Tim Tebow walks the talk

I just tackled Santa under our Christmas tree! He tried to take my Tim Tebow mint coin, new Sports Illustrated and my retro Broncos jacket. Hey Santa - Red is your color!

Tim and his Denver Broncos will be in Buffalo this Saturday for their next game so I will no doubt be talking about Tebow on my next Buffalo Bills' game recap. We lost yesterday to Miami, 30-23, but with the short week, we won't be recording a new "Thurman Thomas Show" this week.

Tim Tebow was Mic'd Up against the Chicago Bears on December 11. Quarterbacks LEAD by example. Have a look here: 

Let's wrap this up under the Christmas tree with a Tebow rap called "All He Does Is Win":

Kelowna gets some great exposure!

I am not the only one who loves Kelowna! Wow!

• A shout-out (including hockey) on Jimmy Kimmel Live! thanks to Taylor Kitsch.
• NFL rookie guard, Danny Watkins, remembers his firefighting roots. 
• On "The Ron James Show", wackiness at a winery, beautiful valley views and the Ogopogo. Scroll to the 17:35 mark for a 2 1/2 minute fun feature.

More hockey...

  

Location, luxurious living...Voiceover by yours truly:

Predicting the Football Future

Too bad I didn't place a bet yesterday on the Grey Cup!

Our team in British Columbia, the Lions, won 34-23 in front of 54, 313 fans at BC Place Stadium. An amazing turnaround as they started the season 0-5!

Let this be an inspiring message for the Buffalo Bills, who have dropped four straight now to sit at 5 wins and 6 losses. The Jets (not Winnipeg's) beat us yesterday, 28-24.

Also, in the past seven seasons a team with a losing record after 11 games has made the NFL playoffs:

• 2004 - St. Louis 
• 2005 - Washington 
• 2006 - Philadelphia 
• 2007 - Washington
• 2008 - San Diego 
• 2009 - New York Jets 
• 2010 - Seattle

Go Bills! 

Here is another prediction for you: the BC Lions will win the Grey Cup again in 2012!

Welcome Back, Crosby!

Nice Movember moustache there Gabe Kaplan!
Flashback to the late '70's and a young John Travolta in red.






This guy needs no introduction. He returned to the NHL yesterday after missing ten months of action:

Four points for Sidney Crosby yesterday! That concussion cannot keep him from competing anymore! St. Louis will play Pittsburgh tomorrow and then Ottawa visits the Consol Energy Center on Friday. Buffalo doesn't have to worry about Sid the Kid until December 17. Whew!

The NHL is almost 94 years old. The ball/puck got rolling on November 26, 1917 and, as you can see at the link, the Ottawa Senators were one of the original teams. I had the opportunity to do a voiceover earlier this month recapping the Sabres' strong rivalry with the Senators. Where were you in 1997? The Red Wings won it all that season...

Best Deal Ever at McDonald's?

That's what my script said yesterday for another Buffalo Sabres' sponsor read. I thought about going to McDonald's for my lunchtime coffee BUT I opted for my usual Tim Hortons.

Nice to have McDonald's on board though as a sponsor again with the Kelowna Chiefs. Building Stronger Community is the motto for this season.

Kelowna Chiefs taking part in the Remembrance Day
ceremony at the Rutland cenotaph.

Photo Credits to:

Alex Hill - Imagine Grafx

www.imgr.ca

Catching up on Football! 5 Buffalo Bills' Game Recaps

Kelowna is home to some retired CFL football players. That was the front page story last Friday by Warren Henderson of the Capital News. Here is the link.

On Saturday morning I had a great breakfast with NFL artist, Bob Mueller. He gave me several prints - including Deion Sanders as a Dallas Cowboy (the Buffalo Bills' next opponent) and Jim Brown, who many consider the greatest running back in NFL history. Deion made the Hall of Fame this summer and I love how he opened his speech!

Bob is a great speaker too!
Check out the link to an interview in late September on my blog.

