Hartley Miller's Slap-Shots July 2st Edition

By Hartley Miller

If you plan on attending a Cougars game in the 2006/2007 season or the Royal Bank Cup in May 2007 at the CN Centre, you will be allowed to drink alcohol (not in the stands). This is a good compromise for those who like drinking beer while watching the game, and for those who don't want alcohol in the building during a sporting event.

Recently, Prince George City Council voted that alcohol can be served at the CN Centre in the same designated areas as outlined in their pilot project, which was launched in August 2005. 

Council denied the request to expand the area to include the con-course; however, Council amended the alcohol policy allowing the continued sale of alcohol in the ice lounge during Cougars games.

Selling beer at hockey games was a controversial topic last year in Prince George. Supporters stated that most of the other WHL teams that had that policy experienced very few problems while the nay-Sayers cited many well-documented reasons against this plan.

Well, you might find it interesting that the Kamloops Blazers’ Board of Directors approved a course of action to not allow beer in the stands during the upcoming 06-07 season at the Interior Savings Centre. Hockey supporters in Kamloops, which included a booster club of approximately 250 members, spoke in favor of alcohol in the building, but not in the seats. So, if you plan to watch a Blazers game and want some suds, you can continue to attend the Sports Action Lounge, but the beer doesn't leave the room. Some of the season ticket holders in Kamloops felt so strongly about the issue that they threatened to not renew had the decision not gone their way. And when you have a shrinking fan base, and a losing team, you tend to listen to your customers.

If I voted on whether beer should be allowed at a CN Centre sports event and it was all or nothing, I would vote NO. If the decision was either beer everywhere, including the stands, or not in the building at all, my decision would be black and white. Let's keep in mind that PG is a growing community with younger families often attending games. They don't need the temptation to bring beer into the seats and you can bet the folks they sit next to appreciate that. I still don't know what the big deal is about waiting a short time until after the game to visit the local watering hole. Alcohol can cause rowdiness
at a game and let's remember it is still a privilege and not a right.

I think having beer available in certain sections of the building serves a purpose that satisfies both sides of this issue. It is amazing that Prince George and Kamloops actually agree on something.  After all, sometimes a cup (or in this case a stein)can be both half full and half empty.

From the quote rack:

"The Pittsburgh Pirates of the Caribbean."

NBC's Jay Leno, on the next Johnny Depp movie  which he says will be about a baseball team that can't win.

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"I've found rooting for the Pirates in 2006 is similar to rooting for the Steelers in 2004 -- every week you get to celebrate a victory."

Pittsburgh fan Fred Brewer, to syndicated columnist Norman Chad.

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"It's bad enough Kansas City fans have to watch Redman. Why make the rest of us?'"

Jim Caple of ESPN.com, on Royals pitcher Mark Redman being selected as the KC rep to compete
in the all-star game, even though he sported just a 5-4 record with a 5.59 ERA

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"The Tour de France without Lance Armstrong is like Where's Waldo without Waldo."

Bernie Lincicome of the Rocky Mountain News

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"Dolphins icon Dan Marino and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban are trying to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins. Cuban must be optimistic. He already has begun complaining about NHL officiating."

Greg Cote of The Miami Herald 

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"Danica Patrick is thinking of switching from the IRL to NASCAR. Wouldn't that be like Julia Roberts joining the cast of 'Green Acres'?"

Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

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"Soccer, many of us have learned over the past month, is a game of amazing endurance, stamina and teamwork. You must run all day, covering the entire field, with few moments of rest, all within a team concept. And that's merely the stretcher crew."

Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle. 

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And in case you missed it……..

Brute athletic equipment is selling a head-butt pad with a US sticker price of $7.99.

And how was your week?

Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the
PG Free Press. Hartley's e-mail address is hmiller@94xfm.com

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