Media's love of Ray Bourque is getting old

"Everybody wants to see Ray Bourque win the Cup!" "How can anyone outside of New Jersey not root for Bourque?" "It sure would be nice to see Bourque hoist the Cup over his head!" If you have read any print media or watched any Colorado Avalanche playoff games over the past couple of weeks, one or more of these, or similar statements, have been read or heard. Being a Detroit Red Wings fan, I am not a supporter of either the Devils or the Avalanche. In fact, I really dislike both of them. So I guess, I am a freak for not rooting for Ray Bourque to win the Stanley Cup.

I appreciate his longevity and class. After all, there are not too many hockey players who can participate in 22 NHL seasons and still play at a level that keeps him at an elite status. But why does the media constantly bombard us and tell us we all want to see him win? Why does he deserve it more than anybody else? All the Devil's players have worked their butts off to get here also. What about Rob Blake? Doesn't he deserve it too? Personally, I am rooting for the Devils because they are the lesser of two evils, so to speak, for me. But even if Bourque were on the New Jersey team, I would be rooting for the Devils team, not just for Bourque because of his age and reputation.

Steve Yzerman worked long and hard for his chance at the Cup also. He stayed with his team in Detroit for all of his career, so far, and won two Stanley Cups for his efforts. Bourque had to get traded to a better team with great players for his chance. If Bourque would have made the Boston Bruins into Stanley Cup champions while he was there, I certainly would have enjoyed watching him hoist the Cup more. Since he joined such a talented team, I believe it takes a little of the accomplishment away from Bourque if he wins it.

Obviously, as you can tell, I am not a resident of the Boston area. I still find it hard to believe that the Bruin fans root so hard for the Avalanche. If Yzerman had gone to a different team the last couple years of his career to get a chance at the Cup, I certainly would not have some ugly double jersey with half Red Wing logo and half of the other team he was traded to. When Chris Chelios left the Chicago Blackhawks for the Red Wings, he was mostly booed by the Chicago fans. This treatment of a player leaving a team just because it is losing, I understand. Why cheer for a guy who wanted out of a place to go after his selfish pursuit of a Stanley Cup? Loyalty is something to be admired, too.

However, I really don't have anything against Ray Bourque. He can do what he wants with his career. He is a sure hall-of-famer with as much class as anyone in sports today. He probably could play for three or four more years and still be a top player in the NHL. But when the media shoves his story and quest for the Cup in my face, I can't help but think that other people have worked just as hard as he has for the chance to win the Cup. In Major League Baseball, there are many players who have never even been to the World Series. In the NBA, many players have not reached the top either. The NFL has had many great players not even go to the Super Bowl.

The bottom line is that most fans root for teams and not players. If you are a true Avalanche fan, winning the Cup would be extra special because of Bourque being on the team. But, just because you are not a Devil's fan does not mean you have to root for Bourque, no matter what the media says.