I have not linked to any of my "Thurman Thomas Show" game recaps since late September so let's catch up:)  

• 2:47 in here has the 23-0 shutout against Washington in Toronto from October 30.
• 3:00 in has the exciting 27-24 loss to the New York Giants on October 16.
• 2:56 in has the Bills' 31-24 thriller over Philly October 9.
• 23-20 loss in Cincinnati October 2. Game recap 3:02 in.
• Best for last! 34-31 over New England September 25. 3:20 in for my segment.

Crazy Sunday statistic from the NFL: Patriots receiver Wes Welker had 9 receptions for 136 yards. Compare that to Chad Ochocinco, who has 9 catches for 136 yards ALL season. Ouch!

"Courageous" content

Last month, we had the chance to take in the movie "Courageous." Honor Begins At Home is what the tagline should read below. Sitting behind us at the Kelowna movie theatre was the stunt coordinator on the film, Jimmy Broyden. It was great to meet him. Jimmy has an awesome resume!

I went to high school in Kelowna with Stu Aspinall. He is a firefighter in Coquitlam, BC now. It is Stu's birthday tomorrow and, more importantly, with Veterans Day/Remembrance Day (Canada) coming next Friday, I wanted to share this very special song he wrote and the accompanying video he coordinated:

Please download the song from iTunes or cdbaby.com. It's only 99 cents and you will be helping a great cause. Feel free to share this with your friends!

Talent Runs (and Carves) in the Family!

Congrats to the Cardinals for winning the World Series!

Congrats to the Carvers of these pumpkins!

A word of wisdom from my sister-in-law, Tina.

Johnny Canuck from my nephew, Ben, in Prince George.

This is for Canuck fans everywhere!

Friday Football Commercial & Baseball's superhero: Freese

Things are looking good in Buffalo right now as both the Bills and Sabres have won twice as many games as they have lost. The Bills take a 4-2 record onto the field for their annual Toronto game this Sunday against the Redskins while the Sabres are in the middle of five straight home games and have a
6-3 record.

Heading into last night's 4-2 win against Columbus, the Sabres had scored 23 goals - matching 23 touchdowns by the Bills. The most famous #23 in sports right now is David Freese of the St. Louis Cardinals. He won game six last night in the eleventh after tying it up two innings earlier!
EXCITEMENT below!

• Freese Frame 1
• Freese Frame 2
• David slay the giant in the Bible and Jesus was the son of a lowly carpenter. David Freese was in the spotlight last night and I figure the Cardinals have a great shot at winning game seven tonight against the Texas Rangers with Chris Carpenter on the mound.

I provided play-by-play and the announcer tag for the ELECTRIFYING football finish below. The commercial ran last weekend in northern and central California and Colorado:

Signed, Sabred, Delivered! Philadelphia can play 2nd fiddle

Most of my day was spent doing sponsor reads for the Buffalo Sabres' broadcasts on MSG-TV. I learned last Monday that I would be back for my fourth season with the team! However, I was not in the budgetary mix the last two years. So, this boy is "back in town"...The rock song which references that is second in line in this flashback of five openers I voiced a couple of seasons back for the Sabres. The President makes an appearance in the first one:


Also from a couple of years ago, Stevie Wonder performs for President Obama:


I spoke too soon last time. The Bills lost yesterday on a last second field goal to Cincinnati, 23-20...
We host the struggling Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday. Philadelphia has a Kelowna connection in the lineup: Danny Watkins. Read about his positive football vibes here:
Football & Hockey Dreams Becoming Reality
The negative vibes are here:
Prefer My Microphone over Microscope!

People can be so passionate about their sports teams.
Philadelphia fans have quite the reputation...
Hockey's Flyers had ten more points than the Sabres last season but I predict Buffalo will rack up more this season. Philadelphia plays Boston on opening night Thursday while the other Pennsylvania team, Pittsburgh, is in Vancouver. The Sabres get their season going on Friday against Anaheim and Teemu Selanne in Finland. One of our big free agent signings is from Finland - and a former Philly Flyer, Ville Leino. Happy Birthday (#28) this Thursday to Ville! Deliver 28 goals this season and Sabres' fans will love 'ya!

