There is more to the Blue Crew than meets the eye
They are there to welcome us as we enter Philips Arena, they greet us in the concourse, we see them on ice during time outs and fans are sent into a screaming frenzy at the thought of getting free Thrashers stuff from them during games. They are the ladies that make up the Atlanta Thrashers Blue Crew.
Donni Frazier is the coordinator for both the Blue Crew and the Hawks A-Town Dancers, and recently she invited me to spend some time with her and the Crew during one of their practice sessions at The Cooler in Alpharetta.
Donni grew up in Panama City, Florida and attended the University of Florida, graduating with a degree in telecommunications. Frazier worked for the athletic department at the University of Florida between 1996-2004. Then she was hired on by the A.S., L.L.C. and has been here ever since.
While we observed the proceedings from the bench, Donni explained to me just what they look for from a member of the Blue Crew when candidates come to audition for spots on the squad. They must have, “personality and charisma”, adding that they must also possess, “Good interactive skills, is smart as well as beautiful”.
Donni Frazier addresses Blue Crew candidates prior to auditions (Scott Cunningham)
Last June they finished up the audition for this coming season’s version on the Blue Crew and she described what the ladies went through to work their way onto the squad.
“It’s a week long process”, she said. “After registration and orientation, we then evaluate who can skate. They have boot camp that they go through, interviews, which they are all nervous about. Also this year they had a uniform try-on session where we actually viewed how they looked in their uniforms as well as a swimsuit portion of the auditions”.
Continuing, “They also go over certain drills like how they move the net, pick up pucks, pick up hats and they go through relays…and we do that all on the last day of auditions”.
“Then the girls do what we call an ‘improv session’ where we give them scenarios of things that could happen during a game and they have to act it out. That way we can see how they would react to certain things. So each contestant pulls a scenario out of a hat and see how they respond to it, we get to see their personalities, how they would handle themselves, and how they would go about the situation”.
Donni explained they are one of the faces of the franchise so, “we have to know if they knock over someone’s drink…what are you going to do, how are they going to fix that?”
At the end of auditions, 20 of the 40 ladies who auditioned made it onto the roster of the 2010-11 Atlanta Thrashers Blue Crew. Among those are on-ice captain Lissa and interactive captains Jami, Candace and Terri. Their leadership roles are to help make sure everyone is where they need to be and things run as they should.
“As captains, we just make sure that the game runs smoothly”, Candace told me while taking a break. “We make sure everyone knows where to be and what to do. Kind of make everything ’flow’”.
Jami explains, “Captains stay on top of the game, making sure that the girls get to their promotions on time and really help to make sure the fans have a good time at the game and feel welcome while they are there”.
Captains get to the arena before everyone else, help Donni get things ready for the game and get the towels and tee shirts to all the girls to distribute to the crowd.
Philips Arena has become like a home for Jami, who will be entering her fifth season as a member of the Blue Crew (Scott Cunningham)
Now that the Blue Crew roster is set, they are preparing for the upcoming season. And while I was with them, the veteran members of the Crew were showing the newer ones how to perform “ice maintenance drills”…the activity during time-outs where they clean the surface around the goals as well as remove snow from around the boards. Jami, Candace and Kirstie were performing the drill while Lissa was describing the activity to those who stood along the boards.
Timing is key here… something that Jami underscores by telling me that if they haven’t completed their duties during the allotted time, there could be consequences to face.
“It’s extremely important to be on time and on your game”, she explained. “There are three girls on each side of the ice and you have to make sure you do your job so that everyone else can do theirs. And you only have 90 seconds because when that red light goes off and the girls are still out there, there’s the possibility the team could get fined by the league…and that’s not good”.
Most of the time a minute and a half is more than enough, but it can get a tad complicated when there are certain obstacles or issues that come about during their time on the ice. But the ladies simply have to work through it.
“During that 90 seconds you have players that sitting along the boards just talking to their teammates or a goalie that just doesn’t like to move”, Jami said adding, “…but we’ve got a job to do and so we just have to work around them or yell at them to move. And sometimes there’s fights but the light still goes off and that 90 seconds starts then so we have to go, even if that means we can only do half of the pattern or just around the goal. It’s very important that area is nice and clean”.
Candace also pointed out that sometimes goalie superstitions and habits could also cause a delay saying, “There are some who are very superstitious and they do not want to leave their crease. So you’ll politely ask them to move, but they really want to stay there. So you just work around them”.
“There is one goalie”, Candace continued. “I can’t remember which one it was, but he wanted us to do things in a different pattern than what we do. He wanted us to go around the boards first, then do his crease because he’s very superstitious and wanted us to do it that particular way”.
