April 10, 2007

Easter with a Legend

I met Dave "The Hammer" Shultz on Sunday. He was a big star for the Philadelphia Flyers before I was born. According to my dad, he was the guy you didn’t want to mess with. He beat up EVERYBODY. He happened to be at the Flyers game on Sunday.

Last week, when a friend offered us his club box tickets for the final Flyer’s game of the season, we didn’t think we’d be able to go. It was on Easter Sunday after all. But with four free tickets in a prime location, how could we not? My Dad is a HUGE Flyers fan and has been for many years. So, the family decided we’d have our Easter get-together on Saturday.

Sunday, my Mom, Dad, Mr. BBM and I went to the game while the girls hung out with my sister and her boyfriend.

Me and Mr. BBM from our awesome seats (Thank you MIKE!).

My parents, Mr. BBM and I used to have a blast together before the kids came along. When I was in my final year of college, I got a 4.0 and my parents were ecstatic. So, on a visit home, we popped a couple bottles of champagne, played Scrabble, and got "stoned." That’s what my Mom said she was after having some champagne. She obviously had her adjectives a bit messed up because getting "stoned" was not at all a part of that equation. Every time she has a drink to this day, we always ask her if she’s getting "stoned."

Today was like old times. In the front row of the club box seats at center ice, we felt like royalty. My Mom and I drank Yuengling’s and chanted for the Flyers like we were teenagers (that’s my Mom with the big ole beer). We I even heckled the Sabres fans sitting in front of us a bit.

As we entered the arena today, my Dad grabbed my arm and yelled, "Look! It’s Dave Shultz!". I know Dave Brown, another brute in his time. Shultz I do not know other than having a familiarity with his name. After my Dad filled me in on who he was and what he did, I remembered all the old stories my Dad told me about him. Let’s face it; hockey fans like hockey for more than just the stick work and goals. Every die hard hockey fan likes to see a good fight, and "The Hammer" did not disappoint back in his day.

During the first intermission, my family and I took a walk to see if we could find Dave Shultz and get a picture. We found him, got a picture taken with him, and he signed my Flyers jersey too. My Dad joked that he was going to tell Dave that he could kick his butt as we were walking up to him. After the picture, I told Dave Shultz what my Dad said. I have never heard my Dad object so quickly and so loudly. "No! No!" he yelled. Dave laughed and said, "He probably could. You know I’m a senior citizen now!" We all laughed.

That’s Dave Shultz in the middle, and my Dad (who just got a clean bill of health after his final CT scan). You can’t even tell the man had a craniotomy only months ago!

Today was probably one of the best Easter Sunday’s ever. And did I mention that the Flyers won? Even better.

Upon returning home, we saw this scene:

That’s Lil C with Mr. Better-Propose-Already-What-Are-You-Waiting-For-Oh-My-God!

Lil C was completely sacked out, which is probably what those Sabres fans in front of me were if they didn’t take my advice and stuff their Sabres sign in their jacket on the way out as I strongly advised them to do.