NO More Christmas Sacks/Snacks But Happy New Year! Write YOUR Story In 2015

This is blog post #22 of 2014.
The sack leader in the NFL this season had 22.
Congrats to Justin Houston of Kansas City for leading the way!

I hope the man in red brought you a nice sack of toys for Christmas!
I believe Santa is more of a hockey fan than football fan.

Maybe #Santa should coach the #Oilers? Love the #Kelowna Rockets mural at @ProsperaPlace! #NHL #WHL #Hockey pic.twitter.com/KAYkhDynzn
— CanuckStruck (RH/DC) (@CanuckStruck) December 18, 2014

Gotta love Christmas and kids, right? A bank teller pointed out something interesting to me yesterday: all three of our kids have 6 letters in their first name. Taking it one step further, I see that 66 will be the cumulative age of our three kids after their birthdays in 2015. I am not superstitious but 666 isn't the best number combination:)

I would like to wish you a happy and prosperous 2015!
As you go through the next year, remember that everyone has a story. Get to know more of them. Life is about relationships. Invest in them outside of social media.

As Pastor Phil Collins shared at our church on Sunday morning: "Every one of you has a story that will make me weep...we all face our giants." 
Jump into 2015 with Faith from willowparkchurch on Vimeo.

The Most ONE-derful Time Of The Year!

Santa in a ONEsie? Stick to red big guy!

"One day in your life, Shouldn't be a problem." One month until Christmas shouldn't be a problem either, right @5440? http://t.co/qOtvCJgbCb
— CanuckStruck (RH/DC) (@CanuckStruck) November 25, 2014

Santa Sightings and Singing In Chicago!

Yes, I along with others, put my best foot forward yesterday!

I am #Santa - NOT a fireman:) Fun #photo shoot at Orchard Park Mall in #Kelowna today w/ Shawn Talbot Photography pic.twitter.com/3uKovAAgXF
— Ralph Hass_VO Actor (@RalphH_VO) October 23, 2014

'Tis the season for more Chicago Cubs jokes as the World Series is NOT featuring them AGAIN:) Congrats to the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals - who play game three tonight!

One Chicago Cubs fan ordered a knockoff jersey from Asia of beloved former third baseman and announcer Ron Santo. Ooops!

Ron Santo fan orders jersey from Asia, it comes back like this pic.twitter.com/pVw0iGZ4lg (H/T @TheBoothReview3)
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) October 16, 2014

PS I think Santa Claus is more of a hockey fan than baseball fan anyway as the sport has such strong roots in the north (Canada!).

Hot off the press today. it looks like there will be some rockin' at Wrigley next summer...

8/29 @ Wrigley Field Pre-sale is live now at http://t.co/r0geHrCT7Q @cheaptrick @nakedraygun @UrgeOverkill @cubs pic.twitter.com/729W8OMhkv
— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) October 24, 2014

Smile (even Sing the Anthem) If You Are A Hockey Fan!

This year is my 7th handling #voiceover imaging for the @BuffaloSabres & 8th for the @WHLonShawTV:) http://t.co/g9rUy1uIxl
— Ralph Hass_VO Actor (@RalphH_VO) September 23, 2014

Guess who else Has The VOice when it comes to hockey?

Mark Donnelly is a real pro as an anthem singer for the Vancouver Canucks. But he took a bit of a tumble on a trip in Penticton last Friday! See him NOT miss a beat right here.

The Calgary Flames' anthem singer has announced she is stepping back from the mic after 16 years. Heather Liscano gave a farewell performance tonight in Calgary BUT the Flames couldn't send her out on a winning note. The Canucks won 4-2 and that makes me smile!

#NHLalphabet: Miller & Smile have many of the same letters:) GO #Canucks & #Sabres - 1970 #NHL expansion cousins! pic.twitter.com/bNCLGm3YmA
— Ralph Hass_VO Actor (@RalphH_VO) October 4, 2014

Moms Deserve Only The Best!

The best defensive player in the NFL just did this for his Mom!

I've wanted to be able to do this my whole life. For all you've worked & sacrificed, you deserve it. Happy B-Day Mom! pic.twitter.com/oP1AWQwGwu
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 1, 2014

I noticed some cartoons in our local paper today had fun with Mom...

You can see the outcomes (in color!) for Hi & Lois here and for Zits here.

My last post was titled:
Family Numbers Are Better Than Football Or Social Media Numbers!

