ASSOCIATED HOCKEY PRESS
Fights Erupt As Hockey Scores Big on Currency
In response to the recent release of the Bank of Canada's commemorative $100
bill featuring Wayne Gretzky, the Federal Reserve Bank in the United States
has issued a commemorative dollar bill with a hockey theme. The release has
been carefully timed to coincide with the beginning of the Stanley Cup
playoffs. But the Americans have tried to go one better than the Canadians
by featuring Lord Stanley himself. The specially issued US dollar bill also
features the logos of several NHL teams.
The official NHL historian associated with the Hockey Hall of Fame, Robert
(Hawk) E. Steek, has issued a media statement asserting that he is "very
disturbed" by the recent release of the American bill, claiming infringement
of copyright. He also believes that Lord Stanley was not consulted before
issuing the bill.
The official spokesman for the Bank of Canada, Ben Chedwick has also
expressed outrage over the release of the American note, claiming that the
United States is merely copying the Canadians. "First they copy us with
hockey, and now with their currency. They're not going to get away with
this!" he argued vehemently in a television interview yesterday. "Hockey is
a Canadian idea, and so is the commemorative note." Sergei Puckov, a former
NHL player and senior analyst with American Sportsman Today, believes that
the Canadians are over-reacting, and are still embarrassed about the fact
that it took them so long to win an Olympic hockey gold medal. The Bank of
Canada's Chedwick says that this is nonsense. "It's the Americans who are
trying to hide their own embarrassment, because deep down they know that the
kings of hockey come from the great white North."
Reporters from Hockey Media Magazine International have been able to obtain
a copy of the new American dollar bill from Toronto tough guy Tie Domi, who
received it as change in an used clothing store while in the United States
for a recent away game in Philadelphia. "I was at Value Village paying for
the Winnie the Pooh pajamas and Snoopy socks I'd bought for my wife Leanne,"
said Domi, "and was stunned to see that the bill was already in actual
circulation." Unfortunately Domi's dollar bill is marred by some blood
stains from a recent on-ice fight, after he forgot that he had placed the
bill in his underwear for security.
Despite the controversy, sales of the commemorative notes have sky-rocketed,
and there are unconfirmed reports that the limited edition dollar bills are
being sold for as much as US$35 on eBay. The notes are legal tender, and
are available from national banks for $1, but due to the limited supply they
are already virtually impossible to obtain. A misprinted copy of the note
which reads "United Skates of America" may be worth as much as US $25,000.
Hockey guru Don Cherry brought the currency discussion into the public
spotlight by making comments about it during his regular segment on Hockey
Night in Canada. "It's great to see them fighting about the commemorative
notes," said Cherry. "Fighting is what hockey is all about. " The National
Council of Parents for Polite Children has criticized Cherry for his
remarks. "We need to be examples to our children, and Cherry is not being a
good role model for our little boys and girls, not to mention he has an
atrocious taste in ugly ties. He's supposed to be a hockey commentator, not
a cherry blossom," spokesman Ron Donald McBauer was quoted as saying
yesterday. "We want to be polite about it, so we are asking Mr. Cherry:
please apologize for your remarks, and tell our children that they need to
be nice little boys and girls, on and off the ice."
Meanwhile Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky is said to be delighted about
finally scoring on national currency. Gretzky declined an interview, but
neighbours said Gretzky had joked that rather than a $100 bill, it should
have been worth $99.
The Canadian bill has four new security features to prevent counterfeiting,
including a holographic strip and a watermark of a puck. The commemorative
notes are available from all leading financial institutions and Canadian
banks. In conjunction with the new bill, Canadian Tire stores are featuring
a special month-long promotion offering double Canadian Tire money for all
purchases made with the new $100, and a free souvenir roll of limited
edition Stanley Cup toilet paper.
Posted Thursday - 2004-04-01 - 01:46:35 EST
by Staff Reporter Verdra H. Ciretop in Toronto
All Rights Unreserved - Loof Lirpa Publishing
Text may be freely copied & redistributed
Now click on the following link to see these commemorative notes for
yourself:
http://geocities.com/verdrahciretop/
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