I spent a year at UMn-Twin Cities ("Minnesota"), then transferred to finish
my degree at Wisconsin, my home state.  The year I was at Minnesota, UW beat
UMn in the NCAA championship game.  I was personally harassed, snowballed,
and pushed off a bus because I came from Wisconsin and was stupid enough to
let it be known that I was transferring.  I am not bitter (which is why I
haven't mentioned it until now.)
 
I can think of two places that take their hockey *REAL* seriously;
Massachusetts, especially around the nuclear kill zone centered on Catholic
Memorial HS, and the state of Minnesota (well, yes, there is all of Canada,
too, but that's for another discussion).  Having lurked on Hockey-L for over
two years, I'd guess that the most serious and inflammatory debates started
with Gopher bashing and CMHS bashing (or commenting on announcers who, were
CMHS to issue stock, would own most of it).
 
Like the poor unfortunate soul who feared for his life at the Great Dane in
Madison because of some arrived-drunk UW fans (which is curious, since UW
and UMn didn't play each other, but that rivalry runs deep and hard), I've
felt the pressure of being among hostile natives.  I even attended a Texas
A&M football game in Texas against Washington.  I wore a "W" (for Wisconsin)
sweater, but the locals didn't understand that "W" could mean anything but
Washington (never mind that the schools' different colors).  The point? Some
people take this stuff too seriously, and the chances of that happening are
proportional to ... their not having a real life (just kidding!) ...
proportional to how the area (= locals) identify their success with the
success of the team.  If Canadians were offered the chance of winning the
Olympic Ice Hockey gold *OR* the Men's Basketball gold, guess which they'd
take?  Same for Minnesotans and their hockey teams.  Same for Texans and
their football teams.
 
Recognize the pride exists, that you're more likely to find a defensive
attitude, and let it slide.  Just make sure your point is valid, and let
parochial (neanderthal?) attitudes, and the few who hold/expound narrow
ideas expose themselves for what they are.
 
(background music)  Don't worry.  Be happy.  (I wonder if the Jamaican
Bobsled team will ever try hockey?)
 
Steve "cool" G
 
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