The Winter Classic
January 2, 2008 by arsy5
I had the opportunity to attend the Winter Classic yesterday in Buffalo. It pitted the Pittsburgh Penuins vs. the Buffalo Sabres. Watching an outdoor hockey game was a unique experience. Watching it in Buffalo was even more of an experience. If you have ever felt bad about yourself and were questioning your sanity, I suggest a visit to Ralph Wilson Stadium on a blustery winter’s day. It will be an instant remedy for what pains you.
I have to thank Lloyd Estrabillo for the tickets to this event. He came up big with six tickets. He also drove to the event and paid for the parking. If there was an all star of the day he would for sure get my vote. Some would call Lloyd (aka BILO”) heroic……………most won’t. Our seats were fantastic for the event. Lloyd, Pin, Stroke, Kern, Flask and I were nestled like popsicles 33 rows from the ice.
The ride up to the game was perhaps the best part of the day for me. The constant complaining of Stroke and Flask never sounded so good to my ears (well at least for the first few hours). Kern’s Dover talk is still resonating in my ears……………YOU DON’T……………..WHERE YA GONNA PAAAAARRRRRKKKKKKKKK!!!!!! Was a classic out cry. Getting to see Pin (who met us at the game due to his American whereabouts) was a treat as well. King Pin greeted us with his Nanook/Nikolai Volkov hat. It was a cherished sight.
The game itself was a little bit boring. The ice seemed to be covered by the falling snow and the players had trouble controlling the puck and moving it crisply. The game was plagued by many delays. Until Crosby scored the Shootout winner I had Zamboni #2 ahead of Zamboni #1 pegged as the 1st star of the game.
The atmosphere surrounding the game was top shelf though. The fans in the stands were juiced on suds and pretzels and proved to be very entertaining (and therapeutic as stated before I feel so much better about my lot in life now). Our section might have been the only section in the stands that people actually wanted to sit on their soaked seat. We had fans behind us yelling to sit down. Many verbal sparring matches ensued due to their request. I could see a few bare knuckles being exchanged in the section down below. The were also many lunatics who doffed their jerseys and were bare chested. Unfortunately….none of these bare chested people were women.
Glad you and the boys enjoyed what should have been my seats. Lloyd a hero, I think not. Boo-urns. But big Pens’ win!!
Dearest Arsey,
What a pleasure it is to read your blog. I can only hope that the wisdom shared is revelled by all those fortunate enough to trip over your small space on the net.
I look forward to reading of your adventures and imagine myself as a fly on the wall drroling over the sweetness that you leave.
It is truly amazing that you had the fortune to come in contact with the nanook of the north, Nicholai Volkov hat wearing figure that most Pennsylvanian’s feel is nothing more than an urban legend.
Stay true to your craft my Arsey. I will assemble the disciples and we will anxiously await the next tao of the Arse.