To plagiarize from my beloved Marine Corps....  we go (i.e. fight) in every clime and place....   well my friends, I am a Native Californian, born in the Bay Area (Oakland) and currently DEEP in the middle of the Kuwaiti desert.  I'm sure I don't have the "record" for being the furthest fan that Los Tiberones have BUT, I believe I'm in the top 25 or so...   Not sure how many miles from San Jose I am but, it's gotta be in the 8,000 to 10,000 mile range.

Unlike my previous 3 contract jobs here, I now actually live on a military base as opposed to "living on the economy".  The "upside" is that we have AFN available here (Armed Forces Network).  So, I can watch a lot of U.S. broadcasts to include, thank God, the occasional NHL game....specifically, the Sharks.  And yes, like most of you are aware, the rest of the country...those from "true" hockey towns ( WTFE ) don't consider San Jose a true hockey city.....and thereby, the networks tend to ignore most Sharks games unless they're playing one of the "popular" teams.  Well, now that the playoffs are in session (and I'm over my near cardiac arrest of the loss to Detroit), AFN (with the Versus Network's permission) is broadcasting the games.  The only real drawback is that live games typically start here between 0200 and 0400.  So what, I have to get up a little more early then usual...it's damn well worth it to be able to watch the Sharks.  Even here, in the middle of a former combat zone....and only 10 minutes from the Iraqi border....I still get grief from Wings fans, or (HATE THEM) Stars fans.  Like to hear something even a bit more aggrivating?  Last year, I worked on a camp not far from here.  I spent most of 2009 in a shop that had two real-live Canadian citizens working in it.  HOLY CRAP, according to them, it wasn't real hockey unless it's played north of the border!  Oh well, they talk funny....."You going oot tonight?"

Well, this was nothing really more then a great big "HELLO" to fellow Fans of the Teal.  God Bless you all and GO SHARKS !!! I BLEED TEAL !

Allen,

Camp Yankee, Kuwait