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Washington Capitals – All Caps Smash

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Throughout the year, the Sip Advisor will alphabetically travel the National Hockey League (NHL), discovering the best and worst each team has to offer in a variety of subjects. We will also feature a drink based off the franchise. Today, we head to the U.S. capital to filibuster the Washington Capitals:

Establishment Story: The Capitals joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1974. Their first season was the worst ever for an NHL expansion team, finishing with a 8-67-5 record. Things didn’t get much better for the Capitals for the next few years and the team was in danger of being relocated in the early 1980s, before a ‘Save the Caps’ campaign kept the franchise in Washington.

Stanley Cups: The Capitals have won one Stanley Cup, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018. Washington has played in one other Stanley Cup Final, being swept by the Detroit Red Wings in 1998. Even making the playoffs was once very difficult for the Capitals, as after joining the NHL in 1974, they didn’t reach the post-season for the first time until 1983. That was followed by 14 straight playoff appearances, though.

Celebrity Fan: Some of the Capitals celebrity supporters include Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak, who has been a season ticket holder for many years, and Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter, who became a Washington fan early into the team’s existence, when she moved to the area. Both were present for and participated during the Capitals 2018 Stanley Cup championship run.

Ovechkin Cup

Super Fan: For many years, Capitals season ticket holder Sam Wolk was best known by other supporters as Horn Guy. During games, Wolk would blow his horn three times, leading the rest of the crowd to chant “Let’s go, Caps!” His fandom led to being cast in a Capitals advertising campaign and being included as part of the Caps Road Crew. Wolk crafted each of his horns himself, spending hours on them prior to the season.

Mascot: Slapshot is a bald eagle, donning jersey number 00. He debuted with the team on November 18, 1995, and is sometimes flanked by secondary mascots, Air Slapshot and Hat Trick. The Capitals first mascot was Winger, who still makes rare appearances at games. Aside from the usual mascot work, riling up crowds and handing out merchandise, Slapshot even appeared on a 2009 episode of The Price is Right.

Tradition: The Capitals fight song, released in 2008, is called Rock the Red, by Washington, D.C. heavy metal band Darkest Hour. Fans of the team are also encourage to Rock the Red, by wearing red gear to home games. Another notable team slogan is Unleash the Fury, which is often used when the Capitals need to rally back from a deficit. Unleash the Fury was originally created by Scott Brooks, when he was a member of the Atlanta Thrashers organization.

Appearances in Media: The HBO sports documentary series 24/7: Road to the NHL Winter Classic series debuted in 2010, detailing the Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins seasons, as they were set to meet in the 2011 Winter Classic. The four-part series highlighted the rivalry between superstars Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. Speaking of Ovechkin and Crosby, the two helped promote the 2011 Winter Classic with an appearance on The Price is Right, presenting a VIP prize package for the marquee game.

Slapshot

Events/Scandals: Following the 1989-90 campaign, four Capitals players – Dino Ciccarelli, Geoff Courtnall, Neil Sheehy and Scott Stevens – were accused of raping a 17-year-old girl, following a team season wrap-up event. While the case never made it to court, police believed there was enough evidence that a crime had occurred. In the aftermath, all but Ciccarelli never played for Washington again.

Rivalry: The Capitals have feuded with both Pennsylvania-based teams (Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers), along with both New York City-located clubs (the Rangers and Islanders). All five franchises comprised the Patrick Division for much of its existence and remained together for the early years of the Atlantic Division and later Metropolitan Division. Washington was moved to the Southeast Division from 1997 to 2013.

Tragedy: For an almost 50-year-old franchise, the Capitals have managed to avoid player misfortunes. There has been deaths of notable fathers close to the organization, including T.J. Oshie’s dad, Tim, and Alex Ovechkin’s dad, Mikhail. Tim Oshie was suffering with Alzheimer’s during Washington’s 2018 Stanley Cup run, with the son and father embracing during the championship celebration becoming one of its most memorable moments. Mikhail Ovechkin also spent a lot of time around the team, before health issues.

Player Nicknames: There’s been some clever nicknames in Capitals history. First, rearguard Rod Langway was dubbed the Secretary of Defense, based on the team playing in the American capital. Next, goalie Jim Carey was given the moniker Net Detective, a play on actor Jim Carey’s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective film. And you can’t forget superstar Alex Ovechkin earning the nickname The Great Eight, based on his play and number.

