The Tommy Awards

"The whole world is a circus if you look at it the right way. Everytime you pick up a handful of dust and see not the dust, but a mystery; a marvel there in your hand. Everytime you stop and think 'I'm alive! And being alive is fantastic'! Everytime such a thing happens, you are in the circus of Dr. Lao".

-Tony Randall, Seven Faces of Dr. Lao

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Announcer: "Live from the Temple Theater in beautiful downtown Tacoma, it's the 47th annual Tommy Awards. And now, here's your host and humble narrator...Tom George"!

(audience applauds as Tom walks out from behind the curtains)

Tom: "Thank you everyone. Thanks for coming here tonight. As you might have been able to gather by now, these are my awards for the best of this hockey and football season. And what a season it's been. I can safely say that, without any doubt, this has been the best season out of the 10 years that I've been doing all of this. Of course, I can't have that much fun on my own. The thing that makes all of this so worth-while is all of you...my friends. So I decided to make this as much of a fun tribute to you while still handing out the awards for the best and worst of this season.

Now, there is only one nominee in each catergory. Which, of course is the winner. Except for the biggest prize of the year...the "Roadtrip of the Year". As time goes along here, I'll announce each of the 5 nominees along with a small scene from each one. This year's roadies were all excellent. So excellent that, in just about any other year, any of the five probably would have won. So, of course, the decision as to which one won came that much harder. Although I will say that it was easy to come to the conclusion that all five (and just about every other roadie I've ever taken) pretty much blew the lid off the stress-filled headache of a trip that was last years summer roadie".

(audience laughs and applauds as everyone knows the nightmare story that was that trip)

Tom: "Okay. So let's get this thing rolling. I sit next to the first two presenters at Qwest Field for the Seahawks games. So let's all give a big round of applause to Portland's own Dan and Jon".

(Audience applauses as Dan and Jon walk onto the stage)

Jon: "Man...what a season it was for the Seahawks. They went 13-3 during the regular season. Undefeated at home. And they FINALLY made it to the Super Bowl".

Dan: "That's right, Jon. And who can forget the best moment from the season"?

Jon: "Yeah...you mean when A.J. Feely missed all those field goals for the Giants and the Hawks won in overtime"?

Dan: "Nope. Not that"

Jon: "Oh, well then obviously it was when Drew Bledsoe threw that last minute interception to Jordan Babineaux which set up Josh Brown's winning field goal as time ran out against the Cowboys".

Dan: "Nuh-uh. Not that either".

Jon: "Then what in the world are you talking about"?

Dan: "The best thing to happen at Qwest this season was watching a drunk Mrs. Claus give lap dances to spectators down below us. I mean, how can life get any better than that"?

(audience laughs)

Jon: "Okay. That was a pretty good thing to happen. But we're here to hand out an award which also comes with a bit of a tribute".

Jackass of the Year

Dan: "That's right, Jon. This year, the biggest jackass of them all is Texas A&M Athletic Director, Bill Byrne. I mean, after 22 years, how come all this "12th Man" stuff suddenly became important to him right after the Seahawks won the NFC Championship"?

Jon: "Exactly. But the part that made him a jackass is how he ran from all the media who wanted to ask him about all of this. Instead, he left his poor spokesman hung out to dry as reporter after radio host grilled him down into admitting that, in the end, the Seahawks had the "intellectual rights" to it since A&M didn't trademark it until 1990....8 years after the Seahawks retired the #12 and that the whole thing was just a pathetic cash-grab".

Dan: "I'll quote the great Jim Rome here and pass this message along; "come back to us when you have an actual case and your program means something again".

Jon: "Okay. Let's bring out the winner of the 'Jackass of the Year". All the way from College Station, Texas, Bill Byrne".

(The crowd erupts into boo's. Except for Tom W, who gives Mr. Byrne a standing ovation)

Dan: "Here's your trophy"

(Dan hands Byrne his award)

Jon: "And, since you're here, we decided to give you an up-close view of a special treat. I would like to bring out a fellow Seahawk season ticket holder, Jenna".

(Jenna walks out from behind the curtain)

Dan: "It's gonna be Jenna's honor to raise OUR 12th man flag here for tonights ceremony. Go ahead, Jenna"!

(Jenna starts raising the flag as "Bittersweet Symphony" by the Verve plays over the PA)

Jon: "We also have another gift for you. I'd like to bring out Jennifer from the Thunderbirds games. Jennifer..."

(Jennifer comes out from behind the curtain, walks up to Mr. Byrne, and knees him in the balls. The crowd roars with approval except for Tom W....who boo's the scene. Jon, Dan and Jenna all drag Mr. Byrne off the stage)

Tom: "Thanks guys. And now here's a scene from our first nominee for "Roadtrip of the Year". This is a clip from the trip Kristi and I took to Red Deer, Calgary and Kelowna to start off the season back in September":

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Oh Canada

(Driving through the western edge of Calgary)

Tom: "Hey...check that out. It's the ski junps from the 1988 Olympics"

Kristi: "That's pretty awesome. You can even see the Olympic Rings on the side of them".

Tom: "I can see Eddie the Eagle sliding down there and taking flight even now. That is pretty cool".

Kristi: "Who's Eddie the Eagle"?

Tom: "He was this English guy who wasn't very good at ski jumping. But somehow he qualified for the Olympics and he became the biggest star that year".

Kristi: "Oh...I think I may have heard of him. What's that next to it"?

Tom: "That looks like the bobsled track. Man...that's the first time I've ever seen one of those".

Kristi: "Hey...the Jamaican bobsled team ran there. You know...like in Cool Runnings".

Tom: Yup...that's where that happened".

Kristi: "Oh god. How did that go"?

Tom: "How did what go"?

Kristi: "You know...that little song they sang in the movie".

Tom: "I can't remember".

Kristi: (after muttering to herself for a few seconds) "Feel the rythem/feel the rhyme/come on boys/it's bobsled time"! (she laughs at herself for remembering)

Tom: "Ah yes...now I remember. Here, take some pictures while we can".

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(The crowd applauses. The camera zooms into Kristi who flashes a big smile and two thumbs up)

Tom: "A few weeks ago, one of our next guests won the award for "Line of the Year". And the other one just finished up her short-lived career in the United States Army. Please welcome from Portland, Earlene and Kara"!

(audience applauses as Earlene and Kara walk out from behind the curtain)

Earlene: "Hello Kara".

Kara: "Hello Kurt's mom".

Earlene: "You know why we're here, don't you"?

Kara: "Yeah...cause Tom wants to torture us"

(audience laughs)

Earlene: "Well, that's probably part of it. But it's also so we can give out the award for "Game of the Year".

Kara: "I think we can do that".

Game of the Year

Earlene and Kara: "And the winne...."

Earlene: "Go ahead. You say it".

Kara: "Oh no...that's okay. You say it".

Earlene: "No...you do it".

Kara: "Why"?

Earlene: "Because I'm not competing with a puckbunny".

