1-25-99. The Pilots Seat is commentary, written from a fan's perspective, about the Pensacola Ice Pilots
by Scott Gregory
Coach Al Pedersen unveiled his new motto this week, "Feel the Love."
Not exactly the motto I would have picked for a team that has struggled playing with passion and physical play.
I would have preferred something along the lines of "If you don't turn things around you're all going to walk back from the next road game," or "Hit and hustle every minute of every night or you're outta here" or "I don't give a rat's rump who has a car and who's on a poster, so go out and play hockey," but I suppose there's only so much you can fit on a button.
Four home games in six days. Two against the bottom-of-the-barrel of the ECHL. A chance to get back into the playoff hunt. And the Pilots go 1-2-1.
When the Pilots are this far in the hole, three points do not make me feel the love.
Pilot J.F. Aube felt the love, getting a nice cheer after scoring the first goal of the game Saturday. Oh, wait ... he's not playing for the Pilots anymore.
Then there's this bit of news: Nick Stajduhar and Brendan Concannon, two major reasons why the Pilots are wallowing in the ECHL basement muck, just gained 30 points in the standings with their trades to the Louisiana IceGators. Should they hold a Kelly Cup in their hands anytime in the near future, I request they hold it in front of me, because I will not feel the love. I will feel sick.
The steam that fogged the Civic Center glass Friday was from humidity, not the love. The fans weren't feeling the love, especially Friday, when they booed the Pilots off the ice.
John Finora, who often handles the Sunday public address game duties and a few weeks ago at "The Hangar" gloriously identified himself as "Your Mysticks announcer," does not make me feel the love.
Finora, host of the Sunday Night Hockey Talk radio show, continued his history Sunday of condescending to fans, and belittling and intimidating anyone who calls in and says anything "negative" about the Ice Pilots. Mind you, management and coaches can say these things, and so can Finora, but don't you dare.
A season-ticket holder phoned and told Finora he loves the Pilots and will keep coming to the games, no matter what. Then, gasp, the caller dared express his disappointment with Friday's effort. Finora asked him if he booed. He said he did a bit. Then, Finora slammed him and the rest of the Pilot fans for their "disrespect" in front of the other team.
Frankly, I was more disturbed by the appearance of "the wave" Friday in the crowd than by the booing. At least there was a reason for the booing.
I don't support booing a team for losing. I support booing a poor effort, which happened Friday and has repeated itself often this season. Poor effort is not solely my characterization; it also has been stated by vice president Joe Bucchino, Pedersen, some players, and thousands of other fans. It has gone beyond opinion.
You fellow terrible fans are only in the top five in attendance in the ECHL for a team that is 13-29-2. Shame, shame, shame.
When another caller criticized Finora for his comments and asked him to apologize, he did not. In fact, he reiterated his previous statement and went on to say, "A lot of these fans do not understand the flow of the game." He immediately changed the subject, hoping no one would notice what he said.
If you would like a translation, that means John Finora knows hockey and you are a Southern rube who never knew the sport existed prior to 1996 and wouldn't know icing from ice cream.
Should you like to share your love with Mr. Finora, feel free to call him during next Sunday's show at 478-3116.
Paul Chestnutt returned logic and sense to the show, as he usually does, by supporting the fans.
"If a team is playing atrocious, let them boo," Chestnutt said.
"You pay your ticket, go ahead and boo if you want."
They don't want to boo, and it's a shame they have to. They want effort, effort like Sunday's, night after night.
Love isn't in the words, it's in the actions. The fans are hearing the word "love," but only time will tell if the players will put forth a consistent effort and make them feel it again in 1999.
© Scott Gregory. All Rights Reserved. Gregory is a Pilots season
ticket holder from Navarre. He is a former Florida Gators football beat writer and sports editor for Copley Newspapers. He can be reached at scott@thefivehole.com. Comments are always welcome.
