My blog n'at

Sunday was the day I have waited for since it was announced the Pens would remain in Pittsburgh. Sunday I finally walked into the Penguins new arena, the Consol Energy Center. I had pretty high expectations, I won’t lie. I wanted the absolute best and the Penguins blew me away! As a ticket holder we were only able to walk around as if it were a game day and the Party Suites were open also (anyone have $10-12,000 for a suite? ).

I didn’t take many pics or videos since you can find them all over the web but if you want to check out my flickr stream head over here.

What I Loved
When you enter at the Trib Total Media gate there is an interactive area for the Penguins Greats and a virtual Stanley Cup. using a touchscreen you can browse through videos and stats of players plus zoom in on the Pens sections of the cup. Pens Gear is the new Pens Station and quite frankly if I had credit cards with me I would have maxed all out.

I walked around the lower bowl and suite areas with much pleasure seeing that there is not one obstructed view. in fact you are always walking down to your seat to arrive and up to leave. After soaking in seats i’ll never sit in I made my way up to nosebleed which is where I sit. Along the way I noticed many more concession stands and each had quality arena food, not those generic things they threw on bread and overcharged for at the Mellon Arena.

Kids Zone looked fun from the brief moment I was in there. You can pose on life-like bodies of Sid and Fleury and also take shots at Sid’s washing machine. It was packed so I left fast.

A nice tribute that you probably wont see in many other cities was high school/youth hockey jersey wall. Granted I was partial to this one I did think it was a nice tribute to the schools who provide kids with a chance to play hockey. Just around the corner from there also is a wall made from the bricks of the old Duquesne Gardens and still standing Mellon Arena.

View from the seat – I was worried that I would have an obstructed view but that wasn’t the case at all in fact I LOVE the view and I’m close to the exit for fast runs to the bathroom and nacho stand.

Food – the first thing you must do when hunting food is get yourself a Kielbasa Grinder from the Smokehouse on the 200 level. I met up with my bud AJ there and he clued me into the culinary masterpiece that is the grinder. We also tried the pulled pork and Erie’ own Smith’s Hot Dogs.

Jumbotron – words can’t describe the levels of badass this shot past. the picture is unreal. UNREAL!

What I Hated
The ONLY letdown I had of the entire experience was the beer situation. The arena was boasting how it was built around local ties from food to design but yet the beer selection is your standard macros. PNC Park, home to the team which has lost for 18 years has Erie, Penn and Dogfish Head products in great supply but Consol the most adventurous you’ll get is Corona. *yack*. I’m writing an article about the travesty this is for Examiner but since this is my blog I can say it, its fucking embarrassing. There is a section called The Brewhouse, this is where I expected to find the goldmine. Yeah that didn’t happen.  There are 5 stations to get a draft and they’re all macros.  I can understand that since they are your main draw but when I looked in the coolers of bottles I saw… well take a look. The name BREWhouse should tell people you can get craft beer then. Its a step above what is available everywhere. Complete FAIL. I have an email out to Consol and Aramark to find out how this can get fixed.

What’s Next?
I’m hitting 1, possibly 2 pre-season games before the home opener October 7th vs the Flyers and then my big event will be the RMU Hockey Showcase. I plan on spending the whole day stuffing my face with grinders, watching college hockey and enjoying our new arena.

I wish I could say I was stunned but I’m not. I’m disappointed and realistic. The Pens team that came out against Montreal in game 7 was not a Stanley Cup caliber team. 2 Years in a row they played to the cup finals and beating most of the odds it was only a matter of time before they came up short.

Last night? Christ hey didn’t even show up! Down 4-0 in a game 7 shows that the towel was thrown in early. We knew at the 10 minute mark of the 3rd period it was over. You just had that feeling that no matter what happened next it wouldn’t be enough. People started to pose for pictures in the stands with each other. F-balcony was taking pics like it was the last day of highschool and by the time the final buzzer sounded we all stood and gave the Pens and the Igloo one final round of applause. Showing their gratitude to the fans the players rose their sticks to the sky and saluted the fans. The fans who sold out the place 165 consecutive times (including that night).

