Showing posts with label Stanley Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stanley Cup. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
A Very Interesting Man: Wayne Huizenga (1937-2018)-- Part 1: Blockbuster Video and Sports Teams
From the March 25, 2018, Chicago Tribune "Owned teams, trash haulers and video stores" by Steven Wine and Terry Spencer (AP).
"College dropout Wayne Huizenga started with a trash-hauling company, struck gold during America's brief love affair with the VHS tapes (I still use VHS tapes to record TV shows) and eventually owned three professional sports teams.
"Huizenga owned Blockbuster Entertainment, AutoNation and the world's largest trash hauler, and was founding owner of professional baseball's Florida Marlins and NHL Florida Panthers. He bought the NFL Miami Dolphins for $138 million in 1994."
Died March 24 at age 80.
The Marlins won the World Series in 1997 and Panthers reached the Stanley Cup final in 1996, but, to his chagrin, the Dolphins never reached the Super Bowl during his ownership.
And, how he became so rich is quite a story as well. He was what they call a self-made millionaire.
More On That In My Next Post.
Monday, April 30, 2018
Because It's the Cup!! Stanley Cup, That Is
From the Tribune by Philip Pritchard, keeper of the Cup.
Over the last 27 years the Stanley Cup has been filled with popcorn, potatoes, thrown into a swimming pool and used as the ultimate prize for street hockey. And, of course, quite the drinking cup.
Overall, it has 120 years of nicks and smudges.
"There are 49 Super Bowl trophies out there. There is only one Stanley Cup. You don't win it. You borrow it. But your name is etched on it for all of history" according to Philip Pritchard.
That is what they're going after now in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Seems weird not to have our Blackhawks in it. Buy, the Stanley Cup is the people's cup. I loved it when the Hawks would win and following day-to-day where it was.
Well, Maybe Next Year. --CootCup
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Just the Facts About the Stanley Cup-- Part 8: Has It Ever Been Stolen?
The Cup has been stolen, nearly stolen and misplaced multiple times, including once in Chicago. The trophy was on display in the Chicago Stadium lobby during the 1962 playoffs when a Montreal fan tried to steal it from its case while the alarms were turned off. A police officer spotted and stopped the would-be thief right as the man got to the exit doors.
There have been other notable mishaps. Members of the Ottawa Senators drop-kicked the trophy into a canal while celebrating their championship win in 1905. No one bothered to retrieve it until the next day.
The People's Cup. --DaCoot
There have been other notable mishaps. Members of the Ottawa Senators drop-kicked the trophy into a canal while celebrating their championship win in 1905. No one bothered to retrieve it until the next day.
The People's Cup. --DaCoot
Just the Facts About the Stanley Cup-- Part 7: When Does It Make An Appearance?
As the Blackhawks closed in on the 2013 Championship in Boston, Pritchard, the Cup keeper, packed the trophy in its black trunk lined with red cloth and headed to TD Garden about midway through the second period.
Pritchard said that he and the handlers have to be prepared for any eventuality -- like the Blackhawks dramatically sealing victory with two goals in 17 seconds.
Who's Have Figured That? --Cooter
Pritchard said that he and the handlers have to be prepared for any eventuality -- like the Blackhawks dramatically sealing victory with two goals in 17 seconds.
Who's Have Figured That? --Cooter
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Just the Facts About the Stanley Cup-- Part 6: Where Does It Go After a Team Wins?
After a team wins, each player and staff member gets to spend 24 hours with the Stanley Cup. That is one of the neatest things about the Cup. Too bad each member of winning MLB, NBA and NFL team don't get to do the same thing. Then many more people will get the chance to see the trophy and it can be used for charity fundraising.
The trophy spent the first couple weeks of its post-championship tour in Chicago after the Hawks 2013 win, then went on the road in the U.S., Canada, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Sweden.
While the Cup was on tour in Slovakia, right winger Marian Hossa ate pierogies out of it.
