NHL Back In Winnipeg

TSN put it best…”It’s a done deal”, the Thrashers are coming to Winnipeg.

My phone has been going crazy all day with updates and texts like you wouldn’t believe. I was at the dentist this morning and I was getting more vibrations from my phone than the hygienist. Everyone wanting to know if I was heading over to the Forks to hear the announcement and celebrate.

“Hells no. I am going to stay in Lorette and avoid the downtown area like the plague today”.

Not because I am not happy but because it’s going to be a zoo down there. I was watching live on TSN and I could already see a street hockey game at Portage and Main developing. I will stay home and celebrate quietly until I am around the poker table with a couple of guys who told me this was never going to happen and then I might gloat a little. In fact I think they owe Tyler and I dinner and 529.

I have a lot of emotions about this historical day. I even got a text from a girl I used to hang out with a lot back in the day when the “Finnish Flash” was setting records with the Jets. I don’t hear from her very often but today she wrote: “Congratulations, you got your Jet’s back…”. This text reminded me just how much love I had for the game back then. Enough that other people could see it and on a day like this they thought of how excited I would be! It made me realize how much I wish those feelings were still alive.

I am going out on limb and saying that they will not call the team “The Winnipeg Jets”. They need the marketing dollars waaaaaaaay to much. I look forward to a fresh start and maybe after seeing a few games I might even like these Thrashers enough to buy a jersey and support this cause.

It’s great for the city of Winnipeg and now that Mark Mike Keane is retired it’s the perfect time to welcome back the NHL. Going to start saving now so that Lexi can see a game before she turns 10. For those of you making some money you can get in line for season tickets here: www.driveto13.com/.

Save The Thrashers?

Back in 96 I garnished wages to support the “Save The Jet’s” campaign and attended the rally’s on Portage and main. Ponch and I attended the last regular season game at the “Old Barn” and nearly cried in the stands as they took an extra couple of laps to say goodbye to the fans. A piece of me left with that team.

When I first heard that the Jets were coming back I was as pumped as the next guy. I wanted to believe so bad that I bit onto every rumor like a steak at 529′s. I had a few friends tell me that “it could never happen” and now on the verge of obtaining the Atlanta Thrashers…I realize just how right they were.

NEWS FLASH: for all you streakers out on Portage and Main…the Jets aren’t coming back, it’s the Thrashers. They have no affiliation to Winnipeg, or the Jet’s, or Van Halen’s “Jump”. Most of them don’t even want to come here. The only time I could ever feel comfortable wearing my Jet’s jersey to see the Thrashers will be when the Coyotes are visiting.

I don’t mean to rant but whoever made this logo should be shot. What do birds with hockey sticks have to do with the Jets? It’s awful.

I am excited to see some NHL action next season though. I hope all the 16 year olds who were partying on Portage and Main have some high paying jobs after school so they can buy some season tickets. That way at least I can go and see a Canucks game here and there for $200. At least I might recognize a couple old Moose players!

I am not slagging the Thrashers at all, I know they have a lot of potential and building to do. I will support and cheer for them because they will represent Winnipeg. What I won’t do is call them the Jets.

Happy 60th JD

This weekend was a special one. It was JD’s 60th birthday bash and thanks to Linda and Barb the event was a huge success. I think the highlight for a lot of us including JD was that Tim was able to come in for this one. I don’t think it was his intention to make everyone cry this weekend but he did a pretty good job. Here are a couple highlights…

Happy birthday JD, it was great to share this with you.