Friday Football Frenzy: Both Sides of the Border

Orchard Park is in the headlines! Here in Kelowna, BC the Orchard Park Shopping Centre is forty years old. With 170+ stores and services, it offers the largest selection of retailers between Calgary and Vancouver.

Orchard Park is where the Buffalo Bills play their football games and in this preview clip from this weekend's "Thurman Thomas Show", I mentioned it in my first sentence. But it's not about how you start, but how you finish. Sorry New England!


Big football game tonight in Vancouver as the BC Lions move into their renovated digs. BC Place Stadium came to life in 1983 in preparation for Expo '86 and has now undergone a $560-million facelift which includes a retractable roof and a huge centre-hung video board (only the Dallas Cowboys' is bigger). The BC Lions are on a roll with their first 5-game winning streak since 1985 where the club has allowed less than 20 points each time.

The Buffalo Bills should not have any problems this weekend in Cincinnati. We have beaten them ten times in a row! I hope I have not spoken too soon...

Buffalo Bills' "Ballroom Blitz" starring Fitz

This rock classic starts off wondering if Steve and Andy and Mick were ready...

They WERE today for the Buffalo Bills as they blitzed Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, 34-31!

• Steve Johnson had 8 catches for 94 yards today.
• Andy Levitre protected QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, who passed for 369 yards and two touchdowns!
• Nick Barnett had six tackles and five assists on defense as Brady threw four interceptions! That's the same amount he had in all of 2010!

UFC 135 last night had Jon Jones beat Rampage Jackson. But that was nothing (because I don't watch UFC!) compared to Donald Jones' 101 receiving yards or Fred Jackson's 74 rushing yards today for the Bills!

Buffalo is the first team in NFL history to win consecutive games in which it trailed by at least 18 points in each contest. Here is my Game Recap (3:31 in) on the "Thurman Thomas Show" for last weekend's big comeback against the Raiders. Cue Fitzpatrick!

Six other games in the NFL today were also decided by just 3 points. Congratulations to the Steelers, Lions, Titans, Chargers, Seahawks and Buccaneers!

Memories from Modano, Mueller and Madden!

Mike Modano called it a career today. He is 22nd all-time in NHL points and leaves as the highest scoring American NHL player ever, achieving that mark early in the 2007-08 season. Modano signed a symbolic contract with Dallas yesterday to retire with the franchise he helped put on the map. Thanks for the memories Mike!

Painting NFL memories from Kelowna, Bob Mueller:

Steve Sabol of NFL Films helped make it happen for Bob Mueller.

The NFL just tweeted about an hour ago: On the first official day of Fall, Steve Sabol remembers how he composed "The Autumn Wind." Enjoy! It's all about John Madden and the Oakland Raiders "back in the day." Bob Mueller just left a comment too.

I'll have my Game Recap from the Buffalo Bills' big win last weekend against Oakland in two days for you:)

Catch 22 - but NOT Fred Jackson! Commercial Fun!

Catch-22 is easier said than done.

Fred Jackson is number 22 on the Buffalo Bills and he ran for 117 yards yesterday as the Bills stormed back to beat the Oakland Raiders, 38-35, at Ralph Wilson Stadium. We were down 21-3 at the half. Fred Jackson is now #1 on the rushing list with 229 yards while Oakland's Darren McFadden is #2 with 222.


My Game Recap for last weekend's 9/11 win (41-7) in Kansas City is 3:13 in football fans:)

On September 22 this week, my blog turns five!

On the same day, the WHL launches into another hockey season on Shaw-TV with the Brandon Wheat Kings at Moose Jaw's new arena, Mosaic Place. There will be 32 regular season games broadcast this season and this is my fifth season voicing the promos.

