Leave the Leafs

Debuted at the Canes vs. Toronto Maple Leafs game on Thursday, December 18, 2014, which the Canes won (for a change). One of the few signs that uses crayon along with Sharpie.

Mo Hits!

I don't think this sign ever made it onto the Jumbotron at the Canes vs. Detroit Red Wings game on Sunday, December 7, when I first brought it. The Canes lost. Coincidence?

Get Lost, Columbus!

Following the Canes v. Columbus Blue Jackets game on Friday, November 7, 2014, a man approached me in the Eye store and said, "As a history teacher, I love your sign." I was extremely flattered.

Whipped this one up real quick during the first inter-mission of the Canes v. Los Angeles Kings game on November 2, in which the Canes beat the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Friend of Dorothy

My sign for the North Carolina Pride Parade in Durham, September 27, 2014. (A "friend of Dorothy" is slang for gay man.) This sign goes well with a witch hat, striped tights, and flying monkey earrings.

No Safe Island

One of two signs for Opening Night, October 10, 2014 against the New York Islanders.

Spelling It Out for the Isles

One of my signs for Opening Night, October 10, 2014 against the New York Islanders.

#1 in Tailgating

I made this sign for the last home Canes game of the 2013-14 season on April 10. The Canes didn't make the playoffs, but I managed to find something to boast about.

The Stars from Uranus

I also considered "SHOW THE STARS URANUS" but thought maybe I wouldn't make it past the door nazis. I actually made this sign during the second intermission of the Canes vs. Dallas Stars game on April 3, 2014, which kind of explains the poor use of "space" as I was working very quickly.

Go Home to Sue Ellen

Hastily made during the first intermission of the Canes vs. Dallas Stars game on April 3, 2014. Of course this sign is referring to Sue Ellen Ewing of the TV show Dallas. I never even considered the connection to "J.R." (Jim Rutherford). Hm.

Sixty-Five

I'd been wanting to make a sign for Canes defenseman Ron Hainsey for months, but few ideas that didn't involve underwear were coming to me. Finally, I worked with his number, 65. I noticed he taps the glass near my section during the second intermission after he stretches. I don't know what that's about, but I hope at some point he saw his sign.

Giving Up the Playoffs

This sign seemed appropriate for the Canes game on the Friday following Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Especially given that the trade deadline was that same week and it seemed like Jim Rutherford had sort of given up any hope of the Canes making the playoffs this year. His only trade was to send Tuomo Ruutu, much loved by the fans, to New Jersey for Andrei Loktionov and a 2017 third-round pick. But I haven't given up on the playoffs yet.

New York/New Jersey

Made this during the intermissions at the Canes v. New York Rangers game on March 7, 2014, though I suppose it could work for Islanders games as well.

As I was walking down the concourse after the game with the sign slung over my back in a clear plastic bag, I realized some Rangers fans were trying to get a picture of the sign with one of them next to it. So I stopped and flipped the bag over to reveal the MORON --> sign, which I pointed at him while his friends snapped the pic. It pays to be prepared.

NEO Natzo

Made this during one of the intermissions at the Carolina Rollergirls bout on February 22, 2014 against the NEO (Northeast Ohio) Roller Derby of Akron-Canton, Ohio. This was the last derby bout at Dorton Arena, at least for a while.

Hall of Pain

For the Carolina Rollergirls vs. NEO (Northeast Ohio) Roller Derby bout on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at Dorton Arena.

Skinned NEOs

Made this during one of the intermissions at the Carolina Rollergirls vs. NEO Roller Derby of Akron-Canton, Ohio. Added some real Band-aids for effect.

Give 'Em Hail!

I was actually thinking about all the snow and cold temperatures we've had lately when I thought up this sign. Hail is actually uncommon with hurricanes, but it's all weather related, which seemed appropriate for a Groundhog Day weekend.

