"100% Cheese-Free"

I was at the Metrodome in Minneapolis last Sunday for the NFL match up between the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers. Part way through the second quarter, my wife pointed out a fellow fan who was marching up the aisle one section over. He was a big bull of a man wearing purple camouflage pants, a purple tank top and a championship belt like those worn by professional wrestlers. The man sported a garish yellow moustache and similarly colored eyebrows. To cap it all off, he was wearing a Viking helmet with braids hanging from it.

"That guy's famous," my wife said. "My parents know him. He's from Winnipeg. I think he works for CP Rail. He stays at the same Marriott that my parents stay at. They see him all the time."

The burly Viking uber-fan walked up and down the aisle a few more times during the game, drawing attention everywhere he went.

When we got back to the Marriott, we ran into the guy in the lobby and rode up in the elevator with him. He was polite and well-mannered, betraying his fierce Viking get up.

When I got back home, I did a little research on the guy. In a matter of minutes, I discovered that the super fan is referred to as "100% Cheese-Free," that his real name is Syd Davy and that he's a locomotive engineer from Winnipeg. Here's a picture of Syd as "100% Cheese-Free":

A couple of years ago, USA Today had a feature on "100% Cheese-Free" that you can catch here http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/vikings/2006-12-20-devoted-fan_x.htm.

Now I wish I'd had my picture taken with the guy!

Sarah Palin: Practically From B.C. (Part II)

I just LOVE the SNL skit that constituted my last post. I first heard about it on Sunday morning and have watched it at least twenty-five times since. I've always been a huge fan of Tina Fey but her performance as Sarah Palin was outstanding, even by Tina Fey standards. Way, way too funny!

My favorite line is Tina Fey/Sarah Palin's comment that: "And I can see Russia from my house!" Out of curiosity, I searched for a map of Alaska to see exactly where Wasilla is. Here's the map:

Wasilla is just north of Anchorage and they're both a long way from Russia. What struck me, though, is how close Juneau is to B.C. Growing up, I always thought that Juneau was in the main part of Alaska, not the panhandle. The country that Sarah Palin can see from her Governor's residence isn't Russia, it's Canada!

Sarah Palin: Practically From B.C. (Part I)

You Can "Count" On Wayne Gretzky

Have you seen the article in today's on-line version of The Globe & Mail discussing the role that Wayne Gretzky will play with the 2010 Olympic hockey team? If you haven't seen it, check it out here: http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080915.wsptgretzky1509/GSStory/GlobeSports/home

The story is pretty umremarkable. However, the photo of Gretzky accompanying the article kind of caught me off guard. Here it is:

That guy sure doesn't look like the Wayne Gretzky that I remember!

I found myself wondering who this older, pointier Gretzky reminded me of. All of a sudden, it came to me. Gretzky looks like this guy:

Wayne Gretzky and Count Chocula: Twins Separated At Birth!

Canadians In The NFL

The NFL regular season kicks off tonight when the SUPER BOWL CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS--let's just say that again, shall we--SUPER BOWL CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS take on the Washington Redskins. It's been a long wait and I'm ecstatic that the action is back!

Have you wondered how many Canadians will be playing for NFL teams at the start of the season? I wanted to find out and, in less than a minute of on-line research, I came across a fantastically helpful website: http://www.nflcanada.com/. According to that website, fourteen Canadians have survived training camps. Twelve will be on active rosters and two will be on practice squads. You can check the article out here: http://www.nflcanada.com/News/2008/09/02/6636181.html.

I was surprised by one of the names on the list of Canadians. Who knew that Shaun Suisham, the placekicker for the Washington Redskins, is from Canada? I sure didn't. Here's Shaun doing his thing:

Shaun is from a place called Wallaceburg, Ontario. Although I lived in Toronto for nine years, I've never heard of the place. A little more research revealed that the town is named after William Wallace, the Scottish rebel portrayed by Mel Gibson in the movie Braveheart (for more on Wallaceburg, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallaceburg,_Ontario). You gotta love a town named after that guy! Freeeeeeeeeeedommm!!!

Anyway, I hope Shaun Suisham has a great game tonight. In fact, I hope he kicks ten field goals, accounting for all of Washington's points provided that the Giants score at least thirty-one points, of course! Go Giants!