Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post

Buster · 02-18-2011, 05:17 PM

I've got a few:

1. My old man is a fighter pilot. Huge Hawks fan. Back in the days when teams used to fly commercial (early 90's), we were waiting for a flight at the gate in Vancouver. My dad was buried in a book, but my mum noticed a "bunch of nicely dressed young men" walk into the gate area. It was the Hawks, and they took up a bunch of the plane. My dad was sitting beside Iron Mike and Chelios. Anyway, dad asked them about something at some point and, being polite, they asked what he did. When he told them he flew F-18's and 104's for a living, they freaked out. Dad spent the entire flight to LA regaling the guys with fighter pilot stories (which are as good, if not better, than hockey player stories). By the end of the flight he had about 6 NHL players hanging off his every word. It's surprising to be confronted with your "hockey heroes" only to have the tables flipped. Half of them said they would trade in their skates for a fighter pilot job in a second....doubt that would be the same nowadays with plugs making millions.

2. A friend of mine used to live with Warrener (they were friends as kids). Five or six years ago, during an evening of drinking, we needed to go back to by buddy's house (Warrener's house) so he could change out of his work clothes. No one was home when we got there, so he went down to change. At that point, I thought it might be a good idea to rummage for a beer in Rhett's beer fridge. Like a bad sitcom, Rhett picked just that moment to walk in the door from dinner. It's not fun when you confront an NHL hockey player in his own house, looking the better part of a drunken home invader. I think the timely re-appearance of my buddy might have saved my life. My girlfriend and buddy's girlfriend showed up not long after and made fools of themselves. Which is a story for another day.

3. I went to business school with MacT. Great guy, and got to know him pretty well, actually. Those stories will have to stay in the box, however. It is weird when you get to know someone famous outside of the public context, then walk around with them in public. I'd forget that he was famous, until we went out to a bar, and constantly got bothered by everyone and their dog. MacT was always pure class. It's obvious these guys get used to it...but I have a lot more respect for guys that do it right (Iggy, Connie, etc)...because it got tiresome for me and I had to barely deal with it. Of course, people look at you wondering if you're anybody they should recognize...hah.

02-18-2011, 05:17 PM	#243
Buster Lifetime Suspension Join Date: Mar 2009 Exp:	I've got a few: 1. My old man is a fighter pilot. Huge Hawks fan. Back in the days when teams used to fly commercial (early 90's), we were waiting for a flight at the gate in Vancouver. My dad was buried in a book, but my mum noticed a "bunch of nicely dressed young men" walk into the gate area. It was the Hawks, and they took up a bunch of the plane. My dad was sitting beside Iron Mike and Chelios. Anyway, dad asked them about something at some point and, being polite, they asked what he did. When he told them he flew F-18's and 104's for a living, they freaked out. Dad spent the entire flight to LA regaling the guys with fighter pilot stories (which are as good, if not better, than hockey player stories). By the end of the flight he had about 6 NHL players hanging off his every word. It's surprising to be confronted with your "hockey heroes" only to have the tables flipped. Half of them said they would trade in their skates for a fighter pilot job in a second....doubt that would be the same nowadays with plugs making millions. 2. A friend of mine used to live with Warrener (they were friends as kids). Five or six years ago, during an evening of drinking, we needed to go back to by buddy's house (Warrener's house) so he could change out of his work clothes. No one was home when we got there, so he went down to change. At that point, I thought it might be a good idea to rummage for a beer in Rhett's beer fridge. Like a bad sitcom, Rhett picked just that moment to walk in the door from dinner. It's not fun when you confront an NHL hockey player in his own house, looking the better part of a drunken home invader. I think the timely re-appearance of my buddy might have saved my life. My girlfriend and buddy's girlfriend showed up not long after and made fools of themselves. Which is a story for another day. 3. I went to business school with MacT. Great guy, and got to know him pretty well, actually. Those stories will have to stay in the box, however. It is weird when you get to know someone famous outside of the public context, then walk around with them in public. I'd forget that he was famous, until we went out to a bar, and constantly got bothered by everyone and their dog. MacT was always pure class. It's obvious these guys get used to it...but I have a lot more respect for guys that do it right (Iggy, Connie, etc)...because it got tiresome for me and I had to barely deal with it. Of course, people look at you wondering if you're anybody they should recognize...hah.