Blueshirt Banter: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Around SBN: Has Kentucky Improved Since the Non-Conference Season?

Memories from Madison Square Garden

The New York Rangers acknowledge cheers from the fans after beating the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 9, 2009, at Madison Square Garden in New York. The win secured the Rangers a playoff spot. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

More photos » Julie Jacobson - AP

10 months ago: The New York Rangers acknowledge cheers from the fans after beating the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 9, 2009, at Madison Square Garden in New York. The win secured the Rangers a playoff spot. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

The scent of roasted chestnuts on the street or if you took the train the feel of Penn Station, which quickly turns into the feel of Madison Square Garden. The comfort of your seat, the view of the ice, the sound of the crowd. The seemingly out of nowhere crowd noise that rivals that of a 747 jet during takeoff. The chants. The insane buzz right before a goal to the explosion of noise during it. The feeling of being one with the crowd, the feeling that your not alone. (Also the never dying feeling of "oh God they are going to blow this.")

I don't really know how to describe my favorite moments at Madison Square Garden because, quite frankly, they are my moments. You might have different memories from your times at MSG, you may have the same ones. It's hard to describe why I get the chills after the Rangers kill a penalty or have a great shift and the crowd goes nuts to reward the team. It's hard to put into words what it's like when MSG is rocking after a breathtaking save from the King.

Why so nostalgic you ask? Tonight I am attending my first Ranger game of the season and I am stoked. I have been to football games, basketball games and baseball games but nothing compares to a Ranger game at MSG. Currently a few websites did a "toughest places to play in hockey" and left Madison Square Garden off the list, that's a joke. There is nothing like MSG when the Rangers are playing well or if they need a boost from the crowd. People can say what they want about the Ranger fan base but we have the best fans in the world period. Anyone who tells you otherwise is jealous.

Anyway I just wanted to share my excitement with all of you. If any of you are going to the game you can come visit me, I sit in section 311. I literally have 500 business cards I'm going to try and hand out so if you want one or if you want to say hi I'll be there in my customised Ranger jersey with "Fortunato" on the back of it.

Start of a big five games for the Rangers who play the Panthers twice, the Blue Jackets, and the Lightning before a home and home against the Penguins. Gotta nab at least 3 of the first 4 in my opinion against these weak teams. But that's all from me, Jim will give you the news and notes in the afternoon and he will be the parent in the live chat so behave!

0 recs  |  Comment 8 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Love Going to MSG

I personally enjoy the pregame videos they show on the jumbotron before the drop of the puck. Like the one that goes back in history and shows all of the Rangers cups and all of the retirement ceremonies. And then they show the clip of Ed Giacomin’s return to the Garden with the fans chanting “ED-DIE, ED-DIE”. It really is heart warming and makes you proud to be a fan.

From there the game starts and like you said, that sound of anticipation when leading up to a goal and then the initial explosion when it goes in and you see a sea of people rise up with their hands in the air all at the same time is an unreal feeling. And one of my favorite, when the seconds are ticking off the clock and the fans begin to rise and cheer because they know their team is going to win. Some of the better moments of my life were spent at MSG, and I will never forget them.

My Rangers Blog: www.rangerstribune.com

by NYRBlogger on Nov 21, 2009 8:22 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

I agree some of the better moments of my life were at MSG

Then again so were some of my worst moments lol

Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.

by Joe Fortunato on Nov 21, 2009 8:53 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

lol, same here

My Rangers Blog: www.rangerstribune.com

by NYRBlogger on Nov 21, 2009 9:00 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Good stuff Joe, can’t wait to do my story like this for Wednesday

Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers

Big Blue View: Unofficial New York Giants blog

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Nov 21, 2009 8:26 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

agh you were gonna do a story on this?

Sorry I couldn’t fall asleep so I figured I would just throw somehting up lol

Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.

by Joe Fortunato on Nov 21, 2009 8:52 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

No worries, mine will be from a different perspective, since I will be a road game

Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers

Big Blue View: Unofficial New York Giants blog

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Nov 21, 2009 9:18 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

TONIGHTS GAME

HI JOE, JACKIE HERE I WILL BE AT TONIGHTS GAME AS WELL AND ILL TRY TO STOP BY AND SAY HELLO MY SEAS TIX ARE IN SEC 230 ROW C 1&2 ILL BE WEARING MY KOTALIK JERSEY TONIGHT LETS GO RANGERS!!!

by ROUNBEAR on Nov 21, 2009 11:21 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

MSG

There really is nothing that compares to Madison Square Garden. It’s truly the World’s Greatest Arena, no matter what event may be taking place, but when it’s a Rangers game……….That’s just a whole different story. That’s also why hockey is the greatest sport in the world – You reach unbearable levels of emotion, passion and intensity watching them play, unlike you do watching anything else. By the way Joe, I know who you are, you may not know me, but I’m friends with your sister, we graduated High School together.

by ZFalk on Nov 21, 2009 1:34 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SBNation home for the New York Rangers, where the next Stanley Cup is only 38 years away.
Start posting about the Rangers »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Small
I Hate Ecklund...But
Fishsticks_small
Razor talks Rangers
Small
NOT GOOD...
Small
Who has NHL 10 for the 360?
Small
The future isn't now
Small
HEART
Small
Why Sell?
Small
Two Rumored Oiler Deals
Msg_10_small
Will the Rangers ever get lucky!!
Jokinen-newman_small
What was the Olli Jokinen, Turkey Girl Internet Meme

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Atlantic Standings

GP W L OTL PT
New Jersey 58 36 20 2 74
Pittsburgh 59 35 22 2 72
Philadelphia 57 29 25 3 61
New York Rangers 59 26 26 7 59
New York Islanders 58 23 27 8 54

(updated 2.9.2010 at 9:00 AM EST)

26 - 26 - 7

Won 1


Captains

Blueshirt_banter_small Jim Schmiedeberg

Gabby_small Joe Fortunato

Alternates

Manicranger_small Ryan McFadden

Drurybloodsmall_small Rob Luker

Blueshirt_banter_small NYRBlogger

Beersm_small Eddie "The Mouth" Gieck

Twitter_pic_small Laurie Carr