No Tweed day...

Summer in Ottawa and not much going on...

Not so fast.

Senators star Dany Heatley wants out of the city and now your elected council members don't want to declare next Wednesday Shannon Tweed day. Acting mayor Doug Thompson probably saw a great opportunity to drum up some publicity for the city and since Shannon was "Miss Ottawa Valley" in the late 70's and once worked at a bar on Bank street, how could he go wrong.

But this is Ottawa. The town that wants more greenspace at Landsdowne Park and a has a bit of a sewage problem.

Now, we're likely going to look like a bunch of hicks on the world stage, which plays perfectly for the producers of "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" (who according to one report) will follow Shannon around when she comes to town. Is it that big of a deal to hand out a proclamation? So she didn't build a hospital or save a kitten from a tree, it's all about promoting your brand as a city which leads to tourism. When I worked at the Bear and U2 came to town we approached then Mayor Bob Chiarelli to declare the day they came to town as "U2 day in Ottawa" and while Bono has done a few more things then Shannon (OK way more) it was a publicity stunt for the radio station and good PR for the city.

Before you start with the "Stu is biased" emails, I'll save you the time. I'm a big of the Gene's reality show, but were talking about a proclamation. Were not erecting a Shannon Tweed statue or re-naming Bronson street after her.

Attention passengers...

Now that Eugene Melnyk's plans for a soccer stadium are on hold, maybe he can build a runway for Kovalev:

What's it like being drafted by your favourite team?

TSN followed Avalanche pick Matt Duchene on draft weekend

What to do with that Heatley jersey...

I took some heat (no pun intended) for putting my own name on my jersey last year. All the typical comments came in:

"What, are you 5 years old?"
"Only a loser puts his name on the back of a jersey"

So, with a closet full of "Stuntman", last fall I bought an Alfredsson 3rd jersey. I was asked by a few people, why not Heatley or Spezza? I figured Alfie will likely retire as a Senator and it was a safe bet.

Heatley doesn't want to play in Ottawa, fine. Before you leave though, maybe Bryan Murray should have #15 work the Sens store for a week so the thousands who did buy his jerseys can trade them in for a guy who wants to stay here.

Costco and CHEO

6.1 Million dollars was raised at this weekend's CHEO telethon.

1 million came in courtesy of Costco about 5 minutes before the end of the show.

I wondered on Facebook last week if I should renew my membership and when I saw that amount my mind was made up. As a consumer I'm trying to shop with companies that give back to the community. When tourists come to town and want to see the Royal Canadian Mint you could send them to Costco, but the bottom line is they came in, made a big splash and handed over a million dollars.

There are hundreds of businesses throughout our region that support CHEO but congrats to the store where I can get a year supply of Tide for stepping up. I still don't like having my receipt signed, but I'll continue shopping at a place that gives back.

Trump this...

Donald Trump will be in Ottawa this fall. Donald reads my blog and just bought my new book.




















Thanks to Chad P for sending this...

Try this on your next test drive....

Cool event...

I've been lucky in my career to be involved with many amazing corporate and community events. Today I witnessed something that Ottawa schools and companies should check out.

Its called the Inside Ride where you and your co-workers (or fellow students) ride in a team of 6 for 10 minutes each on a full size bike. While you're huffing and puffing away, your teammates are right beside you cheering you on, fanning you and giving you water.

The idea is not to be the fastest group, but to raise funds for kids with Cancer and having a blast with your co-workers during a lunchour.

Alcatel Lucent is the only Ottawa company to host this event for the second year in their main entrance with 28 teams taking part. This event won't break your company budget, heck it won't even make a dent (just ask anyone at Alcatel Lucent).


The music was pumping, atmosphere like a rock concert and best of all almost $30,000 was raised for kids with Cancer.

NHL ..sloppy bad, sucker punch good

When NHL sideshow Sean Avery made comments this season about his former girlfriend, commissioner Gary Bettman came out with this:

"To be perfectly honest I wouldn't want to have to explain to my 12-year-old daughter what he said," referring to Avery's sloppy seconds comments.

So here's my question for the NHL boss...how do I explain Scott Walker's sucker punch on Aaron Ward to my 3 year old?

Move over Mona Lisa...

Every so often someone drops by our studio in the morning with free food. We like that, everyone in radio does. This week, local artist Jill Alexander dropped in with this painting for us. She met our late co-host Buzz last year and said she would put something on canvas for our studio.

