Throw This Dog a Bone

Why do I love the Spruce Kings so much and being around the rink and everything else that goes with it? I'm not sure there is an easy answer, but I can tell you this is pretty hard ... trying to stay away and not get involved. I have to try and stay out though because I have this other job that will keep me very busy until October 28th and then I hope that it will turn into something more ... much more.

I have brought in a very capable replacement for me, but there is no way that he can just jump right in a do everything that I was doing. Right now I'm just happy knowing that he is eager to do the home webcasts and also spend some time blogging and posting to the social media feeds. The funny thing is, it has encouraged me to post two blogs of my own.

Today I was at the rink and I didn't spend much time doing the little things that have normally taken up my time and enjoyment of being at the rink. Instead I spent the better part of two hours just wandering around the rink and talking to many people - parents, players, scouts and the like. That was actually enjoyable as I still got to feel important and people knew who I was. That's kind of ironic because I don't even know who I am when I'm at the rink!

I love the German Shepherd
hard working dog that only asks for love and attention

I am torn and I know it. When I'm asked, I tell people that I had to step back because of my job but I still find myself doing a lot to help out where I can. To muddy the waters even more - when I have the few moments that I do in the day to just think about what is going on, I find myself thinking that everything will be back to the way it was come November 1st.

I really don't know what to do or how to handle the situation. I love doing what I do for the Spruce Kings. I love the feeling that I'm part of the team. I love it when people recognize the things I do and say that I work hard for the team. I just love the pats on the head I get. I really think I was a German Shepherd in a past life ... if you believe in that sort of thing.

Business Decision or Money Grab

Of all the things I could have been blogging about since my last posting (The Wrongs and Rights of Social Media - June 19, 2011), I'm not sure why this subject becomes the one ... maybe I was just looking for an excuse to get going again. Either way, here it is.

I just read in the Prince George Citizen (August 23, 2011) that the City has approved paid preferential parking spots at the CN Centre for WHL games, concerts and presumably other events. The idea is to provide parking in those spots with close proximity to the arena and to also allow for special exiting privileges to those willing to pay for one or more of the 73 designated spots.

On the surface I say if the market will support it then why not? But this is Prince George and there is always something more to everything. Now I want to preface this by saying that the Cougars, who are the main tenant and the WHL team that would be generating the majority of occasions to use a preferential parking system, are sometimes painted with a brush stroke that is often less than kind. Whether that be a result of their own doing or not ... that's the subject of another blog down the road when I grow some fuzz on my peaches.

In the Citizen article, it is very apparent that should this plan be seen in a negative light there will only be one identity to hang the blame on and point the finger at - the Cougars. The article states that the Cougars management initiated the proposal and under ideal scenarios would stand to benefit with an estimated $15,900 in revenues while the City would also see over $16,000 added to their coffers.

I worry about how the article has been written and thereby presented to the public as it will become another example of how the "Cougars take money from the community." Again right or wrong, I have no beef with the Cougars and their business model. Unlike the Spruce Kings, who are a community owned not for profit entity, the Cougars are a private business and their goal is to make a profit for themselves. I believe that they do the best they can to put the best product on the ice and as I mentioned above, perhaps that is best left for another blog down the road.

Bottom line is, if you want to see a Cougars WHL game and are prepared to pay for a preferred spot closer to the arena and also get the added perk of an easier exit following the event ... then go for it. If that isn't your cup of tea, then that is okay too. There are many parking spots in well lit areas of the CN Centre parking lot that I will use and walk the few extra steps to get to the game. I'm not the type of person that will leave the arena early, so exiting the parking lot isn't usually a problem for me.

I hope people will see this simply as a business decision designed to make a profit and maybe, just maybe, benefit the City as well by generating monies in an area that weren't there previously. Simply put, this is a good business idea but it may just be a little too far ahead of its time in Prince George.

Wrongs and Rights of Social Media

I have always maintained that I am more of a fan of the game and of players than I am of a particular team. In the wake of the Vancouver Canucks failed bid to hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time in their franchise history, I feel genuinely sorry for the team, its players and its true fans. Unfortunately I think that which suffered the most is the game and the city's reputation because of actions that had absolutely nothing to do with the game at all.

Everybody has heard and seen the riots in the street of Vancouver that transpired shortly after the game ended and the Boston Bruins were crowned champions. The sad thing is that what happened on the streets was not a direct result of the game being played on the ice as much as it was an opportunity to exploit the game for the willful damage and destruction.

The true fans and indeed the true game was inside Rogers Arena and was felt and heard in the standing ovation for the visiting Boston Bruins for the final minute of the game and well into the post game celebration. Vancouver Canuck fans cheered loudly for their team, the visitors and for specific players on both sides. Most notably would be the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy, Tim Thomas, captain of the Bruins, Zdeno Chara and the player that had played his junior career in Vancouver and hoisted a Memorial Cup, Milan Lucic.

