MafiaMan

Where do I begin? Is it an update everyone wants? Here's a quick recap along with some color commentary. PLUS-SIDE: Having the Al Pearson charter go out of its way to pick up siouxguyinstpaul and me in Oakdale, MN. DOWN-SIDE: Acquiring the last two seats in the bus, facing backwards and sharing leg and foot space w/two other fans. They were cool and all, but damn, not a lot of room w/four people sharing such tight quarters. Next year, to make sure I get a better seat, I will drive from Minneapolis to Grand Forks to catch the charter to Milwaukee. DOWN-SIDE: In addition to my jersey smelling like booze, it unfortunately smells like smoke. PLUS-SIDE: Contrary to popular belief on this board, neither smell was the result of my smoking or drinking. OK, I had a couple of drinks, but I'm not exactly Animal House material these days. PLUS-SIDE: Having the Sioux faithful on the bus rolling in the aisles at my humor. DOWN-SIDE: Most of the jokes were self-deprecating. PLUS-SIDE: Hanging out and catching some sun with the "Al Pearson bus fans" at the hotel Saturday morning/afternoon. DOWN-SIDE: Forgetting that my bald head can only handle so much afore-mentioned sun this early in the season. Yowza! PLUS-SIDE: Beating the Gophers on Thursday night sure quieted the Minnesota faithful and made for a fun Friday all day and Saturday morning/afternoon for the fans in green. DOWN-SIDE: Having to restrain myself from punching Gopher fans in the face after seeing the smirks on their faces following the DU game Saturday night. PLUS-SIDE: Seeing the Sioux play their hearts out Saturday night and feeling that although the team I cheered for lost, that they had accomplished plenty this season. Thank you for a hellofa run. DOWN-SIDE: Seeing nine seniors skate off the ice for the last time as a member of the Fighting Sioux. PLUS-SIDE: Jake Brandt and Coach Hakstol giving a quick wave to the Sioux fans as they exited the Schottenstein. DOUBLE-BONUS PLUS SIDE: The number of Sioux fans in our section who politely clapped when the PA announcer called out the 2005 NCAA Hockey champions. A class act, fans, and you know who you are. PLUS-SIDE: All the Maine fans who seem to love Sioux hockey. DOWN-SIDE: Being single handedly responsible for destroying years of Sioux/Black Bear goodwill by teasing Mainers about those east-coast accents and "wicked haaaad slaaaap shots." PLUS-SIDE: I saw Ed Belfour at the arena and even got to shake his hand. DOWN-SIDE: Apparently Ed is still in pretty good shape as he chased me all the way to the Horseshoe and beat the snot out of me after I asked him if I could take a picture of his girlfriend and use it as my new avatar. PLUS-SIDE: No, I did not make the baptism. The family was totally cool w/it. DOWN-SIDE: Since I didn't call my sister until 1:00 pm Friday afternoon when I was already in Columbus, the point was pretty much moot. PLUS-SIDE: The Ohio State University has the hottest 18-22 year old women I've seen on any college campus. DOWN-SIDE: I'm 34 years old and they're totally out of my league. PLUS-SIDE: Plenty of good souvenir stores in Buckeye-land. DOWN-SIDE: Do not...I repeat...DO NOT...ask them if they sell Michigan Wolverine stuff. PLUS-SIDE: Stunningly enough, our bus arrived in St Paul at 8:00 pm and I did make the 9:00 pm Sunday night Catholic mass in Minneapolis on the U of M campus. DOWN-SIDE: Unfortunately, it was 71 degrees out tonite and I did not feel like sweating my butt off wearing my Sioux jersey in church. I was gloating inside, though. DOUBLE-DOWN-SIDE: Going to the 9:00 pm mass delayed my response time to this message board. PLUS-SIDE: Meeting about 40 new friends on the bus to and from Columbus. DOWN-SIDE: Saying good-bye to you all at about 8:00 pm tonite. Don't be strangers...drop me a line. I hope that our paths cross again. Thanks for a great time! MafiaMan

I hope you're not referring to the call that led to DU's third goal. That was pretty much a textbook cross-check and should be called 10 out of 10 times.

