Happy Thanksgiving, Fear The Fin

by Mr. Plank on Nov 24, 2011 10:00 AM PST in Fear The Fin News

It is now the fourth year I've been managing editor of Fear The Fin, and each year it becomes easier to find things to be thankful for. I think back to all the time we've spent running the website, going to games, coming up with story ideas, interacting with readers, tweeting, blogging, facebooking, losing sleep in a frantic attempt to finish a story...sometimes it's hard, most of the times it's easy, and there are always days where it lies somewhere in between.

But when I think back to why it is myself and our wonderful staff here dedicate so much time to this little obsession of ours, it's easy to figure out why we keep coming back every single season.

Everything starts and ends with you.

The passion of this community is unparalleled. The discussions that go on are a funny and insightful package all wrapped into one. Sure we may have our disagreements from time to time, but that keeps us all on our toes. Most importantly, that's what makes us a family. A family of individuals who share the same love but approach it in different ways, a family that holds a bond that can transcend minor disagreements and come out of it stronger as we keep a pulse on the team we bleed for.

We won't be eating Thanksgiving dinner together this year, and even if we did, we'd probably drink all your wine and hog all the gravy. You'd justifiably throw us out, we'd go to 7-11 and pick up a taquito, and then we'd forget about it the next day and come back as a stronger community. Because that's what we've always done, and what this community will always do-- grow and progress and evolve into something better and better every single day. We'll also never let a good taquito go to waste, especially if you can get like seven of them for under a buck.

Your passion fuels ours. Your ability to make us think in different ways, to show us different things, and to motivate us to be the best we can be is the one thing that has kept this site alive and active during the last four years.

You are the thread that binds us together. You are our family.

Happy Thanksgiving, Fear The Fin. Have an excellent holiday.

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Happy Thanksgiving, yall!

After last night, I am thankful for Antti Niemi…and the Antti Niemi mystery puck I acquired last night. Woo!

And I am thankful for having a great community of Sharks fans to converse with.

Cheers!

"If you can accept losing, you can't win." ~Vince Lombardi
Member of FearTheFin's Mod Squad and The Knights Who Say NI-emi...
Tweet Tweet.

by ZeroIndulgence on Nov 24, 2011 10:09 AM PST via mobile reply actions

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

Right now I am thankful for Dayquil and antibiotics. I am most thankful for living in a city with an awesome hockey team that looks really good right now…

Keep it real... Keep it fresh... Keep it real fresh ~SLNC
Picklesnake 2011-2012

by wtfbro? on Nov 24, 2011 10:15 AM PST reply actions

Hear, hear!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends at FTF. Turkey’s in the oven here in England and I’ve got a cold one on the go, 10 for dinner at ours tonight so should be a great evening.

I hope you all have a great day with family and friends. Enjoy!

And you think you live in a non-traditional hockey market...
"I flew 5,000 miles for this?"
And if you want more of this kind of thing, I'm spouting nonsense on Twitter too...

by BritShark on Nov 24, 2011 10:18 AM PST reply actions

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Thanks for another year of talking Sharks.

And again thanks to the Sharks for making a tough week easier by beating hated foes.

Believing in the Sharks, one photoshop at a time. GO SHARKS!

by Auth0r on Nov 24, 2011 10:45 AM PST via iPhone app reply actions

Absolutely.

Thank you writers/editors. Thank you mods. Thank you posters. Finally, thank you to the San Jose Sharks! :]

Go Sharks!

by Dmitriy on Nov 24, 2011 10:51 AM PST reply actions

You know you would get a chimichanga, and not a taquito.

Thank you everyone for justifying this aimless hobby of ours!

Fear the Fin: "I've always said that if you don't have the motivation within you... It's not Doug Wilson's job to motivate me. I've got motivation within myself, especially going through some of the experiences that I had last year." - Nick Petrecki

by Matthew_Taylor on Nov 24, 2011 10:52 AM PST reply actions

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

My pie is done and I’m basting the turkey religiously.

Thanks for a great hockey community—my hockey knowledge is unparallelled because of everyone here!!

Hey—-when do we get a Sharks float in the Macy’s Parade??

And what’s the advice (Murray’s grandfather, Lars [Lasse] Bjorn) gives him?
"Hit more people."

GO SHARKS.

by MiniMiteMom on Nov 24, 2011 10:56 AM PST reply actions

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Adopted Giant: Eddie I Have It Grant.

