Venckus responds to Nordic Mans volley...

First things first. I COMPLETELY forgot the Gamblers had a Sign Boy night. Looking back, that is even funnier now than it was then. Awesome- and a well-deserved honor.

Next.... Nordic Man needs to relax. He's a great American and a great Cheesehead. I have the utmost respect for him. Let me go on the record as saying that, if I had a vote, I would vote him into the posse.

I also have no problem with his Mom campaigning for him to be a member of the posse. Years from now, when historians look back on the posse, there won't be an asterisk next to Nordic Man's name because his Mom nominated him. It's all about winning.

Also Nordic Man.....relax about the curling issue. You're way too defensive. I played baseball for most of my life and I think if it was invented today, nobody would go to the games. Boring sport. I love golf, but if you want to make the argument that it's a boring sport, I can understand that perspective. Cycling? I could see why someone would think the Tour is boring until they learn about the strategies and intricacies of the sport.

So, if you like curling, that's cool. Just understand there's a reason why curling isn't all that popular in the States. Maybe it has something to do with a broom being one of the pieces of equipment.

All that having been said, did you know that a bunch of curling women did a calendar a few years back? It's true. Check out a couple of images. Have fun googling for more.

On second thought, Nordic Man, you're correct. Curling is awesome and I can't wait until the next Winter Games.

Why can't we all just get along? Peace.

-Venckus

P.S.- Hauser, great job on the bike. Remember, pink is the new yellow.



NEXT: Preacher weighs in on the Moto race that I worked...oh and gets in a dig about that shitty wings team...

I know I'm a liitle slow in this but I've still been busy celebrating my Wings winning the Cup! Very cool blog about the motocross race, I do know a few guys that race that. One of my good friends went up and raced Gopher Dunes last year and got 10th. There's even a pro race in Regina (I hope I spelled that right), you should check it out. If you think those jumps were big, check this out:
That's Larocco's Leap at RedBud Track & Trail in Buchanan, MI. I'll be right next to that jump next weekend at the big pro national.
A little story was just released about my MX idol, Doug Henry. You can see it here:


Mike Banaszynski
Preacher

Yes you are slow, but most of us do not hold it against you. That is just Preacher being Preacher. I did know about the Regina race, I was not invited to work it, they had enough guys. I was out on the boat that day so I did not attend. They have one in Edmonton this weekend. We will look for you to get crushed by a bike by that jump. Especially if you are wearing your Kocur jersey.

Brier Part Two

Here are some pictures I snapped with my camcorder last night at the Brier final. My Camcorder takes terrible still photos so please bear with me on the quality. Here is the first pic...

This is the rink, Rexall Place, where the Oilers usually play. It is different to see it with curling ice in it. They sold the joint out. Over 300,000 people over the course of a week. New record for the Brier. Like it matters...

This is a picture of Jake Daniels a local sports talk radio jock standing in front of the cooler and donut table in the media lounge. Yes lounge. Leather couches and plenty of snacks for us to indulge in. Jake is holding his good friend, BEER. Plenty of that in the lounge. If I like Curling if for anything, I like it for that. Next pic......

Tim Hortons was the sponsor of the Brier so we had plenty of Tim Hortons coffee and donuts. Tim Hortons coffee is like crack to Canadians. So the pusher was in the room the whole week...Next pic...


A close up of the Beer in the cooler..Never was less than a 24 stocked in the cooler. They had neer beer in there too, but I never saw anyone drink that. Why bother? another Pic....

A pic of Jordi waiting for something to happen. He wasn't feeling well. Maybe you can tell by the pic. Jordi works with me. Also a former A-Channel employee. Next pic....

Jamie TomASS waiting and watching the last rock thrown. As you can tell he is enthused. The Alberta rink was trying to draw to the button for one. That was curling jargon. Only Marty knows what that means. Last Photo...

This is Me and Rick from The station I used to work for. No he is not on his knees. He is short. So generally in a scrum like the one last night he stands in front of me if he can. There were about 7 or 8 cameras in the scrum last night. Rick got in a shouting match with a 90 year old blue hair that had a toupee and no idea about what a camera is for. The old guy just stepped in front of Rick so Rick took an elbow at him. The ref did not see it so he did not have to go to the penalty box. Old people are funny. Especially if they have bad toupees.

So there you have it. The Brier Experience.

Have a nice day and GET BACK TO WORK!!!!!

Curling, wow. Not really....