I delivered this line 21 times in a directed voiceover session earlier this month. It's a spoof of the daily deals offered at Groupon. :20 seconds in for me on the finished commercial for PaycomOnline.com. Listen! You'll even hear the word Lunatic...

Powerful 9/11 sports stories featuring 2 Steves

As the NFL prepared to remember 9/11 on the first Sunday of the year, Steve Mariucci shared his memories of the 2001 season. 1:13 seconds in.

Canadian Stephen Brunt commemorated the 10th anniversary of 9/11 with this video essay, "A Decade Later." Hear him 1:37 seconds in if you would rather bypass the footage.

By the way, Stephen Brunt has written bestselling hockey books, "Searching for Bobby Orr", and "Gretzky's Tears."

3:33 in (unless you count my station ID at the start): My segment (Offseason Recap) for the Buffalo Bills' "Thurman Thomas Show" this weekend. Can you believe the Bills had the biggest blowout on the NFL's opening Sunday? Wow! 41-7 over Kansas City!

Friday FUN: Acronym Mania!

BB yesterday for me = Buffalo Bills and Basketball! My best exercise workout of the week happens every Thursday night with my basketball buddies. Here is a flashback from the spring:
Words of Wisdom from the BBall court

My exhibition season recap for the Buffalo Bills runs this weekend on the "Thurman Thomas Show." I'll post the segment (voiced yesterday) in a couple of days.

Our family stays fit here: KFY
Too much fat here: KFC

=====================

If you are a voiceover talent, check out VOAT. It is Dave Courvoisier's followup to NVOM. Here is the story. I appreciate your efforts Dave! I like these words of wisdom on Dave's blog today:

There’s still something about VO that has intrinsically changed my approach to RELATIONSHIPS & COMMUNITY.

The Voice Over community has made me appreciate that:
1) I can’t do it alone…or at least that I do it much better with help.
2) My life is richer in association with others.
3) When I give unselfishly, I get that and more in return.
4) Others have similar struggles as I.
5) Together, we’re smarter, stronger, faster.
6) Being an island is lonely.

My two cents: Apply this in your relationships and community. It is not just for voiceover... 

Be Choosy, Fit Your Philosophy and Be Creative

Well, judging by my last three posts, pictures of threes are popular:

1. 3 football players
2. 3 cute kids (I'm a proud Dad!)
3. Video thumbnail of 3 on the football field

I read an interesting article last week in BC Business Magazine:

The Merits of Word-of-Mouth Marketing

It had three lessons. Briefly, be choosy with your marketing; Keep an eye on events, and when you find one that might fit your philosophy and style, act fast; and replace money with creativity. In other words, build your word-of-mouth marketing from the bottom UP and let your work speak for itself!

Hockey fits the bill in those areas for me. I voiced my first promo commercial Thursday for the WHL on Shaw TV. This is season five doing that. It came about after my first season in 2006 of voicing MSG-TV openings for the Buffalo Sabres. The Brandon Wheat Kings will be in Moose Jaw September 22 as the new arena, Mosaic Place, opens up in MJ. Former NHL coach, Cory Clouston, will be behind the bench for Brandon. 

Look UP Friday night in Kelowna and you'll see me and my music man, 
Cory Bell-Esau, in the press box at Rutland Arena.

You'll hear me as the public address announcer tonight. We are glad to be back for the Kelowna Chiefs' second season in the KIJHL. It is an exhibition game against the North Okanagan Knights. Our regular season home opener is September 17 against the Spokane Braves.

Prefer My Microphone over Microscope!

Saturday's headline in our local paper was about the pressure Kelowna's Danny Watkins is under in Philadelphia, where he is protecting quarterback Michael Vick, who just signed a six-year, $100 million contract today.

I like the deadline pressures associated with voiceover work. I prefer that over a physical beating on the football field:-)  The start of my week sees me halfway through a 12-page prototype module for NAPA Auto Parts. Once this gets approval, we will have fifteen modules to complete by next spring. This is in addition to eight longer training modules this year for another division at NAPA. I hope to wrap this prototype up tomorrow and then begin voicing a 169-slide bank handbook due for another client after the long weekend.

