Monthly Archives: January 2014

The (Nitro) Circus Is In Town

Posted on by

I sit at work on Saturday afternoon trying to make the day speed up.  Next thing I know my phone is ringing and I’m talking to one of our company’s on-site foreman, Dale.  After I answer he says hello and asks if it would be possible to have Sunday off.  I oblige and in curiosity I ask what he plans to do with his day off.  He tells me, “I’m taking my son to the Palace to see Nitro Circus Live for his birthday!”  My excitement level immediately goes from 2 to 10.  For those who are lost after this last sentence, let me explain what “Nitro Circus” is.  About 5 years ago, motocross superstar, daredevil, and adrenaline junkie Travis Pastrana and some of his close friends convinced MTV to create a television show titled “Nitro Circus.”  This show depicted the group of friends jumping dirt bikes into foam pits, racing tricycles down steep hills, jumping out of planes with no parachutes and many other extreme acts that you could never fathom.  To say the least, the television show was pretty extreme.

Before I’m off the phone with Dale, I’m already scouring StubHub for tickets.  Soon after, I have two tickets purchased and printed for tomorrow’s “Nitro Circus Live” at the Palace of Auburn Hills.  I enjoy doing spontaneous things and this last minute event fits in perfectly with my impulsive personality.  I call my younger brother, Alan, and let him know that he now has plans for tomorrow night.

Alan and I enter the Palace, find our seats and soon realize the sheer size of the “mega ramps” located in the center of the arena.  The drop-in ramp probably stands 60 feet in the air.  It is massive.

Mega Ramp

Before we know it, the show starts and the arena is filled with laser lights, fireworks, music, the sound of 4-stroke dirt bike engines, and screaming fans.

Lights

Fireworks

The Nitro Circus crew wastes no time amazing us.  Within a matter of 15 seconds about 20 guys glide down the drop-in ramp and soar across a 45-foot and 60-foot gap on BMX bikes, inline skates, skis, Razor scooters, and snowboards.  No more than 10 seconds after the last guy leaves the mega ramp, 10 dirt bikes come roaring into the arena.  Each rider hits the ramp and executes a perfect back flip.  If this is the introduction we can’t wait to see the finale.

Twenty minutes into the show Jolene Van Vugt makes her appearance.  She is a Nitro Circus original cast member, the only girl on the Nitro Circus Live tour and she’s a bad ass.  After proving she is the only girl in the world capable of back flipping a dirt bike, she jumps the mega ramp in a pink hot wheels car.  Like I said, she’s a bad ass.

Jolene Pink Car

One of the craziest parts of the show is when the announcers chose 2 people out of the crowd and convinced them to participate in a 3-man back flip on a dirt bike with a Nitro Circus member.  I enjoy extreme sports, taking risks and pushing the limits, but at the time I think this one may have been a little too much for me (looking back on it, I wish it would have been me that the announcers picked).  As the trio leaves the top of the ramp my heart is racing.

Backflip 1

Backflip2

Backflip3

The dirt bike rotates in mid-air and lands perfectly!

Over the next two hours we are entertained with back flips, front flips, double and triple back flips, 1080’s, a wheelchair front flip, and so many more incredible and insane tricks.  These guys (and girl) are some of the world’s top athletes in their respective sports and definitely know how to entertain a crowd.

This is by far one of the most entertaining shows / concerts I have ever been to.  They announcers did an amazing job of keeping the crowd involved and excited.  The tricks, crashes fireworks, and lights had everyone on the edge of their seats.  People of all ages would enjoy this show and I highly recommend all to check it out if it comes to a city near you.

Every Hockey Player’s Dream

Posted on by

Growing up as  a young boy I cherished when the weather was cold enough to make the Moujaw Creek behind my house freeze.  My friends and I could play pond hockey for hours.  It didn’t matter how cold it was, what condition the ice was in or what the score was.  All that mattered is that we were out on the pond playing hockey.  Over the 15 years of my hockey career, I was able to play on numerous outdoor ice rinks.  No matter what level you are playing at, there is nothing more exciting for a player than chasing the puck around an outdoor rink.

