Sunday, February 21, 2010

Hockey Heaven / Boyns and his Boy

Hockey heaven today at the Olympics!...unless Canada loses to the U.S...
When he was a kid, he'd be up at five
Take shots till eight, make the thing drive
Out after school, back on ice
That was his life, he was gonna play in the Big League
The Big League
~ Tom Cochrane and Red Rider / 1988's "Big League" from
"Victory Day" ~ This is a classic rock anthem with a sad story behind it.

The VoiceActing.com blog had a great story recently about Andy Boyns and his boy, William. They both tried to beat me in Peter O'Connell's faux-dition contest. I need to tell you that William is not even four years old. Hear both of their World News with Diane Sawyer entries and "the rest of the story" here.

Andy Boyns is on the other side of the world in Turkey and has just blogged about how Pablo Hernandez and social networking brought voiceover artists together to perform on a common project in support of the Haiti disaster victims. Andy is a good guy who is planning to attend the VOICE 2010 conference in LA in early June. It is an expensive trip and if you can help Andy out a bit with sponsorship, he will return the favor
in some way. Thank you!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Skeleton Gold! Red Skelton

Jon Montgomery of Russell, Manitoba won a gold medal yesterday in the Skeleton race at the Winter Olympics! He uses his voice in a unique way to make a living. As you'll notice, Jon also has a great sense of humor and should consider following in Red Skelton's footsteps.

"I live by this credo: Have a little laugh at life and look around you for happiness instead of sadness. Laughter had always brought me out of unhappy situations. Even in your darkest moment, you usually can find something to laugh about if you try hard enough."
-- Red Skelton, Comedian

Friday, February 19, 2010

What a View - on Life!

Michael J. Fox was seen in a commercial before yesterday's Canada/Switzerland hockey game at the Olympics.
Great ocean view here - just like the video in my previous post.

Stephanie Ciccarelli of Voices.com became aware of the video after I shared it on Facebook and went on to write an awesome tribute to Michael J. Fox and his "fighting spirit, courage and love of the game. Nothing can keep him down. Parkinson's disease cannot keep him down... in fact, it's made him even more vital and has given him a new lease on life to dedicate his energy to his family, his faith and causes he firmly believes in."
Enjoy Stephanie's full article:  Hats Off To Michael J. Fox!


Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Acceptance Speeches

Thank you to everyone who voted for me in the Peter O'Connell faux-dition contest for the opening to ABC's World News with Diane Sawyer! Peter announced the final results two days ago and I won the gold medal!

Four days ago at the opening ceremonies for the Vancouver Winter Olympics, Shane Koyczan's slam poetry about Canada was
accepted worldwide to say the least. As I post Shane's YouTube
video, it has enjoyed 47, 626 views:

Based in Kelowna, I am 245 miles away from the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Shane grew up just 48 miles (or 77 Canadian kilometres)
south of me in Penticton. He has quite a story!
  
Here is the longer lyrical version of "We Are More."

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Gretzky at the Olympics / My Gretzky flashback

Wow! Wayne Gretzky got to light the cauldron to start the Winter Olympics on Friday night!

I remember I could have met The Great One in Vancouver in late 1994. It was an album launch party for  "The Christmas Album" by David Foster and Gretzky was one of many VIP's there - along with his co-owner of the Toronto Argonauts football team, the late John Candy. Los Angeles Kings' owner Bruce McNall also had a stake in the Argos, which lasted about three years for the partners. At that time I was working in promotions and sales for Warner Music Canada, who distributed "The Christmas Album" in Canada. I got a nice keepsake from Foster at the event:
I remember chatting with the Edmonton manager, Lina Botto, at the event and encouraging her to go over and introduce herself to Wayne Gretzky. I thought it was more important for her to have that privilege than me. I mean, she had the perfect opening line - that she was from Edmonton, where Gretzky starred from 1978 - 1988. The rest, as they say, is history - just like this list from a year-end Warner Music newsletter:
Happy Valentine's Day!
The Great Lady in my life and I have been married 21 1/2 years.
Thanks for all the memories so far Darlene!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Treat people well and they will remember you

Five of the seven games in the NHL last night saw the road teams win. Buffalo did not win in Carolina, losing 4-3 in overtime. The other road team to lose was the top team in the East, the Washington Capitals. Ottawa beat them in our country's capital, 6-5.

Steven Lowell is the Public Relations Manager for Voice 123 and I only learned of his love for hockey a couple of days ago. He counts the Sabres, Rangers, Devils, Islanders, Senators and Montreal Canadiens among his favorite teams. Steven sent along this funny story about working as a production assistant at ESPN when helping with NHL2Night (which has been off the air for years now):
"Back in 2000, I was doing work at a place called ESPN Zone in Times Square, which is a huge restaurant that also serves as a radio station, and live-shot location for ESPN programming. I was working alone, when a host from the restaurant grabbed me and said, 'This guy wants to see the Washington Capitals game, and he said it's really important? Can you help me?'

"Being the lone hockey-nut in the building, I went to meet the person who found this game so important, and why. The gentleman was rather average looking, very proud, with a salt and pepper beard. I asked him, 'I heard you want to see the Caps game? Maybe I can help?' He replied, 'Yes, I only came in here for a burger, and to watch my team.' He then handed me a business card, which read:
Ted Leonsis - Owner/Washington Capitals"

Steven admits at the time he did not know what Mr. Leonsis looked like, but he certainly knew the name. In a panic, and as he puts it, not-at-all cool, Steven told the host, 'We have to get him the best place to eat.'
But Ted Leonsis replied, 'It's really not important where I sit. I would just like to eat something and see the Caps game.'