Rod Langway

Line: Alex Ovechkin has been a constant on the Capitals best line for close to two decades. Over that time, he has been combined with Alex Semin and Nicklas Backstrom as the SOB Line, as well as with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson. At times, Backstrom has taken the place of Kuznetsov, to complete the unit. Ovechkin holds the NHL record for career power play goals, so those five-man groupings deserve great credit.

Captain: Alex Ovechkin has served as the Capitals captain since January 2010, following the trade of Chris Clark to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Ovechkin would lead the team to their only Stanley Cup championship, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP, in the process. Ovechkin continues to wow crowds to this day, as he chases down Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record for most career goals.

Enforcer: Dale Hunter has the second most penalty minutes in NHL history and ranks first in playoff penalty minutes. Much of that time spent in the penalty box was accrued as a member of the Capitals, with Hunter holding the franchise penalty minute record with 2,003. Shockingly, he does not hold the single-season record, however. His 12-year stint with the team was honoured with the Capitals retiring Hunter’s jersey in 2000.

Family Values: Brothers Dale and Mark Hunter were both members of the Capitals in 1992-93, although Mark only played seven games for the squad and retired at the end of that season. Also in 1992-93, brothers Kelly and Kevin Miller played for Washington together, with Kevin suiting up for 10 games. A third Miller brother, Kip, played two seasons with the Capitals a decade later.

Dale Hunter

Returning Players: A number of players have spent two stints with the Capitals, including former third overall (1981) draft pick Bobby Carpenter, defenseman Sylvain Cote, enforcer Craig Berube, checking center and published author Eric Fehr, all-time Ukrainian scoring leader Dmitri Khristich, and winger Todd Krygier. Additionally, goalie Vitek Vanecek was a Seattle Kraken expansion draft selection from Washington, only to be returned to the Capitals via trade a week later.

Short Stint: While not the most glamorous name that could have been included here, John Kordic’s seven-game tenure with the Capitals in 1990-91 was productive, with nine fights and 101 penalty minutes, as well as two suspensions (one from the team and another from the league). Tragically, Kordic died in August 1992, never able to overcome the demons he was battling when he joined Washington. Kordic’s death came after a drug-fuelled police incident in L’Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec.

Undrafted: Jeff Halpern was signed by the Capitals out of college in 1999, becoming the first player born and raised in the Washington, D.C. region to play for the team. He even played on the Little Caps minor hockey team as a youngster. Halpern remained with the organization until 2006, serving as captain for the 2005-06 campaign, and also joined the club for the 2011-12 season. In 2023, Halpern was an unsuccessful candidate for the Capitals vacant head coach position.

Trade: With the Capitals having never made the playoffs in their eight years of existence, in the 1982 off-season, they acquired defenseman Rod Langway (along with Doug Jarvis, Craig Laughlin and Brian Engblom) from the Montreal Canadiens for Ryan Walter and Rick Green. Langway replaced Walter as team captain and Washington made the post-season in each of the next 11 seasons, with Langway winning two Norris trophies along the way, until he retired during the 1992-93 campaign.

Jeff Halpern

Signing: On July 1, 2014, newly-minted Capitals GM Brian MacLellan made two contract offers that would pay great dividends down the road. On the opening of free agency, MacLellan signed defensemen Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen (both taken from the Pittsburgh Penguins) to five-year, $27.5 million and seven-year, $40.25 million contracts, respectively. Both would be members of the 2018 Stanley Cup championship squad, with Orpik scoring the Finals Game 2 winner.

Draft Pick: The Capitals have selected first overall three times in franchise history, highlighted by taking Alex Ovechkin in 2004. Some other top picks for the team, include fourth overall choices Mike Gartner (1979) and Nicklas Backstrom (2006), Scott Stevens (5th overall in 1982) and Olaf Kolzig (19th overall in 1989). One of Washington’s greatest draft steals was selecting Peter Bondra at 156th overall in 1990.

Holdouts: The Capitals have experienced a number of holdouts over the years, sometimes with two players or more sitting out much of training camp. This includes Peter Bondra and Michal Pivonka in 1995, as well as the trio of Jan Bulis, Sergei Gonchar and Chris Simon in 2000. Others to go through a contract dispute at different lengths with the team are Kevin Hatcher (1990), Don Beaupre (1991) and Adam Oates (1997).