Outside Rogers Arena there were hundreds of thousands people gathered in various areas to watch the game on large screens. In the aftermath of the destruction it was learned that some people had come down to these areas with the sole purpose of starting something. In one account, the owner of pickup truck that was later set on fire had claimed they his intention all along was to bring his vehicle downtown and torch it after the game.

Unfortunately mob mentality did consume some otherwise unassuming people that would never have been characterized as troublemakers. That's what mob mentality does. On the other side of the situation were the large numbers of onlookers that used their camera phones to document the whole thing. This in itself caused some of the problems and perhaps led to the situation lasting as long as it did on the streets of Vancouver.

With an audience, the "entertainers" were seen busting shop windows, throwing mail boxes and newspaper containers, smashing cars and ultimately setting some on fire. Some participants wanted their pictures taken in amongst all the mayhem and many others were more than willing to oblige. As the crowds wandered from one spot to another the destruction followed. The police and riot squads worked at trying to disperse the crowds and many times would be seen closing the gap on a troublemaker only to see that person disappear into a sea of camera phones.

Social media was all of sudden being seen as the immediate tool that it is as images, video and detailed accounts of the rioting went viral. At some point people started realizing that the troublemakers could be identified and websites immediately sprang up looking to hold people accountable for their actions. It was then that I noticed things started changing with the true troublemakers masking themselves and trying to hide from the ever prying eyes shining brightly as the light of day turned into darkness.

Could social media now all of sudden become the saviour of the world by becoming the ultimate witness to a crime and its criminal? The short answer is yes, but is the case with most good things, the bad side always comes out to play too. In a mob it is said that people lose their inhibitions as they start to feel untouchable with the notion of being lost in the numbers. This to is readily apparent with social media where many people use aliases and pseudo identities to protect their own.

In the 12 to 24 hours following the riots, the images, video and accounts were being gathered up fast and furious to start the process of identification. The original intent was to make this information available for the proper authorities so that they may bring those responsible to justice. Somewhere in the process the bad surfaced in this too and another wrong started to show itself as social media vigilantes started harassing and threatening those that were being identified.

This is no different than being on the streets after the game and hurling the barricade at the window and getting into a fist fight. It brings to light the age old cliche that "two wrongs don't make a right." It certainly wasn't right what happened on the street of Vancouver in the evening hours of June 15, 2011 but to follow that up with vigilant justice is not the answer. Holding people accountable is important but to terrorize them now is just as cruel and malicious as any of the acts that were committed on that fateful night.

There were riots in 1994 after the Vancouver Canucks lost to the New York Rangers in seven games and now with the riots after the 2011 Stanley Cup series with the Boston Bruins it leaves me wondering what will happen if there is another trip to the finals in Vancouver's future. Another cliche goes fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. The essence here is that Vancouver will not allow itself to be embarrassed again.

What that ultimately means, I'm not sure except that I can't see people being invited into the downtown to be a part of history and to cheer on their team. Does it mean that there would be a curfew and nobody would be allowed to gather ... maybe. Either way, what happened is a shame that will change the way "fans" are allowed to attend large sporting events everywhere.

As for social media, I think we have witnessed an evolutionary step forward in the use and distribution of social media. If it means that some people are more likely to document and report questionable behaviour then perhaps it also means that others will question their actions before they make them and maybe, just maybe this is a good thing.

Comparing Celebrations

As promised, now I will be able to throw down some of my thoughts and opinions on a variety of topics. With the Dallas Mavericks winning their first ever NBA Championship I thought I would weigh in on a sport I know very little about. To clarify I understand the game, but I don't follow it like I follow the game of hockey and I certainly don't purport to be an expert on it.

I watched with interest to a few of the series leading up to the finals and like everybody else believed that the Miami Heat could win it when they advanced to meet the Dallas Mavericks. What nobody expected was the lunch bucket crew that showed up for the Mavericks in that Final round. Once they started winning the close games, their confidence grew and so did the swagger of the fans cheering against the Heat as they loaded up the Mavericks bandwagon.

I'm not sure if I can remember another time in any other sport where one athlete was so widely despised as LeBron James is right now in the NBA (subject for another blog: will or even has Miami turned on LeBron). The mass hatred started with his treatment of the Cleveland Cavaliers and telling a mass television audience that he would be taking his talents to South Beach. Shortly after that he promised the Miami Heat faithful that he would be bringing a championship to the city.

True to his word, LeBron James did bring a Championship to the city of Miami but it left almost as quickly to Dallas. I say almost because I did find a number of photos online of the Dallas Mavericks celebrating their first ever NBA Championship - complete with the Larry O'Brien trophy - at a Miami dance club. This is kind of where I want to start with all of the oddities that I saw with the NBA Championship Finals especially the last game.