Friday Facebook FUN! Kids Are Cute!

We haven't done FFF (April Fools' Day edition) since April 1 so here we go HOT off the press with my status earlier this afternoon: 
HEY! HST tax out in BC today! 
Yesterday, the Buffalo Sabres renamed HSBC Arena First Niagara Center...


Wednesday's picture of the week: 

My kids recreating a pose from their early days: Ashley, Justin & Jordan Hass. Great idea and photo by my niece, Nicole!

Wednesday afternoon Facebook status: Happy Birthday to my wife of 23 years on August 24th - Darlene rocks!

Monday's video link: Not only do players start at a young age, so do hockey announcers!



Monday morning link: Sad to share this news as cancer claims another fine man...
Canada is weaker without Layton’s passion, conviction and smile

Let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. ~ Jack Layton (1950-2011)

Sunday Faith Building: Rabbi Hess, Barrin Simpson and Reggie White

Baseball has been making regular appearances on my blog lately. Yes, Ralph Hass has been blogging baseball!

Thursday, Rabbi Hess blogged baseball on Ralph Branca and his faith journey. He was the pitcher who gave up the Bobby Thomson homerun in 1951 dubbed "the shot heard 'round the world" that won the pennant for the New York Giants.

• Barrin Simpson plays solid defense for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League. He leads by example on and off the field. Here is Barrin's inspiring story.

This brings back memories of the late great Reggie White - nicknamed the Minister of Defense during his Hall of Fame NFL career.

Do you know Voice Pro No-No's?

I've got you covered here with:

• News
• Weather 
• Sports

• Funny-voiced weather man sparks "meltdown" of news crew - KOGO (San Diego) via Airchecker

• Stephen Strasburg says ‘you know’ 24 times in 58 seconds

  You will also enjoy:

Twitter, TWIB notes & Blizzard (for the kids!)

The acronym, TWIB, involves baseball of course. The TV show started in 1977 featuring Mel Allen every week. He passed away in 1996 and Buzz Brainard is the current host.


I have been tweeting quite a bit about baseball lately. Yesterday:
#Baseball game in #Kelowna, BC last night and the Bellingham player's name was #Twitter-ific: Bobby Twedt Jr

@tim_micallef Are the Toronto Blue Jays "stealing signs?" No, it's a band from South Woodham Ferrers Essex: myspace.com/stealingsigns #MLB #ESPN

Tuesday's baseball Tweet:

#Kelowna Falcons are finishing the baseball season strong! 10-4 win against Bellingham tonight! #McDonald's Ronald McDonald sang Cdn anthem!

On Twitter yesterday:

Get caught up in the HOOPla! Revealed: The Official Name Of The Twitter Bird - AllTwitter via @alltwtr

Get caught up in the hoopla with this hooting owl, Luna! -- TELUS Learning Centre via @youtube

I posted a little earlier than usual today because I can remind you now to get a Blizzard and help the kids! Thursday is Miracle Treat Day at DQ®!

Happy 50th Pierre McGuire!

This is my 50th blog post of the year and we'll mark hockey announcer Pierre McGuire's 50th birthday with this tongue-in-cheek compilation:


Pierre McGuire won't be working as much in Canada any more. He's moving to Canaan, Connecticut from Montreal and concentrating on his career with NBC and Versus.

Sunday Faith Building: Be Still

I wonder if those ducks in my picture yesterday could sit still like that in a church pew?

◄◄◄There is a church renovation going on in our neighbourhood.

◄ Talk about a room with a view!

◄ If you build it, they will come. The line in the baseball movie "Field Of Dreams" in 1989 was "If you build it, he will come."

• A work in progress is a good way to describe God's church and its people. We are not perfect - but we are forgiven.
• Remember the childhood rhyme: “Here’s the church. Here’s the steeple. Look inside and see all the people.” I googled it and found it on the "Getting Down With Jesus" blog. "Church is people," says the author, Jennifer. "And Hope is the cord that ties the people. Hope is the thread that weaves through souls to make one Body. I’m part of this now — this one Body."