(audience chuckles...except for Tom W)

Tom W. (from the audience): "Dammit! That's my award! Give it back to me...NOW! Play something white! Good thing you're not a plumber"!

(Kara goes down to Tom's seat and whacks him in the leg with her crutch)

Kara: "Shut-up, Tom"

(Kara goes back up to the stage where she high-5's Earlene)

Kara: "The winner is......the New Years Eve game between the Portland Winter Hawks and the Seattle Thunderbirds".

(the audience applauses while former T-Birds goalie, Gavin McHale, accepts the award on behalf of both teams while the cut over his eye continues to bleed).

Tom: "Thank you, ladies. Now here's a scene from the 2nd nominee for "Roadtrip of the Year" from back in early October.

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St. Louis Trip

(Outside of the weekly farmer's market near downtown St. Louis)

Lindsay: "Well, now what do you want to do"?

Tom: "I wanna go back in the first part of it again".

Lindsay: "Why"?

Tom: "That one chick was staring at me".

Lindsay: "So? She probably just wanted you to buy something".

Tom: "No way...she wanted me".

Lindsay: "Yeah, right".

Tom: "There's only one way to find out. Come on.....let's go".

Lindsay: "Okay. But nothing is gonna happen"

(Linsday and Tom walk back into the building and make a bee-line back to the one stand where that chick was. They slow down as they approach the stand. But the chick is talking to someone else as they get there. They stand around the display for a minute or so. But the chick behind the stand doesn't seem to notice them. So they walk away).

Lindsay: "See. I told you she didn't 'want' you".

Tom: "Yeah. It was worth a shot, though. I do like that picture of Christina Aguilera over there, though. Too bad it's too big to take on the airplane with me or I might have bought it".

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(Audience applauses)

Tom: "Please welcome from Everett, Jerry and Elizabeth"

(Audience applauds as Jerry and Elizabeth walk out from behind the curtain)

Jerry: "We're here to hand out the.....what are you doing"?

Elizabeth: "I'm sending a text message".

Jerry: "Can't it wait? We're supposed to be handing out the award for "Best Moment of the Year".

Elizabeth: "No. Besides, this text messaging thing is too damned addiciting".

Jerry: "Who are you text messaging"?

Elizabeth: "Tom".

Jerry: "He's standing 15 feet away over there! Why don't you just go tell him whatever you have to say"?

Elizabeth: "Because...I wanna text message".

Jerry: "Fine. I'll just give this award while you text message".

Moment of the Year

Jerry: "Wait a minute. I don't have an envelope with the winner here".

Elizabeth: "Hmmm...that's odd. They were supposed to give it to us back stage".

Jerry: "Hold on while I go back to get it".

Elizabeth: "Oh...I just got a text message from Tom".

Jerry: "Tom...don't encourage her".

Elizabeth: "But he tells us what the winner is"

Jerry: "Okay...what wins"?

Elizabeth: "It's when Paul Allen raised the #12 flag at the NFC Championship game".

(Audience applauses...except for Tom W who boo's again).

Tom: "Thanks guys. That was truely an awesome moment. The way all 67,000 people roared as that happened. I'll never forget that moment, for sure.

Tom W (from the audience): "You're show sucks".

Tom: "Shut up, you bastard"

Tom W: "No".

Tom: "Kara...do you mind"?

(Kara gets up from out of her seat and whacks Tom W in the knee again).

Tom: "Thanks Kara. And now for a scene from the 3rd of the nominees for 'Roadtrip of the Year'. The trip Kurt and I took to Vancouver back in December".

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Is It That Obvious?

(Tom, Kurt and their mystery guest are standing around outside the Pacific Coliseum)

Mystery Guest: "Guess what"?

Tom and Kurt: "What"?

Mystery Guest: (comment deleted in the name of good taste. But the audience can hear it)

Tom: "Oh man...why did you tell us that"?

Mystery Guest: "Because it's awesome"!

Kurt: "No it's not. That's disgusting".

Tom: "No shit".

Mystery Guest: "Guess what else"?

Kurt: "I don't want to".

Mystery Guest: (Comment deleted in the name of good taste. But the audience can hear it).

Tom: "Well that's something we didn't have to know".

Kurt: "Yeah. I'll never look at him the same way again".

Mystery Guest: "All I know is that (comment deleted in the name of good taste. But the audience can hear it).

(Winter Hawks owner and GM, Ken Hodge, walks by Kurt, Tom and the mystery guest and shakes his head in disbelief).

Kurt: "Okay. I think it's time to go back inside".

Tom: "Yeah...the game is about to start again, anyway".

(They pass a security guard who looks at the three of us while laughing)

Tom (to the security guard): "I apologize for our friends crude behavior. Our American customs differ quite a bit from your Canadian ones, though".

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(The camera pans the crowd...everyone of which is now, at least, feeling queezy and unsettled. Except for our Mystery Guest)

Tom: "Okay folks...calm down. If Kurt and I could live through that, so can you. Actaully, now might be a good time to lift our spirits up a bit. Our next guests have traveled here all the way from St. Louis, Missouri. Let's give a warm welcome to Lindsay and Joe"!

(Audience give them a standing ovation as they walk out from behind the curtain)

Lindsay: "Wow! Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! It sure does add to all the things we've seen since we arrived here in Tacoma".

Joe: "No kidding. Since we've been here, we've seen a drug deal gone bad on McKinley Avenue, a backyard meth lab get busted on Portland Avenue, gang activity on Hilltop and hookers turning tricks on South Tacoma Way".

Lindsay: "Yeah. It's almost like we never left St. Louis".

(audience laughs)

Joe: "Okay...we're here to give out a special achievment award. It's the "Keith Tkachuk Award" for the biggest loser of the year".

Lindsay: "The winner of this award won it running away...almost literally. He stole one of his teammates wallets...which had a reported $600 in it, and took it to a local casino. Well, what he apparently didn't comprehend is that he was too young to gamble in a casino in Washington".

Joe: "So while lacking that knowledge, he was promptly taken into custody where the authorities found the stolen wallet still on him. He fessed up to his crime and was promptly kicked off his team via a vote from the rest of the players".

Lindsay: "Let's welcome this year's biggest loser....former Seattle Thunderbird, Roman Tomanek"

(The audience laughs AND boo's at the same time as Mr. Tomanek takes the stage)

Joe: "Now, you don't win a trophy. But we do have a couple prizes for you in the spirit of Keith Tkachuk".

Lindsay: "The first of which is a broken wooden chair that you can blame on 'poor Japanese craftsmanship".

Joe: "And the other is a baker's dozen of freshly baked Krispy Kreme donuts"!

Roman Tomanek: "Thank you...I think. I'm outta here".

(audience doesn't really know what to do. Nervous applause fills the void)

Tom: "And now for a scene from the 4th nominee for "Roadtrip of the Year". This is from February when Kristi, Jacque, Emily and I all went up to Vancouver".

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Seattle is Bad.....Want Some Popcorn?

