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Since it is the playoffs right now, and my team, The Calgary Flames are still in it, I figured I’d post this bit of trivia on the origin of the holy grail of hockey.

The Stanley Cup

It all started on March 18, 1892, at a dinner of the Ottawa Amateur Athletic Association. Lord Kilcoursie, a player on the Ottawa Rebels hockey club from Government House, delivered the following message on behalf of Lord Stanley, the Earl of Preston and Governor General of Canada:

“I have for some time been thinking that it would be a good thing if there were a challenge cup which should be held from year to year by the champion hockey team in the Dominion (of Canada).
“There does not appear to be any such outward sign of a championship at present, and considering the general interest which matches now elicit, and the importance of having the game played fairly and under rules generally recognized, I am willing to give a cup which shall be held from year to year by the winning team.”

The Stanley Cup was originally known as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup
Shortly thereafter, Lord Stanley purchased a silver cup measuring 7 ½ inches high by 11 ½ inches across for the sum of 10 guineas (approximately $50); appointed two Ottawa gentlemen, Sheriff John Sweetland and Philip D. Ross, as trustees of that cup; and set the following preliminary conditions to govern the annual competition:

• The winners to return the Cup in good order when required by the trustees in order that it may be handed over to any other team which may win it.
• Each winning team to have the club name and year engraved on a silver ring fitted on the Cup.
• The Cup to remain a challenge competition and not the property of any one team, even if won more than once
• The trustees to maintain absolute authority in all situations or disputes over the winner of the Cup.
• A substitute trustee to be named in the event that one of the existing trustees drops out.

The first winner of the Stanley Cup was the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) hockey club, champions of the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada for 1893. Ironically, Lord Stanley never witnessed a championship game nor attended a presentation of his trophy, having returned to his native England in the midst of the 1893 season. Nevertheless, the quest for his trophy has become one of the world’s most prestigious sporting competitions.

Got this email from the wife today, I thought it was pretty funny:

Some Wal-Mart customers soon will be able to sample a new discount item — Wal-Mart’s own brand of wine. The world’s largest retail chain is teaming up with E&J Gallo Winery of Modesto, Calif., to produce the spirits at an affordable price; in the $6-8 range. While wine connoisseurs may not be inclined to throw a bottle of Wal-Mart brand wine into their shopping carts, there is a market for inexpensive wine, said Kathy Micken, professor of marketing at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. She said: “The right name is important.”

So, with that in mind, here are the top 12 suggested names for Wal-Mart Wine:
12. Chateau Traileur Doublewide
11. White Trashfindel
10. Big Red Gulp
9. Grape Expectations
8. Domaine Wal-Mart “Merde du Pays”
7. NASCARbernet
6. Chef Boyardeaux
5. Peanut Noir
4. Chateau des Moines
3. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Vinegar!
2. World Championship Wriesling
And the number 1 name for Wal-Mart Wine…
1. Nasti Spumante

Got this from a guy at work this morning. It had me laughing pretty good. You have to wait for the end. Got another one from someone else at work, but MUCH different content. I’ve decided it’s so bad that I ain’t gonna share it. Well, that and the legal issues that may ensue

Free Lunch

Oh, and in case you didn’t hear yet, the new Spider-Man 2 trailer is on the web. I’ve downloaded it, but sure as hell ain’t gonna host it here. Go to Apple’s Spider-Man 2 Trailer Site. Now I know I’m a geek, but this movie is gonna rock!!

Just found this great web page functionality. I “liberated” it from Quatloos!: Brad Christensen Gallery. Which is actually a very funny read if you have the time. You know all those annoying emails you get about offshore and Nigeria companies needing someone to help then basically launder money? Well he had some fun with them. You gotta read it to appreciate it.
Anyway, the thing I added to my site is the cool picture popup. Instead of opening a new window, the picture will display, then you just click it to exit.
Like so.