I wonder how many times it has served as a cereal bowl or baby holder or bathing tub?
Taking the other trophies on tour like the Cup would make them less of a millionaire's cup and more of a people's cup.
Just Right to Hold My Beer. --DrinkChug-A-LugCoot
The trophy spent the first couple weeks of its post-championship tour in Chicago after the Hawks 2013 win, then went on the road in the U.S., Canada, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Sweden.
While the Cup was on tour in Slovakia, right winger Marian Hossa ate pierogies out of it.
I wonder how many times it has served as a cereal bowl or baby holder or bathing tub?
Taking the other trophies on tour like the Cup would make them less of a millionaire's cup and more of a people's cup.
Just Right to Hold My Beer. --DrinkChug-A-LugCoot
Just the Facts About the Stanley Cup-- Part 5: Who Engraves It?
Louise St. Jacques is the trophy's official engraver, only the fourth person to ever have that role. She takes the trophy to her studio in Montreal every September to engrave the names of the championship team and all its members.
The Cup is disassembled from the top down and the bottom band removed from the base so St. Jacques can imprint the names. It takes her about 30 minutes to inscribe each name and about ten hours overall.
As room runs out on the trophy, the bands are periodically swapped out and stored. Retired trophy rings are kept alongside the original trophy in the Lord Stanley vault in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Blackhawk players have had their names misspelled on the trophy twice: once in 1938, when left winger Pete Palangio's name appeared as "Palagio," and again in 2010, when left winger Kris Versteeg's name initially was engraved as "Vertseeg" before being corrected.
Henry Richard of the Montreal Canadiens appears most often on the Cup as a player with eleven times.
Wonder How Much Louise gets Paid for the Engraving-- HockeyPuck
The Cup is disassembled from the top down and the bottom band removed from the base so St. Jacques can imprint the names. It takes her about 30 minutes to inscribe each name and about ten hours overall.
As room runs out on the trophy, the bands are periodically swapped out and stored. Retired trophy rings are kept alongside the original trophy in the Lord Stanley vault in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Blackhawk players have had their names misspelled on the trophy twice: once in 1938, when left winger Pete Palangio's name appeared as "Palagio," and again in 2010, when left winger Kris Versteeg's name initially was engraved as "Vertseeg" before being corrected.
Henry Richard of the Montreal Canadiens appears most often on the Cup as a player with eleven times.
Wonder How Much Louise gets Paid for the Engraving-- HockeyPuck
Just the Facts About the Stanley Cup-- Part 4: Who Was Lord Stanley?
OK, here's the scoop on the real guy.
English-born Frederick Arthur Stanley became a huge hockey fan after moving to Canada in the late 1880s. He decided that the teams needed a prize to compete for and bought a silver cup for about $50, intending it to belong only to the team that had won the most recent championship.
Amateur teams competed for it for several years, with the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association the first to be awarded the cup. Professional teams from the National Hockey Association got involved in 1910. The NHA gave way to the National Hockey League, and its member teams have been competing for the Stanley Cup since 1926.
How 'Bout Changing the Name to the Cooter Cup? --CooterPuck
English-born Frederick Arthur Stanley became a huge hockey fan after moving to Canada in the late 1880s. He decided that the teams needed a prize to compete for and bought a silver cup for about $50, intending it to belong only to the team that had won the most recent championship.
Amateur teams competed for it for several years, with the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association the first to be awarded the cup. Professional teams from the National Hockey Association got involved in 1910. The NHA gave way to the National Hockey League, and its member teams have been competing for the Stanley Cup since 1926.
How 'Bout Changing the Name to the Cooter Cup? --CooterPuck
Monday, July 13, 2015
Just the Facts About the Stanley Cup-- Part 2: How Big Is It?
The first form it had was a silver bowl just over 7 inches high and 11 inches across. Now, the bowl is slightly bigger, 7 1/2 inches high, 11 inches across and 35 inches around. This sits on top of the current trophy made of silver and nickel.