(In the hotel room after hanging out at the Fogg & Sudds for a couple hours)

Emily: "Fuck you, Tom. You're not drunk enough"

Tom: "What do you mean? I'm plenty drunk"

Emily: "No you're not. You didn't have enough to drink".

Tom: "I had 6 beers tonight. I'm feeling it. I can just hold my alcohol better than you".

Emily: "Whatever".

(Tom wads up a small piece of paper, turns around and flings it at Emily. After it hits her, she gives a little scream and jumps into the air).

Emily: "What was that"?

Jacque (from the bathroom): "What happened out there"?

Tom (laughing): "I nailed Emily with a piece of paper".

Emily: "That scared the shit out of me".

Tom: "That was funny".

Emily: "Fuck you. You're still not drunk enough".

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(The camera pans past Jacque, who smiles and waves at the camera. Then Kristi, who smiles and gives a thumbs up. Then Emily, who flips the finger at the camera)

Tom: "Our next presenter has come up here from his digs in Gresham, Oregon. Please welcome, Kurt"!

(audience applauds as he walks out from behind the curtain)

Kurt: "First off, I'd like to publicly congratulate my mom for winning the "Line of the Year" award".

(audience applauds...except for Tom W)

Tom W: "Shut up, Kurt! That award shoulda been mine and you know it"!

Kurt: "Kara...do you mind"?

(Kara goes back over to Tom W and gives him another whack in the knee)

Kurt: "Thank you. I'm here to give out the award for "Best New Hangout". Let me tell you something...this place will become a tradition for alot of us before a Winter Hawks game".

Best New Hangout

Kurt: "And the winner is....."The Acropolis" in Milwaukie, Oregon"!

(audience applauds)

Kurt: "The owner of The Acropolis couldn't make it tonight. So, to accept this award are several employees of The Acropolis being escorted to the stage by Tom W, Dan, Jon, Jerry, Jerry, Jeff, Don, Kenny, Joe, Steve, Steve, Matt, Rick, Doug, Bill, old man Tom, our host and myself".

(the rest of the audience...the women in attendence...aren't applauding for some reason)

Tom: "Thanks everyone. I know I can't wait for our next visit to The Acropolis. And now we'll".....

Joe (interupting): "Hey Tom".

Tom: "Hey...it's Joe, everyone. What do you want? You've already done you're presentation for tonight".

Joe: "I know. But something has come up".

Tom: "And what would that be"?

Joe: "My wallet is missing".

(audience laughs...while checking for their wallets and purses)

Tom: "I think I know where you can find it".

Joe: "Where"?

Tom: "The Emerald Queen Casino is just off of I-5 over by the Tacoma Dome. I think you'll find the culprit there. But you better hurry up before he gets caught by the authorities".

Joe: "Thanks for the tip. I'm on my way over there right now".

(Joe leaves the stage...along with several other members of the audience following up on that hot tip)

Tom: "Alright. I apologize for that. Now it's time for a scene from the 5th and final nominee for "Roadtrip of the Year". This is from our trip to Salt Lake City and Boise back in late March.

We Be Representing Da' 253...Naw I Mean?

(Inside a McDonalds in Baker City, Oregon at around 9:30pm on a Thursday night)

Voice 1 in the kitchen area: "Stop screwing everything up. Customers are getting pissed off at us".

Voice 2 in the kitchen area: "Then stop sending me the wrong orders. I don't get paid to get chewed out for other people's fuck-ups".

Tom: "Wanna go somewhere else"?

Tom W: "Hell no...this is too entertaining to leave now"

(they both laugh)

Teenaged male who works there: "I'm going outside for a cigarette".

Manager: "You've already had your break for tonight"

Teenaged male: "I don't care. I need a smoke"

(teeneged male goes outside)

Manager: "Sorry about all of this. What can I get you boys"?

Tom: "I'll take a #3 with a Coke".

Tom W: "I'll have a chicken salad and a diet Coke".

(they pay for their meal and take their cups over to the soda machine. Tom puts his cup under the Hi-C dispenser and pushes it....only to be sprayed by water that's shooting out all over the place)

Tom: "What the hell is going on here"?

Tom W (laughing): "I have no idea. Doesn't suprise me, though.

Tom: "I got water all over my leather Seahawks jacket"

Tom W: "No real loss there".

Tom (to the manager): "Hey...I went to get some Hi-C and the stupid machine sprayed water all over the place and on me".

Manager: "Oh, that's right. I took the nipples off the machine. I gotta get it from the drive-thru dispenser".

Tom W: "Did you take a lighter to them"?

Manager: "Huh"?

Tom W: "Never mind"

(The teenaged male pokes his head in the door)

Teenaged employee: "I'm going across the street. There are these chicks who want me".

Manager: "But you're on the clock"!

(Teenaged male doesn't answer and just goes back outside)

Tom W: "We gotta eat here again".

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Tom: "And now, to present the final award of the evening, please give a warm welcome to Karin".

(Audience applauds as Karin walks through the curtain)

Karin: "I'm here to give out the award for 'Roadtrip of the Year'. But the one question I have right now is why don't I have any corny jokes or bits to perform like everyone else tonight"?

Tom: "Well, frankly, it's because I'm drawing a blank right now".

(audience laughs)

Karin: "I see. Well can I do something if I think of something"?

Tom: "Sure...go ahead".

(Karin rubs her chin and stares off into the distance while she thinks)

Karin: "Okay...how about this"?

(Karin whispers the idea in Tom's ear)

Tom: "Sure...be my guest".

Karin: "Kara, can you do your thing one more time"?

(Kara walks back over to Tom W and whacks him in the knee with her crutch again)

Tom W: "Hey...what was that for"?

Karin: "I dunno. I just felt like it, I guess".

(audience applauses)

Karin: "Okay. Now it's time for the biggest award of them all".

Roadtrip of the Year

Karin: "And the winner of the 2005-06 Roadtrip of the Year is.......









The early October trip to St. Louis"!!!





(audience applauds while Lindsay and Joe walk to the stage to accept their award)

Tom: "Like I said earlier in this story and all through the season, all five of these trips probably would have walked away with the award most years. All five of them were much better than solid. I could make several arguments for each one. The one thing I tried to find was that one knockout moment from any of them (like our visit to the Vancouver Hooters in 2003 when that infamous line was uttered. Or Kristi and I staggering around in a drunken stupor in that Kelowna McDonalds last year). But none of them really had anything like that. So I started looking for a weakness in all of them. Which, outside of how the first one in September ended, I really couldn't find any.

But I started thinking about it from a different angle. And I remembered a couple years ago when 'Lord of the Rings; Return of the King' won all of those Academy Awards...including Best Picture. Now, most people think the 2nd movie of the trilogy was the best of the three. But the popular belief is that 'King' won more as a tribute to the combination of the three movies rather than just on it's own.

And since St. Louis finished a strong 2nd each of the last two years to the previously mentioned winners, I figured that it was just their time. I've been there 4 times now (ahem....AHEM), and Lindsay and Joe have been nothing more than two of the best hosts anyone could ever ask for.