Jami, who will be entering into her fifth year as a Blue Crew member, is a self-described “military brat” who was born into an Air Force Family while her father was stationed overseas. “I was born in Germany, live all over but we moved to Texas and then to Georgia where I’ve been for 11 years now…which is the longest I’ve lived anywhere”.
She was a cheerleader at Kennesaw State University where she studied Exercise and Health Science, something she uses in her daily life. “I use that now working with a special needs family…a young lady who I’m extremely close to and is very dear to my heart. I help her on a daily basis as a life coach as well as with fitness nutrition and regimens we do weekly and monthly”.
Some goalies are reluctant to move away from their goal when Candace performs ice maintenance duties. Obviously Evgeni Nabokov is not one of them (Scott Cunningham)
Jami added that she was just accepted into a radiology program in Hawkinsville, Georgia, “So I’m gonna be juggling my time between south Georgia and Atlanta”.
Candace grew up in McDonough, Georgia and now lives in Atlanta. And like Jami, she also will be entering into her fifth campaign with the Crew.
“I tried out for the Atlanta Hawks dance team five years ago and Donni after tryouts told me she was getting a team together for hockey, the Thrashers. I’ve always been a huge hockey fan so…five years, I’m still here”.
Candace said she really did not have that much ice skating experience when she tried out, but once on the team she picked it up really fast.
“Well, I’ve always been a roller blader, never really ice skated…it’s kinda similar, but just slippery. So it wasn’t hard at all for me to pick up ice skating”.
Candace is still in school, going to Georgia Perimeter College to become a dental hygienist. She works as an assistant hygienist at this time. Between working, going to school and the Blue Crew, Candace is also wedding planning. She and her fiancé will be wed in May of 2011.
Sorry guys…
While both ladies tell me working with the Crew is a lot of fun, the fact is that they have a lot that keeps them busy during game days…and there isn’t a lot of down time for Blue Crew members working that night.
“Before the game there is a meeting and pretty much all of the game operations people get together to make sure everyone is on the same page”, Jami explained. “After the meeting the captains and Donni will go over what will be happening during each time out, between periods, pre-game and post-game. And we all have duties after the game as well”.
“Yeah, we’re constantly going, going, going”, Candace added with a laugh and pumping her fists like a train locomotive.
One thing these ladies do is have a really good time together, whether at practice or at games. And they seem to have a certain closeness in their ranks. Donni calls the ladies she works with “a close knit” family as the ladies work hard for one another and the team. “All the girls are wonderful and are motivated to be there”.
Jami agrees saying, “They are an amazing group of girls and I come back every year. And this year I’m not even going to be in Atlanta. It’s a very special team and I take a lot of pride in representing Atlanta and the Atlanta Spirit”.
Blue Crew members like Kristin are always hard at work making Thrashers games a fun experience for fans of all ages (Scott Cunningham)
As for what Jami likes most about being on this squad she quickly spoke about the population of Thrasherville that she loves being with most, the younger fans.
“I really love kids, so I always like to talk to and meet new kids every game, especially the little girls who are always running up and wanting to get their pictures taken and getting stuff signed”.
“And I like to catch up with those fans who have been coming to games throughout the years. Philips Arena really has become like a home to me because of all the fans who I’ve gotten to know over the years”.
Then I asked Candace what was most fun about being a Blue Crew member.
“What is not fun about being a Blue Crew member?” she responded with a playful ‘well, duh’ tone. “You get to watch hockey, the girls are great. It’s just a blast. I love the fans, I love interacting with them, that’s my favorite part”.
As far as which part of the game she works, on the ice or in the stands, Candace says she really has no preference…it’s all fun. “I do both, though last year I was mostly on the ice. It depends on the game and who’s working that night”.
One other thing that Donni and the Crew are excited about this season is the advent of the Jr. Blue Crew. It will be for young girls who would like to assist the ladies of the Atlanta Thrashers Blue Crew during intermissions, promotions and crowd interaction. The program is designed to promote self-esteem and promote long-lasting friendships…and no ice skating experience is necessary.
“The Jr. Blue Crew will be for ages 7 to 12”, Donni informed me. “They’ll be able to come out and spend time with the Blue Crew, be at practice, help during intermission of games, walk around the concourse with the girls…it should be really fun”.
This is something that Jami is jazzed about as well. “I’ve actually gotten to talk to a few of the girls that are really excited about it. That is something new that I’m really looking forward to this next year because this program is growing and adding the Jr. Blue Crew is very exciting”.
For those interested in learning more about the Jr. Blue Crew, here’s a link to their website with all of the information.
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104 comments Add your comment
Mikey
August 23rd, 2010
6:21 pm
Nice. Very nice.
