Just outside of Toledo, the guys in the back of the bus started yelling. Everyone near the front of the bus was either sleeping, watching a movie, working on a computer or listening to their iPod. We finally understood what the commotion was when a clear chorus of voices came through, “Flat tire!!!”

 

We had just entered the Ohio Turnpike. It’s a four-lane road where we were located at the time…two in one direction, two in the other. We pulled off to the shoulder as the smell of burned rubber started wafting toward the front and intruded on everyone’s olfactory sense.

 

Unfortunately, one of the tires had peeled off and struck the front end of a Chevy. The poor couple in the car was just one exit from their home. Two officers showed up to handle traffic…there wasn’t much room on the shoulder with cars going 70 mph right next to us. We could feel the bus shake due to the draft of a big rig every time one came by.

 

It was going to be a while before everything was sorted out, so the team got off the bus and hung out on the side of the freeway.

 

The other car had to be towed. The officers called a crew to handle the tire repair. The guy who showed up about 45 minutes later didn’t have the right size tire or the proper equipment to do the job. Who did the officers call? You’d figure they’d get it right.

 

We were informed it would take about 90 minutes for the proper equipment to show. With the police protecting the backside of the bus from a possible collision, the majority of the team got back on the bus and finished watching the movie that was playing, “Robin Hood” starring Russell Crowe.

 

About 40 minutes into the 90 minute wait, Steve Begin, Aaron Johnson, Brett Palin and Jamie Lundmark entered the bus with ten pizza boxes. The guys had convinced a pizza place to deliver some pies to a mile marker on the interstate. There was pepperoni and Hawaiian. I had a slice of Hawaiian. It was tasty and really hit the spot.

 

The mechanic showed up a little after 9pm, repaired what needed to be repaired and we were off. We had pulled over around 7pm and were back on the road at 9:29.

 

That’s life in the minors, huh? I just found another story for the travel chapter in the book.

 

Moving on…

 

If you’re looking for something to do on Saturday, Nov. 13 stop by O’Brien’s Pub at 4928 W. Vliet St. between 2-5 pm. It’s a big fundraiser for The Turkey Club. The Turkey Club was founded in 1978 by one person with a spare turkey. It has grown to a group that delivers more than 2000 turkeys to meal programs and food pantries in the area. There’ll be auctions and raffles and you’ll be having a good time while helping a great cause. You can check out the organization’s website: www.theturkeyclub.org. If you can’t make it, you can make a monetary donation at www.firstgiving.com/turkeyclub.

 

Actor Ron Livingston ("Office Space") was in attendance at the Admirals-Monsters game Friday, Nov. 12. He predicted a 4-2 Monsters win.

 

The Minnesota Wild had 12 picks in the 2004 Draft. Four of them have played in games, regular season or exhibition, for the Admirals: Peter Olvecky, Ryan Jones, Patrick Bordeleau and Jean-Claude Sawyer.

 

The Admirals coaches over the last four seasons: Lane Lambert, Brad Lauer and Ian Herbers all rank in the top 32 for penalty minutes with the old IHL Cleveland Lumberjacks. Lauer ranks 22^nd with 227, Lambert is 23^rd with 215 and Herbers is 32^nd with 179.

 

Admirals forward Ryan Flynn was a high school teammate of 2010 Admirals training camp invitee R.J. Anderson and former University of Wisconsin forward Tom Gorowsky.

 

How’s Chet Pickard doing in Cincinnati? Here’s a great interview our friend Josh Cooper of The Tennessean did with Chet.

 

I leave you with a song from The Replacements about legendary musician Alex Chilton. It’s called “Alex Chilton”.