So congratulations, you two. You guys pulled it off this year"!

(audience applauds)

Tom: "Well, that just about does it for tonight. I'd like to thank everyone out there who has made this year so GREAT! Keep on reading through the end of this. I'll identify all the people who mattered to me at least a little bit.

But what would an awards show be without a grand finale? Not much of one, I say. So get these songs stuck in your head and try to imagine the spectacle. Thank you and good night, everybody"

(The house lights go dark while a couple of spotlights shine down on the stage)

Voice (singing): "Take this pink ribbon off my eyes"

(Kristi walks onto the stage dressed like Gwen Stefani circa 1995)

Kristi (singing): "I'm exposed and it's no big suprise/Don't you think I know exactly where I stand/This world is forcing me to hold your hand/'cause I'm just a girl/little 'ol me/Don't let me out of your sight/I'm just a girl/all pretty and petite/so don't let me have any rights/ooooooooh...I've had it up to heeeeeeere"

(The spotlight goes out on Kristi. Another one focuses in on a white curtain where we can see a small figure standing behind it in shadow. There's an organ playing one note)

Voice (speaking): "Dearly beloved, we're gathered here today to get through this thing called life. Electric word "life" it means forever and that's a might long time but I'm here to tell you there's something else......the afterworld.

A world of neverending happiness. You can always see the sun, day or night. So when you call up that shrink in Beverly Hills, you know the one---Dr. Everything Will Be Alright. Instead of asking him how much of your time is left, ask him how much of your mind, baby. 'Cuz in this life, things are much harder in the afterworld. In this life, you're on your own".

(The shadow behind the curtain starts playing a guitar)

Voice: "And if the elevator tries to bring you down....go craaaaazy. Punch a higher floor...wooooo"!

(The music really kicks in as the curtain drops to the ground. It's Emily...playing a guitar...dressed up like Prince circa 1984)

Emily (singing): "If you don't like/the world you're livin' in/take a look around/at least you got friends/I called my old lady/for a friendly word/picked up the phone/dropped it on the floor/(heavy breathing) is all I heard/are we gonna let the elevator bring us down/oh no/let's go/let's go crazy/let's get nuts/let's look for the purple banana/'till they put us in the truck...LET'S GO!

(The spotlight goes out on Emily and focuses in on a hole in the floor)

Voice (singing): "At first I was afraid/I was petrified/kept thinking I could never live without you by my side"

(Jacque rises from the floor...dressed in her finest disco-era sequined polyseter gown...singing into a Coke bottle)

Jacque (singing): "But then I spent so many nights/thinking how you did me wrong/and I grew strong/and I learned how to get along/and so you're back/from outer space/I just walked in to find you here/with that sad look upon your face/I should have changed that stupid lock/I should have made you leave your key/if I had known for just one second/you'd be back to bother me

(Kristi and Emily join Jacque...also singing into Coke bottles)

Jacque, Emily and Kristi together: "Go on now/go walk out the door/just turn around now/'cause you're not welcome anymore/weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye/did you think I'd crumble/did you think I'd lay down and die/

Oh no/not I/I will survive/oh as long as I know how to love/I know I will stay alive/I've got all my life to live/I've got all my love to give/and I'll survive/I will survive

(The three of them continue on singing the song while balloons and confetti fall from the ceiling. Most everybody is up dancing around. Except for poor Tom W...who's limping his way towards the door)

THANKS EVERYONE!!!!!!

Here's a list of everyone who contributed positively to this season:

Tacoma area
Tom W
Karin
Rick
Sharon
John

Seattle
Kristi
Jacque
Jeff
Jennifer
Elspith
Bill
"Old Man" Tom
Andrea
Megan
Jenna

Everett
Elizabeth
Jerry
Don
Kenny

Portland
Kurt
Kara
Jerry
Earlene
Doug
Steve
Tracy
Dan
Jon

Tri-Cities
Samantha

St. Louis
Lindsay
Joe
Ryan

Dallas
Pam
Lindsay

Virginia
Deborah

Denver
Bridget

Red Deer
Steve
Matt



And yes............

even Emily

Fear and Loathing at Jacque's Birthday Party

Okay...so all of this happened over a week ago (lol). My intention has been to write this for a week now. But I've had some more games to go to and when I've been home, I've been too tired. I was gonna pound it out on Thursday night after I wrote about game 7 of the Seattle/Portland series. But I fell asleep (lol). I think I spent most of my time at home last week sleeping off all the effects of last weekend. Hell, Emily called me from Calgary on Monday when she was at the Flames/Red Wings game (which I was watching on tv at the time) and she woke me up. I was so out of it, it took me a few seconds to be able to gather my wits so I could comprehend what she was asking me...what kind of shirt do you want? (lol)

So anyway, as I sit here and start typing this, I'm not sure how detailed things will be. I'll probably miss a bunch of key stuff. But the meat and potatoes will be there.

Friday, March 31

Game 4 of the Seattle/Portland series down in the Rose City. Seattle won the game, 6-3. The entire match was a minor-penalty fest. Referee Chris Savage was calling players for just sneezing. It was just insane. There were some obvious calls. Some that were borderline (in that maybe you call them in the regular season, but not in the playoffs). And others were just plain head-scratchers. My theory on it is that it was the last day of the month and Savage still had a way to go in order to meet his penalty quota for the month.

Tom went with me down there that night. Originally, he was supposed to do the driving. But when I walked outside to get into his Explorer, he was standing there alone waiting for me. It turns out that he wanted ME to drive. That scurvy bastard. He took the day off and he told me that since I had done the driving last weekend, he would take the wheel down to Portland. But I guess not. My plan was to try to catch a few z's in the passenger seat since I was really tired from not only going down there earlier in the week, but also from doing all the driving the previous weekend.

My best plans were foiled again (lol).

So being that we were already late, I still had to get some cash from the bank AND fuel my car up (since the "Low Fuel" light had just popped up on my dashboard). So now we were even later in getting down there. We still got there in plenty of time, though. But it was about 6:45 instead of the usual 5:45 I usually get there after work.

Tom is also going with me down there next Thursday for game 5 of the Portland/Vancouver series. This time, I told him he's driving or he's not going (lol).

The funniest part of the night came during the 1st intermission. Kurt, Tom and I were walking around the club level concourse to meet up with Kurt's parents. Kara called while me while we were walking and kept telling us to stop where we were so she wouldn't have to catch up with us. But we just kept on walking (lol). When we got to Mr. and Mrs. Williams, we chatted with them for a couple minutes before Kara finally came hobbling up to us. When she got there, she whacked the three of us in the knee with one of her crutches (lol).

So as we were walking away from Kurt's parents, Tom decided to get some revenge on her. So when she turned to walk away with us, he held back for a second and then gave her a light kick in the ass. "What did you do that for" she asked him. "That's what you get for hitting us in the knees like that" Tom replied. So she whacked him again. And then he kicked her in the ass again. "Tom...you're in so much trouble" she said. "How much" Tom asked her back before landing another foot on her butt. Kara started giggling and said "ALOT"!. So Tom gave her another boot. By that time, we were laughing pretty hard and all that senseless violence came to a merciful end.

