Dave McCaffrey is your everyday hockey nut. He thinks he knows more about the game than he actually does; has an opinion on every aspect of it and he is your typical beer league, excuse me, recreation league goalie who believes, even at age 45, he still has talent and untapped potential. In fact, to this day, he will argue with a referee and give an odd viscous slash to an opponent forward that crosses his crease, whether it is ice hockey, or ball hockey.

 

McCaffrey considers himself a hockey expert, an astute student of the game. He follows the Prince George Cougars closely, and he would be happy to offer any advice to GM Dallas Thompson on how to improve the WHL team. In other words, McCaffrey eats, breathes, and sleeps hockey. He is a Canadian, he has lived in P.G. for 35+ years, and he is damn proud of it.

 

However, there is more. His twin older brother (by two minutes), Dan, is similar to Dave in many aspects of life, and sports, except Dan, a former P.G. Resident, plays forward and now resides in Vancouver. Dave and Dan are identical in their thinking, in their looks and in their mannerisms.

 

Chicago is their favorite NHL team followed by Vancouver; they have been diehard Blackhawks fans since 1973. With Chicago in the Stanley Cup final (winning in six over Philadelphia), the McCaffreys decided, just three days before the opening game, to watch their team in person. The following is a synopsis of their sports trip of a lifetime:

(Remember, the brothers have no media credentials, no special status, no passes and no association to
any of the players)

Saturday, May 29^th: Leave PG and Vancouver in the morning and arrive in Chicago at 2:15pm. “You wouldn’t believe it but as soon as we arrive at the airport we run into Scotty Bowman,” says Dave. Game one is that night. 

The McCaffreys do not pay huge scalper prices for tickets, so they watch the opener at Cubby Bear Bar and Grill across from Wrigley field. According to Dave, “The place is in frenzy”, as they watch the Hawks 6-5 victory.

 

Sunday, May 30^th: The brothers take the train from the hotel to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs and Cardinals, a 9-1 St Louis victory. Dave gets a baseball during warm-ups by a St Louis outfielder. After the game, a trip downtown to Rush St to a place called the Tavern.

“We run into (commentators) Kelly Hrudey, Glenn Healy, Elliot Freedman, and Scott Oake. They are sitting at the table next to us so we make sure we get a picture”, stated Dave.

 

 

Monday, May 31^st: Dave and Dan head to the United Centre in the morning. They had purchased tickets from a scalper on the weekend and wanted to ensure they were legitimate seats. The face value was $220 per ticket, but paid $850 each. According to Dave, that was a bargain. “The guy sitting beside us paid $1300”. Just prior to the morning skate, the McCaffreys bumped into Patrick Kane, Cristobal Huet and other Blackhawks, as well as former NHL’er Ed Olczyk. Again, the cameras come out to take photos.

Later, they arrive at the game 2 1/2 hours early. The McCaffreys are stopped by an NBC Chicago reporter who noticed Dave was wearing a Dustin Byfuglien PG Cougars jersey and Dan wearing a Jonathan Toews road jersey. 

 

They interview for the local newscast that day and then it is inside to the Madhouse on Madison. “The place was a zoo. GM Place is a beautiful rink, but the United Centre is a step above. There are more restaurants, more bars, and more shops. The atmosphere was amazing. The national anthem was Bone Chilling, louder than anything else I have ever heard”, said Dave.

 

The McCaffreys were impressed when the Jumbotron showed the Blackhawks alumni box with greats such as Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Denis Savard and Tony Esposito in attendance. The twins watched the Hawks 2-1 triumph sitting by the faceoff circle in Section 109, Row 11, seats five and six. 

“It may have looked boring on TV, but watching it live was amazing. The speed, the hitting, the intensity was unforgettable” said Dave.

 

After the game, a 20-minute drive to the Tavern where they bumped into and got pictures with Brian Campbell and Kris Versteeg of the Hawks, Savard and other hockey notables.

 

 

Tuesday, June 1^st: They catch an early flight home to BC. The total cost for the round trip, including everything, is nearly $5,000 each. “It was worth every penny”, stated a jubilant Dave.

 

I have known the McCaffreys, particularly Dave for several years. They are good guys with an edge, hard workers, family men, and not afraid to “go for it”.

Dave admits, “We accomplished part of our “Bucket List” (one of the things to do before they die). Dave and Dan stand by their motto. When they are 65, sitting in their rocking chair, they want to say “we are glad we did, instead of, we wish we would have.”

 

  

 

Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks who won the Stanley Cup Wednesday night after a 49 year drought. Curiously the last time they won the Cup was Chris Chelios's rookie season. 
49 years! Wow. And the Maple Leafs said, "We can beat that."

 

The sports world is still buzzing about Jim Joyce’s mistake at first base last week. It might be the most famous blown call in history. Or at least since when Bill Clinton was talking on the phone in the Oval Office while being serviced by Monica.

 

John Wooden passed away last week at the age of 99. Or as Larry King said “So tragically young!”
Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)

Jack Nicklaus says he still expects Tiger Woods to break his record. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods thinks that Charlie Sheen may break his record. 

 

Shaquille O’Neal challenged last year’s National Spelling Bee winner Kavya Shivashankar to a spell off. The 14 year old said she would rather compete at something where she had a better chance at beating Shaq. Like a free throw contest.

 

Ken Griffey, Jr. is retiring from baseball after a 22 year career. He was hitting .184 with no home runs and seven RBI's. Or as they call that in Baltimore, “A Hall of Fame season”. 

Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/) 

 

 

Ken Griffey Jr. announced his retirement just two months into his 22nd season. He said it wasn't an easy decision to come by. I wonder if he slept on it.

 

A 36-year-old woman is suing United Airlines for leaving her asleep in her seat for over three hours. I'm not sure why she's so upset; it doesn't seem to bother Maple Leafs fans.  

 

 

 

After 22 seasons in the Major Leagues, Ken Griffey, Jr. announced that he is retiring from baseball.
It is the first time a player ever tore his hamstring during a retirement speech.

 

 

In Los Angeles, a porn actor attacked and killed one of his acting colleagues with a porn movie prop.
It sure gives the movie title "Die Hard" a whole new meaning.

Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

Some of the Mets opponents are skeptical that struggling pitcher Oliver Perez really has a bad knee.
But in fairness, the team's medical staff made the determination. And if we've learned anything the past few years its that if you can't trust the Mets doctors to get it right, who can you trust?

 

 

 Dustin Hoffman was caught planting a kiss on Jason Bateman on Kiss Cam at the Lakers-Celtics NBA finals game. Maybe Dustin was having a 'Tootsie' flashback.


Pete Rose is in the news again---there's word that cork has been found in one of his betting slips.

Stephen Strasburg made his major league debut with the Nationals by striking out 14 Pirates. For the Pirates, it was the most gruesome debut since the dinner scene from 'Alien'.

Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

 

The online social network Twitter is preparing for a record number of tweets per day during the World Cup. Coincidentally with the number of drunken fans, South African police say they expect a huge increase in the number of twits as well.
FYI if you are acting like a twit and you are hit with a police baton the proper tweet is “thwack”.

A Portuguese photographer was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday at a World Cup hotel. The man was unconcerned saying it was still cheaper than the hotels mini bar.

Gordie Howe was given an honorary doctorate from the University of Saskatchewan. You would think with all the teeth he has knocked out he might get a Doctorate of Dentistry.

 

 

Rapper Snoop Dogg says he likes to wear a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey because the hockey team's logo reminds him of a marijuana leaf. And in a related story, the Snooper just awarded himself the Lady Bong Trophy.