The ones I have spoken to seem to really be enjoying what they are doing. Adds to the overall atmosphere too.
As for looks, I’d rank them right up there with the Hurricanes ladies.
Nice. Very nice.
Brendan
August 23rd, 2010
6:30 pm
Love the Blue Crew. But, I never really thought cheerleaders were meant for hockey. I’ve been wrong before!!! Though, one wonders if they could be slightly more clothed. On second thought, why worry about it?
Changing directions entirely, anyone ELSE hear Leo Mazzone on the 680TheFan morning show? They were talking about how Pittsburgh, (The Pirates,) had just clinched their 18th consecutive losing season. And one of the other two, either Rude or Laurentino, commented, “Imagine being a fan of that team? How do they sell tickets? What do they possibly tell their fanbase?” Leo Mazzone countered, “You just say that the team is ‘moving in the right direction.’” I nearly lost it on I-285, laughing about that comment.
Brendan
August 23rd, 2010
6:31 pm
So, did Bryan Little sacrifice any of his UFA eligibility by signing this contract?
Rawhide
August 23rd, 2010
6:44 pm
Brendan – That Leo Mazzone quote is hysterical!!
Oh, and Little will be an RFA in 2013, if that answers your question.
Badger Bob
August 23rd, 2010
6:50 pm
Brendan, Litts contract would have needed to be 5 or more years to sacrifice UFA-eligible years. I love him, but wouldn’t haver wanted to try to tie him up that long. For him and Bergie, it’s the next contract that may be most telling. We aren’t Chicago or Washington, tying up our RFAs for a decade. On the other hand, Litts isn ‘t Ovechkin, Kane or Toews.
Jack
August 23rd, 2010
7:06 pm
I like the Little signing. Now that the signing is out of the way. I look forward to much better production.
Rawhide nice piece, sound like there is a little more than cleaning off the ice for the blue crew.
Rhythmpenguin
August 23rd, 2010
8:03 pm
I had no idea that the Blue Crew did so much and worked so hard. Thanks Rawhide. =)
World Be Free
August 23rd, 2010
8:06 pm
The crew does a nice job, they seem to spent alotta time with the kids in any section I have sat in. Nice piece Bill.
Back to the cap, does anyone have a handle where we are at with the Little signing? Bergie will be in the same region or so dollar wise. I just want to see how much we have commited as we get close to my internal cap number, $50M.
Jack
August 23rd, 2010
8:28 pm
according to cap we have payroll of 48.4 with salary cap at 59 and change. Thus they will have to go over 50 to add another scorer in ufa or face a trade. this includes the buyour cap hit of Brashear
Jack
August 23rd, 2010
8:29 pm
Here is the link
http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=7
rob
August 23rd, 2010
8:36 pm
BOOOO! I hope they at least cloth the Jr group appropriately to show them they actually can be something more than just skin. Promote self esteem? They skate around the rink with their breasts practically jumping out and if they bend over to get the nets on the pole, well. There is a time and a place for this……the beach on summer vacation where everyone else is also dressed so. I am not opposed to beauty, just promoting it this way to children who think it is appropriate to dress like them when they are only kids. As a father who has small children and who has to answer questions about “the women in their underwear on the ice” I find it well, less then family friendly. I have no problem having a group of people there to help promote the game, help the fans, and have a good time…..just have them put some clothes on. To put it in another light, how many people who think it is perfectly alright would feel the same way about guys out there in just speedos during intermission and posing for pictures with the ladies? Yeah, no way in HE double hockey sticks! I am sure I will go down in Flames for this post, but if you’re going to actually write an article trying to promote them to us…. LMAO
I know it’s almost the end of August but what’s next? Can training camp just open up already? Kovalsux go to the KHL or sign so the waiting pack can tear the salary dump away from the Devils, or something else? Drag Bergfors back to the ATL and sit him at a table until he signs!!!! Dog days of summer indeed.
Tiger
August 23rd, 2010
8:43 pm
SERIOUSLY??????????????????
Sage of Bluesland
August 23rd, 2010
8:53 pm
“…We’re moving in the right direction…”
That is a great quote…It’s worth another “Five-Year Plan” in these parts…
kracker
August 23rd, 2010
10:00 pm
twitter tid bit….
dankamal Sporting News’ hockey writer Craig Custance has confirmed with Rick Dudley the Thrashers have “touched base” with UFA forward Lee Stempniak.
ooooooo-k
Jack
August 23rd, 2010
10:07 pm
Enter your comments here
Jack
August 23rd, 2010
10:08 pm
OOPS
Sweet that is great to here. thanks Kracker for the good news, will keep fingers crossed.