And for the record, Tom was gracious in defeat towards Earlene Williams. "Tom told me about you winning line of the year" he told her. "It was a good one. I'll give it to you this time". See.....he's a good loser (haha).

Saturday, April 1

Thankfully, I had the day off at work. So I was able to sleep in a little bit. I had been invited to Jacque's birthday party earlier in the week. And the first phase of it started at 1:00pm. I was a little late getting there due to some unforseen problems, but I still got there alot earlier than I thought I would.

On my way up there, Kurt called me and told me that he had decided to head up to the game in Seattle that night. This came as a bit of a shock for me since he had just told be the night before that he swore he would never go to another game in the Key Arena again. Especially since they had taken out the old club seats which were wider than the usual seats in the arena. That and he's had some trouble's with a couple Seattle fans in the past.

And I don't think I had told him that I had Jacque's party to go to the night before. He had already bought his ticket down in Portland and he was already heading up here early. So since he was gonna be in Seattle really early, I told him that I would stick around for the early part of Jacgue's party until about 3:00 or so, then go meet him at the Lake Union Hooters.

When I got to Jacque's apartment, Emily, Kristi and Jacque's mom were already there. And from what I could tell and from what they were saying, Jacque's mom was already drunk (lol). She was just sitting in the chair watching the remake of "The Amityville Horror". I was kinda watching it, too. Just another horror movie.

As time went along, more and more people showed up. Her brother showed up with his little dog. It was kinda funny watching the dog and Jacque's cat kinda eye each other, wondering what to make of the other.

She got one funny gift from someone. It was this little mechanical dog that you attatched to things and watch it dry-hump whatever it's hooked up to. I wouldn't mind walking down the street with that clinging to my leg just to see people's reactions.

So after a couple hours of the "How-Do-You-Do" chit-chat, 3:00 rolled around and I excused myself so I could go meet Kurt in Seattle. Now, I don't know my way around Bothell all that well. But near the main road just a few blocks from Jacque's place, there was a sign pointing west that says "Seattle". Feeling adventurous, I decided to follow that sign back to I-5. It probably got me there alot sooner that I would have if I had gone back onto I-405 like I had originally planned.

We sat there at Hooters, watching the basketball games on tv. And it occured to me that this was only the 3rd time I had been there all season long. Hooters used to be part of my pre-game ritual. But it hasn't been this season. The only other times I was there this season was the one time back early in the season when Tom craftily landed us free beer for our stay that day. And one other time back in January when Sharon went to a game with me. I don't know. Perhaps the luster of the place has just worn off. I mean, the weekend before when we were in Boise, I spent a good chunk of the time texting with Emily rather than engage in our usual behavior.

Don't get me wrong...I'm still gonna visit Hooters (especially while I'm on the road...lol). But it just doesn't seem as unique as it used to. And it still beats going to Applebees or Ruby Tuesday's (haha).

When we were done with that, we headed over to the Seattle Center. We hit the arcade over by the Space Needle and played some air hockey. I won the first game, like, 7-4. But Kurt took me in the second game, 7-5. That second game was HORRIBLE! Out of Kurt's 7 goals, I knocked about 5 or 6 of them in myself. And I think 4 of my goals were knocked in by Kurt's actions (lol). But hey...we never claimed we were pro's at that game.

As we were walking over to the Key, we noticed that the Winterhawks were out in the grass field by Fisher Pavillion playing soccer. Although it seemed as if they weren't playing all that hard, the competition was still spirited (how does that sound for a soccer term?). The entire time we were watching them, we were wondering what would happen if one of them got injured during their little match. When they were done and as we made our way to the front door, I told Kurt "at least they've replaced their pillow fights".

We walked around inside the Key for a while after we got there. Kurt didn't feel like sitting down in the cramped seats. Along the way, we ran into Jacque and so I got to introduce the two of them for the first time. A little later as Kurt and I were standing over by the puck-shoot area, Jacque came around with Emily. "Guess what" she asked me. I shrugged my shoulders as I'm not that good with guessing games. "You missed me downing 4 shots of Jagermeister at Jacque's". I leaned over to take a whiff of her breath to see if she was telling the truth...and she was (lol). And you could also tell she was drunk by the way she jumped in the air, again. "Oh man" she said, "I thought you were trying to kiss me". I told her I wasn't and that I was just smelling the liquor. We all laughed and they walked away. I turned to Kurt after that and said "oh yeah...that was Emily". "Why didn't you inroduce me" he asked. I told him that I didn't have a chance to. I guess he accepted that (lol).

We decided to take one last lap around the place before the game started. On the west side of the Key, we saw Kristi walking in with her new boyfriend. She saw Kurt and ran up and jumped on him (lol). They talked for a couple seconds before she introduced Kurt to her bf, Matt. She didn't introduce him to me, though. But I didn't think much of it. I mean, she doesn't get to see Kurt alot anymore.

Kurt also got a sampling of who I hang out with during intermission...Jeff and Jennifer. They were their normal selves; Jeff making lewd comments, Jennifer giving him dirty looks (lol). Elspith's boyfriend, Bill, was also out there. At one point during the 2nd intermission, Jeff said something and Bill stepped between him and Jennifer to try to thwart any "violence". That was a bad choice as Jennifer wound up "accidently" kneeing him in the nuts. Bill doubled over in pain and Jennifer was asking what was wrong. "You kneed him in the nuts" I told her. "Did I really hit him" she asked. Bill looked up all red-faced and muttered out "yesssss". She apologized while Jeff laughed at him (lol).

As for the game, Portland won 3-2 on a late power play goal. For some odd reason, T-Birds defenseman Benn Olson shot the puck up and over the glass for a delay of game penalty and the Hawks Brandon Dubinsky scored the game-winner on a slap shot from the point. Dubinsky also scored all three of Portland's goals in the game. But all through the 3rd period, I kept thinking that the game was gonna go into overtime. It just had that look and feel to it. But after Olson took that penalty, I told the guy sitting in front of me that, at that point, I knew the Winter Hawks were gonna score. And, of course, they did (lol). I may not know alot about different things. But I've seen enough hockey games in my lifetime to see what could possibly turn the tide of a game.

After the game, Kurt and I stood around our cars and shot the shit for about 15 minutes or so. After he left, I shot off a text message to Jacque asking her if it was okay that I could sleep on her floor if I got too drunk to drive home. She said it wasn't a problem. So back off to Bothell it was for me.

I got there alot later than just about everyone else due to my last visit with Kurt. And when I did, all the "visitor" parking spaces in the lot were taken. So I wound up having to park up on the street. And when I got up to her apartment, the place was already damn-near packed! This wasn't just the small get-together like the afternoon (lol). Which kinda made me nervous. I'm not always that comfortable in large social gatherings like that. Although I recognized alot of the people there from the games (and some others who were their earlier). I just didn't know them.

