Here's An Epiphany -

The Charlotte Checkers hosted the Norfolk Admirals at the PNC Arena in Raleigh on January 6, 2013. (January 6 is Epiphany.) As this was during the lockout, I bought tickets and thought it might be the only chance I'd have to see hockey in Raleigh this season.

As it turned out, an agreement was reached between the players and owners the day before this game. "Un"fortunately, I had already made a sign referencing the lockout before the agreement was made public. I just knew if I made a sign about the lockout that it would be rendered useless before gametime - which is why I went ahead and made it anyway. That's right: you can thank me for the end of the lockout.

So, yeah, this is one of those signs I made that never got used. I should make a category for that.

Norfolking Way!

I attended a Charlotte Checkers vs. Norfolk Admirals game at Raleigh's PNC Arena on January 6, 2013. I was afraid this sign might not make it through the doors, so I left some of it unfinished and then completed it before the game. My fears were unfounded, though, because the door man didn't even try to read my signs. It turns out the Checkers actually provide poster board and markers at a table inside the arena and encourage fans to make signs. So it's pointless to check signs at the door for appropriateness. They didn't seem to have any problems.

Lockout

During the lockout in 2004-05, when there was no NHL hockey, the Hurricanes chartered some buses and sent season ticket holders to a minor league game in Norfolk sometime before Christmas. The Canes' AHL affiliate team, the Lowell Lockmonsters, were playing the Norfolk Admirals. The home team fans were pretty P.O.'d about being invaded by so many opponent fans. Big fights broke out not only on the ice but also in the stands. That was fun.

Biloxi Blues

At the end of January 2009, I attended a game at War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, PA, where the Johnstown Chiefs played and beat the Mississippi Sea Wolves. I made signs, but there was no Jumbotron for them to be shown on. I was particularly impressed that the red light indicating that a goal was made was actually a neon Bud Light sign.