Have you ever heard someone say how magical it would be to see the world through a child’s eyes? Well this weekend, I experienced the reverse. I witnessed my mom see her child’s world through her eyes. Confused?
Basically I’m the child…my mom was seeing my world. And it was magical.
Let me start by saying I was in Edmonton for the weekend to attend a broadcast workshop at N.A.I.T. A number of Sportsnet employees made the trip to attend seminars at the school, answer student’s questions and offer advice about making it in the business. Seeing these aspiring broadcasters’ passion and desire to be sports anchors and reporters was a great experience in itself. Not that I need any reminding, but it reinforced how lucky I am to have the job I do. A big shout-out to everyone who put the workshop together and attended!
But back to my mom.
She lives in Saskatchewan and I rarely get to see her so she flew out to Edmonton to meet me. Because I am not making it home for the holidays this year, we had plans to celebrate an early Christmas with gifts and dinner. As part of the weekend I took my mom to the Ducks-Oilers game on Friday night. The last time I took her to an NHL game it was in the nosebleed section of Air Canada Centre to see the Leafs. At Rexall, I was able to land front row ice level seats which obviously offered a completely different perspective. And for my mom who has never been so close to the action it was a total thrill.
While it was awesome to experience the energy of the fans at Rexall as they cheered their team onto a 5-1 victory, the best part of the game was the Oiler faithful mercilessly booing Chris Pronger from his very first appearance on the ice. They continued to let him have it every time he touched the puck even into the final seconds of the game. Not that I have it out for Pronger…but the strong fan reaction resulted in the quote of the night when my mom turned to me and asked if all the booing might hurt Pronger’s feelings. I assured my mom that he didn’t have any (just kidding). But judging from Pronger’s smirk during the boo birds shower he was not upset in the least.
The magical night was topped off when I was able to take my mom behind the scenes. Not only to the broadcast trucks in the bowels of the arena where she got to see Pronger, Todd Bertuzzi etc… leaving the rink in their street clothes, but also right outside the Oilers’ dressing room. Rexall is one of the last rinks to allow the fans such a close up view of the players as they enter and exit the ice. Seeing Craig McTavish walk by made my mom’s year.
Spending that rare quality time with my mom… made mine.
Nice work using the word “bowels” and Chris Pronger and Todd Bertuzzi in the same sentence although it may be redundant.
the_skip |
8:30 AM, Tuesday December 4, 2007
Good, every team in the league should boo Pronger. He sets hockey back to the dark ages with his Neandertholic play
Corbechev |
9:02 AM, Tuesday December 4, 2007
Martine, if you enjoyed your brief weekend stay in Edmonton, you would have enjoyed it more that Pronger ever did over the course of an NHL season.
It was great to see the Oilers spanked Pronger’s Ducky behind now once but twice over the weekend.
Oilsville |
10:51 AM, Tuesday December 4, 2007
Gotta love to hate Pronger. When he was in Oilers slicks he was awesome to watch. After the stunt he pulled though, I boo him as much as anyone.
On a side note. My one shot at meeting the hottest Broadcaster on TV and I missed it. Jennifer Hedger, who?
Frost |
11:46 AM, Tuesday December 4, 2007
Hey you should say instead that Rexall is “one of the only REMAINING buildings to allow fans such a close up view”. Otherwise it just sounds like every other building already does it and Rexall just started. This isn’t true as Rexall is one of the only buildings to do this! GO OILERS!!! BOOO PRONGER!!
man10x |
1:48 PM, Tuesday December 4, 2007
Hey Martine,
It’s Gino from the conference on the weekend I just want to say thank-you very much for the advice you gave us into becoming better sports broadcasters. Hopefully you will be around at next years conference and maybe you can bring Mr. Toth with you. By the way I’m now watch sportsnet connected west region I’ve ditched watching The Score during your showtime at 10:00 mountain time. Anyways i’m at school so i have to get back to work. Thanks again
Gino
TonySoprano |
2:27 PM, Tuesday December 4, 2007
“….my mom turned to me and asked if all the booing might hurt Pronger’s feelings. I assured my mom that he didn’t have any.”
Hahaha. Funniest. Post. Ever.
CapnVic |
3:29 PM, Tuesday December 4, 2007
Martine:
Nice article and a welcome one at that considering it was on hockey. Yes, it is great to see the players “up close and personal” in Edmonton. This gives the fans a great feeling to be in touch with the team for sure. As for Pronger and why he left (his wife did not like Edmonton or the young temptations there), we can only boo!!
Dambuster |
4:55 PM, Tuesday December 4, 2007
It was great to read you enjoyed your time in Edmonton! Great blog, funny, happy, and on a great game(from an Oilers perspective).
And I hope that if they do get a new building that they leave the way players get into and out of the locker room the same! I’ve met many players there. ANd have great memorys of that section in the building.
RaySUCKS |
9:01 PM, Tuesday December 4, 2007
he didn`t have any,lol pronger does have him millions to wipe away the tears with.
Doppelganger |
9:09 PM, Tuesday December 4, 2007
boo him all you want edmonton fans, but he’s the one with the stanley cup ring
jonnyb19 |
11:21 PM, Tuesday December 4, 2007
Pronger is one of my personal heroes. The only bad thing I have to say about him is that he did not demand a trade sooner after he was dealt to Edmonton.
diobrain |
3:27 PM, Wednesday December 5, 2007
Hi Martine, That’s nice that you and your mom were able to have such a good time. My dad and I go to games and it is a bonding experience. The booing of Pronger is entertaining. I am a Oiler fan and I am over the fact that he left. It created a rivalry with the Ducks that is fun to watch. I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Derek.
derek99 |
7:35 PM, Wednesday December 5, 2007
boo hoo Oilers fans, he left, he won a Cup, you got Joffry Lupal, who is now in Philly. Suck it up.
B-rad |
10:10 PM, Wednesday December 5, 2007
pronger sucks.
Ill never cheer for Edmonton but I will join their boos on pronger!
GoCanucks123 |
12:38 AM, Thursday December 6, 2007
Its gettting cold here in Oil country, but our hatred for Pronger keeps me warm inside.
And to Diobrain, I have to say that I really love Morrison, because of his clean-hitting treatment of the Flames, oh ya and Keenan is one of my heroes for taking a playoff contending Flames and flushing them down the toilet.
OILERNATION |
11:57 AM, Thursday December 6, 2007
Chris Pronger wanted out of Edmonton for a number of reasons, such as his wife not being a fan of the city, he probably could earn more money playing for Anaheim, and the chance to win a Stanley Cup. It’s nice you were able to
meet your mom in Edmonton. If
you look at the current NHL standings, Anaheim is higher up the Western Conference rung
than the Edmonton Oilers are at the present time.
OILERNATION is right about Keenan though. The Flames were a playoff contender, but so far this season, they’re just an average team at best.
pbanik |
1:53 PM, Wednesday December 12, 2007
Enjoyed reading your post Martine, your mothers comment about Prongers feelings was so careing and thoughtful, god bless her.
Keep up the steller work girl, you rock.
pauleastend |
11:43 PM, Friday January 4, 2008