Here's a copy of the painting and the rest of her work can be found here.

Thanks Jill!

How's it hanging Norm?

In the last 10 years this is what sports fans in Massachusetts have had to endure..

New England Patriots - Superbowl Champs 2001, 2003, 2004 and minutes away from another one in Superbowl 42.

Boston Red Sox - World Series Champs 2004, 2007

Boston Celtics 2008 - NBA Champs

Is this the year for the Boston Bruins? Me thinks so...

What are you afraid of?

Just so I have my facts straight:

The city of Ottawa which owns Lansdowne Park has let it rot to the condition that it's currently in. A local, yes a local group of successful businessmen who's backgrounds are in construction want to re-develop the site (which the city would benefit in taxes) and they are met with 2 major roadblocks.

Ottawa Councillor Clive Doucet - Ward 17
Glebe Community Association

If you bought a home in the Glebe in the last one hundred years and didn't notice the giant stadium then it's your own fault. I cannot understand the angst against growth that comes from councillor Doucet and the association. What are you afraid of? Is it the crowds after football games you don't like? Why did you buy in that area of town to begin with? I understand the city doesn't want to just hand over a prime piece of real estate for nothing but then what have you done with it and what are the future plans if it stays within the city's control? I know one thing for sure, we have Clive Doucet who believes someone from across the planet knows what's best for Ottawa and while it's good to share ideas in the global village, I wouldn't be in any position to tell someone from Kenya how to live.

At this stage you can have a professional dart league play in a new stadium, but can we please move forward?

Oh, wait...who am I kidding. We'll need another study before we do that.

You and the Great One...

Having a co-host who's on a first name basis with Wayne Gretzky gives our show access to amazing giveaways. Our own Jungle Jim, with the generosity of 99 has secured the following for you to bid on:

Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic Collingwood, ON
Wed July 8

You and your guest golf with Jungle and TSN golf analyst Jim Nelford (18 hole practice round) at the Georgian Bay Club, spending the day alongside other Nationwide players.

Invite to the VIP party that night (Charles Barkley, Mark Messier, John Elway some of the names who dropped by last year)

Thu July 9
Go inside the ropes and follow Wayne's group all day. Hang with Jungle and you're likely to meet every big name there that day.

Package also includes: 2 autographed sticks from 99, 2 night stay at the Blue Mountain Inn.

Make your bids: mornings@team1200.com and put "Golf with 99" in the subject heading.

All proceeds to the Wayne Gretzky Foundation.
CONGRATS TO STUART LAWRENCE WHO PAID $10,000!!!!!

April Fool, Sens car flags, Strike 3...

APRIL FOOL

Well that didn't take long now did it.



I would have paid big bucks to be inside the Rangers locker room after that loss to the Bruins. With less then 6 minutes to play in a 1-0 game, this is what the NHL's sideshow thinks will wake up his team. My nomination for coach of the year, John Tortorella for having to put up with Sean Avery.

SENS CAR FLAGS
The Sens missing the playoffs for the first time since 97. It's going to take some getting used to not seeing the Sens car flags/cheer cards but don't worry my fellow Ottawans, there's baseball to look forward to.

Scratch that, no baseball.

STRIKE 3
The only ball hitting Ottawa stadium is potentially a wrecking ball as one Ottawa councillor suggested. Ottawans are debating a soccer stadium/hotel development in Kanata or a shopping/aquarium and refurbished Landsdowne Park when a perfectly good stadium could be a big box store or condominium within a few years. Living in Ottawa for 15 years I love how the city has grown and is on the world stage with NHL hockey, Bluefest, Winterlude etc...but am continually amazed at how narrow minded some are in this town are. I'll bet you that with the current city council nothing will get done. I don't get the impression there's any support for the growth of professional sports in Ottawa outside of hockey. I can appreciate that their looking out for the people that put them in office and who really wants to jeopardize their income given the current economy, but take a stand and make a decision.

After some long hard looks at both proposals, (both of which I like) whichever costs me less as a taxpayer in the city of Ottawa gets my vote.

Some fans are never happy...

