Are You Ready For The Big Time?

I have spent many nights skating on the local rink pretending that it was overtime in Game Seven. I have deked and juked defencemen, and roofed pucks past invisible goaltenders who couldn't possibly have saved the laser I sent to the top corner to win the Stanley Cup. I have been the Conn Smythe Trophy winner more times that I can count, and all I think about was how I just needed one big break to maybe make that happen. However, I talk myself out of it every time because I'm a thirty-something beer league defenceman who has a decent shot, but have below-average foot speed for NHL, AHL, or even beer league standards. But all of that may change thanks to Anheuser-Busch Inbev's newest project where the everyday fan can win a chance to play with the pros!

Radical Media, a T.V. production company in Los Angeles, and Evan Weinstein, co-executive producer of The Amazing Race, are teaming with Anheuser-Busch Inbev through social media to introduce "Bud United presents: The Big Time" where sports fans, kitchen wizards, and other amateurs have their lives changed by professionals! Nascar driver Kevin Harvick and celebrity chef Hubert Keller have already signed on for the project where they will judge various people trying to make "the big time".

"Whether someone is passionate about music, football, cooking or car racing, Budweiser is giving fans a shot to make it big, and supporting them on their journey with expert advice from celebrity mentors," Jason Warner, global vice president for Budweiser, explained to realscreen.com.

Sounds pretty neat, right? So why is a hockey blog running a media blurb about this? Well, the creators of the show want hockey players and hockey stars to participate! That means that you, I, or anyone else who has ever played hockey may get a chance to play alongside some of the legends of the game if chosen! It seems to me that this would rate pretty high on the "how cool is that" scale!

You can check out the contest info on Facebook and on Renren, a Chinese social media site. They also published a press release explaining how hockey is one of their targets. You can read the release here, or check out the info below.

DREAM OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGHLY SKILLED AMATEUR AND SEMI-PRO HOCKEY PLAYERS!

HOLLYWOOD, CA – MAY 12, 2011

Radical Media and a major corporate sponsor are teaming up with award-winning Producer Evan Weinstein ("The Amazing Race") to create an exciting new reality show offering some lucky hockey players the chance to take the ice to play alongside legends of the game.

We’re looking for players who have the ability to compete at the highest level but who, for one reason or another, were never able to pursue their dreams of a professional career. We’re going to choose a handful of lucky players, provide them with pro coaching and mentorship, and film them as they test their skills in a series of exciting challenges.

One lucky winner will get to experience the thrill of playing a game with some of the sport’s most well-known players.

All qualified applicants must be over the age of 21 as of May 30, 2011. Applicants should submit a photo and brief bio to radicalhockeyshow@gmail.com. Our casting staff will contact them for further information. We are accepting applications from both men and women.

ALL APPLICATIONS AND INQUIRIES MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2011.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you're an aspiring player who wants to have some fun in competing to play with the pros, get your application in ASAP! There is no doubt that there must be one or two readers of this blog who will be contacted by Radical Media for an opportunity, so get your application in even if you just have beer league talents like I do!

If you are contacted by Radical Media, please let me know! I'd love to cover your progress in the competition! It would be great to get updates from the competitors as well! Good luck to all that enter, and hopefully you'll get your shot at "The Big Time"!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!