No one ripped signs down or started stealing anything that wasn’t tied down. You saw a tip of the hat or a pat on the back and fans graciously walking out. I admit I was a bit choked up. I walked around one last time, stopped at the Cathedral Prep jersey hanging on the wall, looked out at center ice and exited Gate 3 slapping the door on my way out.  This is the only home myself and all Pens fans have known and next year we move across the street. I was there for Three Rivers Stadium, the place I called home every summer from 84 until the mid 90′s,  on its last day and finally the  implosion

Last night was an emotional sendoff but a fitting one. Teaspoon will have questions for me on what it was like going to games there and I’ll be ready to tell them. How many professional places can you still piss into a trough anyways! Now I have my first summer free of sports and I’ll have to fill that void with moving. Yeah there is Pirates baseball but seriously… its the Pirates.

Right before everyone left the video above was played and the voice of Mike Lange said for one final time “Ladies and Gentlemen, Elvis has just left the building.”

end scene

Last Thursday night was emotional. The Mellon Arena is the only place I have ever watched a professional hockey game and last night I saw my last regular season game there before we move over to the Consol Energy Center in the fall. I admit, I held back tears seeing some of the former greats come back for one last time on the ice, even for Craig Patrick. I’ve hung out with Eddie Johnson a few times (we had lunch once which stories were told that are more than epic) so seeing the light on him was moving and Gary Roberts was an absolute plus but seeing Super Mario was euphoric. He’s made appearances before but last night, at that moment, you knew that all 17,132 of us were in the presence of greatness.

I went to the game with my nephew/godson Ben and we made sure to get there early, granted we’re both going to playoff games but this night was special and nothing was going to stop us from enjoying every moment of the night.

Hats off to the team for the videos they played as often as possible. Classic commercials that 90% of the fans probably don’t remember from the mid-late 80′s, cheesy KDKA “LETS GO PENS” spots and montages of players form the 90′s/00′s, like the man I came to see… Martin Straka.

That was the only downside to the night for me was the production. I know some players first of all couldn’t be there but I really would have loved it if Straka, Jagr, Moran and a few others were there. The opening ceremony was just the into of the 50 former Pens, which don’t get me wrong was fantastic, but if you’ve been to any Penguins event in the last couple years you know they go balls to the wall and this was *meh*.

Bob gave me the best reasoning of anyone online who didn’t get their panties in a wad over my thoughts. The banner raising will go down as the coolest thing I have ever seen at the arena. I just figured that this should have deserved the same amount of attention especially when you have a full year to plan for it.  It was announced that there would be a special ceremony at the end of the game along with the “Oh my god this is so fucking long” Shirts off our Backs tradition.

Quick thing about that if I may. 1) I REALLY appreciate that the Pens do this. I think its a badass that they take the time to give back in this unique way 2) All of you who threw the jersey you were wearing over the glass for players to sign, you’re not getting those back. You’re all fools. There’s a time and place to get autographs. When you see 20 jerseys being thrown at Crosby did you honestly think he would hand deliver it back? 3) its waaaaayyyyy tooooo looonnnggggg

The only reason why I endured the pain of watching the Shirts gig is so I could see what they had for a grand finale and all I got was a 7 minute video recap of the arena and a somewhat decent light show. Again something felt like it was missing. The WOW factor and after reading what Bob said above I have to agree. I’ve been spoiled by what they’ve already done for me.

I’ll never forget this night and the time to hang out with my nephew. Someday I’ll talk about it to my son and how powerful the night was. The Pens have put most of the videos on their website so you can get caught up there.

Thank you Mellon Arena for a great ride. I’ll be by a couple more times for the playoffs but that night you shined.