I'm one of those NHL fans who didn't have a problem with Alex Ovechkin's 50th goal celebration. I suspect the next generation of fans also thought is was "cool". The league is growing and my experience going to games in the early 80's will be completely different from the way my kids see it. You're going to an NHL game to watch the best players in the world and if there's some fun theatrics involved, are you honestly that offended by what he did? Ovechkin was the story of this year's All Star competition with his sunglasses/hat combo because he did something different. He stands out, which is good publicity for a league that also employs Sean Avery. The NHL gets little attention in the US and if Ovechkin's bowing down to his stick is the lead story on Sportscenter, is that such a bad thing? If the Tampa Bay Lightning were offended by #8 on Thursday night, they should take a longer look in the mirror and fix their own franchise first (Seen Stamkos campaign, Melrose firing, Lecavalier rumors, and failure to keep Dan Boyle..just a few). I know the tradionalists wanted Ovechkin to "play it cool" like others before him have done, but Alex is a different guy and has....are you ready for this....a personality.

I'm going to save Melnyk 100 million..

Here's how I'm gonna do it...sort of.

Sens owner Eugene Melnyk was in town this week talking about his new soccer stadium and how it's going to cost 110 million dollars. We don't need a stadium, we need a new scoreboard at Scotiabank Place.

Yes, the Sens potential of missing the playoffs notwithstanding, the current Sanyo that sits over the ice (while classic) is like having an old TV while all your friends are watching on a 52 inch Plasma. Mr. Melnyk spends 10 million on the biggest scoreboard available on the planet giving him the ultimate bragging rights, thus guaranteeing 41 sell outs a season and no need for a soccer stadium.

Yes, this is what goes through my head during a Sens game.

So, do you want this:


















Or this:

Leaf fans at Scotiabank Place

When I welcomed the fans to Saturday night's game at Scotiabank Place, I might have well said "Welcome to the ACC".

Having more Leaf fans in attendance is nothing new at SBP, but when they boo Sens Captain Daniel Alfredsson in his own barn there must be something Sens fans can do. The following is a simple 1 step program on how to deal with Leaf fans:



And don't start with your silly emails from Leaf nation "if it wasn't for us the building wouldn't be full, blah blah blah".

C'mon Sens fans, enough is enough.

Soccer or Football in Ottawa.

I was asked this week on our radio show on which I wanted more. The question from co-host Steve Warne was:

"If you're standing outside two stadiums, one for soccer and the other for football which one do you go in?"

I chose football based on my past experience with the Roughriders and Renegades. The last soccer game I saw in person was attending regular Montreal Impact games in the early 90's. Long before the Ottawa MLS proposal, I've been a big supporter of the return of a CFL team, providing it has solid ownership. The Jeff Hunt group has that and along with deep pockets, how could one argue against it.

Then Senators owner Eugene Melnyk enters the picture with his vision and I start to think, yah it could work why not. Thousands of kids play soccer in the region (more than football and hockey) so how could it fail? Will 20 thousand fans show up a dozen times a year to watch a sport in person that they're not as familiar with compared to football?

From now on I'm going to look at both proposals this way: Which is going to make the most sense for me and my family?

1. Is there a place to park?
2. How reasonable are ticket prices?
3. Is the stadium clean? (you could eat off the cement floor at Lynx, err...Rapids, uuhh Voyage, whatever stadium)
4. Was I entertained?

Once I get those answers, then I'll make my decision.

Shave it right down to the wood...

Cool fundraiser alert:

The Nepean Atom B Competitive RED team are shaving their heads this Saturday, raising $$$ for the Make a Wish foundation.

Click HERE to support these guys and
Thank you.

Sens and Albert Einstein...

This guy probably thought he was going to get the usual easy questions during a recent Sens game...

Skate your heart out...

February is Heart Month, which means you have to lay off the poutine and meat lovers pizza for 28 days.

Last week several Ottawa companies let their employees take a few hours off work to compete in the 12th annual Xerox Corporate Challenge. It's a simple drill, collect pledges, come out for a relay race around the Civic Center, eat some lunch and back at the office by 2pm

Team 1200 and A News Ottawa entered 3 teams, all of which had a respectable finish. Given the Sens roller coaster ride this season, you may want to check out the Heart and Stroke website.


Here's yours truly passing Dave Luce from Xerox handing the baton to A news anchor Annette Goerner.

(thanks for www.balfourphoto.com for sending the pix for this blog which is read by 4 million people everyday)

Free Superbowl Bacon...

Superbowl 43 is over and more companies spent millions on their TV ads.

The one I remember the most?

Denny's offering a free breakfast to everyone in the USA, and a Grand Slam breakfast! I live in Canada and while it didn't directly appeal to me, it's still the commercial I remember the most.



