Am I Finally Woman Enough to Admit this?

by Anne

S(h)ara and I were chatting tonight and something finally dawned on me. What's that? A truth I haven't wanted to admit to myself, something that in the deepest corners of my HockeyHeart I know is true, but I just can't say it out loud. Something almost embarrassing and somewhat shameful to admit. So many factors tell me that its wrong, but how can it be wrong when it feels so right... sometimes?! Finally, as we sat in my car after attending a candle party, I begrudgingly said those words that we all must say one day:

"You know, I hate to say it, but if Tim Connolly wasn't injured so much, he'd be my favorite Sabre."

It's like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. A burden has left my heart.

As Rihanna and Ne-Yo say "I Hate That I Love You So", Timothy. It pains me to love you, Timmy, as my heart can't handle it when you're injured. I vividly recall the bone crushing hit that left your sweet bald noggin in a sad state for nearly a year. I was so upset about it and I couldn't bare to watch the copious replays. Then Jay McKee left me and I felt lost at alone.

Then you were gone for like 65 years, to be honest, I lost count and, while I never forgot about you, you became more of a happy distant memory. Like that boy you married in kindergarten and Harold the nerdy kid made you exchange vows over cookies and juice at snack time in the finger painting area. I remembered you fondly but the details were fuzzy. Was his name Timmy or Tommy? Did he have brown eyes or blue? Did he like chocolate chip or peanut butter?

Then you came screeching back into my life for the 2007 playoffs and it was like finding your favorite pair of jeans from high school in the back of your closet but you're scared to put them on, because what if you've gained weight and they look bad and kill your confidence? But, hey! Look! They fit great! Thus was Timmy. But, I wasn't ready to let you back in. It was through no fault of your own, it was just your injuries. :(

Then I was pinning my hopes and dreams on you for this past season... and you did well... when you could play. DAMN FREAKIN BONE SPUR.

I JUST CAN'T HANDLE THE ROLLER COASTER TIMMY! HOW CAN OUR LOVE BLOOM AND GROW LIKE THE SONG IN THE SOUND OF MUSIC IF YOU'RE ALWAYS HURT AND BONING RANDOM HUSSIES?!?

My mocking of you is only a defense mechanism, Timmers. It's only to mask the pain I feel when you're not around. I don't care how many chicks you do or what bizarre sexual fetishes you might have. I don't care, Timmy! I only really care about you when you're on skates, or in the dressing room, that's it! You can enjoy whatever recreational activities appeal to you most, I'm not here to judge, just here to love.

Here's an interesting study.

Here is Timmy's roster photo from 2006 when he was, presumably, heavily medicated and still suffering from post concussion syndrome:

Yikes.

This is Timmy when his noggin had all healed up, roster 2007:

Yay!

No player on the Sabres has given me more *HEADDESK* moments than my beloved Timmy. Why?:

Nathan Paetsch does not seem nearly as concerned as I was


I ganked this from Webshots I think. I can't tell if Timmy wants to punch Camera Dude or is trying to figure out how to get rid of him so he can do Camera Dude's girlfriend



Timmy really likes that hat.

Oh Timmers. Now that I've professed my love, you'll probably be traded. Alack and fie.

I want you to be better and play for us all next year! Or at least most of it, it's a lot to ask for someone to play 82 games. Unless you're Jason Pominville. He's played 82 games for 2 seasons in a row. That's impressive. Oh Timmy.

How ya doin' this summer? Have you been on skates yet? To use a phrase Sidney Crosby used about a BILLION times when he was hurt, have you "touched the puck" yet? Maybe that's a coy euphemism for something dirtier... well, you can do both, I don't care. I'm here to love, people, here to love. I hope that wherever you are in this world, you're healing up and getting ready to fully win my love this season. It's easy to earn my love and easy to lose it. Just ask Drew Stafford. He learned the hard way that my love is not based on physical attraction (one of my favorite Sabres is SPACEK, for god's sake) so no matter how adorable you might be, Jason Pominville, if your skillz start lacking then you'll be demoted, that's just the way things work around this House, people.

Sigh. It's a dead horse that's been beaten, but it really is frustrating as a fan to watch an excellent hockey player be rendered unable to play because of nagging injuries. Ugh. He's so good when he can play and when he can't it's totally annoying. I did actually get to see him play a couple times though. I was there for the Ottawa game when he rifled a shot off of Gerber's helmet and it totally disoriented him. Whoops. We still lost.

Whatev, I have all the confidence that he'll be back with us next season and all will be awesome. Right? RIGHT?! Just tell me I'm right and I'll shut up about it for a little while.