It's All Because The Whalers Left Town

As most of you know i grew up outside of Hartford, CT during the Hartford Whaler's era. It was a great time to be a resident of the city of Hartford. The Hartford Civic center was a well attended venue and not only served as a workplace for thousands of the cities underskilled workers but as an area of commerce that prospered from the influx of dedicated fans. Downtown had a great night-life scene packed with great restaurants, bars, and clubs. Bushnell park was a safe place to relax downtown and enjoy a small escape from the cities hectic pace. Hartford, CT is the insurance capital of the World but those types of jobs don't really draw in the underskilled workers that now find themselves without a job, without a home, and without hope. This is an article i read about the status of Hartford today.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6988164/

please read, its actually kinda sad.


Now im not an idiot, i know the sole reason that Hartford is in such poor socioeconomic shape isn't just because of the Whalers leaving town but perhaps that event served as foreshadowing. Here is an entry i wrote about Hartford:

http://ryanmcbride.blogspot.com/2004/10/no-wonder-whalers-left-town.html


O.k. i changed my mind, The reason Hartford is such a dump is 100% because the Whalers left town. That would explain when everyone is stressed out and depressed, why people resort to violence, why kids aren't motivated to learn. You can toss out the propaganda as much as you want having banners atop hartfords high rises claiming "Hartford, New England's Rising Star"

Rising Star? Hartford was once up for consideration to be the capital of the U.S. Rising star? Here is a new idea for a banner that would say the same thing just in clearer terms:

Hartford, Yeah, we kinda suck


I'll end this blog with a classic quote:

"Breakfast, shmreakfast. Look at the score, for Christ's sake. It's only the second period and I'm up 12 to 2. Breakfasts come and go, Renee, but Hartford, "the Whale," they only beat Vancouver once, maybe twice in a lifetime." -- Brodie Bruce, "Mallrats"



Bring back the Whalers!

"Whaler owner Peter Karmanos moved his team to Carolina complaining of lack of fan support. (bullshit!) While the team played two years in a temporary building in Greensboro, N.C., they drew only 5,000 or so fans a game. Might as well have stayed in Hartford."