Author: Joel

Stanley Cup Champs

First off, I am not a fan of the Anaheim Ducks whatsoever.  I am more of a fan of the sport of hockey than anything (and a big fan of the home team as well).  But I must say some things about the NHL playoffs that no other sport playoff series has.

Whenever I watch the playoffs and the finals no matter who wins the whole process brings a tear(s) to my eyes. Hockey is the only sport that has the hand-shaking thing.  Reminiscent of little league games it’s great to see opponents shake hands and hug (as manly as possible)after a rough series.  Especially after contentious moments.

It’s hard work and whoever ends up winning gets my respect.  One of my favorite teams to have won the cup was the Carolina Hurricanes.  I had the pleasure of working in the RBC Center and for the ‘canes before it was the RBC Center.  Always a fan even though I have since moved from Raleigh and am in Nashville and am a fan of my home team.

Congratulations to the Ducks.  And to the Predators, there’s always next year.

Are You On the List?

For the readers of this blog who are elsewhere in the states:
CoolPeopleCare‘s on a roll with 30 cities in 30 days.

Here’s where they’ll be:

June 1-Portland
June 2-Austin
June 3-Dallas
June 4-Fort Worth
June 5-Louisville
June 6-Phoenix
June 7-Baltimore
June 8-Charleston
June 9-Denver
June 10-Houston
June 11-Pittsburgh
June 12-Indianaplois
June 13-Seattle
June 14-San Francisco
June 15-Oakland		 June 16-Berkeley
June 17-New York
June 18-Chicago
June 19-Charlottesville
June 20-New Orleans
June 21-Charlotte
June 22-Fort Lauderdale
June 23-Orlando
June 24-Tampa
June 25-Raleigh
June 26-Philadelphia
June 27-Lincoln
June 28-Detroit
June 29-Minneapolis
June 30-???

Close Encounters of the . . . Well . . . I don’t really know

As the Elder Extroverted Holy One and I were taking the Young Extroverted One to her grandmother’s house for the night we had quite a surreal encounter. At the stop sign of our street waiting to turn onto Gallatin Road a vision in a faded magenta-ish velvet jumpsuit and purple suede-like shoes with black bushy hair and sideburns crosses in front of us. Pushing a shopping cart. What a time not to have a camera or a cell phone with a camera!

He turns and looks at us through his big, wraparound, bejewelled sunglasses and says, “You didn’t think you’d ever see the son of Elvis pushing a shopping cart, did you?”

Um, I didn’t think I’d ever see the son of Elvis ever! Let alone pushing a cart on Gallatin Road. I was so astounded freaked out that I didn’t even notice what he was pushing in his cart. But I did notice his purple suede shoes.

I thought I was having a flashback to when I was in Key West during Fantasy Fest (unbeknownst to me) and was passed by a pink Cadillac full of popes and a drag Marylin Monroe.

Southern ‘Urban’ Living and Pet Peeves

At the moment I am trying to make a move up the corporate ladder. Yup, I am climbing up ‘The Man’s’ damn ladder. Hey, it looks good on the resume and it means more money while the Elder Extroverted Holy One is in school.

I work for Presentation Services or PSAV which holds the audio visual services contract in many properties across the states. I found that a director of event technologies (which used to be director of av) position is open at the Marriott at Vanderbilt University. This is a very cool opportunity because not only is it advancement but it’s also closer to EEHO’s school and the Young Extroverted One’s school. Plus, the hours are a little more flexible and no real late night rigging hours.

Now on to the peeves: With this new property I am very close to downtown and have to drive through downtown. So, not only do I have to get familiar with new traffic patterns I also have to watch out for more pedestrians. And this is where you have to listen to this song while reading the next paragraph (if you can): In the Middle, In the Middle, In the Middle – by They Might Be Giants.

I began noticing the awful practice of crossing a busy, wide street in the middle of the block when I spent a short time living in Memphis with the then fiance EEHO (although she was just the Extroverted One at the time). We would be driving down Union to Idlewild Presbyterian Church (where she and I worked) and these people would be crossing the street at random times and spots along the block. On top of that they were going slow!?! As if daring us to run them over. Well, I am seeing the same thing here in Nashville. It’s not like it’s miles to the next corner to cross appropriately and safely. The corner and a traffic light are right nearby! I feel like I’m playing Frogger but I’m one of the cars and the not-so-smart pedestrian is the not-so-smart frog. I just don’t understand it. Does this happen everywhere? Is it just a southern ‘thang’? I just don’t get it.