Could have called this one:
Family Members Are Better Than Football Or Social Media Numbers!

Three cheers for Mom! Send her some love - even via Facebook if you are miles apart...

Family Numbers Are Better Than Football Or Social Media Numbers!

Family numbers are more important than football or social media numbers!
I tweeted this not long ago:

#NHL > #NFL & #CFL but I love all 3! Am a father of 3 married for 26 yrs while @TDESPN is a dad of 3 married for 21 yrs:) #TheFatherFactor
— CanuckStruck (RH/DC) (@CanuckStruck) September 15, 2014

The NFL is dealing with some serious issues and I think it will ultimately result in Commissioner Roger Goodell being shown the door. There is a new hashtag trending: #GoodellMustGo
More in this Time.com article.

I didn't get a left-handed tweet into my last blog post like the previous two posts, so here is another involving the quarterback who beat the Seahawks yesterday in San Diego:

Philip Rivers led NFL in completion percentage (69.5%) in 2013. He excelled throwing to left side of field pic.twitter.com/VWliMbBvAX
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 9, 2014

Philip Rivers paid tribute to an injured teammate on the football field yesterday.

Did you know Philip Rivers married his junior high school sweetheart, Tiffany, in 2001? They have seven children...Touchdown!

San Diego is in Buffalo next Sunday. The Bills will be looking for their third straight win! Loved the hashtag in Buffalo for the home opener:

#Bills are rocking w/ a 26-10 lead in the 4th vs Dolphins! #RockTheRalph & give headlines to "that" SAM - @sammywatkins: 8 catches, 117 yds
— Ralph Hass_VO Actor (@RalphH_VO) September 14, 2014

Food For Thought: Go Seahawks!

The NFL season starts tonight nearby in Seattle!
Remember, there is NO I in TEAM - or Tomato:)

Neither the Seattle Seahawks or the visiting Green Bay Packers have an I in their name. But Green Bay has Julius Peppers in the lineup after coming over from Chicago. His hometown is Wilson, North Carolina.

Sorry Julius, but Russell Wilson will have a better game than you tonight as quarterback of the Hawks! His hometown is Richmond, Virginia but he appreciates his Canadian fans and brought the Lombardi trophy to Vancouver recently.

I am on dinner duty at chez Hass tonight and omelettes are on the menu - with a few instructions from my wife, a fan of post-it notes. I heard on sportstalk radio the other day that Jim Benning, the general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, kind of goes overboard with post-it notes. You can read the newspaper article about that here.

San Fran Sports & Guess Who LEFT His Heart in Kelowna?

Just like last time, here is another cool left-handed stat...

LHP to throw 13 K/0 BB shutout, with 0/1 hits allowed in last 50 yrs Sandy Koufax, Randy Johnson, Clayton Kershaw & Madison Bumgarner
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 27, 2014

Nice work by the San Francisco Giants' pitcher! The only player to get a hit was lucky #13, the Canadian, Justin Morneau. He was robbed early in the game!

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

Switching San Francisco sports, I don't think the football 49ers will be as much a threat to the Super Bowl champion Seahawks this season. For starters, they can't even get their field in shape right now.

San Francisco shines so brightly when Tony Bennett sings! 
Did you know he performed at Mission Hill Winery in Kelowna earlier this month?



Can you believe he has an album coming out with Lady Gaga on September 23rd?
Check out their chemistry in this Rolling Stone link!

Happy Anniversary! What's In A Number?

It has been 27 days since I last blogged...

27 left-handed QBs have thrown a TD in NFL history. In 2005, Steve Young became the first lefty QB elected to the HOF. #LeftHandersDay
— FOX Sports NFL (@NFLonFOX) August 13, 2014

Besides Left Handers Day yesterday, it was our 26th wedding anniversary! Here is the blog tribute I paid my wife last year.

• Marriage was mentioned in yesterday's Hägar the Horrible cartoon, which took a shot at mothers-in-law:(  
• Today's cartoon is about not pursuing dreams...

• Looks like Hägar and Helga have been married a long time and had an anniversary two months ago. 
• The blog also shows that Hägar and his beard are hockey fans!

What's In A Name? Cue Weird Al Yankovic!