Buyouts: The Capitals have only used three buyouts over the course of the salary cap era, with the most expensive being defenseman Jeff Schultz, who was owed $2 million, when a compliance buyout was used on the final year of his deal in 2013. Other buyout recipients were Ben Clymer in 2008 and Tyler Sloan in 2011, each with one year remaining and $616,667 and $466,667 due, respectively.

Olaf Kolzig

Unique Game: Washington played the 2011 Winter Classic versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, 2015 Winter Classic against the Chicago Blackhawks, a 2018 Stadium Series contest opposed by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and a 2023 Stadium Series match opposite the Carolina Hurricanes. Internationally, the Capitals played a four-game exhibition series versus the Kansas City Scouts in Japan, winning the Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Cup. They also participated in the 1980 and 1981 DN-Cup, which were round robin tournaments in Sweden.

Goal: Despite the importance of Lars Eller’s Stanley Cup-clinching goal in 2018, one of the greatest tallies in NHL history belongs to the future league goal scoring king, Alex Ovechkin. With so many goals to his name (currently at 827), what made this one against the Arizona Coyotes so special was Ovechkin scored from his back, while hooking the puck into the net. This occurred during Ovechkin’s rookie season, setting a high bar for future goals to be compared to.

Fight/Brawl: For whatever reason, nothing brings NHL fans to their feet quicker than a goalie fight. In 2013, they got one, when Braden Holtby battled Ray Emery of the Philadelphia Flyers. Holtby was somewhat of an unwilling combatant, given Emery’s reputation as a fighter (not to mention he had no reason to drop the gloves, given the Capitals were winning handedly), but the two tussled anyway.

Injury: On December 23, 2022, defenseman John Carlson took a slapshot to the side of the head, resulting in a small skull fracture and severed temporal artery. On the plus side, Carlson never lost consciousness and was not concussed on the play. The injury also necessitated Carlson’s ear having to be partially reattached. Carlson was able to return to the team before the end of the season.

Ovechkin Scores

Penalty: During the 1993 playoffs, Pierre Turgeon scored for the New York Islanders, putting his team up 5-1 and confirming the Capitals would be eliminated. While celebrating, Turgeon was slammed into the boards by a frustrated Dale Hunter, who had lost the puck, leading to the goal. Turgeon suffered a separated shoulder from the hit, while Hunter was handed a 21-game suspension, then an NHL record.

Wildest Story: The 1974-75 inaugural season for the Capitals is viewed as one of the worst campaigns for a team in NHL history, with their .131 winning percentage (8-67-5 record) remaining a league record. When the club finally won their first road game towards the end of the year, they celebrated like winning the Stanley Cup, using a garbage can as a trophy.

Blooper: One of the funniest moments in NHL history took place in January 2009, when Alex Semin dropped the gloves with Marc Staal of the New York Rangers. What followed resembled a percussion musician playing the bongos, as Semin slapped at the head of Staal. Semin would never be confused as an enforcer, but young kids can throw better punches than he displayed in this tilt.

Miscellaneous: The Capitals (along with the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA) – both teams owned by Ted Leonsis) are potentially set to move south to Alexandria, Virginia. The franchises would play out of a new sports and entertainment complex, set to open in 2028. Speaking of Capitals owners, it should also be noted NBA megastar Michael Jordan once had a minority stake in the club.

Washington Capitals: All Caps Smash

All Caps Smash

  • 2 oz Vodka
  • Top with Grapefruit Juice
  • Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry

This drink is based off a ready-to-drink canned cocktail served at Capitals games. It is produced by Devils Backbone Distilling Co. I threw in the Maraschino Cherry so even the beverage was rocking the red!

New York – Five Boroughs Cocktails

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Each week, the Sip Advisor will alphabetically travel the United States, discovering the best each state has to offer in a variety of subjects. Today, we hit the bigtime, New York. There’s so much going on in the Empire State that a lot of categories will be filled with options. So, let’s take a bite out of the Big Apple and see how it tastes:

Motto: “Excelsior (Ever upward)” – And spinning… constantly spinning!

