2006-2007 Back to Work.

Welcome back. Boy has it been a long time since I posted here.

Again, this season I will try to bring tidbits of the game from the PA booth. This year, again, I didn’t land the full-time gig but I have been called to work this Saturday. As always I am excited about a chance to call a game.

We play the ACES this weekend. The Aces won the cup last year and we took 3 of 4 points from our meeting last weekend in Alaska. If we continue to play like we did last week, this could be a good weekend in the points standings for us.

Last season I did get to work late into the season and enjoyed the playoffs, as did every fan in Bakersfield. I was as disappointed as everyone that we didn’t move past the second round. Honestly, I don’t think we had the goaltending to go much further. I am happy to see the boys back on the ice, though I haven’t been to a home game yet.

I worry this season that we are the only team in our division without a tie to a higher league. We have seen Stockton come in and make a stance in the first few games saying that they are not the want-to-be team they were last year. Vegas is bringing their normal power and Fresno too will look to compete. I am worried about the Long Beach Ice Dogs as they struggle to get their wins this season.

Saturday night will actually be my second game at the mike that day. Before the Condors take to the ice, the Guns & Hoses game will be played at 3:30. This should be fun. When you call games from normal people, they are always so appreciative that you are mentioning them. It makes their fundraiser just that much better. I am glad I get a chance to work this Saturday event too.

So it’s time to study the rosters and make sure I can pronounce the names and hometowns. Here’s a tidbit for you. A few years ago I pronounced Guy Dupuis hometown wrong about 6 times. He chewed out Kevin Bartel and KB laid into me. Never messed it up again.

I will go to the game on Friday to get a feel of the ever changing “atmosphere” that we experience from year to year in Bakersfield. I truly hope that everyone has a good time at the games this weekend. For those of you that hate my sound, I apologize in advance for my appearance on Saturday. For those of you that do…….. Lets have a great game.

Who’s Proud to be from Condorstown?

Back behind the Mic

Hello Everyone. I just wanted you to know that I have been asked to PA this weekend on Friday the 10th. I have no access to extre tickets, but it still would be nice to see you all there. This is the most fun that life allows me. I have a great time and hope you do too.
Radioman

One Month Late: My trip to the "No"

We are so far from the ECHL All Star game and I haven’t posted on the event. Sorry to all of you that care.

The trip to the “NO” went well, didn’t have any issues with traffic or fog. It didn’t take long to find the room at the Motel 6 that had been booked for the next two nights. Although the room was smaller than I had hoped, it got the job done.

We sat a bit before heading to the Save Mart Center for the Tuesday evening Skills Competition. When we got to the arena, I was amazed that they were charging 8 bucks to park. I had not been told in enough time that $2 parking was just a few feet away.

I was amazed at how small the crowd was at the Skills competition. We had seats behind the goal but quickly decided to move to the center of the arena. The glass was down in the center and made for a great viewing experience. A trip to the Cheesecake Factory wrapped up the evening.

Wednesday morning found us taking a trip to the Fresno Zoo. I have to say I was surprised. I was expecting roaches and kangaroo rats, but they had bears, Zebras, and Giraffes. I was excited. I hadn’t been to a zoo in years.

Heading back to the room, we stopped to pick up a copy of the Fresno Bee. On the front of the sports section was a picture of a few of our Bakersfield fans that had been at the Skills Competition the night before. That was cool. Bako representing in the NO.

After a trip to the Hooters, we made way to the All Star Game. This time I found the $2 parking. We did sit in our seats behind the goal for the whole game this time.

I was happy to see our Bakersfield Mascot at the All Star Game. Cl’wd had not made the trip the night before like mascots from San Diego and Idaho had, but he did stand out. I am sure he had a great time. I seemed to find that Bakersfield fans in a hurry.

The game again didn’t draw the kind of crowd that I had expected. Nobody was in the upper bowl and many seats were empty in the lower bowl. I had hoped that the NO could pull in a few more fans.

The National team won the game. At one point it looked like it was going to be a landslide. The American team came from behind to bring the score within 1 in the final minutes.

The announcer was great. I studied him and wished that we could have brought him home. He was very professional and I tried to pick up a few tricks. Props to Fresno for having that much talent behind the mic. Wanna Trade Fresno?

I did buy a National team jersey, which I have yet to wear. I will someday… I hope.

Sorry this lame recap took so long. More to come soon.

Have a great weekend.

It's all about the MUSIC!!

I know it’s been awhile since my last post, and for that I apologize. Lets just say it has been a strange couple of weeks.

I guess I have some of the stuff to post this time that’s in line with why I started this Blog. I wanted to bring a since of what happens behind the scenes to my friends. None of this has anything to do with the players or the team, so I feel no problem shareing it.

So the last two home games against the Victoria Salmon Kings, I was the one playing the music at the arena. I got called that the regular guy had been called out of town for the weekend and couldn’t make it. I have experience with this computer program from the last two seasons of Hockey, one with the Blitz and one with the Blaze.

Now I know that the big vibe this week is the style of music at the games. Some like it some don’t. I hope to answer some of your questions here.

I got the call early in the week to play for the games and stopped by the office to pick up the music computer a few days in advance. I wanted to play around with the system before I actually got to the game. I had noticed the regular guy had done some major rearranging from the way the system was set up last season. I have no problem with that; he is the one using the computer every game.

Imaging a grid of 50 boxes. Each of these boxes contains a song. Now imagines about 30 of these grids. That’s what we’re working with. It’s a good program, but outdated. The newer version adds many features to the program that would be beneficial to the team. Of course that newer version isn’t free.