So I sat there in this chair drinking a Rock Star I had bought at a gas station on my way there, contemplating exactly how long I would stick around. When I was done with that, I tossed the empty can into a garbage bag and went outside to the small cooler on the deck and snagged a Corona out of there. I popped it open with my keychain/can opener and started drinking. Already out there were these two chicks I see all the time in the Key (I think one of them is named Angela. And I have no idea as to what the other ones name is. Even though we exchanged our names. There might be alot of that as this story goes along...lol) and Kristi's boyfriend, Matt. So I stuck around out there for a while talking to them. At one point, Matt told me "you seem like a good guy. You might want to stick around out here for a little bit". I asked him why. "Cause I gotta give Jacque a lap-dance in my thong".

I trusted his judgement in that case even if I had only talked to him for about 5 minutes (lol).

A little bit later, Emily joined us outside. After a couple minutes, Jacque and Kristi came out and ordered her inside so she could watch the lap dance. Emily didn't want to watch it (or so she said...hahaha) and the two of them wound up picking her up by her ankles and wrist's and carried her inside.

I just kept plucking beer after beer out of the cooler. At one point, I cursed because all the regular Corona was gone...only that light shit was left. One of the girls told me to take a Hefe Weizen. So I started in on those (lol).

Talking to those two specifically proved to be interesting. The one of them (who I THINK was named Angela) seemed to already know that I don't have any rooting interest in any of the teams around here. Which I found kinda strange that she would know something like that. She was also telling me I should get back into playing the game "just becuase you love it so much". A point that I told her Kurt presses me about all the time (lol). There were also other things about each of our pasts we had in common that we talked about a little bit. And slowly, as time went along, I realized that I was actaully enjoying myself alot more than I thought I would. Not that I thought I would have a shitty time or anything like that. But maybe...just maybe...I'm a little better in those situations than I gave myself credit for.

I spent most of my time out there on that porch...outside of the occasional run to the loo. But there was just this steady stream of people walking out there for a smoke. So that's just how I met people (lol). There was one guy who moved here from Kansas City. So we talked about that area for a bit. When I told him about all the places I go for various games, he told me that I should get to a Chiefs game one of these days. I told him that, maybe outside of seeing a game at Lambeau Field, Arrowhead Stadium was near the top of my list.

As time went along, Kristi and Matt made their way back out there. Kristi introduced him to the four or five other people out there. But, again, she skipped over me. And I'll admit...that kinda hurt. When you're drunk, things come to mind. And I was standing there wondering to myself why she wouldn't introduce me. Is she embarrassed of me? Maybe Jacque or Emily told him something about us? I really had no clue. But I still felt like a heel there.

But I still stood around out there. Eventually, as people were slowly leaving, it wound up that just Matt and I were out there. We just kinda bs'd about different stuff. He was telling me about his job and that he's into muscle cars and the such. He also told me that he was a sergeant in the Army Reserves. We were out there for a good 15 minutes or so...just the two of us. Talking about whatever came up. He seemed like a good guy.

Moslty, though, I was happy for Kristi in that she has a boyfriend. Since we started to really get to know each other over the last year (in fact, as I write this, it's our one year anniversery of our drunk-fest in Kelowna...lol), I've just really grown to care for her. Not so much as in a "I love her" or "I wanna marry her" kind of way. But more just because I think she's one of the best people I've ever met. But, at the same time, someone who I think could be so much more than maybe she thinks of herself sometimes. And my greatest hope is that with this piece of stabililty that she has found, perhaps she can start reaching some of that potential that I know she has.

Our conversation was eventually interupted when Emily came outside. She said that she had already thrown up once, and she felt like she was gonna do it again. She just leaned over the rail and stood there like that for a few seconds. She never tossed chunks. But she spit alot (lol).

When we made our way back inside, most of the people had left. And those that were still there were getting ready to leave. I sat down in one of the wooden chairs along the wall and noticed this one chick who was holding a plastic container up to her mouth. The container already had some "liquid" in it. And she kept saying that she was about to "do it again". Eventually, the guy from Kansas City and myself helped her up and we led her to the bathroom. Once there, she almost immediately stared vomiting into the toilet. She wasn't the only one, though. In the other bathroom (in Kristi's room) there was another chick with an upset stomach. So we were pulling double-duty on the "too much to drink" front.

I stayed there with the one I helped into the bathroom for a little bit. Basically, I would help her move from leaning up against the wall over to the toilet so she could do her deed in there. And once she would get there, I would hold her hair back so it didn't get any puke in it. She kept telling me that she didn't care about her hair, "but thanks anyway". And she kept thanking me and apologizing to me. "Don't worry" I told her. "I think everyone here has been in your place before". She would tell me "I've never been this drunk before". To which I would answer "well, now you have" (lol).

I mean, she was GONE! And, even though I was feeling alot better, I knew I was still in no shape for the hour drive home. I knew I was staying there that night, so I asked Jacque if she could keep an eye on her while I went and moved my car into the parking lot. I figured since everyone else had left by that point, I could probably find a "visitor" spot to park my car in instead of leaving it on the street.

On my way out there, I kept asking myself "why am I gonna do this"? Not so much attempt to drive my car. I mean, I was still technically drunk. And drunks don't think that clearly (lol). I guess I was sober enough to know that hitting the streets wasn't on the docket. But I was asking that since I didn't even know that girl until about 10 minutes ago. And here I was, with nowhere else to go, still sloshed and about to play nurse to someone who was completely bombed out of her skull.

Then I remembered my mom telling me the story about my step-sister's husband up in Alaska. He had gotten laid-off work one day and he went home and got shit-faced. Enough so that he eventually choked to death on his own vomit (the term of which I know. I just don't know how to spell it). But he probably only died because there was nobody there to help him. And I also thought to myself that I know what it's like to be all alone and wishing someone was there to help you out with whatever...even a little. Living alone, I get that way every once in a while. Not often...maybe three or four times over the last 10 years or so. But enough to know what it feels like.

So as I parked my car and walked back to the apartment, I decided that I would be in this with her for however long it would take. Which, turned out to be most of the night (lol).

When I did get back in there, I just went back to my post. "Thanks so much for this" the girl slurred out. "That's okay. It's not like I have anything else to do tonight" I joked with her. She kinda laughed about as much as she could then asked "what's your name"? "Tom" I said. "Thanks Tom. I'm Megan. I've never been this drunk before". I just reassured her again that this is something most everyone has been through and that there's nothing to be embarrassed about.

I knew she was really out of it because she kept asking me over and over what my name was. I would tell her, then she would tell me hers again. Then she would throw up a little, and tell me again she had never been this drunk and then ask me what my name was. It was a cycle that just kind of went around and around like that most of the night.

