This was back in 2003. Kariya was knocked out on the ice for a minute or two before getting back up. Everyone thought Kariya was done until next season, but he came back and scored the winning goal. Just another reason why hockey players are tougher than you...
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Edmonton Oiler fans sing O' Canada.
If this doesn't give you chills, then you might want to go see a doctor...
Darcy Tucker lays out Sami Kapanen
This is one of the funniest hockey videos I've seen since I've become a fan. The poor guy in the highlight couldn't even stand up. It turns out in the end that he had a major concussion.
Enjoy...
Enjoy...
Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche - Game 7, 1999
This is a video after the game when the Stars advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. I was 10-years-old at the time, and my father and I were there. Notice, the captain, Derian Hatcher doesn't touch the trophy that is presented to them after the game. It's a tradition in hockey. You don't touch the trophy until it's the Stanley Cup.
"Nothing Else Matters"
This is another video of when the Stars won the Stanley Cup in 1999. It is a highlight reel through part of the playoffs leading up to the final cup-clinching goal.
Monday, April 26, 2010
My proposed road trip, and what it means to me...
TRAVELING THE ICY ROAD
The road to me presents many things and allows people to experience a variety of others. From trying to find your inner self to just escaping reality in hopes that a short sabbatical will relieve you from life’s everyday duties, the road provides the individual with the opportunity to experience events that are unlikely to be seen in the comforts of your own home on a day-to-day basis.
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Wes DeVoe – Wes, being short for my first name, Charles. Isn’t it clever? Here's a picture just in case you want to see how charming I am...
I am a junior at the University of Texas at Austin (notice the beanie and sweatshirt), and just happen to be a die-hard hockey fan in a market that chooses to use ice to chill beer, more so than for the purpose of letting hockey players bang heads against one another. I'm sure, just like the rest of America, that you are one of those hockey bashers. At least hear me out on this one: Everyone hates on hockey until they've seen a game in person. So if you haven't yet, go out and try it. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Anyway, I thought this picture was funny because hockey fans, and players alike, tend to be raging drinkers.
MY DEFINITION OF THE ROAD:
After much contemplation overt the past few months, I have determined that the best definition I can formulate to accurately describe the road is that it is an opportunity to experience life, and really appreciate the little things one comes in contact with. The road also provides an avenue to experience the randomness of life as it takes its course through ups and downs, and gives one the opportunity to go through times of personal reflection. And finally, I want this road trip to be a reflection of my cultural interests, which will include stops to Graceland and war memorials along the way. Honestly, I can’t think of a better itinerary than the one that I am planning, as I know that it will allow me to experience my definition of what a road trip is.
My journey will take me from Austin through Nashville, and all the way to the northeastern coast where I will then proceed to make my way towards Chicago before heading back home to Texas. Coincidentally, my journey happens to be taking place during the NHL playoffs, the tournament to decide the winner of Lord Stanley’s Cup, which is the main reason why I am choosing this route. Being an avid sports fan, and an even more fanatical hockey follower, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to experience all the different arenas across the United States during one of the most popular playoff times of the year. And seeing as I have first hand experience with raging hockey fans, I thought this would road trip would really allow me to fulfill my definition.
WHERE THE TRIP WILL TAKE ME, AND WHO I AM GOING WITH:
Now, the first question any inquisitive person might ask is how much is this entire trip going to cost? Well, my whole journey roundtrip is roughly 4,500 miles, each of which will be seen by my green truck that I like to call the “Green Monsta,” in honor of Fenway Park’s historic left field wall in Boston. Here she is, all 125,000 miles of her. She's a beauty ain't she?
