TOP-NINE THINGS OF 2009:
1) The NASH 71 Dance-Off (aka. “The Slap Heard ‘Round Saskatoon”)
I don’t imagine that anyone reading this hasn’t already heard this story, so I’ll skip the entire re-telling and focus on the key points.
Every year at NASH (the big national conference for us student journalist types), there is to be a dance-off between the Gateway and the Ubyssey as mandated by Canadian University Press bylaws. I can sort-of pop, and I can sort-of lock — enough to make it resemble dancing. During a one-vs-one tiebreaker round to determine a winner, I did a glide (that’s with your feet) over to the Ubyssey’s side of the floor, did a wave (that’s with your arms) and turned that into a slap on the face of Ricardo Bartolon (that’s just straight-up cold). The result was an impromptu ticker-tape parade on the dance floor.
Later on that night, after a few brews, I remember saying to conference coordinator Chuck Hamilton, “Thank you for allowing me the proper venue in which to slap Ricardo Montalban!” (Strangely enough, the actual Ricardo Montalban passed away at some point during that weekend. Too soon?)
Credit on the photos goes to Gerald Deo for the victory shot (cameo points to Lucas Wagner, Paul Blinov, and Mike Kendrick), and Ishmael Daro for the closest capture of the actual moment (note the look of disbelief on Ricardo’s face, and the guy in the white suit cheering on the very left).
Happy New Year, folks, and here’s to 2010!
The Complete List of Losers:
9) Creed Shreds 3: You Sh!t Here With Me
8) Dock Ellis and the LSD No-No
7) Them Crooked Vultures
6) Napkin Holder’s Daft Punk Piano Medley
5) Jay-Z(ed) in Edmonton, October 13
4) FrostBoard
3) Mason Rack Band
2) GO Magazine
