Great post, Jason. I truly love this movie. Thank you for reminding me I haven't rewatched it in far too long.

Hockey is a cult. Let's say that right up front. No sense in hiding it. (Full disclosure: I checked out "Best Hockey Fight Ever" the other day on youTube (just to stay current). In other sports, say, Major League Baseball, this would be considered assnine. But in hockey . . . it's just different) Now, I grew up in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. I skated. And I played hockey (Center mostly, occasionally Left Wing). In college, I broadcast the varsity team's home games for my collegiate radio station (true story). Therefore, I am a cult member. (And wicked proud of it). And, therefore, I gave blood. Scott - here's a quote for your Dialogue class: "Puttin' on the foil, coach!" Wonderful movie. It absolutely just flies along. Conflict everywhere. Wonderful visuals. FUNNY. Great, strong, VERY individual, unique characters. (and why isn't "Ned Bradon" a Great Character? Or the "Hanson Bros."? You wanna fight? Okay - drop the gloves. Let's go!").(although sometimes, The Hanson didn't even get that far into the dialogue . . .). But of all of this film's outstanding performances, the one that we love the most is Strother Martin's GM role. God, he's great. 100% fabulous. Laugh-out-loud funny! Funny, funny movie. John A ps 1: pop quiz = name 1 Canadian who doesn't absolutely LOVE this movie. Even the (relatively few) non-hockey fans go for it, it's so well written, well acted, and so close to the bone. Maybe that's why the comedy works so well. Fuckin' right, coach! ps 2: do you realize that "The Hansons", 34 years after this movie premiered, ARE STILL doing charity speaking events? Unreal. Yeah coach! Let's go! Go Chiefs!! ps 3: trivia pop quiz = Which NCAA team did actor ("Ned Bradon") Michael Ontkean (Slap Shot; Twin Peaks) skate for? (answer = UNH over in Durham. He was actually pretty good). ps 4: (sorry - but I'm a cult member, remember! I can't stop. I can't!) The film ages pretty well, in my opinion. Blue collar, 1 employer towns are STILL in trouble in late 2012. (outsourcing to Mexico? to China? to wherever?). Athletes (and employees, in general) are STILL disposable.(You doubt me? The NHL players are locked out by management as I write this). Sex is STILL . . . well, okay. You know that one. So even forgetting the hockey, you've got great, real conflict all over the place. Paul Newman: our Protagonist: 1) actively searches for; then finally finds "his owner"; then 2) he confronts "the team's owner" head-on - as she plans to eliminate him and the team - at the end of this film, and throw them all out on the street. Is that dynamic not still current? Look at the Obama-Romney race. The election is just days away. The upcoming Jobless Report numbers may decide who becomes our next President. Who can't relate to THAT pressure? That's conflict with REAL consequences (unlike in sports, which after all, is entertainment). Newman is the boss (at his level as coach). He's responsible for his men, the performance of his team. But the owner - who tells Newman's character Reg Dunlop that she discourages her own kids from attending the Chief's games - has already "sold them down the river" - for a "fucking tax writeoff", no less! Drop the gloves! Now, granted, you DO have to ignore the late-1970's tan leather jacket w/ matching leather pants (and the fur coat - yuk. Simply awful today) and Detroit muscle cars, but that's okay. For "Slap Shot" - we cult members are willing to do that. ps 5: Scott: que it up tomorrow morning - let's analyze this sucker! I'm ready! ps 6: okay. I'll shut off the laptop now, crack open a cold Labatt's, and watch the final period of the Maple Leafs - Red Wings game. Go Leafs!

Funniest comment of the week! It's great to hear someone speak passionately about their "cult", as you call it.

Teddy, My cult membership? Oh, man - it's worse than you think: yesterday I was grinding the beans in the kitchen for our coffee. While waiting for the coffee to percolate, I had a little time. So I started thinking about Coach Reg and the Chiefs. I mean - it's November already. So I reached down into the drawer (same drawer as the bean measuring spoon) and took out the long box of aluminum foil. Pulled out a longish piece, then placed my right hand and forearm down to measure. Tore it off. Then - and very carefully, mind you - I proceeded to "Put on the foil". John A ps: my wife just watched me, very quietly, then asked: "What are you doing? Why are you wrapping tin foil around your knuckles?" This is what really well done movies do to us, Teddy.