So Steven still took him to the ESPNZone Sky Box, which overlooks two huge big screens, and has private viewing. "It is a large room, and I brought him up there where he sat by himself. Realizing what I did was kind of weird, I took his order as a waiter (something I was not supposed to do, but I felt like I was dealing with someone important). I went to go check on him during the game, and Mr. Leonsis said to me, 'I really thank you for this. Give me your card. I would like to return the favor.'

Steven gave Mr. Leonsis his card, and thought nothing of it the next day. Two weeks later, a FED EX package showed up at his home. Would you believe there was a Washington Capitals' team-autographed, Sherwood hockey stick!? (Real autographs too!)
Steven Lowell says, "I still have that hockey stick because it just reminds me you never know who you will run into while doing what you love, and
if you treat people well, they will remember you. Ted Leonsis showed me too, that you can be successful, and be a real person at the same time."

Thanks for a great story Steven - and words to live by!
If you treat people well, they will remember you. In fact, I remember several instances of excellent customer service over the years with Voice 123. I will most definitely be renewing my subscription for a sixth year in the next month.

I am sure there are many words of wisdom shared in Ted Leonsis' new book, "The Business of Happiness." The book is his way of explaining to individuals and business leaders "that you have permission to be happy and you should be able to structure things to do things the right way." NHL.com had an article on Ted's book a couple of days ago. Ted linked to it on his blog that day too. Ted's Take is the blog you can check out.

Update during the opening ceremonies for the Olympics. Can you believe the Caps' owner linked to my post:
I Remember You Steven Lowell « Teds Take
What a great memory Mr. Leonsis has!
I will let you know if I receive a Washington Capitals' team-autographed, Sherwood hockey stick for my birthday on March 14th:)

Monday, February 08, 2010

Super Bowl XLIV: Payton beats Peyton + Punxsutawney Polamalu & ALL the commercials

While "Avatar" recently became the most popular movie of all-time, yesterday's Super Bowl was watched by an average of more than 106 million people, surpassing the 1983 finale of "M*A*S*H" to become the most-watched program in U.S. television history. Congratulations to Coach Sean Payton for leading New Orleans past Peyton Manning and Indianapolis, 31-17. I thought the blue guys were going to win - just like in "Avatar"...BUT the Saints went for gold and got it!

Might I suggest Punxsutawney Polamalu or the Prince of Persia movie trailer? I wear no pants! Dockers commercial segues nicely into Casual Fridays for Careerbuilder. And since I had a dog picture on my last post, I figured I had better link to this Doritos dog commercial.

Boston.com has published a photo essay called “Dogs and Sleds.” It contains thirty great photos of “sleds, dogs, and their humans.” If you are interested in dogs, sleds, and outdoor photography, click on that link. Thanks to Guy Kawasaki for sharing!

Saturday, February 06, 2010

Live Life Loud

Live Life Loud are words of wisdom - and the title track of
Hawk Nelson's latest album.

It also includes a hockey song called "Ode To Lord Stanley." The lyrics give a plug to TSN and end with:
I need proof, that this rumor's not a joke
Is it a myth, a legend, an old wives tale?
I guess we'll see it through
If the Flames win Lord Stanley, then we all win it too

Well, the Calgary Flames are going for their third straight win tonight against Tampa Bay. The Washington Capitals have won 13 straight! On the other side of the coin, the Boston Bruins try to end a nine-game winless streak when they host Vancouver in the first game of the day today.

Hockey, football and basketball are sports that all have cheerleaders.
But lawn bowling?
Seeing is believing with Hawk Nelson. Enjoy!

Monday, February 01, 2010

Basketball: Go (past) West young man! Congrats Kobe!

Two months ago today I saw "The Blind Side" with my daughter. That was a great football movie! The preview that night was for "Avatar" and I knew I would want to see that movie. It has been #1 at the box office for seven straight weeks and is now only about $6 million dollars behind James Cameron's all-time epic, "Titanic", from 1998 ($600.8 million dollars in North America). But I have NOT seen "Avatar" yet. Don't laugh at me! We actually didn't watch "Titanic" until it came out as a rental...I will take my wife to "Avatar"  this weekend...I promise. This past weekend my wife was working but managed to make it to the big basketball games I told you about two days ago.

I emailed coach Eva Linttell (far left below) today and said she could be compared to Sandra Bullock’s wonderful character (Leigh Anne Tuohy) in “The Blind Side” for the mentoring she has done over many years with many of the boys on the basketball team. And Mr. Dave Bingham coached our other son, Justin, in basketball last season and it has been a pleasure to be able to get to know him too – although he seems to have an addiction to Dairy Queen:)
Appropriately enough, there is a basketball
tie-in with “The Blind Side.” Sean Tuohy (Leigh Anne's hubby) is in his ninth season as a color commentator for the
Memphis Grizzlies. From their website, it says:
As a player at Ole Miss, Tuohy finished his four-year Rebel career (1978-82) as the SEC and school’s all-time leader in assists (830). The New Orleans, La. native led the Rebels to their only SEC title in school history by winning the 1981 SEC Tournament Championship and guided the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance the same year. Drafted by the New Jersey Nets in the 1982 NBA Draft, Tuohy opted to continue his career overseas before returning to the Mid-South to lead his own team, this time in the fast food industry. As a
co-founder of RGT Management Inc., Tuohy currently oversees the day-to-day administration of the current system’s 62 restaurants, which include Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Long John Silver’s franchises.
Quite a night for the Memphis Grizzlies as they beat Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, 95-93. But Kobe became "King Of The Hill" passing Jerry West as the Lakers' all-time scoring leader. See the big basket here.