TSFGWTWS DESPITE Botchy, not BECAUSE of him.

by Merope on Nov 24, 2011 11:00 AM PST reply actions

Happy Thanksgiving to all

Hope you all have a great day. Watch some football, get fat, freak out about your fantasy football/ hockey teams…then get fat some more

"If you aint cheatin, you aint tryin"

by serrapadre716 on Nov 24, 2011 11:20 AM PST via iPhone app reply actions

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

I haven’t logged on in a while, but trust me, I’ve been reading all of your articles and posts. FTF is an awesome community!!

by kiwi93 on Nov 24, 2011 11:23 AM PST reply actions

Happy Thanksgiving FTF!

I’m thankful for ~~some~~ all of you guys!

Leslie Knope: "...but it has a lot of heart."
April Ludgate: "That's what people always say when something sucks."
Fear The Fin's Fifth-String Moderator !!

by idunno723 on Nov 24, 2011 11:45 AM PST reply actions

Happy Thanksgiving all :)

My boys spend every Thanksgiving camping & fishing with their dad in Nevada – so my tradition is doing whatever. Some years I travel, some years I hang out with friends. But I’m thankful for each year of all the invites I get from friends since they know I’m on my own. And I’m thankful for the 7am calls from the East Coast cause they still can’t remember there is a 3 hour time difference – ha! Oh and thankful that I am still breathing.

Oh and best of all (okay not best but still) I’m thankful for how awesome the Sharks are doing and icing on the cake, how awful the Ducks are doing.

Thanks Jason & Matt and the rest here, I may not comment much anymore, but you guys aren’t half bad. :)

GO SHARKS!
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin (see profile for more info on this quote)

by Angy on Nov 24, 2011 11:45 AM PST reply actions

happy thanks giving FTF

sharks hockey is not the same without FTF :D

Haters Gonna Hate

by Wreckonized on Nov 24, 2011 12:55 PM PST reply actions

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful for all the great content and the community here. Wish everyone a great holiday – and to those who are gonna brave the 10pm/midnight Black Friday sales tomorrow, may the force be with you.

Rated M for McGinn.

by DownRUpLYB on Nov 24, 2011 2:10 PM PST reply actions

I’m thankful I don’t root for a crappy team like the Ducks.

by dikfor on Nov 24, 2011 2:31 PM PST via mobile reply actions

Happy Thanksgiving!

Great write-ups, great community, great team to watch. Fear the Fin, for the win!

Hockey is like a box of choclates. But not really, hockey is way better.
"Who throws an umbrella!?" - Randy Hahn.

by Pavsisaninja on Nov 24, 2011 3:01 PM PST reply actions

Cheers

Reading Fear the Fin sure beats making gravy. Thanks for all your hard work in making this blog a great place to read. While I enjoy the hockey commentary the special features (Veterans Day, profile of the intrepid little girl interviewing Marlow) keep the blog moving in other interesting directions. Here’s a little inspirational quote to ponder along with your pumpkin pie from the late great Steve Jobs… “There’s an old Wayne Gretzky quote that I love. ‘I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.’ I found the quote on an article in the LA Times showing Gretzky scoring against the Sharks. ”http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2011/10/steve-jobs-used-wayne-gretzky-as-inspiration.html" target="_blank">http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2011/10/steve-jobs-used-wayne-gretzky-as-inspiration.html

by alandshark on Nov 24, 2011 3:35 PM PST reply actions

But Thanksgiving was in October!

The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw

by Evil Stanchion on Nov 24, 2011 3:59 PM PST reply actions

There's no hockey on tonight?!

REALLY not liking American Thanksgiving. They could at least give us some all-Canadian matchups or something.

The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw

by Evil Stanchion on Nov 24, 2011 4:09 PM PST reply actions

Peace be with you ALL

May the Lord Bless us All , even the red wings and canuckleheads!

Happy Thanksgiving To You All

Go Shaks !!!!

by AlmadenBass on Nov 24, 2011 8:25 PM PST reply actions

Happy Thanksgiving!

I don’t post all that much, but it’s nice to tune in every game and see such an intelligent community of passionate Sharks fans and remember that I’m nothing like alone in loving this team so much. I’m thankful to have found this community, and thankful to be a Sharks fan alongside you all.

by Salmon of Wisdom on Nov 24, 2011 8:31 PM PST reply actions

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I was double-booked with two Thanksgiving dinners only a couple of hours apart. Two light dinners equals one stuffed me.
Thank you all for allowing me to be part of this community!
All have safe travels, and may you all be safe on Chaos Shopping Day (Fri).
A toast to all of you!

If you mention ending your life, or show signs of self-harm, I will take you seriously!
"Take a deep breath sometimes, a break, and play some hockey. Hockey is a great way to take a pause from day-to-day hard work." -- Lt Gen. D.H. Huntoon Jr. (paraphrased)
"He doesn't miss many of those!" --Randy Hahn
Shameless plug for my music.

by Soloact on Nov 24, 2011 8:57 PM PST reply actions

I give thanks to STEVE HOLT!!!!

by Derek Zona's biggest fan on Nov 24, 2011 10:19 PM PST reply actions

Happy Thanksgiving!