I wish more companies understood this and spent less time telling me how good their product is. Let me try it risk free and if I like it, I'll buy it. It's the same reason why they set up free snacks on every isle at Costco. Were you going to buy those frozen mini pizza's? Not likely, but after a sample it's now on your radar in case you ever need some.

At Thursday's Sens game against Boston, Hummingbird MediSpa gave out almost 18,000 vouchers good for a variety of items for one of their many locations. New to Ottawa, they're trying to get known and what are the chances you would have walked in to their spa otherwise?

When I buy my next car, first off it's going to be used. I'll let somebody else put on 15,000km's and take advantage of the discount. Where will I buy? It won't be from the guy who tells me how good his dealership is, but the one that lets me take it home one night to see if the car seats actually fit and if there was enough room for my smelly hockey bag.

Free oil changes for the entire lease would be nice too..

A free back massage...

Why him?

August 1990, the Montreal Canadiens are holding a mini training camp at the rink 5 minutes from my house. In a world before text messaging and email (yes, there wz a time b4 email) my buddy calls me and says "get down to the rink, the Habs are there!!"

To my amazement, there they are...playing on our home rink. We'll after watching these guys for what seemed like an eternity most of them came over to sign some autographs and for the small group of 20 kids it was like we had won the lottery. Carbonneau, Roy, McPhee, Walter, Corson, and all came over and signed stuff for us. While signing my hat, a bold 15 year old, let's call him "Stu" asked Brian Skrudland for a tour of the dressing room. Looking a little perplexed, because they were training in our rink he said to come back in an hour and we did. An hour later, there he was ready to show us...our dressing room, except our jerseys were replaced with the "CH" and instead of one or two rolls of sock tape sat a case of it in the middle of the room. He spent time with us and answered every stupid question we could think of and then thanked us for cheering for the team. I remember thinking, this is Montreal you don't have to thank me for cheering for the Habs.

That fall with enough allowance saved up I ordered a pro Habs sweater (fighting strap and all!) and when the lady at the Forum souvenir shop asked which player I wanted on the back, my immediate reply was Skrudland #39. She said "are you sure you don't want Richer or Roy?", and I replied again with "#39, size 52 merci".

A few months into winter I'm standing outside the Forum freezing my butt off waiting to get #39 to sign my jersey. Not knowing what time they got off the ice for practise I arrived early in the morning and waited 4 hours. When #39 came out and saw the jersey he remembered meeting us the previous summer and how he got in trouble for giving us a tour. After the signature, he asks if I'd like to watch the Habs practise tomorrow and told the security guard to let me in.

My buddies who thought I was full of it didn't believe me, so I told them to come down and watch me walk right into the Forum while they stand outside. Sure enough, I presented myself to the security desk and walked right in. The only rule the guy gave me was to keep quiet, absolutely no autographs and don't bother the media either. I'm sitting in the reds, watching the drills and thinking it can't get any better. Once they left the ice, I made my way to the exit and just as I was handing over the visitors pass the old man at the desk hands me a stick from #39.

I wrote this story and went down memory lane because #39 came up in discussion on the show this morning after he appeared (rightly or wrongly) on TSN's top 20 Montreal Canadiens list, a list put together by guys like Scotty Bowman and Dick Irvin. There was plenty of debate on our show as to who should be on the list and one that will make for a fun debate among the 4 billion Hab blogs.

I never did get a chance to thank Skrudland for the stick, so if he ever does read this...thank you #39, I still have it.

Sens fans spoiled?

Have Sens fans had it too good?

From coming back into the NHL in 92-93, it only took the club 5 years to make the playoffs and 10 years after that they went to the Stanley Cup finals. Fans are calling for everyone's heads and while Spezza, Heatley and the Captain are having an off year, so is the rest of the club.

There's plenty of other teams who fail to make the playoffs and rebuild. Which leads me to my question, have Sens fans been spoiled? A trip to the finals will do that to a fanbase, and while it's tough to be so close and not win, ask Vancouver Canuck fans what it's been like for them.

They've been in the NHL 39 years and have only been to the finals twice, coming up short both times. Do fans in that city call in to the radio during the lean years and want the coach or star player fired? Sure they do. You think Montreal has been a fun place to play up until last year? I doubt it. A fun past time in Ottawa has been making fun of the Leafs last Cup win in 67, but they still come out night after night.

This is unfamiliar territory for Sens fans right now, watching their team slide into the NHL basement. It's okay to vent and be disappointed but stay with your team. When the Sens do eventually win a Cup, you'll enjoy it more.