Now I have no problem with athletes hitting the city and celebrating a hard fought battle after they emerge as champions ... in the home town of the team that is. Now maybe this is that something special about the NBA that I couldn't seem to see earlier in the evening. The game progressed as I would expect - two teams going up and down the court and dropping buckets. There were a few lead changes, but for the Dallas Mavericks led for the most part and when it matter the most.

At the end of the game, things just quietly came to a close. Dirk Nowitzki won his first league championship in thirteen years and immediately proceeded down the tunnel to the dressing room. Miami's big three did the same followed by the rest of their team mates. There were no congratulatory moments between opposing players and no handshakes.

Even the broadcast seemed to be missing that celebratory feel that I've become accustomed to over the years watching the NHL in Canada. There was no mass rush courtside to catch an athlete and his thoughts after the big win or even the big loss. I don't recall a quickly produced highlight package set to a statement piece of music. I waited for some of these things and instead watched as the broadcast went to commercial break.

On return there was a stage set up and bathed in the glow of a few bright spotlights. All the important people were up there crammed into tight quarters. The ESPN broadcaster introduced the NBA Commissioner who congratulated both teams. The rest is a bit of blur to me as it unfolded in an unbelieving order. Mark Cuban spoke, Dirk Nowitzki was awarded the Playoff MVP and the Championship trophy was handed to who? That wasn't the team captain and it certainly wasn't the team's owner - was that the coach?

Judging by a few of the tweets I saw, it should have been given to the owner; apparently there is something between David Stern and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. If this is the case, then I don't like it. Handing the League Championship Trophy off to the team owner screams of endorsing the money man and not the athletes that worked for it. Oh sure they get paid blah blah blah, but the owner should not be the first person to receive that honour.

Shortly after the trophy was handed over, the television networks went to another commercial break and here in Canada we went back to original programming. I suspect we didn't miss much as less than five minutes later I saw Nowitzki sitting at the post game press conference answering questions. There was no dressing room champagne shots, no scenes of players being congratulated by their family and close friends. It was just over ... it was just another NBA Championship game ... no big deal.

If that was it, I'm asking you to peek into the NHL Stanley Cup Finals that could potentially end Monday night with another road team winning the Championship. If not Monday, it will end for sure on Wednesday. No matter which game turns out to be the final game you will see the two emotional extremes of immense joy and devastating heart break. Through all of that there will be a push to find athletes to talk to on the broadcast, congratulations between opposing teams and coaching staffs.

After a few minutes there will be a commercial break, but before going to that break look for a highlight pack that will show the human side of the competition set to a contemporary piece of music. On return from the break there will be the obligatory boos for the League Commissioner, Gary Bettman. Then a few minutes the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophies will be at centre ice. The Stanley Cup will be presented to the winning team's captain. It will be to his discretion if he hoists it above his head or gives it to another player for the honours.

It doesn't end there as every player will have a chance to hoist the Cup above their heads as they skate around the ice dodging camera cables, reporters and other people that found a way onto the ice. Once everybody has had a chance to lift Hockey's Holy Grail it will be placed near centre ice leading to an impromptu gathering of the winning team for a victory photograph.

The celebrations will then head to the dressing room that will be covered in plastic in anticipation of champagne being uncorked and sprayed in joyous celebration around the room. Some players will have family members nearby including small children reveling in the festivities. The scene will carry on for at least an hour with no post game press conference forthcoming. If the winning team is a road team, don't expect to see them show up downtown ... that part of the celebration will be reserved for the hometown of the fans who will be anxiously waiting the team's arrival at the airport.

One last thought ... after reading LeBron's quote (courtesy USA Today) about "the haters" having the same personal problems in the morning, I can't help but chuckle knowing that he woke up this morning with his same personal problems and then some. He just can't seem to play it right when in front of the media eye, whether it be the "coughing" or the critiquing, he just seems to keep himself in that same spot where he is the most despised athlete in his sport.

Things Can Change in a Hurry

I was going to go through the whole metaphor (or is that simile?) of undressing, showering and putting on a new suit, but I have discovered that I want to write about other things on a more consistent basis. I wouldn't be able to do that if I had to go through the whole stripping down and cleansing of myself. So at this time I'm not sure if I will go through with the whole process as originally planned despite the fact that I think it would be most beneficial.

The purpose of the stripping down was to see if I could take a look inside of myself and maybe try on a new style. I believe that I can and will still do this, I just don't know when or even how that process will evolve. As you know, it wasn't that long ago that things were looking pretty bleak for me. I have to say that for the most part things haven't changed that much and I'm still waiting on my first EI payment after being issued a lay off notice. What has changed is really what has always been the same with me.

