And the "Games" Begin Again

Well, it is that time of the year again.  Minor hockey tryouts.  I am staging a personal boycott this year and trying my best not to attend a single tryout.  Don't get me wrong, I really want to go watch the youngest money sucker.  I really do.  What I don't want to watch is all the crazy ass parents who are at the rink just waiting with bated breath for other peoples kids to really suck, get hurt or leave the ice puking.  No, I swear I am not making this up.  For the last two years I have actually witnessed a hockey mom video taping the tryouts.  Why, why, why does a parent do this?  The only thing I can think of is when her little Johnny gets cut she can go to someone and say, "look, my little Johnny is WAY better than little Billy.  I have it on tape."  No other reason.  I think the Minor Hockey people should tell her to get the hell out.  Some serious integrity is missing in this situation.  What also completely confuses me is when hockey parents drive all the way to the rink to watch the tryouts when their kid is NOT even on the ice!  What does that tell ya?  To much time on their hands?  So bored they would rather watch unrelated children tryout for hockey?  (Side note here - one must keep in mind that all hockey parents have no time for anything because they are so busy.  So, so busy.)  No.  I am sorry.  These are the parents who are only at the rink to watch because they want to see how much better their "Sidney" is than the other children on the ice.  Oh look, there is that word again: Children.  These are children people.  Get the hell over it.  We all want our children to try hard and succeed but is it really setting a good example when we don't cheer on and hope the best for other children as well?  What are we teaching these kids?  Since this is my second go around with this whole tryout stuff I am taking some lessons from some of the first go round parents and proceeding with class, dignity and maybe a couple glasses (read: bottles) of wine.