Her latest post is: Stand Still And See. We were also encouraged today at our church by Pastor Phil to be still this summer and listen for God's voice and His teaching.

Finally, congratulations today to Scott Stallings for winning his first PGA event! He quoted Philippians 3: 13-14 after his playoff victory against Bill Haas (close but no cigar in spelling to my last name) and Bob Estes.

A picture is worth a thousand QUACKS

This was taken earlier this month at the family cabin. Let me give you five possible captions as I wrap up a third straight month with five posts:

a) The Duck$ stop here.

b) "(Sittin' On) The Duck of the Bay."

c) Got all your ducks in a row? There is a song by a band named Goonies never say Die called "Get All Your Ducks In a Row" while James Taylor's "Sun On The Moon" starts off with "In line, in line, it's all in line

My ducks are all in a row"

d) Summer White and the Seven Ducks

 

e) Don't worry. I've got your back. (A dog's eye view is here).

Canadian flavor at Cooperstown!

Two of the most famous Toronto Blue Jays ever were inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame today. Congratulations Roberto Alomar and Pat Gillick!

Alomar also became the third Puerto Rico native to be inducted, following Orlando Cepeda and Roberto Clemente. Pat Gillick became the 32nd executive to be elected to the Hall of Fame and first general manager since George Weiss in 1971.

Meanwhile, former Montreal Expos announcer Dave Van Horne was inducted into the Hall of Fame yesterday.

Baseball sure has an international appeal! Today, pitcher Bert Blyleven became the first Dutchman in the Hall. Canada played a part in his youth after his family immigrated from Holland. They spent time in Montreal and Saskatchewan. Upon entry to Canada, the family name was changed from ‘Bljleven’ to ‘Blyleven,’ which Bert said meant ‘happy life’ in Dutch. Rather ironic that right now in the Canadian Football League, Montreal and Saskatchewan are playing. They have met for the Grey Cup title the last two years with Montreal prevailing as champs both times.

Poker Player or Hockey Ref?

I just finished up some lines for a mobile game development studio and a poker game they have coming out. Looking at the lines, it struck me that they could have been used by a hockey referee over the course of a game too. Have a listen here.

My on-hold script didn't sound quite right today:
For Corporate relations, please press 3; For Human Relations, please press 4.
That brought to mind President Bill Clinton's infamous quote from 1998:
"I did not have sexual relations with that woman."
It was number two on TIME magazine's list of the Top 10 Unfortunate Political One-Liners.

Dynamite Yankees! Cano and Jeter

Damn Dynamite Yankees! Robinson Cano hit 32 home runs tonight to win the Home Run Derby at the All-Star game in Phoenix. His dad was pitching them to him.

◄◄◄My sons and I saw Cano hit a home run in this 2-0 win in Seattle. What a pitching matchup! Randy Johnson vs Felix Hernandez.



◄◄◄The next day (and new month) saw Seattle win 5-1.

In those two games, leadoff hitters Derek Jeter and Ichiro Suzuki didn't give us our money's worth. Jeter was 0-6 and Ichiro was 0-8.

Ichiro  got his 3,000th career professional hit (in Japan and the US) in the summer of 2008. He currently has 2, 345 hits with the Mariners so 655 are needed before he accomplishes this just in North America. Only 28 players have ever done this - including Derek Jeter, who got his historic 3, 000th hit this past Saturday. To say it was dramatic would be putting it mildly...


Nice work Derek! You've got your ticket to Cooperstown...

Yankee Doodle Dandy!

This is my 44th post of the year...so Happy July 4th or 44th!? 

Number 44, BC's Jason Bay, helped the New York Mets beat the Yankees, 3-2, in extra innings today - spoiling the 44th birthday of Yankees GM, Brian Cashman. One year ago on July 4th, I paid tribute to the Yankees on my blog: Happy July 4th! Classic Steinbrenner on "Seinfeld." 