Food: As far as the Sip Advisor is concerned, the complete meal of New York-created foods is a Club Sandwich with side Potato Chips, finished with a slice of New York Cheesecake for dessert. Other creations worth mentioning include Buffalo Wings, Eggs Benedict, Chicken and Waffles, Waldorf Salad, Red Velvet Cake, and even Jell-O.

Drink: There is a cocktail for each of the five boroughs that make up New York City. This includes The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island Ferry drinks. New York can also be credited with the Long Island Iced Tea, Penicillin, Cosmopolitan, Martini, Appletini, Bloody Mary, Tom Collins, and New York Sour beverages.

Club Sandwich

Site to See: When Mrs. Sip and I were in New York City for far too short of a visit, we tried to see as much as we could. Our stops included Times Square, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Madison Square Garden, Central Park, and Grand Central Station. Outside of New York City, Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in the country.

Street: Three industry hubs (financial, advertising, theatrical) can be found along New York City streets. First, Wall Street is home to the New York Stock Exchange, the largest in the world. Second, numerous ad agencies call Madison Avenue home, used as the setting for TV show Mad Men. Finally, Broadway is the epicenter of American theatre, with playhouses lining the route.

TV Show: The next time I’m in New York, I plan to take a TV show tour, given all the great shows that have been set in the state. These include Seinfeld, Friends, How I Met Your Mother, 30 Rock, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, All in the Family, The King of Queens, Taxi, Law & Order, Sex and the City, and I Love Lucy.  Shows that can’t be toured, but deserve mention, include Futurama, Saturday Night Live, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Sesame Street.

Movie: Another tough category to narrow down, I have to go with one of my all-time favourites, It’s a Wonderful Life. Starring Jimmy Stewart, this story of truly appreciating what you have, has become a Christmas classic, shown every holiday season. Honourable mentions include the Ghostbusters and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchises, as well as The Warriors.

Wonderful Life

Book/Author: So many comic books are set in New York, including the likes of Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Dr. Strange. All of these entries share the common thread that each was created or co-created by New Yorker Stan Lee. Lee is also responsible for other popular characters, such as the X-Men, Thor, Hulk, Black Panther, and Ant-Man.

Fictional Character: As a child, the Sip Advisor loved the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon and movies. The heroes in a half shell dwelled in the sewers of the New York City, being trained in martial arts by Splinter, before being required to save the city and world from evildoers. Associates of the Turtles, such as reporter April O’Neil and vigilante Casey Jones are also New Yorkers.

Fictional City: Riverdale, setting of the Archie Comics universe, is generally thought to be located in New York. This means the nearby towns of Greendale (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) and Midvale (Josie and the Pussycats) are also likely in the state. The earliest Archie Comics reference the real-life Bronx neighbourhood Riverdale, but this changed as the series progressed.

Actor/Actress: A number of today’s A-list stars were born in New York. Among them, are Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro, Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway, Scarlet Johansson, Al Pacino, and Denzel Washington. A couple legends of the big and small screen also called the state home, including Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart, Kirk Douglas and Mickey Rooney.

Stan Lee

Song: This category is down to two choices: New York, New York by Frank Sinatra and Empire State of Mind by Jay Z and Alicia Keys. Both are fitting anthems for New York City, as well as the rest of the state. I guess it all depends on your preferred style of music. If you don’t like either, artists such as Billy Joel and The Beastie Boys also have New York-based tracks.

Band/Musician: Another category filled with great options. I’ll go with The Ramones, as one of the first punk rock groups and revolutionaries for that style. Although not related, band members all adopted the last name Ramone. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.

People: Women’s rights icon, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was born in Brooklyn. After a lengthy legal career, she was appointed to U.S. Supreme Court, in 1993. Nicknamed The Notorious R.B.G., Ginsburg was the subject of the 2018 biographical film, On the Basis of Sex, starring Felicity Jones. There’s even been a Sam Adams beer released in her honour.

Animal: After a history of incidents, including killing a circus spectator, Topsy the Elephant was sentenced to death by hanging, as part of a publicity stunt. The ASPCA objected to the public event (with admission to be charged), but eventually allowed for Topsy to be hung, poisoned and electrocuted. Footage of the 1903 execution exists, recorded by the Thomas Edison’s film company.

RBG

Invention: George Eastman, founder of the Eastman Kodak Company, patented the first film roll in 1884, which was eventually used with his Kodak Black camera, developed in 1888. His film also became the standard used for early motion pictures. The George Eastman Museum, in Rochester, is the oldest photography museum in the world, with an extensive film archive.

