The Washington Capitals opened their 2020-2021 season with a win in Buffalo on Thursday night. In the post-game celebration, new head coach Peter Laviolette unveiled a new tradition to follow Caps wins (from the Washington Capitals)…
And then we celebrated in our own way, with a post-game pepperoni, anchovy, and marshmallow fluff pizza. And, as always happens, the fluff made for some interesting dreams. We had visions of Mr. Miyagi bestowing his timeless advice to Daniel LaRusso on hockey…
Miyagi: First, resurface ice. Then skate. Right skate...
Daniel: Hey, why do I have to...?
Miyagi: Ah ah! Remember deal! No questions!
Daniel: Yeah, but...
Miyagi: Hai!
[makes skating gestures with each leg]
Miyagi: skate, right foot. Skate, left foot. Skate right, skate left. Breathe in through nose, out the mouth. Won't fog up visor. Skate right. Don't forget to breathe, very important.
[walks away, mimicking skating motion]
Miyagi: Skate right, skate left…skate right, skate left.
*****
Daniel: Hey - you ever get into fights when you were in pee-wee?
Miyagi: Huh - plenty.
Daniel: Yeah, but it wasn't like the problem I have, right?
Miyagi: Why? Fighting fighting. Same same.
Daniel: Yeah, but you knew karate.
Miyagi: Someone always know more.
Daniel: You mean there were times when you were scared to fight?
Miyagi: Always scare. Miyagi hate fighting.
Daniel: Yeah, but you like karate.
Miyagi: So?
Daniel: So, karate's fighting. You train to fight.
Miyagi: That what you think?
Daniel: [pondering] No.
Miyagi: Then why train?
Daniel: [thinks] So I won’t get five minutes for kin geri.*
Miyagi: [laughs] Miyagi have hope for you.
*****
Miyagi: Ice hockey come from Europe, 18th century, called shinny, "something Scottish player yell when he steps in a hole." Hundred year later, Miyagi ancestor…other side of family…bring to Canada, call “hockey”… played with corks from barrels of “hock” ale.
Daniel: I thought it came from Russia and stuff like that.
Miyagi: You too much Ovechkin.
*****
Miyagi: Your friend, all hockey players, eh?
Daniel: Friend? Oh, yeah, those guys. They’re not my friends, they’re “Flyers.”
Miyagi: Problem: attitude.
Daniel: No the problem is, I'm getting my ass kicked every other day, that's the problem.
Miyagi: Hai, because boys have bad attitude. Karate for defense only.
Daniel: That's not what these guys are taught.
Miyagi: Hai - can see. No such thing as bad player, only bad coach. Coach say, player do.
Daniel: Oh, great, that solves everything for me. I'll just go down to the other bench straighten it out with the coach, no problem.
Miyagi: Now use head for something other than target.
*****
Miyagi: Go, find balance.
Daniel: [starts to leave]
Miyagi: Banzai, Daniel-san.
Daniel: Hey, banzai!
Miyagi: [louder] Banzai!
Daniel: [louder] Banzai!
Miyagi: [shouts] Banzai!
Daniel: [shouts back] Banzai!
Miyagi: [to himself] Miyagi love old Bondra highlights.
*****
Daniel: Wouldn't a catching glove be easier?
Miyagi: Man who catch puck with chopstick accomplish anything.
Daniel: Ever catch one?
Miyagi: Not yet.
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* “groin kick”