After a little bit, I really had to take a piss. Since Kristi was already in bed (she had to work the next day), I told Megan at one point that I couldn't hold it anymore. She told me that it was okay and she leaned herself against the wall so I could get in there. There wasn't much room, so I just kinda straddled the toilet and started going. Right in the middle, she informed me that she had to throw up again. So I pinched it off and let her get back over to the crapper. She did it again, leaned back and asked "what was your name again"? I told her again and she said "okay, Tom, you can continue what you were doing". I kinda smiled at that and followed her orders. So I started going again. But, once again, she interupted me so I had to stop and let her do her thing again.

But this time, she just stayed there. I think she may have actually fell asleep. So there I was, for about another 10 minutes with a bladder that was still 75% full and screaming to be relieved (lol). Finally, Jacque and Emily came out of Jacque's room and said they had to go, too. "How do you think I feel" I told them. "I've been trying to go for the last 15 minutes off-and-on and still can't finish". Emily looked at me and said "dude, you're a guy. Just go outside and piss off the balcony". I looked at Jacque to get her approval, and she kinda nodded at me. So I made a bee-line outside, got to the railing, and let it go (lol). It took a while. At one point, I turned around and saw Emily looking at me from inside. I asked her "wanna come out and get a closer look"? She shook her head and I laughed.

And that was the last contact I had with anybody even half-way sober for the rest of the night. It was about 2:00am by that time. When I got back to the bathroom, Megan was slumped against the wall. It looked uncomfortable, so I went out to the living room and got a pillow and propped it up behind her. After that, I went back out into the hallway and sat down against the wall there. I just sat there staring at her lifeless body for about a minute or so before I passed out.

But I wasn't sleeping for long. I woke up to her pleas to get her back over to the toilet. At one point, I was suprised by how she always had something to come out (lol). But I kept making her sip some Sprite and some water each time after she did that. We all know how much dry-heaves suck. So I was trying to keep her away from doing that.

Finally, right around 3:00am, I decided that I would need a wake-up call. My plan was to leave Jacque's place around 8:00am or thereabouts so I could get on with my Sunday. But the only two people I knew who were up at that hour on a Sunday were Lindsay and my dad. And I wasn't about to call my dad for two reasons. The first being that I would have to call their home number and I didn't want to wake them up. And the other was that I didn't think he would like it none-too-much if I called him at 3:00am all drunk like that (lol). So I figured that I would just text Lindsay and she would read it in the morning. After I was done doing that, I stepped outside to my personal restroom and started peeing down to the ground. Right in the middle of doing that, I got an answer from Lindsay. Excited that there was someone else up that maybe I could talk to (who was sober...maybe. You never know with Lindsay these days, either...lol), I called her right in the middle of relieving myself. But, much to my chagrin, I got her voice mail. I left some strange message where I believe I mentioned that I was in the middle of pissing off a deck at Jacque's place. Perhaps not the best thing to say to one of my best friends, but I can't do anything about that anymore (lol).

I turned on the tv in the living room so I could watch something while waiting for Megan to call for my help again. But I couldn't find the remote control. So I sat there the old-fashioned way and just flipped through them on the set one at a time. I settled on Headline News and watched that over and over again. I must have seen the same stories at least 5 times. Not much changes overnight, that's for sure.

I also spent some time kinda cleaning up a little. Nothing too major. Just getting rid of some empty cans and bottles and stuff like that. Again, I had nothing else to do. So I figured I might as well be a little productive.

Megan finally told me that she thought she was done there and wanted to lay down somewhere else. So I led her out to the couch and covered her with a blanket. She kept telling me that she was cold. But I didn't know where the blankets might me (something Jacque had told me earlier, but I failed to register in my head). So I just went back into the bathroom and got a fresh towel from under the sink. I guess that worked since she never complained about the cold again.

I also got a used towel that was on the rack from the bathroom and laid it down on the floor next to the couch just in case she had to do it again and she couldn't make it in time. In the morning, when Jacque asked me what the towel was for and I told her, she seemed to appreciate that thought.

I curled up in the chair in the living room and we sat there talking about different stuff for a while. She asked me how I knew Jacque. I explained to her that Karin introduced me to Kristi and Emily, and I met Jacque through them. I asked her how she met Jacque and she told me that they met at church. Then she went on this strange rant about how she didn't want to go to church anymore because she was too drunk or something like that (lol). I really didn't know how to respond to that. So I let it go.

The last I remembered, it was about 5:45am. I guess that's about the time I finally passed out in that chair. But it wasn't for long as, just as she had promised, Lindsay called to wake me up (lol). After talking to her for a minute or so, we hung up and I silently cursed myself for asking her to do that. I tried to fall back asleep, but I couldn't. I just laid there in that chair, watching the story about how much invisible mold is in your kitchen on Headline News for the 5th, 6th and 7th time. It's kinda scary, really. Even the woman who seemingly had this nice, clean kitchen had alot of mold in it. But the part that cracked me up was how this one guy had his fly-swatter hanging up with is pans on the wall. When you're tired and recovering from drinking, such things amuse you.

I finally got up and went outside to get a Coke out of the cooler on the deck. As I looked down to the ground, I saw the damage we had done. There were two empty beer bottles, a crushed Red Bull can and all sorts of cigarette butts and bottle caps. Along with my urinating off there all night, I was hoping that whoever lives down there didn't take any barefooted morning strolls outside.

At some point in the morning, Jacque, Emily and a friend of theirs (I think her name is Mia or Mya or something like that), crawled out of their bedroom and made their way out to the living room. Megan woke up still feeling like shit. And I was just plain tired. Jacque announced that she was going to McDonalds to fetch breakfast and it was on her. When asked what I wanted, the only thing I could think of was an Egg McMuffin and some hash browns. I don't eat breakfast at McDonalds. So those were the only two things I could think of that they had.

While Jacque and Emily were gone, Megan decided to take a shower so she could get ready for work. But about 10 minutes in, I could hear her puking again. When she got out of there, she did the wise thing and called in sick for the day.

While we were eating, the girls decided that they wanted to watch a movie. Somehow, they made the decision as to which one mine (lol). So I looked through all of Jacque's dvd's and picked out "The Wedding Crashers" since I hadn't seen that one yet. It was pretty funny. I'll have to buy it for myself one of these days. However, there was one scene where one of the characters had too much to drink and was throwing up. I think Jacque, Emily and myself were all doing our best not to look at Megan. And I think Megan probably knew we were doing our best not to look at her (lol).

Once the movie was over, Emily and Mia (or Mya) had to go. After a couple minutes, I decided I should probably go, too. I'm not sure if it was the case, but at least I started to feel like maybe my stay was wearing out. Not so much that Jacque all of a sudden didn't like me. But I had been there all night. And it was just that time.

So I got my jersey and thanked Jacque for letting me stay there for the night and wished her a happy birthday. I then told Megan goodbye and she thanked me again (by that time, she had remembered my name...lol). And out the door I went.

And as I drove home, I just thought to myself what an amazing 24 hours that had been. I hadn't even thought about writing about it the entire time until Jacque brought it up in the morning. And I still hadn't made my decision when I got home. So I asked her once I did get back to my apartment whether or not she wanted me to write about all this. She said she didn't care. So I did (hahaha).