Crime: A few significant assassinations have taken place in New York, including the murders of U.S. President William McKinley, civil rights activist Malcolm X and musician John Lennon. McKinley was shot as he appeared at the 1901 Pan-American Expo. Malcolm X was swarmed by three members of the Nation of Islam, wounded 21 times. Lennon was killed outside his home by a man he had earlier signed an autograph for.

Law: In New York, it’s illegal to talk to a stranger in an elevator. There goes all that awkward small talk with people. I kind of hope this law has legs and spread outside the state.

Sports Team: New York City is a busy sporting hub with teams such as the Yankees and Mets (MLB), Knicks and Nets (NBA) and Islanders and Rangers (NHL). Buffalo also has a couple teams in the Bills (NFL) and Sabres (NHL). Although named New York, both the Jets and Giants (NFL) play in New Jersey. There’s also a ton of NCAA sports going on across the state.

Film

Athlete: Two of basketballs greatest players of all-time were born in New York City boroughs. Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were dominant athletes, winning six NBA Championships each. There’s also controversial boxer and ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’, Mike Tyson, the youngest fighter to ever win a heavyweight title.

Famous Home: There are a number of New York landmarks related to former U.S. Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and his cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Teddy Roosevelt Birthplace and Sagamore Hill estate were homes to Teddy at opposite ends of his life. Meanwhile, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, in Hyde Park, is where FDR hosted his famous fireside chats.

Urban Legend: In 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered six of his family members, in their Amityville home. A year later, the Lutz family moved into the home and began experiencing paranormal activity. These events inspired The Amity Horror franchise, with much debate over the authenticity of the Lutz’s accounts. The home still stands, although the address was changed to discourage visitors.

Museum: The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, in Cooperstown, is a mecca for baseball lovers. Built in 1939, by the heir to the Singer Sewing Machine fortune, exhibits today include Baseball at the Movies, One for the Books (about records set by players and teams), a walkthrough history of the sport, the Hall of Fame plaque gallery, and many others.

Mike Tyson

Firsts: The first pizzeria in the U.S. opened in New York City, in 1905. Lombardi’s Pizza still operates today, but was closed at one point for 10 years, before moving a block away from the original location. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the pizzeria first opening, pizzas were sold for only 5 cents, the price of a pie (they don’t sell slices) in 1905.

Company: All the major TV networks are headquartered in New York City, including ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox. Top cable channels, such as HBO and Comedy Central also call NYC home. This, along with the city having some of the top newspapers, publishing houses and record companies, has led to it being called the media capital of the world.

Events: When two planes were flown into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, the world stood still. Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for what was later dubbed the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which also included a plane crashing into the Pentagon and another into a field in Pennsylvania. All tolled, 2,977 people were killed, with a further 25,000 injured.

Miscellaneous: The ‘I Love New York’ (I ❤ NY) campaign, was launched in 1977, to bring attention to the state’s tourism industry. It included the famous slogan, logo and a song. ‘I Love New York’ has become the State Slogan and the logo – created by graphic designed, Milton Glaser, using a red crayon, while riding in a taxi – can be seen on all matters of souvenirs.

Five Boroughs 2

The Bronx

  • 2 oz Gin
  • 0.25 oz Sweet Vermouth
  • 0.25 oz Dry Vermouth
  • Top with Orange Juice
  • Garnish with an Orange Twist

Brooklyn

  • 1 oz Whiskey
  • 0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
  • 0.25 oz Maraschino Liqueur
  • Dash of Angostura Bitters
  • Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry

Manhattan

  • 2 oz Whiskey
  • 0.5 oz Sweet Vermouth
  • Dashes of Angostura Bitters
  • Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry

Queens

  • 1 oz Gin
  • 1 oz Dry Vermouth
  • 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
  • Top with Pineapple Juice
  • Garnish with a Lime Wheel

Staten Island Ferry

  • 2 oz Coconut Rum
  • Top with Pineapple Juice
  • Garnish with a Pineapple Wedge/Coconut Shavings

There are so many cocktail options from the state of New York and I felt doing all five New York City boroughs cocktails was the best solution. For those keeping track, that meant 12 ounces of booze needed to be consumed, so you can bet the Sip Advisor enjoyed the experiment.