Doing simple math, my beauty ride gets me 400 miles on the highway, and a full tank of gas costs me around $50. In gas expenses alone, that would average out to about $562.50. Add in an additional $30 per night for my stay at the occasional Motel 6, and I’m looking to add another $630 over this three-week span of travel. Then there is the mighty task of landing a ticket, each of which will be a hot commodity, so that I can put my butt in a seat during each of these games. As I anticipate that I will attend at least one game in each of the cities I stop in – Nashville, Washington D.C., East Rutherford, Philadelphia, Boston, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Chicago – I am allotting nearly $50 per game (that means I’ll be sitting in the rafters, basically) to see the action in person, which equates to a total of around $450. Of course, there is the expense of finding food, but one must remember, I’m a college student. I can survive off of ramen noodles and peanut butter and jelly with the best of them. So, that expense is miniscule in the long run. But just in case you’re worried, don’t be because I’ll be sure to pack a sack lunch – or twenty.
STOPS ALONG THE WAY:
As I said before, my first stop will be in Nashville to witness my first playoff game of the postseason between the Blackhawks and the Predators. But seeing as I am trying to develop a new appreciation for music, I am planning a visit to Memphis so that I can see Elvis Presley’s Graceland mansion. After all, he is considered to be the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and the one who put this kind of music back on the map. According to his web site, “His talent, good looks, sensuality, charisma, and good humor endeared him to millions, as did the humility and human kindness he demonstrated throughout his life. Known the world over by his first name, he is regarded as one of the most important figures of twentieth century popular culture” (Discover Elvis). A stop to visit the King is surely in order. I think it can only help me appreciate my love for music, which has lacked lately due to my busy school and work schedule, even more. A visit to Graceland would surely be wonderful. It is a large white-columned mansion that was home to Elvis in Tennessee. It currently serves as a museum and was opened to the public in 1982. Graceland has become the second most visited private home in America with over 600,000 visitors a year; only the White House has more visitors per year (Discover Elvis - Graceland).To go to one of the most historic places in the country along the way would be absolutely great. And considering I was not alive during the Elvis era, it would definitely allow me to learn some things about the King of Rock that I never knew before.
After I depart the state of Tennessee, my plan is to head east towards the District of Colombia to catch a game between the Caps and the Canadiens (Not Canadians). But seeing as I’ll be in the President’s dwelling, I figure that I’ll make time to stop and admire all the lives that were lost in battle during the Vietnam War. According to the Vietnam website, with the addition of one name added in 2009 the total is now 58,261 names listed on the Memorial. Approximately 1,200 of these are listed as missing (Vietnam War Memorial Page). This moment will help my inner growth, as I will see plenty of men and women's names who have sacrificed their lives for this country, while I’m worrying about spilt milk on a daily basis. In other words, it will serve as a wake up call for me to not take life so seriously, and to really appreciate what I have because it can all be lost in the bat of an eye.
TOTAL COST:
As it is clearly evident, this trip will carry a heavy price tag of roughly $2,000. But the experiences and moments of self-reflection along the way will cancel out any monetary debt that I might encounter. By taking time to reflect on what past soldiers and political leaders have done for this country during my stop in the D.C. area, along with my stop to visit Elvis’ mansion in Memphis, I will be able to develop, and somewhat rekindle two appreciations that I have pushed to the back burner. In today’s society, music is everything. It’s upbeat, yet relaxing, and sometimes, it even states exactly what’s happening in your life. In other words, I will have found that I can relate more to music and what it’s all about. In regards to my stop in the Washington D.C. area, just looking at all the different monuments that are erected around the city is dignifying and makes this country what it is.
RECAP:
This aforementioned journey will definitely illustrate what my definition of a road trip is. From the randomness of traveling to each city, with no guarantee that a ticket will be found, the road will definitely give me an opportunity to mature and grow, as I take to the road by myself. Some of you might ask, "Why don't you try to find tickets beforehand to save yourself the burden of searching for them?" My response: Scalping tickets has always been something I have prided myself on. Whether it's looking for my annual Texas vs. Oklahoma ticket in Dallas, or finding a ticket to a big time college basketball game, I always enjoy the rush that comes along with not having a ticket. And to this day, I have always been successful in finding a ticket when it gets closer to crunch time (after all, scalpers practically hand you tickets close to game time because they'd rather have a buck than an unused ticket). Call me crazy, I know. But it adds to the experience for me.
