Hooah-Canes

Occasionally, an idea for a sign hits me while I'm AT the game, and I scramble during the intermission to make one in 20 minutes' time. Saturday, March 9, was Military Appreciation Night, and this idea hit me during the first period. I can't believe I had both red and blue Sharpies in my purse.

Someone asked me if it should be spelled "Oorah-Canes" instead, but no, I went by the authority of the Army soldier sitting next to me. It's definitely the Hooah-Canes I support.

Freebies Galore

Last year, Papa John's offered discount pizza the day after a Hurricanes win. They continue that promotion this year, but there are four other restaurant promotions this year, too, and it's been a challenge to keep up with them all.

1. The day after a Canes win, you get a 50% discount off your online order at Papa John's with "secret" code CANIAC. North and South Carolina only.

2. Each night they pick a different Canes player, and if he scores a goal, you get free chips and queso at Moe's the next day. (I think you have to say something like, "I'm a Caniac.")

3. If the Canes "put the biscuit in the basket" during a power play, you get a free Bo-berry biscuit at Bojangles. (I think you have to say something like, "I'm a Caniac.")

4. If the Canes win two or more games in a row, you get a free hurricane sushi roll at Kanki. I think you have to purchase something else.

5. If the Canes score five goals in a game, you get a free cookie at Subway. I think you might have to print a coupon somewhere for this one.

So far, by my reckoning, the maximum number of discounts resulting from a single game has been four out of five. I eagerly await the night we hit the jackpot with all five. I have faith!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Although there are other teams at which this sign could be directed, it's obviously for the Buffalo Sabres. Or more accurately, at their fans who invade the PNC Arena. After so many years, it gets kind of hard thinking up new signs for the teams we play over and over. But Buffalo inspires me so. Made this for the March 5 game and am just getting around to posting it now.

Dwyer vs. Crier

I've been wanting to 'reward' Hurricanes forward Patrick Dwyer with his own sign since last year. The "crier" referenced is of course Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, whom the Canes played last night when I unveiled this sign for the first time.

Shooting Stars

This sign is in reference to the Hurricanes forward Alexander Semin (who is Russian) as well as the massive meteor that struck Russia last week. Semin didn't strike tonight with a goal, but he did earn a point with an assist against Winnipeg. Interestingly, Semin used to play for a professional hockey team (Traktor Chelyabinsk) in the city where the meteor fell.

Winnipeg also has a Russian forward, but he didn't do anything earth-shattering.

Find A Way, Jay!

A few games ago, I decided Jay Harrison deserved to be rewarded with his own sign. I also have Patty Dwyer in my sights.

Southies

So, if you don't know, "Southies" is a nickname for people from South Boston. I made this sign for the Canes v. Bruins game on January 28, 2013. The Canes lost 3-5, which may have partly been my fault because I sat through the whole first period without realizing I was wearing the WRONG EARRINGS!!!! But also, it may be the camera guy's fault because none of my signs was shown on the Jumbotron - always a bad omen.

Anyway, the sign elicited comments from several strangers. First, some Southies sitting behind me wanted me to hold it up so they could get a picture. They were very polite and having a good time.

Another fan, local, didn't understand what it meant, so I had to explain. He said he was sitting next to a Bruins fan who also didn't get it. I thought that was odd.

Finally, a guy who had been sitting a few seats away on the same row as me got up during the game. As he passed me on the way out he said, "I'm a Southie. Lived here for 22 years. I hate the Bruins." That was amusing.

However, the best interaction with a stranger this night was with the door man. Over the years, I have had some interesting interactions with the folks at security. Usually it goes rather smoothly. Sometimes, not so much. I usually bring half a dozen to a dozen signs with me to each game. They are usually 22" by 14", which is about half the size of a regular piece of posterboard and also about half the size of the maximum allowed, according to the arena guidelines the last time I bothered to read them.

Although fans are not really allowed to bring large bags into the arena, I do put the signs inside a clear plastic, tall kitchen size garbage bag with handles. It's easier to carry that way, and it protects them from bad weather. I wanted to make sure I had clear bags to make it easier for the guys at Security. I had to order these bags online because I couldn't find them in stores.

So, most of the time, I'd say what happens is the security staffer briefly looks at one or two signs, but he doesn't want to hold up the line, so he usually says something like, "There aren't any bad words in there, right?" and I assure him everything is kosher and he let's me pass. Occasionally, like suddenly during the playoffs, there's a new staffer who doesn't know the protocol and gets uptight and hassles me. Like they have to ask somebody else if the sign is too big or if the word "suck" is ok. So every time I enter the building, there is a moment of apprehension as I wonder what kind of treatment I'm going to get and whether someone will arbitrarily confiscate one of my signs.

At this game, I used the new Season Ticket Holder entrance for the first time. On the plus side, there was no waiting at this entrance. On the downside, that meant that the security staffer had plenty of time to look through each and every one of the signs I had brought with me, because no one was waiting in line behind me. But as I patiently waited, he started to chuckle. He read one sign and said, "Oh, that's good." Then, he read another and said, "Oh, that's funny." Then, "Oh, that's good too."

Pretty soon the other staff nearby started teasing him and me, saying he was never going to give me my signs. Finally, he returned my bag to me and said, "Those are so good, I'd probably let you in anyway even if they WERE inappropriate!"

I sure hope that guy works that door every game this season!

Bogus Call

I guess I'll only be able to use this sign for a few games before its topicalness expires. It refers to a current news story in which a college football player, Manti Te'o, still played well following the death of his girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, and his grandmother on the same day. It turns out that he only knew Lennay online and via telephone or voicemail, and she never really existed. He was the victim of a hoax: bogus calls from a friend of a friend of the family claiming to be Lennay. The Canes are also victimized by bogus calls, from the ref.

Upstate

At the end of the first period at the Canes vs. Buffalo game when I first unveiled this sign, I was immediately accosted by a Buffalo fan. Her first question had to do with the BUFFALO MAKES YOU JERKY sign. She said she didn't get it. I said it's a pun on Buffalo (the meat). "But Buffalo is not known for making jerky," she said. No, but it IS known for jerky fans.

She insisted she was not trying to be mean, but also Buffalo is not "Upstate." I told her I was aware that some people didn't consider it Upstate, but some people do. No, she said, "I'm from Buffalo, and nobody considers it Upstate, so your sign doesn't work because we're not Upstate." I said some people do consider it Upstate, and the fact that it offends people from "Western New York" to be called Upstate just makes the sign just that much more effective.

She kept telling me she wasn't trying to be mean, and I thought, no, it just comes naturally to your kind.

Canes beat Buffalo 6-3 that night at home and then beat them 3-1 the following night, in, you know, Upstate.

Less Stalling, More Staals

Unveiled at the January 22 home opener at PNC Arena, this sign simultaneously welcomes Eric Staal's brother Jordan to the Hurricanes and expresses disdain for the hideously late start to the season due to greedy bickering between the NHL owners and players. I'm glad to have a season, compressed though it may be, but the apologies the league has issued are pathetic. If I hadn't built up 12 years of seniority as a season ticket holder, I'd have canceled in protest. I will save my ranting about poor treatment of STHs for another post. No time now because, due to the compressed season, I have to think up more sign ideas for quickly approaching games!