If I'm a Bunny, You're a Bunny

Anyone who has visited the Thrashers homepage in the last few days knows that the new squad for the Blue Crew has recently been selected. On the most recent posting of the Blueland blog there has been some discussion about what a Blue Crew girl's blog should look like as well as what the Blue Crew's proper function should be. I'm not really interested in that, as I don't really see what their function is period, but it did get me thinking about women's roles as hockey fans in general.

I will admit, I think that choosing to wear next to nothing while you prance around an ice rink is an absolutely ridiculous thing to do. Even the players wear sweaters. But I'm also aware that sex sells, and that that if a woman (or the whole Blue Crew) chooses to allow other people to use her body to as a marketing tool, then that's up to her. That happens in every aspect of life, so I'm not going to single out sports. What I am going to single out, however, is the sheer hypocrisy involved in the existence of the Blue Crew and the liberal usage of the term "Puck Bunny."

This charming term describes female hockey fans who take an active interest in the players' personal lives (aka married or single) because they find them attractive. Now, if this term were limited to just the groupies, then ok. If you're going to put yourself in a position where you look a little desperate, they you should probably expect a disparaging epithet or two. But when I hear the word used, it more often than not describes ANY woman who finds hockey players attractive.

Here's where the hypocrisy part comes in: There are probably few if any male fans who would say that they only go to Thrashers games simply because enjoy the "charms" of the Blue Crew. They would say that they are hockey fans, so they go to hockey games, its as simple as that. The fact that there are a bunch of under-dressed young blondes running around is just an added perk, right?

Well, most straight women who are hockey fans would probably admit to finding some of the players attractive, but few would say that's the only reason for their interest in hockey. As far as I'm concerned, why should we not find them attractive? They are young, in peak physical condition, really good at something, and have a decent paycheck. We are hockey fans, not nuns. If men are not expected to leave their sexual impulses at the door, I don't see why women should have to in order to prove that we are "real" fans.