In 2006, the National Hockey League (NHL) decided to try out the idea of televising an outdoor hockey game on New Years day and named it the “Winter Classic”.  The first Winter Classic was held on January 1, 2008 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.  This game featured the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabers.  The idea was an instant success.  That game’s attendance was 71,217 people, which at the time was an NHL record.  Since then, the tradition has continued and been held at Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, Heinze Field, and Citizens Bank Park.
The morning of December 31, 2013, I wake up on a futon at the house of Brittany and Frank Butler.  It’s 7:00 AM and the house is buzzing with excitement for the day’s events. My good friends Brittany, Frankie, Paige, Will and Eddy are layering up and we are heading to Detroit, Michigan for the NHL Winter Classic Alumni games.  This match-up will feature alumni from the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings.
          Alumni Tickets
As we arrive in Detroit around 10:30 AM, I direct Eddie to my “secret” parking spot one block from Comerica Park.  After parking, I put on the final 3 layers of my outfit in attempts to battle the 15 degree weather.  We spent the next two hours in the Hockeytown Winter Festival Fan Zone playing bubble hockey, air hockey, and having a target shooting skills competition, which I just so happened to win!
Comerica Park
Butlers
It’s now 1 PM and game 1 of the alumni showdown is getting started.  Red Wing fan favorites Brian Rafalski & Jiri Fischer help the team to an early lead over the Maple Leafs alumni.  Both alumni games consist of two, 25 minute periods.  After the 1st period of game 1, the Wings alumni have the lead and we decide it’s time for us to get some food and drinks.  We walk across Woodward Avenue to the Hockeytown Cafe.  We’re soon disappointed to hear that there is a 1.5 hour wait so our next stop is the Town Pump Tavern.  After appetizers, drinks, and lunch we are warm and ready to head back to Comerica to watch game 2 of the alumni showdown.
Comerica Tiger
The roster for game 2 looks more like an all-star game than an alumni game.  Yzerman, Lindstrom, Fedorov, Redmond, Kocur, Larionov, Domi, Andreychuk, Iafrate, and Joseph are just a few of the legends and hall of famers playing.  Getting the opportunity to see the players I grew up watching one more time was impossible to pass up.  As the players are introduced, Nicholas Lidstrom received the loudest ovation of all.  Steve Yzerman was a close second.  When the game begins we’re sitting in the second deck with a perfect view of the playing surface.
Comerica Rink
Only a few minutes later, the top layer of my beer is nearly frozen.  I soon realize that at 15 degrees I better drink quickly.  Similar to game 1, the Red Wings take an early lead after one period of play but during the second the Maple Leafs make their charge and tie the game with 2 seconds remaining in the game.  Now, it all comes down to the shootout.  One of my favorite players Tomas Holmstrom is the only player to score and is able to secure the victory for the Red Wings alumni.
Alumni Showdown
The morning of January 1, 2014, I wake up on the same futon at the Butler household.  This morning the clock reads 6:30 AM.  Unlike any other morning, I’m excited to get out of bed and get dressed.  Today, Frankie and I are on our way to The Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan to watch the 2014 Winter Classic.  Every year on New Years day I turn on the television and wish I was at this game; this year my wish has come true.  On this morning, there is already 6 inches of snow on the ground and the forecast is calling for another 4 to 6 inches throughout the day.
Bad Weather
After the truck is packed it’s time to head over to Eddie’s house and pick him up.  On the way, we attempt to call him to let him know we’re on the way.  His phone is off and Frankie looks at me and says, “Are you kidding me?  He better be awake.”  I shake my head and just hope that he is ready when we get to his house.  After knocking on the door several times we both realize he’s not home.  His phone is off, he’s not home and he’s not ready to go.  This is not the start to the morning I was looking for.  We now start calling friends who may be interested in going to this epic, once in a lifetime game that Eddie will now miss out on.  Needless to say, at 7:15 AM on New Years day there are not many people who will answer their phones let alone be interested in standing outside for the next 8 hours in snow and 10 degree weather to watch grown men chase a piece of rubber around an ice rink.  After we exhaust all of our options, the realization sets in that it’s just the two of us.  We then realize that we will have 3 seats for 2 people and the frustration of having to waste a ticket disappears as I think of the added space and extra seat cushion my butt will have on the metal stadium bench.
Game Ticket
Seat Coushin
We pull into the parking lot of Pioneer High School, located 1/2 block from the stadium, and pay the exorbitant fee of $60 to park.  It’s time to suit up.  With 6 layers of clothing on, we drop the tailgate and set up our kitchen.  On today’s menu, chicken cordon bleu sliders, bacon cheddar sliders, chicken wings, potato salad and garlic dip.  With our first course cooking on the grill we wander a few cars down to meet our neighbors.  We walk right in to enemy territory.  We’re now surrounded by 10 Maple Leafs fans.  I soon realize that we have a common bond with our neighbors; the love for the game of hockey.  Two of our new friends, Ryan & Steve, played professional hockey in Europe and continue to play in 3 different adult leagues each week.  It was obvious that these guys loved hockey and their Toronto Maple Leafs.
Leafs vs Wings fans
After 3 hours of tailgating in the frigid Michigan wind, we make our way through the waves of people into the stadium.
Block M
We’re now on the hunt for Section 3, Row 58, Seats 14, 15, & 16.  With assistance from a very friendly usher, we are greeted with the spectacular view these seats are going to provide for the next 3 hours.
Zac Brown National Anthem
Soon after sitting down, the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs and home team Detroit Red Wings take the ice in front of  a record setting 105,491 screaming fans.  The national anthem is performed by Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band.  The atmosphere in the stadium is intoxicating.  For the next 3 hours all I want to do is lace up my skates and play hockey.  Even the cold weather and constant barrage of  snow could not change that feeling.  Unfortunately, I’m confined to the stands and must watch the professionals.
Skip and Frankie
At the end of the game, the Maple Leafs have overcome the Red Wings in a shootout.  Even a loss for my favorite sports team can’t take away from the excitement of this day.  The entire way home, Frankie and I can’t stop talking about what we would do or give for a chance to get on that rink.  We both agree that it would be every hockey player’s dream to play on this outdoor rink at The Big House.