Trippisms 2013

When you can't go to the Canes game, you can always count on entertainment from John Forslund and Tripp Tracy, who call the games on TV. On the rare occasion when I am forced to tune in to the opponent team's telecast, I realize how lucky we are to have John and Tripp in Carolina. So it is all in good-natured fun that I share with you now the "Trippisms" that I have compiled over the past year. Cheers!

12/27/2013 @Toronto
Skinner goes down.
Watch him come in the middle of your screen right here.
He thought there was a hole there.
I don’t like that he was square to the slot.

12/14/2013 @Phoenix
Peters is doing a lot of swallowing.
Talk about Peters’ movement.
Now Jeff’s getting off.
Draws the hole deep in his own end
What a job there with two Hurricanes coming!
Nash gets just enough of it with his stick.
Has he ever been gigantic of late!
Natural finishing ability.
Speaking of hot guys…
[Jeff Skinner]He’s just a piece.
That Skiner smile, where everybody seems to get on their knees when they see it.

11/16/2013 @Blues
Gerbe got it up quickly.
Wonderful to be with you for the first time on this one.

11/15/2013 vs. Anaheim
Chris gets it up, but Semin did too.

11/9/2013 vs. Minnesota
I love what Drayson Bowman is doing right now.
…Opens up the goaltender ever so slightly.
Here’s Ryan deep in his own end.
That’s where the bear-down factor is really needed.

11/7/2013 vs. Islanders
Harrison’s gap has been much better tonight.
He has a short stick and a willingness to get to those nasty areas.
He’s got to find a way to penetrate.
All four guys go deep.

10/28/2013 vs. Penguins
Sidney Crosby needs the smallest, smallest opening.
His hands are good.
I love when Eric Staal comes underneath the puck.
What a tight gap Justin Faulk has on Crosby.

10/15/2013 vs. Blackhawks
Opening up those legs for Corey Crawford.

10/8/2013 at Pens
He was looking with his eyes down low, but he knew he wanted to go for the slot.

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4/11/2013 @Crapitals
You see him coming at the last second.
He was just looking for a tie-up.
He gets over with a huge explosive move.
I would pull him right now.

4/6/2013 vs. Rangers
You have to have a tight gap, and Gleason had it.

4/2/2013 vs. Crapitals
I feel real good about Peters.
You want to lay a body on Green.
There’s a lot of sag there.
Harrison has a tight gap.

4/1/2013 @Montreal
Does he get a piece of that on the way in!
I’m a big believer in size.

3/30/s2013 @Jets
I just love the desperate level from Semin.
I’m sorry, that gets me excited when you see a guy do that.

3/18/2013 @Rangers
They need to get off.
Sometimes the right place is to go up the middle.
I wouldn’t do that if I had had Henrik Lunqvist.
Carolina – much cleaner coming out of their own end.

3/2/2012 v Florida
There’s no way he could’ve known he was coming.

2/12/2013 @NJ
You could see it coming all night long.

2/11/2013 @Islanders
Both players are using their free hand candidly.
You have to tie up his stick.
Fighting to get a puck out of his own end.
I don’t even want to come close to touching him. I’ll get third degree burns.
They didn’t get frustrated; they stayed their course and got their reward.

2/9/2013 @Philly
Joni Pitkanen could have penetrated.

2/7/2013 @Ottawa
Three guys coming up the ice together.

2/4/2013 @Toronto
It’s so much more effective when Joni’s moving his legs.
You can’t see the legs between Bozak’s legs.
Don’t try this at home; you might hurt something. I know from experience.

2/2/2013
Take care of your own end first.

1/25/2013 @Barfalo
Everything’s gotta go deep now.
Go deep and get off.

1/19/2013 @Florida
I’m surprised at what just happened at the other end.
Small goalies can’t go down unless they have to.
I’m just glad that at the last minute Skinner protected himself.

10/8/2011
Kaberle goes deep.
Ruutu has been more physical than he was last night.
[Someone] just rubbed him out beautiful.
You hold your breath anytime Skinner goes down.