Below the bowl are three tiered bands, a collar and five larger bands making up the largest part of the trophy. The whole thing stands just over 35 inches tall and weighs a little more than 34 pounds.
Just the right size for hoisting, kissing and bathing babies.
So Good to have It back in Chicago. --DaCoot
Below the bowl are three tiered bands, a collar and five larger bands making up the largest part of the trophy. The whole thing stands just over 35 inches tall and weighs a little more than 34 pounds.
Just the right size for hoisting, kissing and bathing babies.
So Good to have It back in Chicago. --DaCoot
Just the Facts About the Stanley Cup-- Part 1 Has to Go Through Airport Security Also
From the June 16, 2015, Chicago Tribune "Just the Facts: 6 things to know about the Stanley Cup trophy" by Dawn Rhodes.
Well, as you may know, the Chicago Blackhawks won their third Stanley Cup title in six years, also winning it in 2010 and 2013. Lord Stanley's namesake arrived at the United Center sometime during Game 6 vs. the Tampa Bay (No Hawk Fans Allowed) Lightning.
Keeper of the Cup Philip Pritchard said that the Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the NHL's Playoff MVP, had to go through airport security just like any traveler's bag or suitcase. You just never know what those sneaky terrorists will try next.
You Kind of Have to Wonder What the TSA Folks Were Thinking When They saw Its X-Ray? --LordStanleyCooter
Well, as you may know, the Chicago Blackhawks won their third Stanley Cup title in six years, also winning it in 2010 and 2013. Lord Stanley's namesake arrived at the United Center sometime during Game 6 vs. the Tampa Bay (No Hawk Fans Allowed) Lightning.
Keeper of the Cup Philip Pritchard said that the Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the NHL's Playoff MVP, had to go through airport security just like any traveler's bag or suitcase. You just never know what those sneaky terrorists will try next.
You Kind of Have to Wonder What the TSA Folks Were Thinking When They saw Its X-Ray? --LordStanleyCooter
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Comparing Blackhawk and Lightning Fans-- Part 1
From the June 7, 2015, Chicago Tribune "The fans face off" by Phil Thompson.
A look at the upcoming Stanley Cub Championship games back then.
SOME NUMBERS:
449-- Percent growth in the Hawks' fan base since 2007 (including us), the largest increase in any major American sports team during that time. It has grown another 6% since last season. Before 2007, the Blackhawks were essentially a forgotten team.
41-- Persent decline in the Lightning's following since their all-time high in 2004 when they won the Stanley Cup.
50-- Percent of adult Chicagoans who are Hawks fans, one of only three U.S. based NHL franchises with 50 percent or higher market penetration. The other two are Pittsburgh and Buffalo. Only the Bears, with 60 percent, have a larger following in Chicago. (Even ahead of the Cubs.)
19-- Percent of Tampa Bay-area residents who are Lightning fans. Their base ranks behind the rays and Buccaneers, both at 19 percent.
Maybe This Was the Reason the Lightning Front Office tried Si hard to Keep hawk Fans Away. --Cooter
A look at the upcoming Stanley Cub Championship games back then.
SOME NUMBERS:
449-- Percent growth in the Hawks' fan base since 2007 (including us), the largest increase in any major American sports team during that time. It has grown another 6% since last season. Before 2007, the Blackhawks were essentially a forgotten team.
41-- Persent decline in the Lightning's following since their all-time high in 2004 when they won the Stanley Cup.
50-- Percent of adult Chicagoans who are Hawks fans, one of only three U.S. based NHL franchises with 50 percent or higher market penetration. The other two are Pittsburgh and Buffalo. Only the Bears, with 60 percent, have a larger following in Chicago. (Even ahead of the Cubs.)
19-- Percent of Tampa Bay-area residents who are Lightning fans. Their base ranks behind the rays and Buccaneers, both at 19 percent.
Maybe This Was the Reason the Lightning Front Office tried Si hard to Keep hawk Fans Away. --Cooter
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