Ahhhh, summer.  At last, you’ve arrived.  Time to get outside and do stuff because, you know, once winter hits, it’s time to go inside and watch the Idaho Steelheads.

So I am.  Went to the 4^th of July parade in downtown Boise, where I found a hole to my liking and used it to re-sprain my ankle (they keep telling me the swelling will go down, but mine actually seems to be going up … I don’t do anything conventionally).  Friends from across the state line in Nyssa, Oregon, are driving into town Friday so we can go to the Boise Hawks baseball game.  And next week, it’s home to Spokane to be the best man in my baby brother’s wedding.

To be fair, calling him “baby brother” is a bit of a misnomer.  Though he is younger than me, he makes me look like a Kenyan distance runner when we stand side-by-side.  He played a little pro football, slugging it out in the trenches, before he decided it was more fun to just stand around and intimidate the heck out of people without doing a thing.  Being 6-foot-6 and about 340 pounds has that effect.

As best man, I get to give a toast.  I’ve thought of a couple good anecdotes to tell and my only goal is to be funnier than the maid of honor.

We’re hopeful that the Steelheads will get married this year as well.  Married to their favorite friend, Kelly.  You know, the sterling silver piece of the Cup family.  I’ve already called dibs on the best-man speech.  It’ll go a little like this …

“Ladies and gentlemen, thanks for joining us here … what a happy day.  Kelly, back where she belongs, with the Idaho Steelheads.

(wait for gratuitous applause)

(get impatient if it doesn’t come)

What a ride it has been through the years.  Evan Barlow’s crossword puzzles, Chris Hepp losing ‘Moustache Boy’ a team-record 49 consecutive times, Bryan McGregor anointing himself the ‘B-Mac-Thrilla,’ Steve Oleksy’s weird hats.  Tom Wandell having to be told after a game that he scored a goal.  Andy Pate’s historic one-save performance.  Doug Plagens’ obsession with the fish tacos in Victoria.

(pause for polite laughter)

Lotta good stuff.  Evan winning ECHL All-Star MVP, Matt Climie winning games for Idaho in the ECHL and Dallas in the NHL … in the same week.  Mark Derlago setting single-season scoring records.  Twice.  Marty Flichel being named to the ECHL All-Decade team.  Derek Laxdal, Coach of the Year.  Guys being named All-ECHL and All-Rookie.  Leading the league in points in 2009-10.

Of course, not everything is perfect.  You guys remember James McEwan trying to climb out of the penalty box here in Boise during the final game in Phoenix Roadrunners history?  Thank goodness the referee got a hold of him or else I might have had to actually go down there and do something.

(another pause for polite laughter, but expecting a little bit more laughter than last time, so you better come through for me)

We’ve lost some friends along the way.  Christian Friberg, Barry Potomski, some of our favorite fans, too.  We all wish they could be here with us to share this moment and, of course, we’re thinking of them as we celebrate the Idaho Steelheads and the Kelly Cup.

This is a good match, the Steelheads and the Cup.  A lot of people have worked hard and invested a lot of time and emotion, hoping this would happen.

So this is all of our moment.  Raise your glasses and share a toast with me.  To the Idaho Steelheads … and the Kelly Cup.

Cheers.”

It can happen.  The work is already taking place.  RSVP your spot at the table by calling the Steelheads front office (208.383.0080) and making sure you have your ticket package for the coming season … opens on October 14 in Utah, with the home opener October 15 here in Boise against the Grizzlies.

See you at the arena!