Although my main purpose on this road trip is to travel from arena to arena just to catch a hockey game, the icy road that is the hockey rink will lead me to places with even deeper meaning. And no price tag can stand in my way to stop me from experiencing that. Luckily for me, those days of carhopping at Sonic in 100-degree heat and leaving with cold, hard cash are finally paying off as I get ready to set sail on my icy extravaganza. Hopefully, you'll continue to read about how the journey pans out...
The road to me presents many things and allows people to experience a variety of others. From trying to find your inner self to just escaping reality in hopes that a short sabbatical will relieve you from life’s everyday duties, the road provides the individual with the opportunity to experience events that are unlikely to be seen in the comforts of your own home on a day-to-day basis.
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Wes DeVoe – Wes, being short for my first name, Charles. Isn’t it clever? Here's a picture just in case you want to see how charming I am...
I am a junior at the University of Texas at Austin (notice the beanie and sweatshirt), and just happen to be a die-hard hockey fan in a market that chooses to use ice to chill beer, more so than for the purpose of letting hockey players bang heads against one another. I'm sure, just like the rest of America, that you are one of those hockey bashers. At least hear me out on this one: Everyone hates on hockey until they've seen a game in person. So if you haven't yet, go out and try it. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Anyway, I thought this picture was funny because hockey fans, and players alike, tend to be raging drinkers.
MY DEFINITION OF THE ROAD:
After much contemplation overt the past few months, I have determined that the best definition I can formulate to accurately describe the road is that it is an opportunity to experience life, and really appreciate the little things one comes in contact with. The road also provides an avenue to experience the randomness of life as it takes its course through ups and downs, and gives one the opportunity to go through times of personal reflection. And finally, I want this road trip to be a reflection of my cultural interests, which will include stops to Graceland and war memorials along the way. Honestly, I can’t think of a better itinerary than the one that I am planning, as I know that it will allow me to experience my definition of what a road trip is.
My journey will take me from Austin through Nashville, and all the way to the northeastern coast where I will then proceed to make my way towards Chicago before heading back home to Texas. Coincidentally, my journey happens to be taking place during the NHL playoffs, the tournament to decide the winner of Lord Stanley’s Cup, which is the main reason why I am choosing this route. Being an avid sports fan, and an even more fanatical hockey follower, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to experience all the different arenas across the United States during one of the most popular playoff times of the year. And seeing as I have first hand experience with raging hockey fans, I thought this would road trip would really allow me to fulfill my definition.
WHERE THE TRIP WILL TAKE ME, AND WHO I AM GOING WITH:
Now, the first question any inquisitive person might ask is how much is this entire trip going to cost? Well, my whole journey roundtrip is roughly 4,500 miles, each of which will be seen by my green truck that I like to call the “Green Monsta,” in honor of Fenway Park’s historic left field wall in Boston. Here she is, all 125,000 miles of her. She's a beauty ain't she?
Doing simple math, my beauty ride gets me 400 miles on the highway, and a full tank of gas costs me around $50. In gas expenses alone, that would average out to about $562.50. Add in an additional $30 per night for my stay at the occasional Motel 6, and I’m looking to add another $630 over this three-week span of travel. Then there is the mighty task of landing a ticket, each of which will be a hot commodity, so that I can put my butt in a seat during each of these games. As I anticipate that I will attend at least one game in each of the cities I stop in – Nashville, Washington D.C., East Rutherford, Philadelphia, Boston, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Chicago – I am allotting nearly $50 per game (that means I’ll be sitting in the rafters, basically) to see the action in person, which equates to a total of around $450. Of course, there is the expense of finding food, but one must remember, I’m a college student. I can survive off of ramen noodles and peanut butter and jelly with the best of them. So, that expense is miniscule in the long run. But just in case you’re worried, don’t be because I’ll be sure to pack a sack lunch – or twenty.