SomaAtl95
August 23rd, 2010
10:14 pm
MSNBC had a long standing slideshow with the “Hottest Ice Girls” in the NHL. Our Blue Crew had to be the hottest of all of them (and whomever did it must love the Islander Girls for some reason) and they have always been really nice and personable every time myself on anyone in my group of friends has talked to them. Puritanical views about their clothing aside (so I am not sounding like a scumbag) it takes a lot to do all they do, put up with countless douchebags hitting on them, and stay warm with exposed skin in a cold arena. Those of you may say that they need to go or put more clothes on have never looked at just how risque football cheerleaders are – if the Blue Crew were to do the same “Stripper Routine” I see NFL Cheerleaders do than be upset about them – otherwise they serve a purpose and they are part of our Thrashers.
For those wanting to get more acquainted: http://thrashersbluecrew.com/photos.html
Jack
August 23rd, 2010
10:19 pm
Dallas Stars ice girls do a great job as well.
Dwayne
August 23rd, 2010
10:23 pm
I like their outfits, I’d love to see a boob every now and then, and I aint talking about Sage.
Hokie P. Clisters
August 23rd, 2010
11:06 pm
My friend, Elrod has expressed his concern that one of these fine young ladies could get a skate tangled up in that sinister trapezoid causing an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction to occur.
I have my doubts about Elrod’s level of concern on this matter……….
Brendan
August 23rd, 2010
11:26 pm
I bet the goalie they were talking about was Marty Brodeur. He seems like a prime candidate for giving the Blue Crew girls specific instructions about how go about their business.
And after the game, he requested some peanuts. Oh, not the ones right up front. The ones at the far end of the bowl, that required her to lean in, nice-n-far to grab. “Get a nice view, Marty?”
Hockey Biltong
August 23rd, 2010
11:47 pm
ay caramba……
World Be Free
August 24th, 2010
5:48 am
Jack-thanks for the cap info. Looks for sure that we will go over the $50M threshold.
Dwayne-no need to worry about ever seeing Sage unless he comes out of the basement.
rob-these are the dog days, that’s for sure. You wonder what Dudley has in mind?
World Be Free
August 24th, 2010
5:52 am
Sheldon Souray trade rumors-
Why would any team pay this old, oft-injured guy so much money? Rumors have had him being traded all summer, though I do not see any team taking Souray off the Oilers’ hands unless there’s a high pick and/or prospect tossed in to make it worthy. He’s got an “anchor” contract.
kracker
August 24th, 2010
7:18 am
Sounded like an Eklund rumor…but, no, the Thrashers are not mentioned on his Souray blog. He has it Caps, Sharks, Ducks, Sens and Isles, fwiw
World Be Free
August 24th, 2010
7:28 am
kracker-seems like Souray’s name has been tossed around all summer. I do not see him coming here, our defense is set. I am just amazed at how many times Souray’s name has come up, considering his injury history and bloated contract. It may be more a factor of the Canadian media looking for something to talk about. The Canucks get bored easily.
Hockey Biltong
August 24th, 2010
7:41 am
like the fact that Dudley spoke with Stemps agent…he is hot on the trail…
jimbo
August 24th, 2010
8:16 am
Nice story about the Blue Crew. Do any of them have a potential 25 goal capability?
MashaPlayer7
August 24th, 2010
8:19 am
Oh Rawhide, you have such a tough, tough job. I see the quality of your writing (e.g. use of tense, grammar) suffered a bit on this blog posting. I can only imagine why
By the way, as a male fan, I don’t mind the outfits, but as a father, I do have a problem with the Jr. “self-esteem” program in that I do think it sends the wrong message to those young girls.
World Be Free
August 24th, 2010
8:29 am
Biltong, getting ready for the season to begin!
glovesave29
August 24th, 2010
8:30 am
Brendan…sad part is, according to Forbes, that the Pirates have reported a profit the last few seasons to the tune of $30M over the last few years.
Sorry Bill…for the first time, I saw the title of your piece, read one paragraph and moved on to the comments at the bottom about the sport. It is just not possible for me to care any less about the Blue Crew. Not really into women who wear a “goalie mask” of makeup on their faces. How this sport survived for 100 years without them to clean the snow away from the crease is beyond me.
Duds talking to Stempniak’s agent – THAT interests me!
Sage's Mama
August 24th, 2010
8:45 am
Bill, can you get one of the girls to visit my son in the basement. I’ll keep him chained to the computer. There is yellow line on the floor, make sure she doesn’t step inside that yellow line.
Joe Friday
August 24th, 2010
9:13 am
No question to the girls about the intent to blow issue? Nice job, Rawhide!