Cocktail Corner – Fashionably Late

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Here’s Looking At You

For my birthday in September, I took a look at the best of 1983. To celebrate Mrs. Sip’s anniversary today, I decided we should delve into her birth year of 1984. Yes, on top of being more successful and better looking, Mrs. Sip is younger than yours truly. So, what do I bring to the table… sweet posts like this! I’ll be looking at the year in regards to what impacted Mrs. Sip the most, rather than myself. So, while 1984 was amazing for TV show debuts (The Cosby Show, Transformers, Murder She Wrote, Night Court), those series matter more to me, than her. On with the list and again, happy birthday, honey!:

#5: MAC Make-Up Launches

While Mrs. Sip is a natural beauty, the minimal make-up she uses is often from MAC and when she really wants to get gussied up for a special event, she lets the artists at the company do their thing. I am no cosmetics expert, but I can only assume they make fine products if Mrs. Sip and others have committed their time and financial resources to them. Not that she needs the help, but Mrs. Sip certainly looks stunning after applying MAC wares.

makeup lipsticks

#4: Legal Taping Using Betamax

Growing up, Mrs. Sip had a regular routine that consisted of coming home from school, napping, doing her homework, and then staying up late watching TV shows she had taped from earlier, before repeating the process. Well, that would have never been possible had the Betamax not won a 1984 legal battle versus Universal City Studios, which allowed home videotaping to be legalized. Given Mrs. Sip’s profession as a lawyer, a landmark legal decision seems perfect for this article.

#3: Movie Releases

1984 was an amazing year for feature films, with hits like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Ghostbusters, Gremlins, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Revenge of the Nerds, Beverly Hills Cop, Police Academy, and many more all hitting the big screen. Many of these movies are beloved by Mrs. Sip, particularly Indiana Jones and Gremlins. All that’s missing is a Star Wars movie and you might have been able to call this the most important year in 80’s cinema.

Indiana Jones Temple Run

#2: Craft Breweries Open in B.C.

With the opening of both Granville Island Brewing and Vancouver Island Brewing (clearly, the islands knew something long before the rest of the province) craft beer arrived in British Columbia and while Mrs. Sip and I weren’t drinking back then, their hard work established a growing movement which we would finally be able to enjoy much later. While wine is still Mrs. Sip’s beverage of choice, she has become a craft beer junkie just like the Sip Advisor.

#1: Cirque du Soleil is Founded

Mrs. Sip is a huge fan of Cirque du Soleil productions, having seen a number of the Las Vegas-based shows, as well as big top performances here at home. Before hitting the international stage, Cirque du Soleil grew from a small touring operation in Quebec, Canada. Today, their combination of circus, theatrics, costumes, atmosphere, and music is loved the world over. Among Mrs. Sip’s favourite Cirque shows are O, Ka, and Love, proving it doesn’t take a long title to make a great experience.

Cocktail Corner: Fashionably Late

Jan 19

  • 1.5 oz Whiskey
  • 1 oz Port
  • Top with Cranberry Juice
  • Dash of Angostura Bitters
  • Garnish with an Orange Twist

Mrs. Sip shares her birth year with such dignitaries as Scarlett Johansson and LeBron James. Some honourable mentions for 1984, include Michael Jackson’s Thriller album, Michael Jordan being drafted into the NBA, the creation of Tetris, and the birth of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in comic form. At least the actual 1984 didn’t turn out like the classic George Orwell novel, which showed the world in a state of dystopia. That said, 1984 brought the birth of crack cocaine, as well as the discovery of the AIDS virus, so maybe the novel wasn’t that far off.

Sip Advisor Bar Notes (4 Sips out of 5):
This drink is, of course, in honour of the habitually late Mrs. Sip. I used Vanilla Spiced Whiskey in favour of Bourbon and that added a whole bonus flavour to the cocktail. My Port choice came from Backyard Vineyards, where Mrs. Sip is a member. Everything came together quite nicely for a refreshing, interesting martini.

September 10 – Homeward Bound

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Welcome Back

Some players just don’t look right in jerseys that differ from the one they’ve worn for years. In most of the big leagues, athletes can sign one-day contracts so that they may retire as a member of the team that made their career. Other times, a trade brings that star back into the fold. Then, there’s always returning from retirement. Here is some of the greatest returns home in sports history.

