Friday Facebook FUN! Gretzky, Cake, Waffles & Golf

My Facebook status yesterday afternoon:
Family Literacy Day in Canada BUT National Chocolate Cake Day
in the US...insert your own joke here...

My Facebook status Thursday morning:
NO hockey a day after Gretzky's 50th birthday?? Rumor has it
he may be drafted Friday for the NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft:)

Wednesday morning status: Happy 50th to Wayne Gretzky!

Monday night Facebook status: Toronto loses by 2 in basketball and hockey thanks to Memphis and Carolina...the baseball team will begin losing when their first spring training game happens against Detroit February 26...

• In related news, a frustrated Toronto Maple Leafs fan won't be doing time or have to pay a fine for throwing waffles on the ice at a game.

Friday's fashion photo faux pas:  Click for John Daly on the golf course yesterday. Disco Santa Claus? Today he is wearing lime green and spotted pants...
Bill Haas (love that last name!) is your second round leader right now at the Farmers Insurance Open. John Daly is currently tied for third with six others BUT in a league of his own when it comes to fashion...

Tuesday's Terrific Testimonial: NAPA Auto Parts

I did a voiceover for a new client near Cleveland today.

I will post the video for Victory Sports Park in the near future.

In mid-December I mentioned working for a new client that day while also sharing a great testimonial from a long-time client on I appreciate Thank Yous! 

 

So, here's today's testimonial from my client on the beach in Mexico:

Hi Ralph,
I'm still basking in the sunshine in Mexico (and working of course) but I had some feedback from NAPA that I wanted to share with you. First of all they have confirmed that Series 2 (10 Modules) is a go so I am currently working on those. Also, two of the Vice Presidents that reviewed our training commented specifically on your work.

The VP - Training said - "The guy speaking is really good."

The VP - Sales and Wholesale Markets said - "I find it amazing that the guy speaking never makes a mistake. He's amazing."

If you're still looking for more clients and want to send me a resume I will see that it gets to the right people at NAPA - they are the biggest parts supplier in the world so I have to believe there are opportunities for the type of work you do.
Hasta Luego,
Doug Vickers
Managing Partner, Horizon Automotive Management Products

Wow! I feel like I won an Academy Award or hit the jackpot!

Thank you Doug!

And thank you Lee at BMA Media Group!
I look forward to working with you again too...

Monday “Mourning” Quarterback/Football Nicknames

Both #6’s lost yesterday while both coaches named Mike moved on to the Super Bowl!

Sixth-seeded Green Bay and their coach since 2006, Mike McCarthy, beat Jay Cutler (his hometown is Santa Claus, Indiana) and the Chicago Bears, 21-14.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and their coach since 2007, Mike Tomlin, beat Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets, 24-19. Meanwhile, the Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur is NOT to be confused with the coach of the Jets – The Ranting Rex (Ryan)

Rex actually has some Toronto and hockey roots. Scientists believe this powerful predator could eat up to 500 pounds (230 kilograms) of meat in one bite! The Tyrannosaurus REX – NOT Rex Ryan!

The six coolest nicknames in NFL history include a couple of Bears and one Steeler. Check out the list here. It was inspired with the passing of former Buffalo Bill, Cookie Gilchrist, earlier this month.

Friday Facebook FUN! Drunk Monkey

This will be on ABC's "20/20" tonight. I see a future sitcom

Hockey wrap, Football predictions & YOUR Fauxdition vote NEEDED

It was a great result at the Kelowna Rockets 24th home game tonight! A 6-2 win over the Prince George Cougars! It was one of only three WHL games tonight.

There were also just three games in the NHL tonight. What happened Canada?! Toronto lost to the New York Rangers, 7-0, while Calgary was shutout by Minnesota, 6-0. OUCH!

The Western Hockey League is proud to announce that over 21 percent of all players who have played in the National Hockey League through the first half of the 2010-11 season are graduates of the WHL.
Of the 868 players who had played at least one game in the NHL as of January, 186 are graduates of the WHL.

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24 auditions submitted for this:

2011 Unofficial Casting Call for The Price Is Right

There are five finalists left and your vote is needed before 5 pm EST on Sunday, January 23 to crown a new champ! Let your vote be heard here. Get your vote in before the game starts between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets. I am predicting Pittsburgh to win on Sunday to move on to the Super Bowl against Green Bay, who must win in the Windy City of Chicago earlier on Sunday.

Guess who is getting a cartoon series?

I started off the new year with the Top 10 LeBron Plays/Blog appearances. Now comes word that LeBron James is getting a cartoon series! I left some creative ideas in the comments...

Football and Favre/Hockey History

Is it a coincidence that the final four NFL teams include two that NO longer have Brett Favre around? Congratulations to the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers, who won their playoff games this weekend!

The Jets shocked the New England Patriots today, 28-21. Green Bay rocked the Atlanta Falcons last night, 48-21!  Next Sunday, the Packers are in Chicago for the first playoff meeting between the longtime rivals since 1941. I believe Favre was the quarterback then, wasn't he?