Seriously though, no cheerleaders in hockey. It really dumbs down the game. I don’t mind the girls going out to clean up the ice as they’re necessary, but put some clothes on them. Attract people to the games by putting a winning product on the ice, not being the Cheetah West.
Red Light
August 24th, 2010
9:36 am
Jack: The link takes you to the line that says $43,716,666. Where does the $48 million come from?
ChippersLoveChild
August 24th, 2010
9:37 am
You know it’s the off-season when….
R. Stroz
August 24th, 2010
9:41 am
Cheetah West
Is that the new name for Tiger Woods or Kayne West?
Red Light
August 24th, 2010
9:48 am
I see, the bonuses. Never mind.
Fiscally Responsible
August 24th, 2010
9:51 am
Cost-cutting measures for the Atlanta Spirit…issue garters to the Blue Crew and make them work on commission!
Alan R.
August 24th, 2010
10:00 am
Duds talking to Stempniak’s agent – THAT interests me!
Glovesave – Me too! Yeah, the Blue Crew is a group of beautiful women. I guess I’m just not interested in fluff – even in the middle of August.
Jack
August 24th, 2010
10:10 am
Red Light- ooops I added 4.7 million in bonusesby mistake. It show we have 20 mil in cap space. According to the cap breakdown we have 20 mil to spend which would be 39 mil of a cap hit currently
Zombie Steve
August 24th, 2010
10:40 am
A couple of these young ladies are pretty decent hockey players too! They skated in some summer clinics recently.
I kept getting called for “interference” in our scrimmages…. not sure why =D
Zoomo
August 24th, 2010
10:55 am
Zubarev offically signed
http://bluelandblog.com/2010/08/24/zubarev-officially-signs/
Dwayne
August 24th, 2010
11:21 am
Yes Hockey is a great sport, lots of excitment…blah, blah, blah. Lets keep up with the rest of world, nothing wrong with the blue crew or their attire. I have 3 daughters 4 grandsons and a granddaughter. They will be just fine regardless of whether or not cheerleaders are at any sporting event.
ChippersLoveChild
August 24th, 2010
11:53 am
Rawhide used this blog as a cheap excuse to go hang with the Blue Crew girls for a day
World Be Free
August 24th, 2010
11:57 am
Rawhide-any news on Bergfors and where we are at in negotiations?
Buffalo News speculated the Thrash may be interested in Tim Kennedy. He would have to come cheap, $600-700,000 at the most on a 2 way deal.
SomaAtl95
August 24th, 2010
11:57 am
The “casual” college aged fan does not go to the games to watch hockey, trust me I have been seated near/around them for several games in the past few years. They spend the first period talking about trying to hook up with a Blue Crew Member, The second period drinking liquid courage to ask, the third period getting shut down by one or many Blue Crew Members in the stands. These guys go because the tickets are cheap and they all like to think they can take home a member of the Blue Crew. You guys who swear up and down that Hockey doesn’t need cheerleaders remember that there are many people (especially north of the border) that swear up and down that Hockey doesn’t belong in the Southern US. It never hurts to try new things as long as you don’t base your entire product on it (like New Coke) or sink a lot of marketing money on it (like Crystal Pepsi) – These girls work their butts off to do a good job, get people pumped up, and they like watching the game. Better than a group of teamsters cleaning up the ice, right?
And yes its August, but don’t berate rawhide for writing about the Blue Crew. Like it or not they are part of the Thrashers – I’d understand getting on his case if we were in the season, but lighten up – its his blog and this was something he felt deserved recognition – plus it gives us all a new thread to read/post comments… if he stopped blogging for a month we’d have thousands of posts under his most recent blog.
Sara
August 24th, 2010
12:32 pm
Grumble … this is not my favorite topic. Look I’m sure these are nice girls but the marketing department treats them little better than whores. “Become One with a Blue Crew Member” skits where they lounge by a pool in a bikini??? Are you effin’ serious?!? This from the same organization that insisted on 7 pm game starts to be more “family friendly.”
In Detroit, the ice crew wear pants/jeans and a Wings jersey. Seems like the right uniform to me. Course, it’s also just an ice crew, not cheerleaders which do NOT belong in hockey. It’s annoying as crap to have the girls come around to give out goodies while the game is on and everyone starts jumping up and waving their arms.
GaVaHokie
August 24th, 2010
12:43 pm
WBF… I always get Tim Kennedy confused with that pig-nosed bastard Tyler Kennedy from Pittsburgh.
Rawhide
August 24th, 2010
1:01 pm
Become One with a Blue Crew Member” skits where they lounge by a pool in a bikini??? Are you effin’ serious?!? This from the same organization that insisted on 7 pm game starts to be more “family friendly.”
