The return of ghost riding and hope

Screw “Private Eyes.” Long-time Citizens of the Nation know that there is only one way to celebrate BIG milestones. By ghost riding the whip.

Back in the 07-08 stretch run we would ghost ride the whip all the live-long day all over the OilersNation. Times were good for awhile there. Buddies would leave messages on our cell phone after wins drunkenly yelling about “g-g-g-g-g-host rides.” Rookies were scoring, Roli was smiling and we were cheering. Of course it ultimately ended in disaster — but it wasn’t the biggest Oilers-related let down in the past four years now was it? Sigh.

This season’s Ghost Riding? Not so much. We have been witnessing mediocre hockey at best, which is particularly tough for Oilers fans to swallow in the midst of a cold dark winter when there is little else to do but scream for help — even if the only shred of hope we could see on the horizon was Rob Schremp.

The ferocity with which Oilers fans phoned radio shows, commented on the Nation and beat down people wearing other NHL jerseys spoke to their dedication and frustration with the team. You don’t find this level of dedication in many other NHL markets. Ultimately that’s why some muffin players don’t want to play in Edmonton. Fans here get it and fans here care. And if the fans here decide you suck then you are going to hear about it. And if we collectively decide you are in the process of potentially turning the corner we consider ghost riding the whip.

And now it’s time.

Now, we aren’t ghost riding the whip because the Oil won 4-3 in what we hear was an awesome game last night. We aren’t doing it because Hemsky is playing so well that Gregor has been moved to declare that we “might be witnessing the emergence of true superstar, and a player that will energize Rexall Place in ways it hasn’t seen in a long time.” We aren’t doing it because the Oil won five of six, because only 83 per cent of the Nation wants MacT fired now or because Obama was sworn in yesterday.

No we throw out the first ghost ride the whip of the 2008-09 season because hope has finally returned to the OilersNation. Sure, the bandwagon is still empty and the fire-MacT wagon is still full. But for the first time since GDB 9 some folk are considering making a move back to having some hope for the team again. And really that’s all the OilersNation wants.

Hope.

Word up, el Presedente.