Behind the Mic: Farewell, Condorstown!
Wow. What a ride it has been. This past season has offered up so many great experiences and wonderful memories, I’m not sure how I will be able to fit everything into such a small place, but here goes!
I guess I should start by letting everyone know that I will be moving out of Bakersfield in just a few days. I have accepted a position as the Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting with the newly formed Chicago Express. I grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, and this is a great chance for me to move closer to my family.
With that being said, getting to come out to Bakersfield for the 2010-11 season was quite possibly the best thing that could have happened for me last summer, and I’ll always be grateful for the things I’ve learned and the friends I’ve made out here.
It was a great season to be a part of as well. Things started to look tough early on when Josh Tordjman was suspended for 6 games in November (a play I doubt I’ll ever forget), and the Condors slumped. Fortunately, we had a resilient group of guys, and they bounced back well. The 11 game winning streak in March displayed some very inspired hockey, and it was awesome to be a part of that.
One of the first things that comes to mind when I think about the season was the brawl in Alaska. The game got rougher as time went on, and after trailing by 3 goals in the third, the Condors mounted a comeback and had a lot of pressure in the zone as time expired. That’s when things erupted. A full line brawl, plus a few players coming off the benches, created mayhem all over the ice. By the time everything was sorted out, the Condors had set a team record for most penalty minutes in a game, and Erick Lizon set the new individual mark for penalty minutes in a game.
And I could never forget the All-Star Game. Whether working lots of long hours to get everything prepared, attending the Fan Fest and Hall of Fame lunch, or actually broadcasting the game, it was an incredible experience. Condorstown certainly knows how to throw a party the right way!
But thinking about Bakersfield doesn’t always mean hockey. Before taking this job, I hadn’t ever really been further west than Kansas. And being from the Midwest, Bakersfield provided a completely new climate and lots of different scenery. The two things that will always stand out in my mind about the city of Bakersfield are Palm trees and oil derricks. I didn’t grow up surrounded by either of those things, so I think in my mind they will always remind me of living here.
Well, it’s been a lot of fun being here in Condorstown and I’ll be leaving with a bunch of great memories. Thank you to all the fans, players, and staff who have made it such a great experience.
Bob Mills served as the Broadcasting and Media Relations Manager for the Condors, and part of the Broadcast team, during the 2010-11 season.
Follow Bob’s Twitter: @Mills_Bob
