[Slight Dramatization. Slight.]
Yesterday, my father decided the whole family should go to see the future Sabres at development camp. I don’t mind because very few of my friends are really that into the Sabres anyways. Sigh. I need new friends (except Ashers and Little L). He said Saturday because it was the best possible day to go and let’s wait to tell Dani at the last minute that we’re leaving! Before I jumped in the shower to get ready, he also decided he would wash his truck! Wooo! I politely asked him to TURN OFF THE WATER. But no Danielle, it would be sooo much more exciting to take showers with the water randomly turning burning hot and freezing cold! He also decided we would travel to NU about… hhhhmmm… TEN DAYS EARLY. In fact, next time why don’t we just camp out in front of the school. That would be MUCH better! Ahem.
When we arrived at Camp Dwyer Arena, my brother and I decided to go back to the car and get his iPod so we would have something to do for the remaining NINE days. I noticed there were some guys coming from the apartments entering the side of the rink (that must be where they stay). I didn’t think much of it. Then, later, we realized we didn’t lock the car so we went back to lock it. We saw the guys in a big group talking to each other. There was probably a good half hour before they had to play (Hint: good place to wait for autographs if you’re so inclined… I didn’t get any, but I did see a couple boys with pens and folders afterwards waiting). My brother started violently waving and jumping up and down at the rookie Sabres because he thinks he’s funny and he clearly wanted to embarrass me, because as you can see, that’s what my family likes to do.
As I dragged him away, we sent out a search party (a.k.a. me and my brother) to find my parents. They were in the gift shop looking around (I suspected so). Only one rink was open that day. My mother also told me she saw goaltending coach Jim Corsi walking around, smiling, checking out what NU has to offer (It’s a good place to practice, I agree, come more often! Please?!). My father left a little while before it started to get some beer. I could’ve told him there wasn’t any beer but, you know, I didn’t want to disappoint… bwa ha ha haha! He came back with pop (cue me, smirking). He mentioned there was a Sabre walking around. WHAT?! WHO?! He said he didn’t know, “Weber? Maybe Stafford? Sekera? I don’t know the…” WHHHHAAATTT? How can you NOT know? Again, he must make life difficult for me. I missed a GRAND opportunity for a photo op. Sigh (P.S. It was Drew. My cousin got pictures with him. Gahhh.).
It was probably 3:15 when they actually all came out onto the ice. Some of them were walking around beforehand smiling, taunting us in their shorts, and hiding behind doors. Drew Stafford and Mark Mancari sat out. Why? I have no idea. I suspect Drew broke curfew hitting up bars in the Falls picking up chicks with Timmy and his guitar – Mark being the accomplice. Weber was waiting by the door, I don’t think he wanted to be the only one out there on the ice so he waited and watched people instead. My mother insisted he was starring at me, but I insisted he was starring in our general vicinity because there were many, many fans there – not just me. You know how mothers are. I’m half surprised she didn’t jump up and down and slip him my cell number. “Mike! Mike! Over here! Isn’t he just a doll, Danielle?” So begins the story of me wondering if Mike Weber is actually trying to murder me.
As he came out on the ice, he practically made me jump out of my pants by shooting pucks at the glass AT MY FACE and ramming people into the boards.
This was just on Sabres.com, a Q&A with Mike Weber (on Daniel Paille)…
What kind of advice did he give you?
“He was just extremely helpful with anything that guys needed. If they didn’t know where to go to dinner, if they didn’t know how to get somewhere he would help them or take them out to dinner. Just that and with little things on the ice, he was working hard and showing guys what it takes to get to the NHL.”
*Danny Pie also suggests that you NOT KILL DANI WITH A STEAK KNIFE WHILE OUT ON A DINNER DATE.
Don’t you play hard to get with ME, Mr. Weber. I’m not biting.
Well, I might if you get too close. Ok, so that was my whole story of Weber killing me. I no longer trust anyone in Pittsburgh. Sorry, Sidney, blame Mike Weber.
Like I tell you almost everyday of the week, Gerbe is awesome. So is Lil’ Tyler. Those two are SO making the team and hopefully soon. Big Tyler is also a pretty good skater for being such a huge guy. He didn’t actually look as big as he appears on TV. He was hunching a lot. I think maybe he’s self-conscious of his height, especially around these little guys. Or maybe he just hunches like everyone else. Anyways, all I know is that everyone attacks Gerbe when he’s got the puck. Someone on Team Gold burned him by knocking him down. He obviously doesn’t take that from anyone because a minute later he went after him for retaliation and knocked the other guy down. More justice! Later, he scored on a two on one and the crowd gave him an ovation. He’s so focused on the game that he looked up at everyone almost in disbelief that people were cheering for him. I also noticed everyone just taps the puck over to him because Gerbs totally gets the job done for Team Blue [and someday the Blue & Gold]. Yessss. Did anyone ever mention the guy is a shorty? Derek Roy’s got nothing on Nate dogg. I’m talking his height thing is hysterical! It’s adorable. I want to pick him up and hug the little bunny.
Let’s discuss how father has a serious man crush on Patrick Kaleta. I’ve never seen him like this with any player in any sport. It’s great. And the best part is we’ve discovered Patty’s got dad-man-crush-gaydar. It’s true. He kept skating around my dad and it was fa-hunny. Kaleta also has a bad temper. I think he may be a little jealous of Gerbe’s newfound appreciation and major fan favoritism. Kaleta tried to go after Gerbs once and people kind of booed him. HAHA! Poor Patty, we love you!!!! It’s all in good fun, baby cakes. He skated off the ice and smacked him stick on the bench, breaking it. He can get away with this of course because he’s the Sabres rookie-vet.
Marc-Andre Gragnani is an absolute cutie pie. He was so happy and totally into it. He was skating around the entire time wearing a smile and his tongue sticking out. ‘Cause that’s what everyone does when they’re in deep concentration, right? Ha.
At the end, most people were off the ice except maybe six players (including Big Tyler and Gerbe). Myers took a shot and it hit the piece of plastic holding the glass together. He broke it off. Hard shot! I see All-Star games in his future. He kind of put his glove over his mouth and they all laughed. Oops. They fixed it later, no big deal. It was just kind of funny because of all people… it was him.
I like Orpik and Kennedy too.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, if you haven’t seen these guys in action, you need to make serious attempts to try and clear your schedule. Runs through July 1st from 3-5pm. I’m going to try and go again for sure. Scoot!
Honestly, how can anyone not like the Sabres?! Don’t you love them NOW, non-Sabre fans? Yes?! A little bit?
fin.
[I’ll put some pictures up later. I have a ton. They’re close and NOT BLURRY!]
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4 Comments
June 30, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Yay pictures!
July 2, 2008 at 2:42 am
[...] Dani was almost killed by Mike Weber! Totes kidding about that. But her pops has a mancrush on a Sabre. [...]
July 16, 2008 at 4:24 pm
[...] Mike Weber saga continues. Surely, the players want my head and are working together in a grand scheme against me. [...]
August 22, 2008 at 2:15 am
[...] semesters?) I don’t know how you feel about this (Umm, GREAT?). Development Camp was exciting! Remember your trip? You ate nachos, met and/or came within reaching distance of the Sabres, and watched Lindy watch [...]