Happy birthday to a pair of Torre’s (Torii’s? Torrii?), @JoeTorre and @toriihunter48. pic.twitter.com/Te6DnlM3VL
— MLB Milestones (@MLBMilestones) July 18, 2014

Ha! What's in a Name? MT @Adweek The other #Bieber, Zellweger & #Letterman star in ads for the other Amazon: http://t.co/LS34ZapQxv
— Ralph Hass_VO Actor (@RalphH_VO) July 17, 2014

Close, but no cigar for Tori Spelling.

Her birthday was two months ago...

Speaking of spelling, did you see Weird Al Yankovic was back this week and turned Robin Thicke's “Blurred Lines” into “Word Crimes?” Time.com says: "an entertaining (and honestly, quite educational) ode to proper grammar. We recommend bookmarking this one and consulting it as a resource in the future."

Today, Weird Al released "Sports Song", directed by Canadian Andrew Bush. It's the fifth of eight videos the parody artist is releasing. It's his take on the entire idea of the sporting fight song.You can check it out here!

Ten Things On The Tenth From Texas and Beyond

1)

Congrats to our guy Messi #teamadidas #allin or nothing pic.twitter.com/hLWbdT9i5u
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 9, 2014

2) I am rooting for Germany in the World Cup final on Sunday versus Argentina!

3) The Women’s World Cup will be here in Canada next year! I am ready to cheer - not announce:)

4) Some more soccer and voiceover thoughts left by me here on Dan Hurst's article at VoiceOverXtra.

5) RG III is getting a statue at Baylor. That's in Texas y'all!
See seven others from the Big 12 conference here.

6) Be inspired! NBA honors ex-Baylor star Isaiah Austin during draft.

7) Faff Camp II is planned for San Antonio next year! March 20 - 22, 2015. The time to register is NOW! You can trust Bob Souer's endorsement!

8)

Words of wisdom while working out at the Rutland @ymcaokanagan location in #Kelowna. #Courage #KeepTraining pic.twitter.com/ZReRUv88YU
— Ralph Hass (@RalphH_VO) July 9, 2014

9) On this Thursday (when I play basketball with the guys every week!), I predict LeBron James will be having a déjà vu season with the Canadian kids in Cleveland!

10) Bill Good announced his retirement today after nearly 26 years at CKNW in Vancouver. He comes from a media family with a strong sports flavor. Read more here.

Hands UP for the LA Kings and San Antonio Spurs!

Did you notice the Stanley Cup was decided in just 5 games?
It was the same story in the NBA. LeBron and the Heat cramped up...

Congratulations to the 5-letter Kings from LA and the 5-letter Spurs from SA, who both champed up!
Los Angeles certainly had to work a lot harder than San Antonio as three wins happened in overtime!

The playoff MVP for LA was Justin Williams! Yes, he shares  the same first name as our son - who got to celebrate with the Kings as well on Friday the 13th!

While Justin Hass turned 21, I like the following photo because it adds up to 50 - which I turned three months ago.

"They got over themselves a long time ago." - Gregg Popovich on Duncan, Parker & Ginobli. pic.twitter.com/5RgfHOSbP0
— HoopSkills (@hoopskills) June 16, 2014

Sorry, this photo of the Los Angeles Kings only adds up to 49...

Memorial Day (and hockey) WILL tug on your heartstrings!

Today is Memorial Day in the United States. It is celebrated every year on the last Monday of May and hearts are heavy to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service.

The date today is the 26th and two number 26's have found a place in many hockey fans' hearts:

• Martin St. Louis of the New York Rangers scored in overtime last night against the Montreal Canadiens to pull his team within one game of the Stanley Cup final!

Martin St. Louis scored the game-winner in OT to lift the @NYRangers to the win! Watch http://t.co/wJQDwKiXf5 #VCats pic.twitter.com/NzWdcXayQQ
— Vermont Men's Hockey (@UVMmhockey) May 26, 2014

Martin has been the emotional leader of the team after losing his mom only three weeks ago to a sudden heart attack. The team has rallied around "Marvelous St. Louis" and even attended the funeral of France St. Louis on May 18th.

+++++++++++++++

• The late Kristians Pelss served as inspiration for his former teammates on the Edmonton Oil Kings winning the Memorial Cup yesterday in London, Ontario!
• Remembering Kristians Pelss

#OilKings #PlayForPelssy -->> "@EdmOilKings: 1963. 1966. 2014. Your Edmonton Oil Kings are Memorial Cup Champs!" pic.twitter.com/e7RMQhKkvL
— Patrick Miller (@pj_ce) May 25, 2014

Three Speeches That Will Tug On Your Heartstrings (including MVP Kevin Durant)

With Mother's Day coming up this weekend, what a great tribute NBA MVP Kevin Durant paid his mom in his acceptance speech yesterday!

