david.howard19

Guilty as charged. The thing I like about this group is people can have fun with it. I just had to vent my displeasure of Darrin Looker's performance, and get it off my chest. That is what Fan Message Boards are for.

If you want to complain about something regarding the Ralph, let's talk about the music...... I really like the music that is played at the Ralph. It's great!! There can be fast-paced action during the game, and the genius running the music will play John Denver, or some other song that has no reason being played at a hockey game. You have to admit, as a fan, that gets you JACKED! I know it does me! I bet it gets the players pumped as well. I bet if you wrote down the order of the songs on Friday night, they would be nearly exactly the same for saturday night. Here is a crazy idea, find some new music. Then when you do find some new music, play it. Phil Collin's "In The Air Tonight" for pre-show music. If any song says "Hi energy, fast-paced, excitement to start off a hockey game" it's this song. Not. If I wanted to relax and be put to sleep in the final minutes before a hockey game, I'd watch an episode of Walker Texas Ranger. Get it together UND... we want excitement. The whole system needs a substantial adjustment.

There are two different issues being discussed in this thread... 1. Boring and poor atmosphere at the Ralph. 2. Darrin Looker's delivery of the PA. Yes, there is an extremely dull atmosphere at the Ralph. Hockey is supposed to be loud, crazy and high-stimulation. The Ralph is a library. Perhaps the people in charge of the game time operations need to review some issues and policies of game-nights. Start up an ad campaign or something to increase excitement. They should also review any scripts they give Darrin Looker, and have someone from radio or local performing arts places teach him about pacing, energy and excitment. They need all the help they can get.

Darrin Looker needs some tips and pointers in his public address performance. The man has the voice, but it's his delivery that is driving the fans to grind their teeth. Ask hockey fans at the Ralph... the annoyance factor of Looker's delivery is reaching epic proportions... especially in my section. "Alright North Dakota, Let's Get Loud... (with his vocal energy going down as he says it)" "Everybody's ready.... so let's play some ollllllllllllllllllllllllld tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime Fighting............ Sioux........................... Hockey." BORING. "Alllllllll Alooooooone." Taunting and annoying. "Final minute of play in the third period... YOU'RE WELCOME." Looker put his foot in his mouth last year when he thought the home playoff game was going to be the last one of the season. What did he say... "Final minute of play in the third period... (crowd says 'thank you') ...Noooo... Thank YOU!" What happens next? Sioux give up a goal with 4 seconds left, then lose in overtime. How's the egg on your face taste, Looker? Is it the biggest problem in the world? No. Is it the biggest problem at UND? No. Is he a bad announcer? Yes. He sucks the energy out of the Ralph as he takes forever to say stuff. Hockey is about excitement, energy and pacing. Looker has none. He has a great baritone voice, but his delivery is slow, overly drawn out, and annoying. He relies too much on trying to develop new catch phrases, and as I've heard from several friends working in the press box- he's got quite the ego. My solution- deflate the ego and inflate the energy. Or just hold open auditions for the position.