriends, strangers, bugs, very small rocks, etc. It is the forgotten sport. The ginger kid, the George Bush, the Nickelback, The Baltimore Orioles.

Finding someone who enjoys the sport is one thing. Finding someone who actually knows what they are talking about is entirely another thing. But hockey fans stick together and instantly bond just because finding another hockey fan is so rare, especially in warm weather states.

Ok on to the story, some might remember(Ethan and Taylor) I was late for a hockey game last year because I was getting pulled over by a cop for speeding. I was speeding to get to my game. When the cop came up to the car I immediately told him I know I was speeding. I had my license and registration in hand and kindly asked him if he could just write me the ticket. I wouldn't speed but I was in a bit of a hurry. He asked me why? I told him I had a hockey game I didn't want to miss. He brightened up a bit asked me where my stuff was, I rolled down the window so he could see the gear in the back of my car. And he let me off. He said just don't speed the rest of the way. I thanked him and was off. See ladies you don't need to go straight to tears, just have some hockey equipment in your car. Pure gold.

Fast forward to Monday, I'd been gone for the weekend and headed back to Austin. I woke up ass early thinking traffic on memorial day would be brutal. Then I remembered I lived in Texas and anyone who travelled for the three day weekend most likely went to Austin not away from it.

After a couple hours of driving, I get back downtown only to realize that most of downtown is blocked off due to a triathlon. Why downtown was chosen as the location for the course is beyond me. I am diverted north, I figure I will just got around to the other side of downtown and get in that way. Nope! After 90 extra minutes of trying to find a way into my apartment complex I lose it.

I stop in the middle of the road, move one of the blockades and proceed to my apartment complex. Two minutes later I have two cop cars on me. I explain to the cop and his boss what I was doing and why I did it. I shot them that I live right there(you can see my building at the time). The cop's boss lights me up. Says he is going to search my car(mind you I do have a full beard right now so the terrorist angle is a possible cause). He asks me if I have anything in the car. I say just clothes and a laptop. They search, the cops boss scolds me a bit more tells the cop to write me up for the full fine and drives off.

Honestly at this point I don't care, I just want to get home. The cop starts writing me up and asks me why I moved from California to Austin. I tell him that I got a job with the Dallas Stars and explain what I currently do. The pen stops writing the ticket.....

The cop loves hockey, he starts washing my balls up something good about how lucky I am etc. He tells me he is originally from Michigan and a huge Wings fan. We talk for another good 20 minutes about hockey. He isn't the most knowledgeable fan I have ever met, but he certainly isn't the worst.

Out of the blue he rips the ticket up, says I'm too cool to give a ticket too. Now I've been called many things in my day, cool is not one of them. I thank him and head home.

So next time you are in a jam, maybe mention hockey. It might save your life, or at least your wallet.