In the spring of 1975, my father made a monetary and emotional investment in an undervalued hockey team.
He purchased a pair of New York Islanders playoff ticket strips.
In just their third year of existence, the Islanders shocked the hockey world by ousting the rival Rangers in the first round and then storming back from a 3-0 series deficit to defeat the more talented Penguins in the quarterfinals. They then nearly repeated the trick against the Flyers before falling to Kate Smith and the hated Broad Street Bullies in Game 7.
After tagging along with my father through that incredible run, I was hooked on everything Isles.