I've been so busy lately, I totally failed to report on my latest foray into the world of American life - going to an Avs game.

The Avs (Colorado Avalanche) are the state's ice hockey team, and have a ferverent following. I know people who would probably sell their own Audi, just to get good tickets to a game. They play at the Pepsi Center, known locally as "The Can", which was an impressive edifice from the outside, and resembled a large shed with an ice rink in it, from the inside.

Just to sicken you sports fans further, my ticket was free, via a radio contact, and was in a corporate box, complete with free beer. Now, I say "free beer", but if we're honest, it was more "fizzy sugar water". When Heineken is the best of the range on offer, you get the idea.

So, anyway, the game. As you may know, I'm not the world's biggest sports fan, but I am partial to watching the occasional spot of ice hockey, should I be in a bar that's showing a game.

The game itself, was one of the Avs' more uneventful performances, ending in a 0-0 draw. It went into sudden-death overtime, to decide the winner.

I felt a bit like Niles Crane whilst watching the game. Much as I enjoyed it, there are some moments where I had no clue as to why the crowd was cheering. They seemed to go nuts just because the puck was out of play. In fact, the one thing I didn't understand more than anything, was that they got more excited (about twice as excited) when the Avs had stopped a goal being scored, than when the Avs were on the attack and about to shoot for a goal. This all seemed a bit backwards to me. Oh well.

The star of the show, and also, the biggest annoyance for me, was the multi-media system. Yes, it was very impressive to start with - all those big screens over the rink, the surround sound speakers, and the 360º LED display strip around the balcony (used to great effect), but after a while, it all started to get a bit old.

I think one of the major annoyances, was the sudden blast of loud music (all rather good stuff, from techno to classic rock). Not that I don't like loud music, but they'd play it for about 15 seconds, I'd just be getting into it, then they'd kill it, as play recommenced. I was thinking, "either play the sodding music or don't, I don't mind which, just make a decision.".

Also, the screens, along with announcements and music were used to try to whip the crowd up into a frenzy of shouting, whistling, chanting or whatever. That's all well and good if the crowd means it, but everything was handled so clinically, that it seemed that any reaction from the crowd was largely due to feeling pressured by the multi-media system.

I'm not saying that people weren't enjoying themselves, they were, but it strikes me that they're either going to get excited by the game or they're not. If they're not, then trying to use sounds and video clips to incite excitement is rather phoney and pathetic. Especially when you consider that as soon as play recommences, everyone shuts up and watches.

All in all I had a great time, and the match was fun to watch, the electronic pyrotechnics, largely got in the way of the true spirit and feeling of the game, but nonetheless, when the Avs scored the winning goal, in sudden-death overtime, the roar that went up, and the wave of excitement was genuine. We didn't need a computer to tell us when to cheer.