My next pet peeve is probably a lot of people’s. The lack of turn signal use which really pushes my buttons. It really is the only thing that makes me yell out loud when I am driving. With this new commute I have been doing I’ve been seeing it more and it drives (ha!) me nuts.

Last, but not least, is rampant cell phone use while driving. I feel like I’m the only one that’s not using the phone. Am I somewhat indaquate that I don’t have conversations to carry on while I’m driving home? Am I not important enough? I just don’t see what is so important that it can’t wait until you get out of your car or before you even get in the car.

Heck, those are the folks that aren’t using turn signals I bet . . .

Get a Grip

Okay, it seems that every blogger in Nashville is talking about this potential purchase of the Nashville Predators by a Canadien (gasp) businessman. As a hockey fan I might as well jump on this bandwagon and say my piece (or is it peace? MTA a little help?) about the impending transaction.

To start off this post I must share an anecdote. The day I drove the Uhaul filled with our possessions I tuned in to one of the sports radio networks (I can’t remember which one) when they announced that Paul Kariya had just signed on to be a Predator. Hearing that announcement made the move from my beloved Black Mountain, North Carolina to Nashville worth it. The Elder Extroverted Holy One’s acceptance into Vanderbilt Divinity School aside I was all about living in a town with a NHL team again.

Okay, back to the topic at hand.

First of all the deal is not done.

The sale must be closed by June 30. Approval before that date from the NHL’s board of governors would be required.

Balsillie, the co-CEO of BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion Ltd., who saw his recent bid to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins fall apart, said he is respectful of all the “due diligence” required before the Predators deal can close.

“This is still Craig Leipold’s franchise until the deal is completed, so for me to comment at this time on any number of topics relative to the franchise would not be appropriate,” Balsillie said in a statement.

Hoops need to be jumped through and so forth and so on. However, I am as pessimistic about the outcome as most others are.

I must say that the current predicament the Preds are in I’m going to have to blame the corporate entities here in Nashville. As the Wall Street Journal says, “In a league where teams shoot for a 65-35 split between corporate and consumer ticketholders, the Predators’ fan base is about 30% corporate and 70% consumer.”

One can’t expect the fan base in this southern town to carry the whole burden of supporting the team. It has to be the whole community, which includes the local businesses. It seems that we, as fans, have done quite a lot to support our team. Heck, the Young Extroverted One loved our experience so much that she cried when I took someone else to a game! If I could afford it I would definitely get a couple of season tickets so I can take her to every game and to support our team.

When I worked for the Carolina Hurricanes it was extremely tough to make fans out of NASCAR and ACC basketball fans. It basically took a Stanley Cup win to build a following but there was definitely a core fan base that stuck it through the whole time. Plus, it took the local Raleigh businesses to get behind them. That’s what we need here.

But I must also keep in mind that this is all about business. If the deal goes through and the lease agreements aren’t made then Balsillie can do whatever he chooses with the team. If he decides to move it to a more hockey friendly community, like anywhere in Canada, then that’s his prerogative. I love hockey, I love the Predators but this relationship can’t work if the entire community doesn’t jump in to support them as well.

If any out-of-towners would like to support the Introvert/Extrovert family’s wishes to help support the Nashville Predators with season tickets then leave a comment below with your pledges. A hockey fan representative will contact you shortly.

Close Encounters of the Country Kind

william-lee-golden.jpeg

Saw this guy at a golf course country club thingy today.  The Elder Extroverted Holy One’s older brother and his wife, daugter and son are in town this week and we had brunch with them somewhere around Hendersonville.  This high-falutin’-collared-tucked-in-only-unless-it’s-designed-not-to-be-tucked-in-shirt-only place seemed a little out of the ordinary for William Lee Golden.  But then again I don’t know they guy at all.   He just didn’t blend in well with all of the other short haired yuppy, quite possibly replubican types that were browsing the pro shop.

 

**This post is dedicated to my mom.  A country music fan for whom I need to update with all my country music artist brushes with fame.  It makes her really jealous.**