My favorite basketball team won this award last Thursday at the City of Kelowna's 39th Annual Civic and Community Awards. The Kelowna Christian School Knights were Senior Boys AA Basketball champions in British Columbia last year!

Speaking on behalf of the team, Ryan Linttell (who's mom, Eva (far left), coached the team), said: We're such a tight group of guys and we're really a brotherhood and I feel really honored to have the voice for our whole team. I'd really like to thank all of our parents first and foremost because they have been there for every basketball game, every practice and driving us out. Every tournament we had a huge support team out there for us! Honestly, this is one of the nicest group of parents and players I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

The Nashville Predators named Peter Laviolette as their new coach yesterday. Apparently this boy was a little young for the job - even though his speech was quite motivating...

Can't Always Be Right. Bye Bye John Tortorella!

The owners of the Vancouver Canucks did not get it right so John Tortorella was fired today after just one season as head coach of the team. Don't feel sorry for him though as he had signed a five-year, $10 million contract here.

I'm glad to see I wasn't the only one who struck out three times with my best-of-7 NHL picks last night...

Having lost all 3 game 7s, I ended the first round at 4-4 in predictions. I would stop making predictions if the paper didn't insist on them
— steve simmons (@simmonssteve) May 1, 2014

...but happy to see a few 7's in today's cheque from a great voiceover client!

So, Ralph The Hockey Guy didn't get it right BUT Rob The Hockey Guy in Vancouver sure did!

Best predictions I've ever done: 8/8 and 3/3 in game 7s pic.twitter.com/3nLfSZbF3f
— Rob The Hockey Guy (@RobTheHockeyGuy) May 1, 2014

Legends Stepping Aside: Dan Russell, Peter Maher & Darlene Hass!

Three game sevens to end the month? WOW and thank you NHL!
Hope the W's go to the Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks tonight!

Former Kelowna Rockets' defensemen in the lineup cause those picks for me:

• Luke Schenn - Philadelphia
• Tyson Barrie - Colorado. Injured by a cheap shot in game 4 of the series. What a future! 38 points as a 22-year-old this season. 
• Scott Hannan - San Jose. 35-years-old and steady as he goes on the blue line.

All good things come to an end. We'll see if that holds true for the New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild and the Los Angeles Kings tonight.

Last night we got to celebrate my wife's 10-year run as an amazing support care worker with her company, clients and parents! Today is Darlene's final day there and we are looking forward to amazing NEW opportunities in the future!

On the broadcast front, Dan Russell is ending his nightly Sportstalk radio show tomorrow night after nearly 30 years from Vancouver. I was a regular listener for most of those years. One more "pleasant good evening" tomorrow. And Dan will be handling play-by-play of the Western Hockey League final starting Saturday night from Portland on Shaw-TV as the Winterhawks and Edmonton Oil Kings meet for a third straight year.

Calgary Flames play-by-play man Peter Maher announced his retirement from broadcasting yesterday following a career spanning five decades. His trademark call? Enjoy!

One Of These Two Men Is Calm, Cool & Collected

There are pros and cons to basketball. The two pictures below illustrate my point. Carry on...

San Antonio @Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich named 2013-14 NBA Coach of the Year: http://t.co/CTIanaTUr4 pic.twitter.com/jcPMDSAJCB
— NBA (@NBA) April 22, 2014

As I said on my last tweet too: "Another crazy headline from Canada?" #Raptors #RobFord pic.twitter.com/fxvo0csVqF @SBNation @reporterdonpeat
— Ralph Hass (@RalphH_VO) April 22, 2014

Buffalo Sabres have a new #50! Cue the playoffs!

Congratulations to Nathan Lieuwen on starting his first game in the net for the Sabres last night in Calgary!

I hope he has a long and successful career like Dominik Hasek, who will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame during a ceremony March 29 at First Niagara Center. Sadly, the Sabres became the first NHL playoff casualty, knocked out in Sunday's loss to Montreal.

Check out Nathan's interview here.

