Barfalo Not Welcome

The idea for this sign hit me months before the All-Star Game. I unveiled it tonight at the Super Skills Competition and got numerous thumbs up from strangers. Several people wanted to take a picture of it in the stands and as I walked through the parking lot. Too bad the cameras showed no love. Maybe there will be more attention during the All-Star Game tomorrow.

Welcome, Y'all Stars!

It didn't look like any of the fans got any love from the camera men in the house at the Super Skills Competition tonight. There was no t-shirt gun or slingshot, no Storm Squad members (I saw them walking around in the concourse, but they weren't inside in the stands, by the tunnels, or on the ice), nothing going on during the TV time outs. Really it was kind of boring compared to a regular Canes game. I hope the All-Star Game itself has more going on.

Sir Walter Likes Team Staal

The statue of Sir Walter Raleigh currently resides outside the Raleigh Convention Center, where some of the festivities surrounding the 2011 NHL All-Star Game are to be held this weekend. On the All-Star Wide Open website, there was a pic of Sir Walter decked out in hockey pads and holding a stick. I figured it must have been photo-shopped because Sir Walter is larger than your average hockey player. But the image inspired another random act of cleverness.

Even though it was as I had expected, I was disappointed Sir Walter wasn't actually wearing goalie pads when I went downtown to see him in person, but his typical attire - whatever those floofy pants are - still worked with the sign I had made for him. I was just going to climb up there and hold the sign for the photo op, but then I decided to leave it there. Sir Walter himself asked me to make him a sign, after all. No, really, he did. He's on Facebook.

Anyway, I hope nobody charges me with vandalism. I didn't think it could be construed as vandalism; it seemed harmless enough. Walt is a tough guy. He can take it. It's not as if I beheaded him or something.

Home of the Over-Chicken Sandwich

Raleigh is decked out for the NHL All-Star Game with team flags flying on lamp posts on Fayetteville Street downtown and with fancy decals installed in the windows of businesses all over town. Most of the decals are graphics of various all-star players from around the league.

It just so happens that the player whose image graces the Chick-Fil-A at North Hills is none other than Alex Ovechkin, lovingly dubbed "the Over-Chicken" by opponent fans around the league. Coincidence?

Anyway, I could not resist the photo op. Chick-Fil-A: Home of the Over-Chicken Sandwich.

Square Rabbit - Refs Not Welcome

Raleigh is all decked out for the All-Star Game with team flags flying all the way down Fayetteville Street and fancy graphic decals in windows all about town.

And then there is the little Square Rabbit bakery/catering/takeout joint downtown, whose owner chose ME and my fabulous low-tech skill with Sharpies to help welcome hockey fans to her fine establishment.

If you visit the Square Rabbit this week, please let me know if you see any hockey-related specials on the menu. I might have had a hand in those, too.

As Seen on TV

These are the autographed versions of the two signs I made for a TV commercial starring Chad LaRose and Eric Staal. See previous blog post for the story. The ad was released on the web over the summer but is now shown on TV.

Rosey is Rad! Vote for Chad!

Two of my signs are featured in a video web ad for the upcoming 2011 NHL All-Star Game, hosted by the Carolina Hurricanes.

Hurricanes video production staff contacted me through Facebook and asked if I'd make two signs, both basically saying "Vote Chad LaRose for 2011 NHL All-Star Game." I had a couple of days to come up with ideas. I sent them three or four, and they picked two. (I actually thought "DON'T LEAVE CHAD HANGIN'" was more cleverer, but I guess that was deemed too esoteric for the masses.) I made the signs, brought them to the Canes locker room, and got to hang out during filming.

The ad with my signs is actually the fourth in a series of four, all of which were shot one morning last April.

All-Star Ad #1 – Seat Selection (Extended Version)
All-Star Ad #2 – Exercise Bike
All-Star Ad #3 – Ping Pong
All-Star Ad #4 – Signs (featuring signs made by ME!)

I could barely contain my chuckles behind the scenes. Chad LaRose seemed perfectly natural as the funny guy in front of the camera, and Eric Staal was a great straight man.

Now, I'm not one to boast (bad karma and all), but it was pretty steamy hanging out in the locker room with such hotties as they changed shirts. I even got to help one of the stars with a wardrobe malfunction -- so close I could see his belly button lint! He had some difficulty keeping a towel around his waist. I'm talking about Stormy the Ice Hog, of course.

Why did the Canes need ME to make signs? I'm not 100% sure, but one should never underestimate the value of good penmanship.