Oh yeah, Jimmy Mann wasn’t there either. I think he heard I was looking for him

Here is a memory from my first ever professional hockey game which was during the 87-88 season. I grew up in Erie so see hockey above the Erie Golden Blades level wasn’t much of an option. I was 12 and my brother was living in Pittsburgh working for the Pirates. He figured out with my parents that I would be able to come visit for the weekend and see a professional hockey game. I don’t recall the team they played and think I still have the ticket somewhere in my mom’s attic but the highlight was 2 fold. First it was the first time I ever saw troughs for bathrooms and also it was the night I met Jimmy Mann.

My brother and I got to our seats and right away I tried to follow the action. We were sitting up in the D level and that was higher than anything available at the Erie Civic Center. I’m the only member of my family who’s really been into hockey so I knew that asking typical kid questions about the sport weren’t going to be answered. That’s when they guy next to myself started chatting me up. He was explaining everything to me about icing, penalties, the slot, why the goalie comes out and other misc. things. At the end of the 1st intermission my bro left and came back with a few snacks. When he sat back down the guy said to us “Do you know who I am?”. We were both oblivious. My bro was a basketball and baseball guy and heck I was only 12. He said “I play for the Pens. I’m Jimmy Mann.” I thought “yeah right, buddy” but then again in 87/88 I only knew Mario because I read about him in Kids Sports Illustrated. From what I recall he was on the DL or some jazz like that but he showed me his picture in either the program or heck he probably kept articles about himself in his pocket since he did only get 9 games in a Pens uniform.

As bad luck would have it I excused myself and ended up falling ill to arena food for the 2nd period. I returned to my seat in the 3rd and found out that Jimmy had left. My bro told me that Jimmy sends his wishes that I’d feel better and would send me an autographed stick. While I waited for this stick that summer Jimmy managed to hit up my bro on multiple occasions for free tickets to the Pirates games.

Months turned into years and a heartbroken 12yr old realized he was never going to get the stick. Thankfully it didn’t turn into a grudge that all pro athletes were jagoffs until I met jerk pack Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla. I did keep a soft spot for hockey though.

Over the years the story turned into a joke between my brother and I. “You have a better chance to get that Jimmy Mann stick than to <insert ANYTHING>.” Currently it’s “You have a better chance to get that Jimmy Mann stick than the Pirates do reaching .500!” In fact anytime we crack jokes a “f’n jimmy mann” gets thrown in there.

I have a son now and I tell him stories of going to the arena and early hockey days. Granted he’s 13 months old but its never too early to start them, right? I’m sure when he gets a little older and he starts understanding the sport more that the Jimmy Mann story will come up.

Right now as I’m shopping for our first house I would like nothing more than to mount that stick with pride in my future residence along side a picture of me with Jimmy but for now it’ll end like this…

Here we are, 22 years later, and I’m still waiting for that stick.

click here for the full gallery

Unfortunately Teaspoon will never see a Pens game at the Mellon Arena, since this the last season before moving to the Consol Energy Arena across the street, so I was psyched to get him down there for season ticket holder family picture night.

Teaspoon was in awe. First it was the lights and banners, then it was the ice when I gave him his first skate and finally going in between the pipes like daddy used to. The real test came when he sat down for a chat with Iceburgh. In his mind he was probably thinking “whoa a big toy”!

The night was incredible and some of these pictures will be used for our first family Christmas card. I’m glad that the Pens have given us this chance to hang out at the arena on a non-game day. I know he won’t remember any of this and someday when he’s looking back in the archives of this site he can see the proof that he was there.

I’m looking forward to the day when I can share more hockey with my boy.

5 hours. That was the wait to get your picture with the Stanley Cup today if you are a ticket holder. I had every intention of waiting in like with Teaspoon but when I arrived and the line was reaching the Marriott I knew it wasn’t going to happen.

