Nate and Nash are GREAT!

Nate Robinson was the difference last night as the Boston Celtics finished off the Orlando Magic!

So, the Orlando Magic have disappeared from the basketball universe - but we still have:

• Actor Orlando Bloom
• Baseball player Orlando Hudson
• Singer Tony Orlando 

There was another great Nate who helped Boston win the NBA title in 1981:
Nate "Tiny" Archibald 
He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991 and in 1996 "Tiny" was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Nate was great last night and I hope NASH is great again for Phoenix tonight so they can tie the series with the Lakers at three games apiece!

By the way, I did an upbeat on-hold message yesterday for a sports company in Boston. It was for a martial arts academy ironically named Wild Buffalo Team.

"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."

That West African proverb was a favorite of U.S. President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt. He was the 26th President of the United States and was the first American to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906.

It appears gremlins got into my studio last Wednesday and raised a championship banner from the Philadelphia Flyers:-O   The banner from the mid-'70's took center stage right behind my mic. Notice the small Sabres' stick to the left? 

Thanks to a couple of Mikes, Philadelphia should be meeting Chicago in the Stanley Cup Final. The Blackhawks beat San Jose today, 4-2, to sweep them in four straight. Philly - and captain Mike Richards - host Montreal tomorrow up three games to one in the other semi. 

The one and only Don Cherry paid tribute to Philadelphia goalie, Michael Leighton, yesterday on his "Coach's Corner" segment along with another Mike - Cammalleri of the Canadiens. He compared him to Luke Skywalker. Check out the amazing footage here of Cammalleri and his lightsaber.

"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far in the playoffs."

"Shaken, not stirred. Spoken, not slurred."

I came up with that voiceover quotation myself two days ago:)
Also out that day, a Top 10 list:
You Know You're a Voiceover Artist Because...
Click here.

Happy Birthday to Chicago Blackhawks legend, Stan Mikita! He turned 70 today and he was at the United Center tonight as Chicago beat San Jose in overtime, 3-2. The winning goal was scored by the big bruiser, Dustin Byfuglien. He played junior hockey in Prince George, BC along with one of the San Jose Sharks, Devin Setoguchi. Captain Jonathan Toews had a couple of assists tonight for the Hawks giving him points in 12 straight playoff games, breaking the team record that had been held by Stan Mikita. Who can forget his impact in the Wayne’s World" movies?

This time last Friday our family was up in Prince George for my niece Nicole and Ben's wedding. That was a great event on Saturday!
Below is a picture from the Friday night get together that is pretty special.


Grandma Rita ruling the roost with her nine grandkids


Nicole is under her arm along with little Layla while my son Justin has Dryden on his shoulders in the front row. Nicole's sister, Jessica, is in the green tank top with Jordan and Ashley Hass on the right. And we can't forget Racquel and Nash...

So many voices / Embrace resilience

Still crazed after all these years was the headline in Sunday's eVent newspaper. Today's online version is titled So many voices. It's about impressionist Andre-Philippe Gagnon, who is performing in Kelowna tonight.

My niece, Nicole, is getting married this weekend in Prince George. Our family is looking forward to being there! The pastor who married my wife and I twenty-two years ago was Tim Schroeder. His latest column, in the same eVent newspaper, is titled Embrace resilience for your family's sake.

Today's post is dedicated to my voiceover friend, Liz de Nesnera, who is bouncing back after breaking her leg.

Sports Tasering Must STOP!

Ouch! Captain Jonathan Toews, pronounced TAYVES (rhymes with "saves"), scored the hat trick tonight as Chicago took a commanding 3-1 series lead against the Vancouver Canucks. 7-4 was the final. Jonathan Toews' nickname is Tazer. He is also known as "Captain Serious" for his intensity and because he is more mature than his 22 years.

Today on the golf course in Florida for The Players Championship,
a 36-year-old man attending the second round was subdued by a Taser.

In Philadelphia this past Monday at a baseball game, a teenager was tasered. Local reports say fans have been tasered many times before at Citizens Bank Park. On Tuesday in Canada, the RCMP announced tighter guidelines for Mounties deploying tasers. They can now fire a stun gun only if it’s clear the person is injuring someone else or threatening to do so. Interesting article on the taser debate here from the Globe and Mail.

5/5/10 = Sammy Hagar + Shane O'Brien

Today is 5/5/10 on the calendar so I am featuring Sammy Hagar's
"I Can't Drive 55":

#55 on the Vancouver Canucks is defenseman Shane O'Brien. I hope NO Blackhawks will be "driving down his lane" trying to score tonight. He is a tough guy who has had 275 penalty minutes the past two seasons. Chicago has a tough #55 too: Ben Eager, who has had 281 penalty minutes the last two seasons.

The song was Sammy Hagar's biggest hit as a solo artist. He joined Van Halen a year after it was released. It was on his 1984 album, VOA, which stands for Voice of America - not Voice Over Artist...

Here are a couple of previous posts having fun with the number 55 too:

• PPPreDDDicting the Cup Final from May 12, 2008
• SABRES: GIMME FIVE!! from November 26, 2007

ON the Canucks' BANDwagon!

I was wrong in my prediction of the Vancouver Canucks losing
their opening round playoff series to the LA Kings. So I am back on the bandwagon, baby!

In fact, on the opening night of the NHL season last October 1, I stated right here:
The Canucks will win a division title like last year and fare better than Chicago, who knocked them out of the playoffs.

Tonight, it is game two of round two with Vancouver in Chicago. The Canucks smoked the Blackhawks in the opener, 5-1! Roberto Luongo is
on top of his game in net and I think that legendary Chicago band, Styx, should rework their 1983 smash, “Mr. Roboto”, and make it a tribute to Roberto called: “Mr. Roberto”...

What song can the Canucks NOT stand in Chicago? Find out below: