[foltdan]

I think I mentioned this last year, but Hockey, for me, is a perfect metaphor for jazz. There's a long, storied tradition with unimpeachable greats. The game has changed in recent years, due to technological advancements and the size of the players, yet the essence of the game hasn't been lost. It's a team sport, meaning your contributions as an individual merely serve a whole-- a family aspect. There is a physical aspect to the game... muscle memory involved in the perfect wrist shot requires hours and hours... thousands of pucks shot. The best players have an almost prenaturnal instinct for the game. They are in the right place at the right time, and never choke in the clutch. The game can be gritty, dirty, hard fought and ugly. It can be beautiful... the epitome of graceful physical poetry. It can be Shakespearean in it's tragedy, and there is always an epic element to the game that is the entire reason they play it. I think it's beautiful.