The AFC battle next Sunday has the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Jets.

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So far this year, my six blog posts have NOT even referenced hockey in any way. Let's change that right now! BEEN there, done that! Jamie BENN, former Kelowna Rockets player, had the NHL's #1 goal last week:


This Week In NHL History is below - starting with Ovechkin's best goal ever!

Friday Facebook FUN! faux-dition time!

It is back again! The annual Unofficial Announcers Auditions or Fauxditions thanks to Peter K. O'Connell. I was the lucky winner last year doing the "fake" opening to ABC's World News with Diane Sawyer. This year's show in the spotlight is, to quote Peter: "the most amazing announcer supported game show in the history of broadcasting" - “The Price Is Right.”

There are some great prizes up for grabs this year so throw your voice in the ring! All the details are at the link above (UAAOF).

A couple of local Kelowna ladies (Lori and Lisa) tried to get on “The Price Is Right” last month. They were actually at the taping of the season finale for season 39. Things did not go according to plan and Lori and Lisa blogged about it here. On Christmas Eve, due to severe creative differences, Lori and Lisa parted ways. Lola and Liza has now risen
from the ashes.

I am going to let them know to enter the “The Price Is Right” faux-dition contest. Liza can sing so her voice may have a better chance than Lori's...

Football Top 10 on the 10th

So far this year, most of my time in the studio has involved editing changes to the first 8 NAPA Auto Parts training modules I voiced in 2010. NAPA Auto Parts is the sponsor of the NFL's "Let's Go Primetime." Deion Sanders' delivery style is ENTHUSIASTIC to say the least!

Here is his latest segment highlighting the Top 10 performers during the playoff weekend. The "run of the season" is at #1 and features a former Buffalo Bill, Marshawn Lynch, helping Seattle upset New Orleans. The New York Jets beat Indianapolis in the other Saturday matchup, 17-16.

This weekend on the "Thurman Thomas Show", my final Bills' Game Recap of the season was against the New York Jets from last weekend. It runs here from the 2:06 second mark to 3:12.

Here is the Billieve Moment flashback to a second round playoff game in the snow in Buffalo on January 12, 1991.

Bigger and better things (than this season's 4-12 record) are in store for the Buffalo Bills! I look forward to being a part of the action next season for the fourth time - assuming there is no NFL lockout...

Wild-CARD Saturday = GO Seahawks!

A wild-CARDBOARD Tuesday for Ted Williams was the first step in an amazing journey so ANYTHING is possible!

Seattle (7-9) faces the defending Super Bowl champion, New Orleans Saints (11-5), at 1:30 today to start the playoffs. Then the Colts (10-6)
host the New York Jets (11-5) at 5 pm.

Here is a great 96-second NFL promo to get you pumped up!

Before and After Footage: The homeless man with the golden voice

Unless you have been living under a rock (like Ted Williams may have) this week, you have probably heard the incredible story of the homeless man in Columbus, Ohio who's voice got him noticed. It is a rags to riches story that caused Ted to say: "I can't believe what's going on. God
gave me a million-dollar voice and I just hope I can do right by Him."

Seeing - and hearing - is believing!

The hoopla will continue for Ted. Let's hope he stays humble through all the events -- and that the rest of us remember to lend a hand to those in our sphere of influence.

Hot off the press! Ted's reunion with his mom. Mamma Mia!!


I received a 44-page bank tutorial elearning project today. I sent a note to my client: "Thanks for NOT sending this to the incredible homeless “voice sensation” in Ohio, Ted Williams.":)

Before and After Fitzpatrick Footage: Facial & Football

Here we go back to 1988 and this weekend's Billieve Moment against the New York Jets from the "Thurman Thomas Show."

This was our newer Game Recap on the show - last weekend's game against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. It runs from the 3:14 second mark to 4:41. QB Tom will most certainly be MVP of the NFL again!

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Buffalo Bills had a great season! His awesome numbers are here along with a Santa Claus-like beard. That would be your before footage. Here is the after look after getting a shave today:

Top 10 LeBron Plays/Blog appearances

Happy New Year!

LeBron James rang in the New Year with 25 points last night along with teammate Dwayne Wade as the Miami Heat moved to 26-9 with a 114-107 win over the Golden State Warriors.

221 points in that high scoring game - well ahead of the runner-up 191 points in two other games (Chicago 100, Cleveland 91 and Minnesota 103, New Jersey 88).

Enjoy the Top 10 LeBron Plays of 2010 below! If you are keeping score: Six are with Cleveland and four with Miami. Four are in a red or white jersey and two in black.


Personally speaking, here are the Top 3 LeBron James appearances on Has The VOice...On and Off the Ice:

1. Friday Facebook FUN! Featuring LeBron - July 9, 2010
2. Friday Facebook FUN! Featuring LeBron...again... December 3/10
3. 4444ork in the ROAD - January 16, 2008

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My son, Jordan (15), put on a nice display Thursday night when we could bring our kids out to my Men's League. Click here for another amazing Jordan in the Pacific Northwest. He is only 12-years-old!