Trevor Linden – Vancouver Canucks (NHL)

Trevor Linden, captain of the Vancouver Canucks was traded to the New York Islanders in 1998. After bouncing around to a couple other teams, the Canucks reacquired the heart and soul leader of their last championship appearance team. In Linden’s first game back (which I attended with the Sip Family), he notched a couple points and was named the second star of the game, allowing fans to dedicate all their energy specifically to one of the team’s most legendary figures. A few years later, Linden left the game the right way, serenaded by the fans who adored him for so many years, and making a final trip around the ice surface that hosted so many memories for all involved.

Doug Gilmour – Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)

Growing up, for some bizarre reason that I may never be able to explain, I was a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Please collect your jaws from the floor… sadly, it’s true. My favourite player was Doug Gilmour, a gritty and talented player, who nearly led the team to their first Stanley Cup since 1967. Gilmour was traded to New Jersey in 1997, but would return to the Leafs at the 2003 trade deadline, causing fans to rejoice. Sadly, in just his second shift back with the team, he collided knee-on-knee with Calgary’s Dave Lowry and was done for the season, later calling it a career that summer.

Hulk Hogan – World Wrestling Entertainment

In the 1980’s, Hulk Hogan’s symbiotic relationship with the then World Wrestling Federation launched both entities into the stratosphere. Working together, Hogan became one of the most popular wrestlers of all-time, while the WWF became the first promotion to enjoy national mainstream exposure and success. Hogan left the company in 1993 to perform in World Championship Wrestling and didn’t return to the soon-to-be-renamed WWE until 2002. He originally returned as a bad guy, but fans would not have any of that, cheering for Hogan to once again become the “Real American” character most had grown up with. They got their wish and fans feverishly ate up the nostalgia act.

Ken Griffey, Jr. – Seattle Mariners (MLB)

Ken Griffey, Jr. grew up in the Seattle Mariners organization, debuting in 1989 and even playing alongside his father, Ken Griffey, Sr. Griffey became the face of the franchise and even the entire league, adorning video games, posters, t-shirts, and other merchandise. The slugger was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 2000, as he wished to play closer to home and be more involved in the lives of his children. Griffey’s numbers declined following the trade, but petitions were signed by Seattle fans to bring him back. Finally, in 2009, Griffey returned to the Mariners. His second tenure had its issues, like Griffey being accused of napping in the clubhouse during games, but he was honoured into the team’s Hall of Fame in August 2013.

Ken Griffey, Jr.

Michael Jordan – Chicago Bulls (NBA)

After winning three straight NBA titles in the early 90’s, there was nothing left for Michael Jordan to accomplish. When his father was murdered that summer, Jordan retired from basketball and decided to try his hand at professional baseball, hoping to realize his father’s dream of him playing in the Majors. When his baseball dream fizzled out, it was back to the hard court and the Bulls for Jordan. Another three NBA Championships followed before Jordan left the game again in 1999. His last return to basketball was with the Washington Wizards, a team he had part-ownership with and had been President of Basketball Operations.

Mario Lemieux – Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)

Like Jordan, Mario Lemieux kept returning to the game he loved after time away from the rink proved he still had too much passion for the sport to watch from the sidelines. Super Mario returned from cancer and a retirement to put up all-star level numbers and pad his legacy as one of the game’s greatest players. While he never won another Stanley Cup, he was an integral member of Canada’s gold medal victory at the 2002 Winter Olympics and also saved the Pittsburgh Penguins franchise as owner of the team, ushering in the Sidney Crosby era.

Drink #253: Homeward Bound

Sept 10

  • 1.5 oz Spiced Rum (I used Sailor Jerry’s)
  • Top with Lemonade
  • Garnish with Lemon Wheel

What was your favourite return home? As above, it can be an athlete, an actor, or hell, it could be Ron Jeremy’s long-awaited return to the world of pornography!

Sip Advisor Bar Notes (3.5 Sips out of 5):
This was a simple, but very enjoyable cocktail. I love the name about as much as I adore Sailor Jerry’s Spiced Rum and the moment I saw this recipe advertised at a local bar, I knew I’d be making it when I went home. The caramel-flavour of the Spiced Rum works nicely with the tart Lemonade and makes for one fine drink!