Well,

I have another Curling post. Part one. I am writing a short one today and then another on monday. Sunday we are going to cover the Brier and I am going to take some pictures for you to paruse. No pics yet so I will not go into too much detail. I will tell you this...The Brier is the only sporting event that I have attended as a member of the media where in the media lounge they supply you not only with doughnuts, pop, and coffee, BUT BEER. That's right, BEER. Right next to the juice and water, a nice selection of Alexander Keith's and Labatts BEER. I have been so tempted to give it a go, but my shooting is questionable without beer.

so I will have some pics on monday, of the lounge, the ice, the rink and what not. So have a nice friday and I will see you on Monday for more LOVE.

Oh, one more thing. I started volunteer coaching with a football team on Sunday. Very cool. Very intimidating. Especially when the example of coaching I recieved in High School was Coach Berglund. Basically a guy in coaching shorts, a whistle and a whole bunch of attitude. He just walked around with his hand in his shorts and yelled. No real technique or coaching. So the first time the Line coach told me to take a group over and work on the first step I was a bit scared. But I pulled through and I think I did okay. I guess you would have to ask the kids. It is Bantam football, which is 9,10, and 11 grade. It was kinda cool the first time one of the players called me coach though. That is kind of a respect thing. I to this day call anyone who was my coach, coach. The coach of the Oilers is coach, it does not matter, if he is a coach and you played any kind of organized sport, you call the man coach. It is a respect thing. So to be called 'coach' was kinda cool. The name of the team is the Sherwood Park Wolverines. They have a cool website. http://www.spwolverines.com/

I would like to thank John Trana, a fine coach in his own right, for his guidance and tips. He helped me get through the practice. I thought it was funny though when I told John that there are 12 guys on the field in Canada. He did not know that. Or he did and forgot. Funny. Three downs and a whole bunch more field. I just can't wait until they are in pads and start knocking heads. That is my coaching story. I hope you enjoyed it.

Now, GET BACK TO WORK!!!!

I have been in Canada too long...

Yep, thats me up there in the pic, standing on ice, with a curling broom in my hand. I know, that is one of the signs of the apocolypse. I even sometimes slow down with the clicker when I go by a curling match on TV. The past few years I have taped the Brier for Marty, maybe that is the reason for my madness. I don't know.
Tuesday night the local sports radio, Team 1260, which I am friendly with a few of the jocks. Well, I guess they know me because I call in and run my mouth a lot. Imagine that, me running my mouth, on talk radio. Anyway, the have an annual match with the Ferby rink (that is what they call a team that curls). I know you now are thinking that I know way too much about curling. They call the match the Death Match. This year it was held at city hall in the reflection pool. In the winter it is not much for reflection, just ice. I went down to get some autographs, thats right, autographs of curlers. I am truly crazy. The guy in the middle with the stogy, cuban, is Randy Ferby, the skip (captain or leader of the team. I know, I need to get out more).

I had a broom( that is the tool that a curler uses, again I know too much about curling) to have them sign it. Not for myself but for a charity auction that I hold in conjunction with my golf tournament(yet another sport that I have learned to play, poorly). Anyway, next thing I know they have me out on the ice throwing stones (That is the object of curling, like a football, or baseball. I am starting to creep myself out with all this info). Just picture shuffleboard on ice. It is called curling because depending on the speed that you throw the rock and the rotation you put on it, it will curve or curl. Imagine a curve ball thrown by a pitcher, that is what the rock does on the ice. I definitely have been here in Canada too long, I am explaining curling to you. Like it matters.

The Ferby rink is representing Alberta in the Breir this year. The Brier is in Edmonton this year. It is like the superbowl of curling in Canada. They have won 4 in a row and 5 total. They also won the world championship. Like it matters. So technically I was on the ice with the worlds best curlers. Marty knows who they are. The rocks that they used in this match were Tim Hortons coffee cans. Real rocks are granite and round. Like it matters. Anyway, I kinda had fun. Usually you don't curl outside, you do it in a bar. That's right, every rink has a bar and that is a major part of curling, beer. So, naturally I am drawn to it, because of beer. I believe that is why Marty does it. Nordic Man is a curler also. Marty does not do too much of it in Cali.

Here I am watching the rock head toward the House (Where you want your rock to go. Kinda like a bullseye on a target). I called Donna and told her that I was going to be late but did not tell her what I was doing. She about fell off her chair when I told her that I was curling. She can't believe that I actually gave it a go.
Well the death match ended in a ass whupping. The Ferby boys put up 7 points in the second end (that is the rounds that curling goes. Usually 10 ends. Man I need to come back to the states and watch more football.) We got one in the first, and not to many after that. Maybe I need one of you to come up here and perform an intervention, or an exorcism or something. Me curling, what's next soccer? Hell no!!!!

Have a good day and GET BACK TO WORK.