The most famous number 44 in Yankees' history? Of course, Reggie Jackson. His number was retired in 1993. This list includes all the players who have had their numbers retired by the Yankees.

Seven time NHL All-Star Paul Kariya announced his retirement the other day. I paid tribute to Paul on my blog in early 2008: Fine 4444orm!

Now, in fine form with the title of today's blog post: 

My Dad is a hero!

We just finished watching Adam Sandler's "Big Daddy"as a family on Father's Day. One of two movies I received. The other was "Brooklyn's Finest."

I am truly blessed to have three amazing children and MY Dad, who continues his brave battle against cancer at Hospice House. Heaven is very close and my Dad is ready✝✝

Thank you for teaching me SO much Dad!
Father's Day -The First Action Hero

Pick the Canucks next year says the crystal ball

Sorry, but brown beat blue in game 7 in Vancouver on Wednesday.

Boston wins the Stanley Cup! Congratulations!






I'll dedicate this one to all the Bruins fans...your Bruin eyes will be seeing the blue of Vancouver again - and we will win! Especially if you played this at your home games. It would probably cause your players to be skate like sissies:)

Don't worry...I do like country music. Maybe that will be my next songwriting attempt?

Thanks to everyone for your support of the CanuckStruck video anthem by RH/DC! Over 1, 500 views in the last two weeks! Stats show 79% of those are male while 70% of viewers are between the ages of 45-54.

Winners! Justin Hass ☑ Dallas Mavericks ☑ Canucks?

"Déjà Vu"...Game five went to Vancouver Friday night, 1-0. Thank you for an assist Raffi Torres! The goal early in the third was scored by Maxim Lapierre. The Canucks can clinch the Stanley Cup Monday night on my son's 18th birthday. Justin graduated this weekend from high school!

Proud Mom, Justin & me at Friday night's ceremony

Congratulations tonight to the Dallas Mavericks who won their first ever NBA title, beating Miami 105-95, and taking the series four games to two. The blue team prevailed tonight and I'm hoping for the same result tomorrow in Boston!

Yes, British Columbia loves Boston!

NOT the Bruins but Boston Bar - a small community of a couple hundred people. It's close to Hell...Hell's Gate actually...lots of spawning salmon must pass through the part of the Fraser River there every year.

Beautiful blue skies Saturday for the grad tradition of the walk on the waterfront promenade.

The Hass starting five: Jordan, Darlene, Justin, Ashley & Ralph

CanuckStruck anthem (RH/DC) ☑Ralph Hass ☒Don Cherry

The Canucks are causing quite a commotion right now…
Shooting for their first ever Stanley Cup against Boston!
Game one went to Vancouver last night, 1-0. Thank you Raffi Torres!

Who are you rooting for? Bobby Lou and the Canucks

or

Bobby Orr’s old Bruins?

The correct answer is:

V A N C O U V E R

We know it won’t be easy and we are expecting thunderous checks from Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic…
and probably Cam Neely in the press box…

Game two is Saturday at 5 pm. While we wait, please enjoy this most interesting musical interlude from yours truly and some truly talented friends:

Shaq retires!

Shaquille O'Neal retired today after a brilliant 19-year career!

I thought this song was a fitting tribute:

Cake-struck and Canuck-struck

Happy Birthday to our amazing daughter, Ashley!
She is 20 today!

The goofy guy below celebrated his 30th birthday in the spring of 1994 - the year the Canucks went all the way to the Stanley Cup finals, only to be disappointed by a game seven loss to the New York Rangers. That is a hockey shirt from the Las Vegas Thunder.

The Vancouver Canucks will be in their third Stanley Cup final beginning at home Wednesday, June 1. The Boston Bruins are the only team who can stop us from winning the Cup for the first time ever!

I have been involved this week in the imminent launch of http://www.canuckstruck.com/, one of the most creative projects I have ever been a part of. More details will appear on this blog soon.