The Caps Proved Why Sports Mean So Much to Us

The Caps won the Stanley Cup.

That’s not really the point of this article, but damn it feels good to say it. As DC Sports fan can relate, I’ve waited my entire life to watch one of my teams win a title. I’ve dreamed about it countless time. I’ve imagined how I would celebrate, and how awesome it would be just to say my team was the best. As it turns out, that wasn’t what made it so memorable.

It meant so much because of family, friends, and strangers – the bonds that were created.

During the playoff run, I asked my 3 year old daughter everyday “Who’s year is it?” She always replied, “Caps Year!” She was right. Every game she sat down with me, put her hand over her heart for the anthem, yelled “Let’s Go Caps”, and gave me good luck kisses whenever the action got tense (upon my request, admittedly). After I explained they won the cup and the season was over, she said “I’m sad they won’t play anymore.” And I was too, because of the moments we shared during each game.

I can’t tell you how many grown men I’ve told I loved in the last few months. The texts I received every time Kuzy amazed us, or Ovi took over, or when Holtby saved us were all amazing. Just sheer joy and excitement. It was a hell of a ride.

I was in DC for Game 5 and for the parade, and I can tell you without a doubt, no group of people that large have ever assembled in DC and acted as friends. Everyone was happy. Everyone. There were no political demonstrations, no protests – none of that. The most upset anyone got was when the Penguins appeared on the Jumbo Tron. And that quickly turned into cheers when Kuzy scored the series clinching goal.

But the most meaningful part of this run, for me at least, was the connection I felt with my dad. My dad passed away a few years back, so he wasn’t able to be a part of this. But I know he was smiling. I called him damn near every day, and we always discussed sports. We usually complained about all the failures we’d experienced. We talked ourselves into believing this might be the year. Well, this was the year. And my first thoughts after the final horn sounded were “I wish dad were here for this.” We have so many memories over the years, and such a strong bond, in large part because of sports. That was the moment we had been waiting for. It’s hard to think about that without getting emotional. I don’t know what happens after our time here comes to an end, but I sure hope he was able to see that win, and know that I was thinking about him. That moment was for us.

So to the Capitals, THANK YOU. These memories will be with me forever.

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