Sara – While I part ways with most who are “anti-Blue Crew” here, I will admit you raise a valid point. I remember those time-out features a couple years back and thought it might have pushed the envelope somewhat. You’ll notice they didn’t return last season.
However as a whole, I think the ladies add to the overall atmosphere of the game experience, they put a lot into what they are there to do and I appreciate them being there.
I kept getting called for “interference” in our scrimmages…. not sure why
Zombie Steve – I’m sure there are some forces of nature at work there..
Rawhide used this blog as a cheap excuse to go hang with the Blue Crew girls for a day
CLC – Yup…it’s tough being me sometimes
World Be Free
August 24th, 2010
1:05 pm
GaVa – Tim Kennedy not as tough as Tyler
J.B.
August 24th, 2010
1:21 pm
I have no problem with the blue crew’s attire at all, In all honesty, I like it alot, but I understand why others might not.
It should be pointed out that each of these girls is well aware of the uniform requirements prior to trying out and voluntarily chooses to do the job. By all accounts they seem to enjoy it alot too. The ASG is not making them do anything they didn’t sign up for nor are they being treated like anyting other than employees.
Just my opinion
Lord Stanley
August 24th, 2010
1:22 pm
One of the keys rules in marketing is. Sex sells, and whether we agree with it or not the Blue Crew puts non hockey fans in the seats. Sorry Sarah
Sara
August 24th, 2010
1:22 pm
Rawhide – I raised all kinds of hell to my poor account rep after the first time I got a gander at those skits … with both of my daughters in attendance.
I’m not trying to give the girls a bunch of crap – my ire really is directed higher up the food chain as it were. The only thing I would directly say about the Blue Crew Members is that I hope they all think about what impressions they might be having on young girls (and it’s quite possible they do think about that). But what I do know is this organization in particular has a nasty track record when it comes to dumbing down and objectifying women – Erin Andrews is Exhibit A. Without getting into too many details and putting someone on the spot as it were, I had a lengthy off-blog conversation with someone who set me straight on the issue after I made an on-blog snarky comment re: EA and beauty over brains. It’s complete bull**** that a woman cannot be beautiful and talented and smart and knowlegdeable and not have to dress like a ho.
/end rant, stepping off soap box
Hockey Biltong
August 24th, 2010
1:36 pm
WBF… I can’t stinkin’ wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blue Crew Boo Hoooooo…………
kracker
August 24th, 2010
1:39 pm
Two thumbs up for the Blue Crew. Sounds to me like they a workmanlike group with a set of jobs to preform and they do them well.
Women proficient at ice skating are almost all universally fit and most, particularly the younger set, wear attire that mimics the competition skaters. Such is life.
SiCkOfThIs
August 24th, 2010
1:42 pm
You people are silly… Most teams have them and they do a lot of hard work on the ice and in the community. If you need something to complain about, go somewhere else!
R. Stroz
August 24th, 2010
1:43 pm
Sara – Are you jealous that some women look better in blue than they do in red?
kracker
August 24th, 2010
1:57 pm
LOL @ Stroz!
SiCkOfThis
August 24th, 2010
2:03 pm
I am silly. I will go complain somewhere else…lol
Lord Stanley
August 24th, 2010
2:09 pm
On a change of dress, has heard anymore on Bergfors. ESPN is reporting that they are close to signing a new agreement
kracker
August 24th, 2010
2:12 pm
Bergy certainly will get signed. When and the terms are important to know. Should be soon.
Sara
August 24th, 2010
2:18 pm
Stroz – keep that up and you’ll be seeing red. :p
DWTOO
August 24th, 2010
2:24 pm
Sara – Does this mean the bullhorn will be placed where the sun don’t shine? A new way for the Strozer to communicate.
Sara
August 24th, 2010
2:40 pm
DWTOO – no, it just means he might wake up one morning to find the winged wheel dyed in red on his front lawn.
R. Stroz
August 24th, 2010
3:01 pm
Sara – How about a compromise, a blue lion.
My favorite color is blue and I’m a leo. No one would figure out it’s the Detroit Lions logo.
Have they won a game in the last two years?
Sara
August 24th, 2010
3:09 pm
Believe it or not they did – it was the most amazing thing.
Alan R.
August 24th, 2010
3:12 pm
Stroz – Detroit won twice last year:
1. 27 September vs. Washington (19-14)
2. 22 November vs. Cleveland (38-37)
At least they’re moving in the right direction. GO LIONS.
*goes in search of a beer to cry into*
kracker
August 24th, 2010
3:14 pm
Lord Stanley — Can you provide info on that ESPN report about Bergfors being close to an agreement?
R. Stroz
August 24th, 2010
3:14 pm
I think the Blue Crew outfits should be sold in the Team Store.