View of the Coastal Mountains
on my flight to Vancouver

I'm a very optimistic person and almost always find the bright side ... the silver lining in the darkest of clouds. This is as true now as it ever has been. After being issued the lay off notice, I developed the idea that I wouldn't be going back to something that has been a part of me for almost two decades. The truth of the matter is that I have found other opportunities while still continuing to hold onto my past. This in reality is the real problem and, to be honest, is something I know I have to let go of if I am ever to move forward.

It was actually quite comical if you think about it. My last paycheque was issued on a plea by myself after realizing that one hadn't been processed as expected on May 15th. I was told then that I had let down a long list of people and was not living up to expectations set out for me. On the plus side, I was told that what I did do was exceptional. The things I didn't do well revolved around financial contributions while my tasks I did do well were the ones that fell under the definition of my job title as it appears on my business card.

As funny as that may sound, the real humour in all of this came on May 17th. Just two days after being told officially that I was laid off, I was asked to represent the very same company at a regional meeting in Vancouver. My airfare was paid for and I wouldn't incur very many costs on my own, any expenses that I did have could be submitted as expenses and be reimbursed. As it turns out, I did attend the meetings and I believe I represented the company with respect. I brought back some useful information ... of which nobody has asked me for as of yet.

Since being laid off, I have produced a few press releases for the company and even made some improvements to the website. I continue to do what I can do in the form of social media and promotions that I did when I was on the payroll. Despite all of that, I believe that I am moving forward and have a few irons in the fire including a couple of resumes that have been sent out of town and I have also been approached with another opportunity a lot closer to home. It will be a short term venture, but will improve my resume in a very important area. Taking on the challenge is a no brainer and one that I am looking forward to starting exactly one month after my last paycheque.

Now I don't know how much more personal information I'm going to be sharing because the main genesis of The Roster Crows is to be able to put my thoughts and opinions out there. I guess you need to know that my last name is Gallo which is roster when translated from most Latin based languages to English. So what I really want to do on this blog is to put some thoughts, opinions and maybe life lessons on here to be consumed by who ever finds them funny, useful or worth examining.

Honey, I'm Home

After a journey that has taken me too far away, I find myself standing at the door with my hand on the knob. The creation of this blog is me turning the handle and opening the door ... inside there is a cool shower waiting for me and a new set of clothes to put on. Then I will be ready to head back out into the world ... dressed up and ready to tackle a new beginning.

At this point I don't know what I'll be wearing or what I'll look like when I come outside again but I know that I need to make this change. I need to make this change for myself and for those that I hold dear to me. The genesis of this idea started shortly after another birthday and spending too much time realizing that I have accomplished little for myself up until this point.

Maybe some or even all ... no I want to be clear on this point ... I am the only person to blame for my current lot in life. I came from a supportive background and was blessed with the intelligence to do well in school. The grades I got were exactly the grades I wanted ... A's in Math and English, just average scores in the rest of my courses.

I have been given opportunities and for one reason or another have not fully taken advantage of them. Through my own hard work and determination I was able to walk into a radio station and start work as an operator with one shift per week. That soon changed to weekend announcer and the advancements and promotions started rolling from there. When my 15 year tour of duty finished I had gone from part time radio to full time television and finished with the title of Master Control Supervisor.

The job was a lucrative one that allowed me opportunities to give back to the community that I have called home for my entire life. I started volunteering as a public address announcer with a local hockey team and, like I did in the broadcast industry, found myself taking on more and more tasks and responsibilities. At the time of this particular posting, I have the title of Communications Director and am considered the voice of this particular hockey team.

The game of hockey is one that is seasonal in nature, at least to those that look at the sport as being played during particular months of the year. The reality of the situation is that hockey is a year round sport with many activities happening that are not limited by the date on the calendar. From recruiting to maintaining relationships with players, volunteers, fans and the business community, hockey is dependent on the efforts of many people every day of the year.

So what does all this have to do with the reinvention of me? Well I find myself with no income after being laid off from the hockey team due to a "shortage of work" as a result of the hockey operations being seasonal. Over the course of seventeen seasons, fifteen of which were strictly volunteer in nature, I find myself trying to sort out what should and what shouldn't be.

There is a lot more information that I need to mull over and provide here before I can fully assess the situation and begin the tough process of reinvention. I see it as a process of changing clothes. So far all I've done is walk in the door and take my shoes off. There is a lot more clothes to come off and then I will need to have a shower and cleanse myself before I can put on a new outfit. At some point in all of this, I hope to select what I am going to wear for my future and have it ready to put on when I step out of the shower.

If you wish to follow on my journey, I invite you do so and encourage you to add your thoughts and opinions along the way ... you just never know when or where you will find that nugget, that diamond in the rough.