And I hope I'm invited back for the party next year :)

Seattle/Portland: Game 7

This was definitely a game for the ages in this rivalry. Really, all game 7's are. But this one was one that will become a legend up here. Although, from start to finish, neither team was going all-out the entire time. They both had their ups and down for sure. But as I was watching it, I could feel that epic vibe going through the Key Arena in Seattle.

In the first period, both teams seemed pretty equal. The only real thing that set them apart was the play of T-Birds captain, Aaron Gagnon. He came out and played that desperate style of hockey that you would expect out of a player of his stature and caliber. And after one period of play, Seattle was up 3-0 thanks to the natural hat trick scored by Gagnon.

Things seemed to be going from bad to worse for the Winterhawks in the first minute of the 2nd period. First, Portland defenseman Lenny Thunderchild seemed to injure his shoulder when he was checked into the boards by Thunderbird Robert Klinkhammer. Really, Klinkhammer was lucky he didn't get a charging penalty on the play as he left his feet just before hitting Thunderchild. But referee Rob Matsuoka (who I believe has been tooling around the WHL since the beginning...lol) either didn't see the hit or saw it and decided to let it go. Regardless, the Winterhawks were now without one of their more solid, dependable defensemen.

Then things got really ugly. You know, it was such an ordinary play that I didn't even really notice how it all happened. All I know is that after a play along the end boards in Seattle's end, Portland center Kyle Bailey was laying on the ice screaming in pain. For me up where I sit, I was kind of wondering what he was hollering about. Then, as he seemed to start trying to get up with a push-up type of movement before collapsing back down to the ice, I noticed what was wrong. His entire foot was dangling from his ankle area in a way that it's not supposed to.

From what I read in the Winterhawks email when I got home, they said that he had somehow gotten his skate trapped in the boards and, to be frank, snapped his ankle. As the rest of the crowd in Seattle started realizing exactly how bad of shape Bailey was in, the place started going silent at first, followed by some screams of horror coming from the stands. Since long-time Portland trainer Innes Mackie was still in the locker room tending to Thunderchild, the Seattle trainer hopped over the boards and ran across the ice as quickly as he could to tend to Bailey.

Portland coach, Mike Williamson, also made his way out to be by Bailey's side. After a minute or so, the Portland trainer came back out onto the ice followed by the Thunderbirds team doctor. Aaron Gagnon even helped the cause by skating the medical supply bag out to the scene.

After a few minutes of getting Bailey situated and his leg stablized, they propped him up onto a gurney and started to wheel him off. You could clearly see by the expression on his face that he was still in horrible pain. And I was thinking to myself that I just hope that he can walk normally again, let alone ever play hockey.

But the reason I spent so much time on this part of the game was what happened next. The crowd in Seattle rose to their feet and gave a PORTLAND player a standing ovation! The Thunderbirds even banged their sticks against the boards and on the ice in support. And I thought that was TOTAL CLASS! I'm also sure that, if the same thing had happened to a T-Bird down in Portland, the same thing would have occured.

The Seattle/Portland hockey rivalry is pretty close to 100 years old. It's long and it's bitter. Sometimes, I don't think alot of the fans care where their team finishes in the standings as long as they beat the other guy. But we also realize (especially in times like this) that it's still just a GAME played by real living, breathing PEOPLE like you and me. Of course, what they really want to see is a guy leaving the ice with a cut over his eye or a split lip from a fight. But nobody wants to see someone go out like that.

Good luck, Kyle Bailey! Hopefully we'll see you back out and about sometime soon!

As the game started back up, both teams (understandabley) seemed kind of out of it. But then Portland scored their first goal of the game. And, all of a sudden, the Winter Hawks seemed to find some new life. Meanwhile, the Thunderbirds seemed to kind of go into this defensive hole. They just didn't seem to interested in regaining that 3 goal lead. It was almost as if they decided to just Cadillac it the rest of the way while Portland started playing their asses off.

Everything Seattle tried to do was headed off by Portland before it could develop. If a T-Bird had the puck, a Winter Hawk was right there to pressure him into getting rid of it. If there was an open passing lane, it would be cut-off just as the puck started to go through that hole. The Hawks style of play from that point on reminded me of the way the Spokane Chiefs played back in the late 90's and Everett did during their expansion year playoff run.....in your face, high pressure, aggressive defense.

Of course, with all the turnovers they were creating, the Winter Hawks also got alot of shots on goal. But Seattle goalie, Bryan Bridges, seemed to have an answer for just about every one of them. Except for one in the final minute of the 2nd period. The exact time you DON'T want to give up a goal to a desperate team. So after two periods, Seattle was still holding onto a slim 3-2 lead.

And things just kept going like that as the 3rd period started. Seattle was almost in a prevent defense type of game. While the Hawks were attacking left and right. Then, with exactly six minutes to go in the 3rd, Jannik Hansen scored on a quick little snap shot that went over Bridges shoulder to tie the game up at 3 apiece. And it was with that goal that, finally, Seattle seemed to pop to life. All of a sudden, they were matching Portland's intensity out there. And there were flurries of chances in both ends as regualtion came to an end.

Portland dominated most of what was played in overtime. Seattle was still playing hard. But you could just tell that the Hawks wanted it just a little more. Then, with just over nine minutes to play in the first overtime, Portland's Jon Bubnick turned and whipped a quick shot past Bridges to win the game for the Winter Hawks. Portland won the series, 4-3.

How strange was this series? Outside of Seattle's win in game one in the Key Arena, the visiting team won all the rest of the games. Which really shouldn't be much of a shock when you consider that it seems like the T-Birds can't win a game on home ice in the playoffs anymore. In their last two series (including their 2nd round loss to Kelowna last season), the Birds are 1-6 in their last seven home playoff games. On the flip side of that, they're 6-1 on the road in those same two series. Maybe they should just shoot for 4th place in the US Division. If they did that, the Thunderbirds might just be unstoppable in the playoffs (lol).

As for Portland...well...have fun getting steam-rolled by the Vancouver Giants in the next round. During the 2nd intermission as I was walking around the concourse, I ran into Steve...the guy who used to sit next to me down in the Rose Garden. We both agreed that whoever won the series between Seattle and Portland would get whupped up on by Vancouver. "It'll go 5 games....tops" Steve told me. And I agreed with him. At this point the Giants are a bonafide powerhouse. Especially ever since they got Gilbert Brule back from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Their defense is huge and their offense is potent. And really, neither Portland or Seattle has or had a snowballs chance in hell of beating them. And the same will be said about either Kelowna or Everett in the 3rd round.

I'll be heading back up to Vancouver on Saturday for game 2 of the Giants/Hawks series. It looks like I'll be alone for that one...at least for now. I'll also be at at least one of the games in Everett next week (likely Tuesday) and then back down in Portland for game 4 of that series on Thursday. After that...we'll just have to wait and see.