I’m just curious how hard my wife would slap me if I gave her a Blue Crew outfit as a birthday present.
Lord Stanley
August 24th, 2010
3:18 pm
Kracker it was espn rumors. SO looking for someone to confirm the validity
Sara
August 24th, 2010
3:18 pm
Stroz – I’ll leave your lawn alone if you’ll let me watch you give it to her!
kracker
August 24th, 2010
3:26 pm
Ummm, we will all leave your lawn alone, Stroz…
Zombie Steve
August 24th, 2010
3:42 pm
Come on, Bergie!!
Joe Friday
August 24th, 2010
3:52 pm
“I’ll leave your lawn alone if you’ll let me watch you give it to her!”
Oh my!
GaVaHokie
August 24th, 2010
3:59 pm
“I’ll leave your lawn alone if you’ll let me watch you give it to her!”
hahaha… Sara gets another “Quote of the Year” nomination!
Rawhide
August 24th, 2010
4:00 pm
…Rawhide enters into blog room. looks up to see everyone standing in complete silence as they stare at Sara and RStroz…
…RStroz has a shocked, puzzled look upon his face (more so than usual) and for the first time in his life is left speechless..
…Sara is ashen white and is covering her mouth…
…Rawhide starts to say something, but thinks better of it. Turns and leaves the room…
Sara
August 24th, 2010
4:01 pm
Yeah I noticed that before I submitted it but figured it was more entertaining to let it stand than re-word it.
GaVaHokie
August 24th, 2010
4:08 pm
The funny thing is, I usually read the blog comments from the bottom up (until I recognize something I’ve already read before)… so, I REALLY had a WTH moment.
I almost had to walk away from my desk I was laughing so hard… I managed to contain it to a few snorts and weezes.
Buzilla in CT
August 24th, 2010
4:22 pm
Can’t…get…picture…out…of…my…head.
Anyone ever see Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?
Buzilla in CT
August 24th, 2010
4:25 pm
Funny how I never gave a crap about the objectification of women…until I had a little girl five months ago…Now I think Hooters should be closed down, Chastity belts should make a comeback, and America’s TV shows should go back to the 1950’s..
SomaAtl95
August 24th, 2010
4:26 pm
… And on tomorrows episode of “Rawhide Presents: ‘As the Puck Drops’”…
Joe Friday
August 24th, 2010
4:29 pm
All I gots to say is any one of you gets close to my lawn, I kill ya …
…and don’t call me Francis
Buzilla in CT Supporter (Red Light)
August 24th, 2010
4:35 pm
Just wait until a tatoo-laden, multiple-pierced, Mohawk-coiffured 17-year-old “boy” shows up at your house to take your daughter out on a date, and then after protesting vehemently with her and within earshot of the punk in question, your sobbing daughter exclaims, “he’s really a nice guy Dad!”
That’s when you go get the empty shotgun out of the garage and ask the nice guy if he knows how to clean a gun!
Buzilla in CT Supporter (Red Light)
August 24th, 2010
4:36 pm
There’s something to be said about being somewhat socially liberal until a daughter is born.
Buzilla in CT
August 24th, 2010
4:42 pm
I am think she is going to look like me, which means I doubt many boys would like to date her. That is fine by me.
glovesave29
August 24th, 2010
4:54 pm
Buzilla – welcome to my world…two little girls, and a whole world full of guys like me in it. Sigh.
Don’t buy the argument that people go TO the games to see the Blue Crew. They may like them once they get there, but I cannot see ANYONE plunking down any cash to get into Philips because of them.
Joe Friday
August 24th, 2010
4:54 pm
“That’s when you go get the empty shotgun out of the garage and ask the nice guy if he knows how to clean a gun!”
My oldest daughter turns 13 in a few months. I’m practicing the speech. No driveup and honk allowed, the little prick has to come in while I inform she’s not ready yet and then take him into the office, show him the gun case and point out:
“I got a shotgun, a shovel, a big backyard, and I don’t think anyone’s gonna miss your ass, son, have her home by 10?”
glovesave29
August 24th, 2010
5:00 pm
Joe – just tell the little punk that “youre not afraid to go back to prison!”.
The parents of my high school girlfriend not only made me come in to say hi when I went to get her, but had to do the same when I brought here home. In retrospect, it’s not really such a terrible idea.
SomaAtl95
August 24th, 2010
5:18 pm
GS29 – The college guys that I seem to be surrounded by weren’t going to the games to watch hockey – they’ve usually been there to drink, talk on their phones to their “frat bros”, hit on Blue Crew members and talk freely about what they “would do if” they got someone to go home with them. The game where the 2006-2007 Divisional Champs Banner was raised the drunks behind us not only made fools of themselves but were nice enough to spill their beer all over my wife and I. She hasn’t gone to a Thrashers game since. That was her first, and only, Thrashers game because of those boys from GA Tech.
