The Playoffs Will Make Us Broke, Shirtless And Drunk (again)

by Yankee Canuck on Apr 14, 2009 4:34 PM PDT in NHL Playoffs Comment 10 comments

Once and awhile (when the team decides to make the playoffs), I become like the grinch who softens up at Christmas. My dark, evil heart sees the joy in the world and everything feels a bit better. Food tastes better. Beer tastes fantastic. And so on.

So, in that theme, I'm going to dust off something that has laid dormant since May of '07: Gettin' Ornery for Humanity.

The concept is simple: since we'll feel bad for the opposing team's city after we ruin their dreams of glory, the least we can do is be generous for a worthwhile cause. Two years ago we did that for a food bank in Dallas then sent the Stars packing. Even after Anaheim smoked us, the Children's Hospital of Orange County got some money since Vancouver stole a paltry single game in that series (so I got to be an ass on the donation itself).

And here we are again. Since we'll be upsetting the St. Louie natives, let's at least be altruistic: for every Vancouver win in this series, the St. Louis Blues 14 Fund will get $25 dollars. I know, it's nothing substantial, but hey, I ain't a millionaire. About the Fund:

The trust was created in 1998 to honor former Blues player Doug Wickenheiser, #14, who passed away from a long battle with cancer in early 1999. Originally named The Fourteen Fund, the St. Louis Blues name and Blue Note was recently incorporated into the name and logo of the trust.

The Blues 14 Fund focuses on four areas of giving, which include cancer care and awareness, health and wellness, education, and youth hockey development. Thanks to the commitment of Blues players, Blues alumni, volunteers and fans, the St. Louis Blues 14 Fund has contributed more than $1 million to the St. Louis community since its inception.

100 bucks to these good people and sending the Blues off golfing sounds like a win/win.

In addition, considering this year has been a particular trying one for Vancouver I want to go one step further, really for Luc Bourdon, our defenseman who was lost in an accident almost a year ago. The guys started this season with a tribute to him, they've worn the "LB" on their uniforms all year and I think you can credit at least part of Burrows play to the fact he lost his old roommate and good friend.

Because the Luc Bourdon Memorial Fund isn't up and running yet (why, I have no idea) I'll also be donating money to the Canucks for Kids foundation in Luc's name. Seems like the best way to go in the meantime. I don't know how much yet but it'll be decent enough, I'll figure it out once the dust settles on the post season.

If you are at all motivated to join me (in a recession!) to lose some money on something in addition to booze and wings in the coming days/weeks, feel free to drop me a line and I'll add your contribution to what I send to either the 14 Fund and/or Canucks For Kids.

Also, to quench that tangible itch you may have, there's still some time left to take a stab at a free Canucks home jersey that's up for grabs.

And last, but certainly not least, the minds behind Nucks Misconduct have a wager set up with the minds behind St. Louis Game Time. This could shock you but it involves, in part, alcohol. So yeah...NOW it's time to take this whole thing seriously.

Alright, that's enough of the touchy feely crap. Is it Wednesday night yet?

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Good on ya. Wickenheiser is also a former Canuck.

by Beantown Canuck on Apr 14, 2009 4:56 PM PDT reply actions

nice i had no idea. even better.

'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.

by Yankee Canuck on Apr 14, 2009 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Funny photo & fantastic idea

Put me down for the same.
With your permission, I’ll donate in memory of my deceased SLU Law classmate, Marc Rozen.
In the 99 playoffs he visited from Van and attended games 3 & 4 with my wife and I.
Afterwards, he said he had to see where the players wer. I showed him the service door on the first level leading downstairs and before you could say Stan Smyl he was through the door and gone.
More later – gotta put the kids to bed…

by briandunne on Apr 14, 2009 5:48 PM PDT reply actions

I applaude you Yankee

A fantastic charity to donate to.

The championship trophy for the St Louis area hockey teams is known as the Wickenheiser Cup.

Last year the 14 Fund dedicated a hockey Fan Zone section at an area pediatric rehabilitaion hospital. This is for kids that need a step between a hospital and home.
A place that a niece of mine was at for a month a few years ago after a freak accident. A golf ball that a neighbor kid hit over 75 yards away, hit her just behind the ear. She had to be airlifted to the hospital and immediate brain surgery for bleeding in her brain.

by luvhockey on Apr 14, 2009 7:18 PM PDT reply actions

Also here to send Hear Hear!'s to your charity choice.

Wickenheiser’s crowning moment as a Blue was in Game Six of the ‘86 Campbell Conference Finals against . . . yep, you guys’ favorite team . . . THE FLAMES!

Wickenheiser had scored a goal late in the second period to draw the game within two goals late in the second, but a goal by the Flames shortly after put the Blues down 5-2 going into the intermission. The Blues looked down-and-out for the series (which was 3-2 Calgary at that point) with about 12 minutes to play in regulation with the score being the same. But . . . the Blues rattled off three goals in those final minutes to send the game to overtime. In the overtime period, about 7:30 in, Wickenheiser notched his second goal of the game, a goal that can mainly be categorized as a garbage goal off a rebound in the slot . . . and the Blues won Game Six, sending the series to a Game Seven in Calgary. (I won’t discuss what happened thereafter.)

That game is forever known to us Blues diehards as The Monday Night Miracle.

Doug Wickenheiser will always hold a special place in my heart (and in the hearts of many Blues fans far and wide) for his performance in that game and for the fact that he spent a good chunk of his career with the Blues, even residing in the St. Louis area after retirement. His passing reminded us that life can be way too short, as well as reminding us of how awful a disease cancer can be.

The aforementioned logo from your blockquote from the Blues’ official website still hangs as a banner in the rafters at the Kiel (I don’t call it Scottrade) Center. It’s been there pretty much since its’ inception.

With all that being said . . . I hope you don’t have to donate too much to the fund. But this Blues fan appreciates the gesture wholeheartedly.

"The world is getting to be such a dangerous place, a man is lucky to get out of it alive." -- W.C. Fields

by Donut King on Apr 14, 2009 9:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Good Post

Hey guys, Blues fan here. Good luck on the series.

While I don’t have the money you do, for every Blues win, I will gladly donate $10 in Luc Bourdon’s name to the Canucks for Kids foundation. Tragic loss for sure, but it would be nice to do something nice in his name,

LETS GO BLUES!

by Oshie74 on Apr 14, 2009 9:27 PM PDT reply actions

You sir

Are mighty kind, and I applaud this and your other charitable acts. If times were different for me, I would gladly help donate to the Canucks for Kids for every blues win in this series, but for now you have my respect.

by TLMotorsport on Apr 14, 2009 10:41 PM PDT reply actions

Good Post.

But I hope that you will be unable to make that donation to the 14 Fund!!!

Awesome post. Keep up the good work.

Let’s go Blues.

by JGB on Apr 15, 2009 8:45 AM PDT reply actions

Great Stuff

Kudos to you for this.

by DarrenM on Apr 15, 2009 11:29 AM PDT reply actions

Wick

People forget about how much promise Doug Wickenheiser showed at a young age. He dominated the WHL – scoring more than 100 goals one year, was first overall in the NHL draft, ahead of Denis Savard no less – and then he was mediocre pro. Maybe there was too much pressure on him. Go Canucks! Win a Cup just once before the rest of us die.

by Ed Banger on Apr 16, 2009 12:30 AM PDT reply actions