Posted by 
An astute observer will notice not one, but two extraneous-looking scribbles on my ticket stub from the Sens/Red Wings game on November 16th, 2015, but these markings are hardly extraneous at all. In fact, if one looks close enough they might notice that virtually all of my hockey ticket stubs from this era are similarly marred.
I am a sucker for free stuff, even if it costs me money to get said “free stuff”. I collect proof-of-purchases and I mail in for rebates, I write letters of complaint to companies whenever I can think of something to complain about just hoping to get thrown a bone, I double-cruise the aisles of the grocery store on free-sample day…don’t even get me started on my point collecting obsession.
So when I was searching through the Senator’s schedule looking to go to a game or two and saw “Bobblehead Night” I got excited. When I further noticed that several of these special games were cross promoted with a $12 food/drink/merch voucher on some of the cheapest tickets in the house, well, I couldn’t believe it. Altogether, it meant that for a $30 ticket you could go to the game, use your ticket stub as a twelve dollar voucher anywhere in the arena and if you got there early enough to be within the first five thousand or so through the door you got to take home a $25 bobblehead besides. Heck, you could almost make a living going to see NHL hockey!
Almost. I’m stupid but I’m not crazy*. I didn’t quit my job or anything, but I did sign on for a few more games than usual.
Of course I got there early enough to get a bobble, arriving with my friend Jason in tow. Back in those days you could leave and re-enter the arena so I took our two Mark Stone bobbleheads out to my car and came back to join Jason at our seats up in the 300’s. I was driving so instead of spending my voucher on a free beer I used it to purchase a cool Ottawa Senators coffee mug, one that I still use as my goto first choice cup all winter long, especially on game days. It’s good luck to be superstitious**.
Unfortunately, as I had just got the coffee cup that evening I had no opportunity to drink from it earlier that morning, so I wasn’t able to conjure up the luck needed for the Sens to win the game. Detroit won in overtime by a score of four to three.
*Or is it the other way around? I can never remember. One thing I certainly am is forgetful.
**It’s been scientifically proven that people who consider themselves “lucky” or “superstitious” tend to have more frequent positive outcomes than those who don’t. Apparently having faith in luck makes people more confident, and that confidence manifests itself as success, which can look an awful lot like luck. I’ve always considered myself a logical person so since reading the study I have become very, very superstitious. And yes, it works.
Todd Man Out 