The problem was that it was a “suggested” time and not a hard time so anyone scheduled on Saturday could show up. I called on Friday to double check my time and was told ‘Well really you can show up whenever. Its just a suggested time to help move things along.” Know what happens when you give options like that, knuckleheads muck it up. You now how many fans you have coming based on the tickets you sent out, so give them a time to be there and if you can’t make that window, oh well. Yeah it’s harsh but so is waiting 5 freaking hours. CYS would have arrested me if I stood there with 7mo old Teaspoon that long.

This wasn’t the only problem over the last 24 hours for the celebration for me. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m 110% in support of the Pens but some things last night at the game chapped my ass.

1) No forks – Pizza Hut stand in E Balcony North informed me as they handed me a heaping serving of Monster Chicken Nachos that they no longer offer forks. I thought it was a joke at first but the workers informed me that they were no longer provided forks. People, this is a pile of acid reflux hell that gets the chips all soft from the cheese plus its piled high with chicken. YOU NEED A FORK! I thank the ladies for running to find me a fork but whomever runs that stand needs to get their heads out of someone’s ass.

2) No Banner – Probably the sweetest thing I have ever received as a giveaway came last night in the form of a mini-version of the banner that was raised last night. Right away I thought this would be a great addition to Teaspoon’s room. Midway through the 2nd period I realized that my banner was gone. I leaned it against the railing in front of me (in F balcony the railing goes to the floor) along with my program. Some magic being came down and took it. I asked the guys in front of me and they claimed they only had their banner. The woman next to me said she didn’t have it. Well someone does and it isn’t me. If you took it on purpose, you suck and I hope you headbutt a train.

3) Soggy Program – to highlight the night my program was ruined. The lady who sat next to me arrived and threw down soaking wet sweatshirts on top of my program. It wasn’t until I looked for my banner that I realized what she did. All she could say was “well they were wet.”

So in the last 24 hours I had forkless nachos, a soggy program, a banner stolen and unable to see the Stanley Cup.

Never fear the FAIL, I have the WIN coming up next. Pulling the video off my camera now!

HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY!

Looks weird when its repeated over and over again eh? You know you wanna spell check it.

I wish I could properly express how freaking psyched I am for tonight. Not only is it the home opener but its the raising of the Stanley Cup Champions banner and the start of the final season at the Mellon Arena. Oh yeah, and there will be fireworks!

The home opener is the one game I get to when the gates open. I like to get in early so I can walk around without much obstruction, walk through Pens Station so I can shop without elbows to the back from a crazy yinzer rushing to get that Crosby jersey that’s been hanging since last year, and I get a chance to sit in my seat and absorb the moment… Stanley Cup Champions.  Its like the calm before the storm.

I find it hard to hate the Rangers this year. Jagr isn’t gone. Straka is gone. Avery is there but that’s not even an effort anymore since he writes his own jokes. I guess Rozsival or Prospal could be whipping boys but they’ll have to stop skating into the boards like Happy Gilmore. This leaves the hack thug Brashear. Honestly I’m expecting Avery and Brashear to beat the tar out of each other. Knuckleheads do that.

Game starts at 7:30, gates open at 6. Game is sold out so if you don’t have tickets sit on the lawn and bring an umbrella or as Yinz Team would tell you, “bring a fucking towel”.

Final score: Pens 4 – Rangers 1

(click here for the entire gallery on Flickr)

Thursday night’s 4-2 Penguins win over the Red Wings was hands down the most fun I have ever had at a playoff game. My night started on pre-game drinks with Jim and Jim downtown. Many pints and cheers were had by all. It was the walk TO the game where things got exciting and a hobo wasn’t involved.

As you can see from the picture above the area outside the Mellon Arena was PACKED. The lawn was already 1/2 full at lunch time when the local news stations were broadcasting live from there. We make our way to Gate 9 and who do we see but Dave Hanson from the Hanson Brothers. My night was already made right there since he’s one badass guy. We walked the red carpet inside and not 1 minute later I bump into Mark Cuban. Yes, THAT Mark Cuban. He’s a native yinzer and probably came into town to see what a winning hockey team is like since he doesn’t get much of that in Dallas Great guy.