They’re not going just for the Blue Crew, but its obvious they aren’t going to see Hockey. While I understand that they were just looking for a way to pass the time the general lack of respect for others and lack of self discipline while drinking have made me swear to NEVER buy nosebleed seats again.
Bad first impression of Thrashers fans to my wife who came down from Long Island the year before we went to that game. She said that the Islander Fans could be absolute jerks but they were there at the Nassau Colosseum to watch the game, not try and nail any female that moves.
GaVaHokie
August 24th, 2010
5:40 pm
Joe Friday… Give your daughter a Clarinet or a Violin and throw her in with the band geeks. That should hopefully delay her sexual exploits until college.
GaVaHokie
August 24th, 2010
5:42 pm
That’s what’s wrong with those Blue Crew girls… they just didn’t get enough exposure to Violins as young girls.
Sara
August 24th, 2010
5:44 pm
A friend of mine bought a house recently. When he was looking at the property the first time, he commented on the state of the art security system that was installed – to which the current owner replied that it wasn’t there so much to keep people out as it was to keep 3 teenagers IN.
Sara
August 24th, 2010
5:44 pm
This one time, at band camp …
Sage of Bluesland
August 24th, 2010
5:48 pm
Whoever believes that folks go to the game to watch the silly Blue Crew (or whatever they are) is out of their mind. Ridiculous.
As far as Erin Andrews goes, I liked her the best of all the intermission interviewers over the years. I knew she did her homework completely for one simple reason: I never heard her mispronounce any of those tough Euro names (which would be very easy to do). Not a single time.
I also knew that once the dimwits in the organization let her go, she would be just fine; she was destined for much better things. She has proven she was bigger than the silly Don Waddell-led organization by rising above and beyond their pathetic boundaries.
Good for her. I still enjoy her commentary; she “brings it” with substance and style, compared to the many clowns who don’t.
(and I know there are pathetic losers out there ready to imitate my name–or to infer or interpret some of my words to their sordid interpretations for a cheap laugh…oh well, children and sheep will be just that…)
SomaAtl95
August 24th, 2010
5:51 pm
GaVaHokie – Band is a bad idea. Most of the girls I knew in band were very, very promiscuous. They all were promiscuous with the boys in the band, honestly using band camp as a way to mix with minimal parental supervision… The few girls I dated that were in band dumped me for guys in the band. I was in Drama and Broadcast Journalism and was not good enough for those girls, I guess. And to this day, 15 years after graduating High School, I still can’t believe just how many of those boys in band were hooking up with Band Girls left and right.
Sparky (Smoothie)
August 24th, 2010
5:56 pm
SomaATL95 – I’ll admit there are a lot of selfish, inebrieted college stundents who seem to gravitate to sections 316 and 317. But usually you can move down away from them and have some fun with the good peeps who reside in the first 9 or 10 rows of the upper deck. Those fans are die-hards and sometimes blow-hards, but we normally know how to have a good time. Just watch out for that Big Shooter guy, he can be a real pain in the arse!
But most importantly, steer clear of the clown in the cowboy get-up and cowbell or else you’ll be hearing bells in your ears for the next several days.
Sparky (Smoothie)
August 24th, 2010
5:59 pm
Oh I meant to add that you need to tell your wife to give the games another chance. My g/f has endured both Big Shooter AND the cowboy guy and still loves coming to games. And it’s almost as much for the camaraderie and interaction with other fans as it is the hockey. What can I say? I’m lucky that she loves hockey…she actually gets a little miffed at me if I chatter too much during play. She wants to concentrate on the action and make sure she can track Bryan Little’s every move!
R. Stroz
August 24th, 2010
6:18 pm
Waiter, Check Please
World Be Free
August 24th, 2010
6:33 pm
You know Sage, you must be a joy to be around all the time.
World Be Free
August 24th, 2010
6:37 pm
GaVa-thanks for the plug for the band geeks. Both my kids were band kids and they had a blast in high school.
Joe Friday-your fun is about to begin.
Lord Stanley
August 24th, 2010
6:53 pm
Its time to move on.
Rawhide
August 24th, 2010
7:05 pm
Lord Stanley – OK…how about we discuss this whole Lee Stempniak to Atlanta thingy.
Lord Stanley
August 24th, 2010
7:24 pm
YOU BLOODY ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
English Teacher
August 26th, 2010
11:11 pm
Nice. Candace and Jami are both friends of mine and they are two of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.