Anyways, I looked through the system for songs that I know and love and found some of them that I wrote down to play at the weekend games. I guess I wanted to try to bring back a sound that was somewhat familiar to the long time fans. I also found a few cool tracks that we have enjoyed from year to year are gone. Oh well. It’s a new year and things change.

I did notice that the prepared list of music I was to play at certain times of the game were not all to my liking. I had to change things up a bit from what we have heard at every other game this season. That is one of the benefits to this gig, outside introduction, birthdays and chuck-a-puck, you really have full control.

I wanted to bring Hells Bells back into the game. It had been played at the ceremonial first puck drop every other game this season. I though it better at the game opening puck drop. No matter what anyone says, Chris Peace calling the Rio Bravo Country Club Starting Lineup with Hells Bells in the background is the best intro I have heard at any game I have been to home and away. I miss that intro.

The games went fine. No big screw-ups. I have a headset on so I can hear the game director call off what announcement is next. This way I know when to play certain songs that correspond to the announcement.

After the first game, I got in the car and heard someone call the post game show and say that the music sucked. I laughed out loud. Classic. I would have to agree.

The second night went about like the first, though I tried to play a few more dancing songs. I like to see the crowd have a good time. I get annoyed as a fan with to much organ, trumpet, cheers and chants; I like to see the fans start their own chants and cheers.

So I left my game notes in the computer bag and sent it back to the office. It was fun but it’s work. You don’t get to enjoy the game because you’re always looking for your next song so you have something to play before the play on the ice stops. All in all it was fun.

In closing, the way the front office of minor league sports teams are set up breads turnover. The “regular music guy” for this season was not here last year and has no idea what we as fans have grown accustomed to. I’m not saying he is doing a bad job, quite the contrary; he sits in the skybox every game and works. He doesn’t get to enjoy the game like I’m sure he would like to. All in all, I think he is doing a fine job.

Not since Chris Peace has one person run the music and the PA from the same booth. As he went, so have some of the sights and sounds we have grown to love. Every season, a few of the left over pieces of his talents, is lost. That’s the way things go.

The music is such a major part of our game. It helps excite us. It helps console us. It keeps us dancing and singing. It can energize a crowd as much as the lack of music will quite the crowd.

I would venture to say that the music will continue to improve. The regular guy is a young kid whose enthusiasm in his game day chore shows. Lets hope he can hang with us for a few years so we can enjoy where he takes the Condors game day music.

Next Post:

The Trip To the “NO”

Happy New Year!

That’s all I can say about this last weekend in CondorsTown.

We went in to the two-day event facing the 1st place Fresno Falcons and the last place Stockton Thunder. Surprisingly, the Bakersfield Condors came away with wins in both games.

The Fresno game, however was won in overtime, but is, in my book the second best game of the season, just behind the second game of the year when we saw a Hat trick.

I have to say that I was on the bandwagon of fans that thought the season was over going into this weekend. Although I still think we have a vast amount of work still to do, it is nice to see a spark on the team. The 4 points we gathered this weekend are sure to help at the end of the season.
I can say that I had left a few of the last games early. I was tired of the show, I didn’t want to see another loss at home, or another game go to overtime for that matter. But I can say that the overtime win against Fresno was one of the best I have seen this year. A come from behind victory is always nice.

So now the Bakersfield Condors enter the New Year and the second trimester of the season. As all Condors fans, I would like to see a strong effort in the win column. Not a good effort on the ice, its time to see wins. The more games we let slip away, the harder it will be to secure home ice advantage come playoffs.

I hope the best to you and yours in 2006 and hope you see all the joys that a New Year can bring.

The Last 8 Games

As I had mentioned in a past topic, The Bakersfield Condors had a great opportunity to gather points over an 8 game span which they played teams that, at the time, were worse off or equal to them in the standings. Lets take a look back shall we?

Currently standings for each team.

Bakersfield 22 games 9 w 9 L 4 OTL 22 Points

Johnstown 27 games 8 w 12 L 7 OTL 23 Points
(Bakersfield Won 6-5 in OT)

Pensacola 24 games 10 w 11 L 3 OTL 23 Points
3 Games
(Bakersfield Lost 2-4)(Bakersfield Lost 1-2)(Bakersfield Won 5-1)

Stockton 19 games 5 w 11 L 3 OTL 13 Points
(Bakersfield won 3-2 in OT)

Phoenix 24 games 9 w 13 L 2 OTL 20 Points
2 Games
(Bakersfield won 6-4)(Bakersfield Lost 1-3)

San Diego 24 games 11 w 9 L 4 OTL 26 Points
(Bakersfield Lost 1-8)

After this string of games against sub-par teams, the Bakersfield Condors went 4-4-0. I guess I am bummed when the best you can do is go .500 against sub-par talent.

I also don't care that the team is undefeated in regulation at home. I am not a fan who only cares about how the team does when I'm at the arena. I care about the entire season.

OK, I'm don't letting out my steam. On the 26th, the Bakersfield Condors take on the Las Vegas Wranglers at the Garden. I'm not getting my hopes up. I really do hope I'm surprised.

BTW, the above pic is from CALM. A real Christmas treat for Bakersfield.

Welcome to all.

I would like to thank Nick Balardes for adding this blog to The Buzz Blogs. It’s an honor to be part of such a community that’s in touch with Bakersfield and the Central Valley. This weekend I’ll have a link posted here for the Buzz Blogs. For now, click on the Bobblehead link on the right and follow Nicks page to the Buzz Blogs. Happy Reading.

Oh, BTW, Go Condors in Phoenix tonight.