"We've got everything here that you could want..."

... So said the souvenir vendor at the Seattle Kingdome one long July evening in 1997. As I stood there expectantly with my nine-year old daughter, who was also a keen consumer, I requested to buy a Mariners' pencil.

"I'm sorry, we don't have any pencils." Hmmm. "Well, would you have a Mariners' fridge magnet?" I asked. Looking slightly embarrassed, the vendor replied that they had no fridge magnets either. I glanced over at my daughter who was grinning from ear to ear at the irony of it all.


I was disappointed that evening for another reason. Our vanload of would be baseball fans had taken so long to get going in Maple Ridge, B.C. that morning, and we had stopped for the most leisurely of lunches at Denny's somewhere in northwest Washington, and there was a screwup with our family's reservations at some cheap motel on the south side of Seattle that, by the time we arrived at the ballpark, we had missed Junior's batting practice.

Despite the shortage of pencils and magnets at the souvenir stand, my daughter and I did manage to purchase the first of what would become her daddy's treasured collection of colorful team baseballs and mini-bats, long after she lost interest. Later during the exciting inter-league game between two west coast teams, the same daughter requested a cotton candy from the mobile vendor whose display resembled Sideshow Bob's tonsorial. My wife lamented that I was, in effect, buying the kid whatever she asked for. My response was: "Yeah, but what's your point?"

However, that same child who bought a few items at the ballpark was deeply disturbed later on, at the sight of a homeless person crying as we passed by him, on the way to our van.

Why all this reminiscing about one ball game that happened so many years ago, about which I have forgotten a lot of the details? Well, some other details came back to me on this historic day. On that happy occasion in the Kingdome in 1997, I got to see A-Rod in action, before I realized who A-Rod really was, or who he would become. And, I also got to see Barry Bonds, before I realized what an amazing presence he would become in baseball. On this day 10 years later, both men lit up the sportsworld with their milestone achievements, the youngest to reach 500 home runs, and the second man to hit 755 homers.

Back in 1997, A-Rod was a beautiful (he still is) young shortstop playing in the Pacific Northwest, prior to becoming the famous 252 million dollar man. I don't remember what he did in that game, but I do recall how the Mariners fans just loved him. (Side note: I still regret not purchasing that $34 cardboard standup of A-Rod the last time I was in Times Square)

I remember watching Barry Bonds hit a few balls into the third level of the dome during batting practice. I had never really liked Bonds when he starred with Pittsburgh, mostly because I was not a Pirates fan. I have since grown to appreciate his skills as a San Francisco Giant and shared some disappointment with him as he sat alone and quiet in the dugout following his team's seventh game loss to the Angels in the 2002 World Series. However, on this 1997 day in the Kingdome, I was in total awe of him. (Side note: I have a Barry Bonds bobblehead doll in storage at my sister's apartment in Baltimore, just waiting to come home to Calgary with me next month, along with some assorted Expos memorabilia)

There were six home runs that day, three each. That means that there were three fireworks displays after the Mariners' homers. I think Griffey hit one of them. I also remember watching the Big Unit sitting in the dugout with his long legs crossed. Oh, why did the Expos trade him? But I digress...

Ten years later, on a sensational Saturday in August when Alex Rodriguez hit his 500th home run in the morning and Barry Bonds tied Hank Aaron's all time record in the evening, the words of the souvenir woman were just as apt today, as before the game 10 years ago where we saw A-Rod and Barry on the same field: "We've got everything here that you could want!"

Fred is dead

I can't believe it. How could it happen to one of the twins?

Before the dramatic book sale, I contemplated who would be killed off in the final instalment, as promised by the author. I didn't really think any of the big three would be eliminated. But someone else of note would have to go.

Since I didn't remember the name of the other twin, I guessed "Fred will be killed." My prognostication, partly in jest, was met with scorn from my spouse and daughter.

However, when that same daughter, a big fan of the book and movies, finished the seventh volume last night, she appeared from her ivory tower, looked at me and blurted out "Fred was killed!" She glared at me like I was some kind of seer.

I guess you just have to know what you are talking about. A little bit of luck is also helpful.

Pourquoi les Canards?.... Parce que!

Je ne sais pas. Who really knows how it was that the Anaheim Ducks put it all together this season and captured the Stanley Cup.

Recently, a sports columnist wrote that he hated to admit it, but Brian Burke is the best general manager in the NHL.