Nathan Lieuwen's old junior team, the Kootenay Ice, open the WHL playoffs in Calgary tomorrow night. Lieuwen also played here in West Kelowna with the junior A Warriors for a brief time. Small world...although he is 6' 5":)

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Kelowna Rockets goalie Jordon Cooke was the team MVP this season and he is playing for a pro contract so he wants to shine in the playoff spotlight. The Rockets finished 50 points ahead of their first round opponents, the Tri-City Americans. That series starts here on Saturday night. The Rockets won't be taking Tri-City lightly even though they won all four regular season matchups. Last year in the opening round of the playoffs, Kelowna also played a team they had a 50 point cushion on and the Seattle Thunderbirds won the first three games before Kelowna had to pull off four in a row.

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

Here is a promo I voiced last week for the WHL on Shaw TV. If you listen closely, no, I am not mentioning my blog in the script...

I see last March I had fun with the number 50 too on this blog:

• March Madness & Voiceover talents
• Rockets 50, Spurs 50, Ralph Hass 49

Sign Of Things To Come? Turning 50!

Call it a sign of things to come? I snapped this photo at the gas station as I'm 49 today and moving on to 50 tomorrow! Lots of gas/Hass left in "my tank":)

Gotta love those spring colors! GREEN$, blue skies...

Well, that's the first time I have included a number in a blog title since September 25th...

Ha! I guess Dave Courvoisier got me thinking about that with his recent posts:

• 3 Reasons to Distrust Any VO Blog With a Number in the Title 
• 8 VO Clichés We Love to Hate (…and why we might be wrong about them)

Super Bowl for the Birds? Go Seahawks!

Last year the Baltimore Ravens won the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers. Tomorrow I will pick the Seattle Seahawks to come out on top against the Denver Broncos!

Yes, a little bird (see him at the top of the photo) or a wise owl told me this on December 8th while participating in the annual Living Nativity Christmas production at our church.

Sharp Dressed Man, Ralph Hass, on break in his man cave?

ZZ Top will be here in Kelowna, BC on March 20th. No doubt they will be performing the classic below! What if we gave it a bit of a Seahawks flavor?

Clean shirt, new cleats and I know where I am goin' to. 

Super Bowl, THE Super Bowl! 

I don't need a reason why. 

They come runnin' just as fast as they can coz every girl crazy 'bout a Seahawks man! *I am referring to the players, not me:) 

Gold watch, Super Bowl ring! I ain't missin' a single thing...

If you enjoyed my football flavored ZZ Top lyrics, you will like my 2011 AC/DC inspired Vancouver Canucks video tribute, CanuckStruck.

All Good (Sports) Things Come To An End

The only thing this guy couldn't do? Cook.
Congratulations on your retirement Anthony Calvillo!

Read the full story here.

I introduced you to Wade Redden and Santa Claus last month. He recently retired after 14 years in the NHL. Don't worry kids. Santa is still going strong!

Henrik Sedin is seeing his ironman streak end tonight for the Vancouver Canucks at 679 games. It started in March of 2004 but last Thursday he took a late crosscheck in the back of the ribs against Phoenix. Sedin has also been playing through a finger injury that requires him to wear a splint. So Henrik won't be in the lineup tonight against Edmonton.

To extend Henrik's streak though, the Canucks should have brother Daniel wear his jersey. As you'll see here, the refs have trouble telling them apart sometimes...

Joining Henrik on the sidelines is his coach. Yes, "All Good Torts Things Come To An End." John Tortorella should NOT have done this Saturday night. The NHL has suspended Torts for 15 days, without pay.

Words of Wisdom from Dr. Maya Angelou

Happy New Year!

• I was NOT "bored" ringin' in the New Year! Unfortunately, my wife beat me on the Scrabble "board" 339-334:(
• Up late last night/early this morning listening to the last JT the Brick show in that time slot before he moves to 3 pm PST beginning Monday.
• The night before I was up until after 2 am going that extra mile for a voiceover client. Love my job!

The Winter Classic WAS one on New Year's Day! Over 105, 000 people in Ann Arbor, Michigan in Michigan Stadium to watch Toronto and Detroit live while 3.57-million Canadians watched it on TV and 4.4-million American viewers - making it the second most-watched regular season NHL game since 1975 in the US! Oh, Toronto won in the shootout 3-2.

We watched this great interview with Dr. Maya Angelou as 2014 hit. Words of wisdom from this 85-year-old for young people at the start:

• Forgive yourself
• Watch for open doors

Toward the end of the 14-minute interview, Dr. Angelou said for this new year to:

• Tell the truth to yourself and to the children
• Live in the present. Don't deny the past and know the charge on you is to make this country more than it is today!