I would also like to say thanks to Jim & Co. This site is invaluable information-wise and I honestly wouldn't have had the same level of fun I had this weekend w/out people coming up to me seemingly at random and asking me "are you gonna make the baptism?", "YOU'RE MAFIAMAN?" and other gems. What an unbelievable time in Columbus and seriously, a lot of the fun I had I owe to this site. To Schmidtdoggydog, YaneA, siouxguyinstpaul, jozee, AZSioux, LadyDi, and anyone else I have missed mentioning here but met this weekend, thanks for saying hi. I hope you had a few laughs at my expense and enjoyed yourself as much as I did.

Contrary to reports of my demise, I am alive and well, having arrived back home at 8:00 pm Sunday night. Oh the stories I could tell...

Saturday high of 65 and sunny weather? I'll tell you one thing that goes great w/my green Sioux jersey...my khaki shorts and sandals! Bring on the warm weather.

First things first. If I can't have hot chicks w/nice boobs as an avatar, then that gay male model of yours (this means you, jozee) has got to go! Secondly, keep the red line, just get rid of the two-line pass rule in the NHL. I don't see where getting rid of touch-up icing will help increase scoring. I give Buffalo credit for thinking outside the box.

Which one do you see? Admin took down my hottie so I was nothing for a few days, but now I'm Snoopy.

Well that sucks...

That's what 4 hours of sleep will do to a guy. Sorry for being a dumb***. I'll edit my post. Cue Homer Simpson: DOH!

My lack of sleep is making me delusional. That and I need to check my calendar and know what day it is...

A guy's gotta have his priorities straight, right? I've booked a seat on the Al Pearson special and the chips will fall where they may... Onward to Columbus...GO SIOUX!

Section 408, row U, seats 9 & 10.

Ugh...anyone looking for an extra bunker to cut down on hotel room costs?

I hope I didn't answer my own question, Kracker. Are you saying that nicknames like "Warriors" and "Sioux" are only honorable if a majority of players on the local team are Native American? Surely you must be joking. If that's the case, let's root on the Compton High "Niggaz" because of the high percentage of inner-city African-American youth there and maybe the South Central "Latin Kings" because of all the Latino gangs in the area. If it's racist, it's racist across the board. Not hip hop and cool if you say it, but racist if I do.

Huskies rule, Enjoying the NCAA hockey tournament? At least you have a great view from your couch!

GrahamKracker, I respect your right to disagree. After all, this is America. My basic argument has been North Dakota high schools. I am curious why the Lakota people would be outraged over the use of "Sioux" when describing the University of North Dakota, yet not opposed to local high schools such as Stanton, Solen, and SRCHS-Fort Yates. I do not understand the logic that the word is racist, yet will not only be tolerated at predominantly Native schools, but CELEBRATED there. Peace to you as well.

Ha...this reminds me of an episode of The Simpsons where Homer brings in a radio and earphones to church. During the sermon (and moment of the game-winning field goal), he leaps up and yells "YES YES...IT'S GOOD...IT'S GOOD!". At the end of mass, the preacher taps Homer on the shoulder and says, "Boy, something in my sermon really moved you today Homer." "Uh...yea," is the reply back.

There is indeed a God!

I just called...you're looking at $600 for plane, 3 nights hotel, and ground transportation.

Unbelievable. Now apparently I'm driving myself and hoping I can find someone to pick up the extra ticket I have as both clowns in the photos on this thread have bailed on going w/me. Nice, huh?

Ask and you shall receive!

Odds are, I'm still driving.

I didn't say I was booking a charter flight, NorthDakotaHockey...I still think driving is the way to go. I just called for info, that's all.