Is it a factor that the Ducks have more Canadian players on their roster than any other NHL team?



Maybe having a no nonsense head coach to help the boys focus on hockey in the southern California sun was what was needed.

Perhaps the right combination of veterans and young skaters was the reason for success.

Why the Ducks? Why them and not the San Jose Sharks, the Los Angeles Kings, the California Seals, the Oakland Seals or the California Golden Seals?

You might point to luck, and it is true that some of the games in the final two series could easily have gone the other way with a few opposite bounces of the puck. However, there were probably some instances where the opponents had advantagious bounces also.

Why does a team suddenly rise to the top, when other teams who have been dwelling in mediocrity for decades can never seem to get anywhere? Well, it must be a combination of things that come together at the right time. Whatever the reason, this prairie boy is still ecstatic about the Anaheim "Mighty" Ducks taking home the hardware. Go Ducks!

No more crying on the lawn

Okay, Ken Dryden, I may have been cheering for you at the Liberal party leadership convention, but you ruined my life back in May 1971. It is still a bitter memory today, being reminded that one's favourite team is the only one among 28 that lost a Stanley Cup final series after being ahead 2 games to none at home. The Chicago Black Hawks just couldn't bring it to pass that year. In game 7, while ahead 2 goals to none, my favourite player Bobby Hull, the Golden Jet (father of the Golden Brett) cruised in over the opponents' blue line and let go a terrific slap shot that rang off the cross bar. Had he connected, a three-goal lead likely would have been insurmountable. Alas, the opponents tallied twice to tie the score, then the Pocket Rocket breezed around Pat Stapleton for goal number three, and that was all she wrote.

After the finish of this game, I brutally attacked the foot stool (well, it was one swift kick). Following this outburst, I made my way outdoors to the lawn where I laid down and cried. That's right, I laid down on the lawn and cried. I was sixteen. My disappointment was pronouced following near misses by the Black Hawks almost every year since I was 10. Did I mention that I laid down on the lawn and cried?

I am 52 years old now, and I finally have reason to rejoice and to gloat a little. At last, my favourite NHL team has won it all. Even now I can hardly believe it. The Anaheim Ducks have won the Stanley Cup! During all those years of bearing the taunts of Duck unbelievers, I have cheered for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim through thick and thin, from their inception in 1993. It was especially sweet to have Teemu come home last year and to share the joy this season. Ducks win!

I have a new lawn now, on a steep hill in Calgary, down which you could easily roll out onto the bumpy street. I have no more need to go cry on the lawn. Did I mention before: "Ducks win!"

Thrill of the Lifetime

We missed going to Peters' Drive-in

I had a most interesting birthday. I can kind of blame myself for that. The others here made the mistake of letting me plan the afternoon of my birthday (they took care of the rest).

With the birthday boy driving (naturally) we headed south on Centre Street from our home in Calgary and stopped at a little dim sum restaurant. We all got out and went inside where I ordered a single order of steamed shrimp dumplings to go. The clerk at the till turned around and grabbed a container and handed it to me. I handed her some change and we left. It took thirty seconds.

We enjoyed devouring the shrimp on the sidewalk, then drove further down Centre to Safeway. Here we purchased a single order of sushi that we also ate on the sidewalk. You probably get the idea where this story is going.

Having opted out of the long lineup at Peters' Drive-in, we worked our way through downtown and onto MacLeod Trail, the main drag south of the river. We enjoyed a single baked potato with cheddar and broccoli at Wendy's, then shared a single cheese and bean quesadilla and pop at Taco Bell.

After turning around and heading north on MacLeod, we stopped for poutine and onion rings at Harvey's. Then, having driven three doors up the street from there, we finished off a couple of salads at Burger King.

We all seemed a bit fatigued by the adventure, so we ended up at Dairy Queen near our home where the birthday boy shared a blizzard with his youngest daughter, while the others enjoyed Buster Bars. Seven restaurants, spending $40 in total.

My girls then prepared a sushi party supper and a couple of our friends came over to celebrate as well. We enjoyed fresh salmon, snapper, tuna, avocado and cucumber in addition to some shrimp and smoked eel and plenty of rice and nori. Later we finished the evening with DQ frozen cake. Absolutely delightful.

Anyway, that was my birthday.

Do you remember...?

... when the Green Bay Packers'

starting offensive backs and

receivers were five guys named

Antonio, Ahman, Bubba, William

and Bill?