As a lot of you know, I do voice over work as a sideline, commercials, corporate video, etc. Those of us who do this have some legendary names that we grew up with, we idolized and wanted to be like. Names like Mel Blanc, Don LaFontaine, Bill Young… and Don Pardo. The last of that group has passed as Don Pardo passed away Monday at the age of 96.
The true voice of the National Broadcasting Company, Pardo spent over 60 years at NBC, first with NBC Radio, then moving to TV, announcing for Jeopardy!, The Price is Right and countless other news programs and game shows, but the one show that brought his fame across generations, was his work on Saturday Night Live. He retired from NBC over ten years ago, but maintained his role with SNL, working all the way until his death at the age of 96.
His voice will never be forgotten… godspeed Don and thanks for the inspiration.
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I’ll be taking the next few blogs to concentrate on the Central Division and attempt to evaluate the moves made by each team. Did they address their needs effectively? Are they better or worse after the moves made? Writing this in July/August makes this a dicey proposition but what else am I gonna do… watch pool tournaments? Winnipeg was first, then Minnesota, then Dallas, then Colorado… now it’s time for St. Louis.
The St. Louis Blues are an enigma, wrapped in a riddle. This team has been loaded for the past three seasons and expected to have made a serious challenge for a Cup. They finished last season with 111 points, second in the Central and one of five playoff teams from this stacked division. Expectations are high as well as the pressure level after three consecutive playoff losses, going out in the first round last year after dropping the previous two semi-final series to Los Angeles. The old saying is that a two-goal lead is the most dangerous lead in hockey… for the Blues, a two game lead is. Dominant in the regular season, failure in the playoffs seems to be the story in St. Louis, a cycle the Blues front office appear to be determined to stop.
Key additions in Blues Country include Peter Mueller and Paul Stastny. Acquiring the crown jewel of the UFA Day Sweepstakes certainly gives the Blues more firepower up front to go with their excellent y9oung blueline. Offense hasn’t been the issue in St. Louis. It has been serviceable for the most part, lethal at others and should be able to replicate last season’s top 10 production. There are a couple of losses, the failed Ryan Miller experiment was swept away, Derek Roy and Brendan Morrow were allowed to walk via free agency and Vladimir Sobotka left for the KHL.
Offensively, the Blues add Stastny to a team led in scoring by Alex Steen, TJ Oshie and David Backes with some nice secondary scoring from Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz. A power play ranked in the upper half of the league that posted 56 goals and rarely allowed a shortie should be every bit as effective in ’14-’15.
On the blueline, this team is excellent, led by Jay Bouwmeester, Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk and Barret Jackman, St. Louis may have the best top two d pairings in the league. They have size, speed, excellent ice sense and a lightning quick first pass out. The blueline is the strength of this team.
But all is not sunshine and roses in the Gateway to the West. Goaltending has been maddeningly inconsistent for the Blues over the past few seasons. After Ryan Miller’s not incredibly successful short run between the pipes, the Blues are going with Brian Elliot and Jake Allen as their tandem. Elliott has posted some decent numbers for St. Louis in his three seasons with the team and this appears to be his chance to grab the number one spot. This has been the Achilles heel for the Blues, and time will tell if Elliott can be the man.
The X Factor for St. Louis could be behind the bench. Ken Hitchcock is entering his 4th full season as head coach for the Blues, a season that has been traditionally been the undoing of this coach…. After a seven year run in Dallas, Hitch lasted four years in Philly, four in Columbus and the inevitable questions will begin about his message getting lost if this team gets off to a less than stellar start.
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Random Notes
- Thanks to Wes Johson, the PA announcer for the Washington Capitals, I got the ice bucket…
Don’t forget to make your donation!
- So… the rumors breaking today involve the New York Rangers grabbing Kevin Hayes are true. Oh well…
- Congratulations to South Nashville Little League for their second straight LLWS run.
- Tongues are definitely wagging about the spectacular new Ford Ice Center that is going through a shakedown cruise before the Grand Opening in mid-September.
- The Ryan Johansen situation in Columbus is really getting bad… some reports having the two sides $3 million per season apart in their negotiations.
- Looks like there is a settlement in the decade old incident between Todd Bertuzzi and Steve Moore. There are few details beyond the settlement.
- Charles Wang has sold the New York Islanders to former minority Caps owner Scott Malkin.
- The rumors of Alexander Burmistrov wanting to return to the NHL are true… he just doesn’t want to return to Winnipeg.
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You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for @PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates, but we are having a bit of fun by getting your input on Gnash introductions, weigh in on Twitter and who knows, we may use your introduction for the best mascot in the NHL at the next Preds game! You can also keep up with all the goings on with SlapShot Radio by following the show on Twitter @SlapShotRadio1
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The SlapShot Radio Road Trip is back!!! Go to our
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We need to nail down tickets quick gang… so head on over!
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