The game was a non stop scream fest for myself and the regulars in F balcony. I’d go into details of the game but what haven’t you read or seen by now on the constant replays on NHL Network? Overall the energy was high and I was having an absolute blast. Pens rally from down 2-1 to win 4-2 (could have been 6-2). Once the game ended I took some time to absorb the night from my seat. I walked around the emptying arena a little bit and concluded with a trip to Pens Station to buy a program to add to my Ice Time, Whiteout Tshirt and Rally towel.

I started the walk back to my parking spot when who do I see next to me but Mike Emrick. What I love about Pittsburgh is that no matter what level of celeb you are, everyone treats you the same. Well unless you’re on NBC/VS and foam at the mouth to talk about Osgood’s 5-hole.

I wish I could better represent the excitement I felt that night but I can say that the only way to top this evening is to bring that cup back to Pittsburgh. I’m lookin at you Game 6.

Faceoff  for Game 5 is in 19 hours. I gotta put the foil on.

There are very few rules I tend to stick with when I write on here. The number one golden rule is no picture of Lushie (only if approved) unless I want to die. She’d rather stay off this thing and I can respect that. Well unless she wants to rant.

Last night the 2 of us were invited by the Pens to have Christmas photos taken on the ice at Mellon Arena. Yet another reason why they treat their season ticket holders better than any other sports team in the city. We started with a picture on the Zamboni followed by the goal on the south end, penalty box, players bench and finally the moment of truth… center ice.

I have to admit that actually standing at center ice and not just where it may or may not be because of flooring was pretty freakin cool. I had chills. This was like stepping up to home plate at PNC Park. I had to take a moment to reach down, touch the ice with my hands and absorb the moment. I’ve played hockey and even curled for a bit so I know what it’s like to be on ice but when it’s the one of the team you love, it’s special.

We have a nice collection of pictures that the Pens have given us a chance to make into greeting cards. The one above is from my camera phone so trust me when I say the quality is hella better. We’re probably going to have some made for family once Lushie finds the one she likes. After that I may post them online.

Tonight is Pens vs Flyers at the Mellon Arena. Drew is probably already drinking in Philly to numb the pain of the impending doom. After the comeback in Detroit is there really any question?

cheers!

(click here for my photos of the game)

What a great day for hockey. You couldn’t have asked for better weather to watch a game indoors. My guess had it at 75F outside with a slight breeze which made it ideal for walking around to get pictures and tailgate. I usually drive myself to the games and get there early enough so I can either stop by a friend’s tailgate or meetup at a nearby bar. Since PennDOT has every possible road under construction I had to settle with skipping tradition.

The game, well they lost. Actually it was embarrassing. Third period they were out shot 20-2 and finished at a disgusting 15 shots on goal to New Jersey’s 49. Yeah, they TRIPLED the Pens on shots.  Fleury was the only saving grace that kept the game from being a blowout. OK, that and the fact that the Devils suck. More than suck. They suck suck out of sucking. Seriously, they’re that bad. With under 3 minutes in the 3rd and Pens fighting to keep a 1-0 lead,  Hal Gill deflected in a shot past Fleury to tie it at 1. For those of you new, Hal is on our team. To those of us in the stands it didnt shock us with as bad as the game was. Parise wailed a shot on Fleury for the win in OT which I think MAF is still looking for.

It’s the beginning of the season and as a long time Pens fan I know that Oct/Nov are traditionally horribly bad hockey. It just happens. Madden is back on the air today so I might have to stick with XM for my hockey coverage. I love Mark’s writing and he’s knows hockey but I had enough of hearing every caller being berated for having a different opinion when he was at ESPN 1250.

Pens vs Flyers tomorrow. At least i can go back to hating Philadelphia again.