Always so much to be thankful for here at FTF

"Everybody had a part in this. As you can see, our fans love this. And we love them. And bring on the next team." -Joe Thornton
"I'm not saying I invented the turtleneck. But I was the first person to realize its potential as a tactical garment. The tactical turtleneck! The... tactleneck!"-Sterling Archer

by waive kent huskins on Nov 24, 2011 10:37 PM PST reply actions

Aww thanks

I don’t post too much here, but I love reading all the work. Insightful, and my kind of humor. Keep it up, I’m thankful for y’all!

"Excellent use of the word cannibalize" Drew Remenda

by teal_and_orange on Nov 24, 2011 10:47 PM PST reply actions

Thanks Plank

I joined FTF a few years back, and I can’t begin to tell you how you all have been the bread and butter to my continuing love for hockey. I’ve been following the Sharks as far back as I can remember (I was born the same year they came into the league), but over the past five years I’ve become less of a homer and tried to become a league-wary, realistic fan. If there’s one thing I’ve gained from being a member here, it’s endurance. Whether we win by ten goals or get shut out 100-0, you guys are all the reason I shake off the last game and keep going.

As for Plank, you and your staff is by far the best assembled group of writers to hit the blogging world since Puck Daddy (LOLZ). But in all seriousness, you guys are phenomenal. You don’t just home onto your team, you don’t whine when we lose, you don’t preach about fate or rivalry or treat your team like Gods- you present the facts alongside the fandom, which in turn creates a beautiful harmony of passion and reality that is truly a blessing to read.

Bottom line: You guys kick ass. All of you. Hope your Thanksgivings were great, because you all deserved for them to be.

Go Sharks.

"He's like a swedish bear"- Randy Hahn, during the Sharks-Canucks brawl on 4.8.2010

by Joeface on Nov 24, 2011 11:02 PM PST reply actions

Also

You guys were the only SB Nation blog I know of that did a Happy Thanksgiving post. So there’s that.

"He's like a swedish bear"- Randy Hahn, during the Sharks-Canucks brawl on 4.8.2010

by Joeface on Nov 25, 2011 12:03 AM PST up reply actions

I'm thankful some people here get my sense of humor

And let me do silly shit such as Palin mask, Meth Squirrel, Angry Birds, and Santino Marleau-a.

I like my goals like I like my booze..... Top shelf.

by GhostOfLinkGaetz on Nov 24, 2011 11:16 PM PST reply actions

Palin Mask is far from silly. It gives me great comfort when the play-offs roll around…

And you think you live in a non-traditional hockey market...
"I flew 5,000 miles for this?"
And if you want more of this kind of thing, I'm spouting nonsense on Twitter too...

by BritShark on Nov 25, 2011 4:33 AM PST up reply actions

Tac

"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
@TheFourthPeriod How intense with the #Bruins #Habs PO series be? || @Noctro Like K-Y Jelly lit on fire. || @TheFourthPeriod Wow. Best. Answer. Ever.
"I still say McLellan needs to roll Pavelski, Marleau, and Stetoguchi together. No one would go NEAR that line."
My Twitter

by Noctro on Nov 25, 2011 4:21 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Taco Torrey gets your humor

(This post was brought to you by my obligitory posting challenges)

by Noctro on Nov 25, 2011 4:31 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Classy touch, Plank

I hope everybody enjoyed their turkey day

by BConns on Nov 25, 2011 7:22 AM PST reply actions

Heading to the Shark Tank black Friday sale

Anyone in line? How bad is it?

Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
Kudos, You are a sick, sick man, but you are very good at it -- wcw
can of corn

by jctGamer on Nov 25, 2011 9:10 AM PST reply actions

Happy Blogsiving

I read my fair share of NHL related blogs and although I’m a bit biased with FTF, I have to say it’s the best run and most rewarding to read. These aren’t just blogs, rather articles that beat most sports writers out there; save for WTC. I’ll be at the tank tomorrow night and I’ll do my best to put the bad juju on them stanky ’nucks.

GO SHARKS!

derp.

by theneverman on Nov 25, 2011 9:49 AM PST reply actions

thank you, guys

This place is like the green room of Sharks hockey, and it is definitely more like a big (and occasionally dysfunctional) family. I love the articles, I love the banter, and I just think its awesome how we can mess with each other, have a good laugh over it, then come back the next day like nothing happened.

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

by Noctro on Nov 25, 2011 4:29 PM PST via mobile reply actions