STOPS ALONG THE WAY:
As I said before, my first stop will be in Nashville to witness my first playoff game of the postseason between the Blackhawks and the Predators. But seeing as I am trying to develop a new appreciation for music, I am planning a visit to Memphis so that I can see Elvis Presley’s Graceland mansion. After all, he is considered to be the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and the one who put this kind of music back on the map. According to his web site, “His talent, good looks, sensuality, charisma, and good humor endeared him to millions, as did the humility and human kindness he demonstrated throughout his life. Known the world over by his first name, he is regarded as one of the most important figures of twentieth century popular culture” (Discover Elvis). A stop to visit the King is surely in order. I think it can only help me appreciate my love for music, which has lacked lately due to my busy school and work schedule, even more. A visit to Graceland would surely be wonderful. It is a large white-columned mansion that was home to Elvis in Tennessee. It currently serves as a museum and was opened to the public in 1982. Graceland has become the second most visited private home in America with over 600,000 visitors a year; only the White House has more visitors per year (Discover Elvis - Graceland).To go to one of the most historic places in the country along the way would be absolutely great. And considering I was not alive during the Elvis era, it would definitely allow me to learn some things about the King of Rock that I never knew before.
After I depart the state of Tennessee, my plan is to head east towards the District of Colombia to catch a game between the Caps and the Canadiens (Not Canadians). But seeing as I’ll be in the President’s dwelling, I figure that I’ll make time to stop and admire all the lives that were lost in battle during the Vietnam War. According to the Vietnam website, with the addition of one name added in 2009 the total is now 58,261 names listed on the Memorial. Approximately 1,200 of these are listed as missing (Vietnam War Memorial Page). This moment will help my inner growth, as I will see plenty of men and women's names who have sacrificed their lives for this country, while I’m worrying about spilt milk on a daily basis. In other words, it will serve as a wake up call for me to not take life so seriously, and to really appreciate what I have because it can all be lost in the bat of an eye.
TOTAL COST:
As it is clearly evident, this trip will carry a heavy price tag of roughly $2,000. But the experiences and moments of self-reflection along the way will cancel out any monetary debt that I might encounter. By taking time to reflect on what past soldiers and political leaders have done for this country during my stop in the D.C. area, along with my stop to visit Elvis’ mansion in Memphis, I will be able to develop, and somewhat rekindle two appreciations that I have pushed to the back burner. In today’s society, music is everything. It’s upbeat, yet relaxing, and sometimes, it even states exactly what’s happening in your life. In other words, I will have found that I can relate more to music and what it’s all about. In regards to my stop in the Washington D.C. area, just looking at all the different monuments that are erected around the city is dignifying and makes this country what it is.
RECAP:
This aforementioned journey will definitely illustrate what my definition of a road trip is. From the randomness of traveling to each city, with no guarantee that a ticket will be found, the road will definitely give me an opportunity to mature and grow, as I take to the road by myself. Some of you might ask, "Why don't you try to find tickets beforehand to save yourself the burden of searching for them?" My response: Scalping tickets has always been something I have prided myself on. Whether it's looking for my annual Texas vs. Oklahoma ticket in Dallas, or finding a ticket to a big time college basketball game, I always enjoy the rush that comes along with not having a ticket. And to this day, I have always been successful in finding a ticket when it gets closer to crunch time (after all, scalpers practically hand you tickets close to game time because they'd rather have a buck than an unused ticket). Call me crazy, I know. But it adds to the experience for me.
Although my main purpose on this road trip is to travel from arena to arena just to catch a hockey game, the icy road that is the hockey rink will lead me to places with even deeper meaning. And no price tag can stand in my way to stop me from experiencing that. Luckily for me, those days of carhopping at Sonic in 100-degree heat and leaving with cold, hard cash are finally paying off as I get ready to set sail on my icy extravaganza. Hopefully, you'll continue to read about how the journey pans out...
Since we're near Memphis, why not check out Elvis' crib?
I mentioned in my proposal that a stop to Graceland would be in order. I have an appreciation for music, but I feel like it could be enhanced. I can't think of a better place to achieve this than at the home of the King of Rock 'n' Roll.
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