CHAMP in San Diego

I had a fun weekend full of new adventures! I attended the...

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:33:53 -0500

I had a fun weekend full of new adventures! I attended the first ever Fullout Cheer Challenge held at the Wyland Center at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. More than 80 teams competed over the weekend. Cheer squads from across the Nation, ages 6-22, battled it out to be crowned Fullout Cheer Challenge National Champion! Uniforms Express generously donated uniforms to the winning team and Carissa Murray, UE Consultant, is set to design the new attire. Among many other prizes the National Champions received a free 1 year subscription to Twist Magazine.

I was able to utilize my new found cheer skills and was lucky enough to be stunted by the Editor of Twist Magazine and the Louisville legend himself, Kenny Feeley.

I could not have asked for a better weekend. San Diego provided an amazing backdrop for the event. I had the privilege of seeing the SDSU cheerleaders and Nfinite Cheer perform alongside the amazing competing teams.

I can’t wait to attend next year’s event which will be held at Town and Country Resort Hotel, January 19-20^th 2013. Find more information about my friends from Fullout Cheer Company

I took a trip down to Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers today to check out...

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:31:38 -0500

I took a trip down to Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers today to check out some “bling” and meet with Halee about the Perfect Proposal contest. Leo Hamel is offering San Diegans a chance to propose in front of thousands at Balboa Park December Nights with a stunning Hearts On Fire engagement ring! If you think you have a great story, you can enter the contest here.

I saw the ring and practiced proposing to Halee, she said that we were better off as just friends though. It’s ok, I’m sure there’s a Mrs. CHAMP out there for me somewhere.

Check out these photos from my visit!

Well I had to get my spirits high after a long week, so I...

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:41:00 -0500

Well I had to get my spirits high after a long week, so I decided to go to a cheer competition in Del Mar. I was introduced to the whole audience and had everybody cheering for me! I took a picture with SDYFCC, congratulating them for over 55 years of dedication to our community. Next I took a picture with Coastal Tritons division 8 winner! I wanted to be a judge for one of the dances and here I am with Jamie Davis, she taught me how the scoring system works. I had a great time here and they told me they are even having a bigger event in March! I will be back for that one for sure!

Happy Halloween! I decided to be a Panda for Halloween, and...

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:44:47 -0400

Happy Halloween! I decided to be a Panda for Halloween, and I’m thinking about going to the Zoo now to see if I can fit in there. What do you think?

What are you dressed up as today? Send me a picture to champ@sdhoc.com and I’ll send you 2 FREE ADMISSION tickets to the Hall of Champions!

I gave a tour today with Anthony to a class from the Museum...

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:44:44 -0400

I gave a tour today with Anthony to a class from the Museum School of San Diego. Thanks to the kids for hanging out with me!

I got a surprise visit this morning from Dick Enberg! He came...

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:51:00 -0400

I got a surprise visit this morning from Dick Enberg! He came to talk to me about the Ted Williams exhibit and share some stories. Thanks for coming by, Dick!

I’ve been traveling pretty far and wide lately, so I decided...

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:22:42 -0400

I’ve been traveling pretty far and wide lately, so I decided that today I was going to two-step and take my talents… no, not to South Beach. Anyway, I headed just north of good ol’ San Diego to Orange County to indulge in some graduate-level sport management education with some cool folks at the University of San Francisco’s Southern California campus. Turns out I dropped in on the start of their new class, Managing Sport in Dynamic Environments, as their last core class before hitting electives for the home stretch to graduation in May 2012. Class was cool. I got to pick out of a hat the NHL team that one of the groups in class is going to present their final project on. I scored them the San Jose Sharks! A trip to visit the SDSU Sports MBA is next!

I went out the Mira Mesa Food Truck Gathering last night (every...

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:10:10 -0400

I went out the Mira Mesa Food Truck Gathering last night (every Monday night from 6-9PM through November!) to eat at the Devilicious Food Truck - they were on the Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race Season 2! I ordered their trademark Butter poached lobster grilled cheese sandwich and Truffled Parmesan Fries. The food was as good as advertised! One bite into my sandwich and I started wondering why I’ve been chasing salmon all these years and not lobster. Now, I don’t even have to chase lobster, I can just chase the Devilicious truck - the schedule on their website really helps!

You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter, so check them out there too!

After having a fantastic hibernation hiatus at the Hilton in...

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:29:42 -0400

After having a fantastic hibernation hiatus at the Hilton in Mission Valley, I decided to partake in some athletics. I took a ride over to the San Diego Tennis & Racquet Club where George Tiana set up a friendly handball match between National Junior Champion Brent Bidegain and Open Division Champion Mark Egan.

I also got to meet the rest of the Bidegain family including little sister Britney and papa bear Pete. They have been playing their whole lives! But I was able to show off my handball skills as I went for a cross-side corner shot and broke the ball!

I had a great time perfecting my handball skills, any suggestions on what I should try next? Send messages to champ@sdhoc.com

Hilton San Diego Mission Valley

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:46:34 -0400

Hello everyone! I’m back!

When I came back from New York, I found that my cave was being renovated, so I stayed with my friends at the Hilton San Diego Mission Valley for the night. A big thank you to Kyle and Matt for helping me out - if you’re looking for a hotel in San Diego, I would definitely recommend them!

I had a delicious lunch at their restaurant, Stish - crab cakes, calamari and a turkey wrap, what more could a bear ask for? The iced coffee there is also very refreshing!

I was able to get into the Presidential Suite using my Hilton HHonors Rewards - and wow, it was an amazing room! Soft beds, 37” HD TV, and a roomy bathroom. I even read a book! (Fun fact: Like some hotels, there is no 13th floor in the Hilton!).

There’s a Fitness Center on the 2nd floor where I was able to lift some weights, do some yoga and get in some cardio work. I had to work off that lunch!

All-in-all, it was a great stay at a GREAT hotel! Check them out if you’re ever in San Diego to visit!

I’ve made it to the Big Apple! Thanks to Angela and Al...

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 23:06:20 -0400

I’ve made it to the Big Apple! Thanks to Angela and Al for sneaking me in their luggage, I can now spend a week in New York, New York. I went to Times Square my first night and saw a store named after me and ELMO!

I’ll post pictures throughout the week so you can see all the places I’ll get to go this week. If you have any suggestions, let me know! You can email me at champ@sdhoc.com.

Another Sunday, another win for the Chargers! I was able to get...

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 23:30:55 -0400

Another Sunday, another win for the Chargers! I was able to get on the field for today’s Chargers/Dolphins match-up and WOW, those players are big! I was trying to talk to Antonio Garay and see if I could ask him for a ride in the now famous Hello Kitty smart car, but he was a little busy so I thought I would just try to tweet him (follow him at @antoniogaray71!). I did get to see my buddy Brandon from KUSI and he gave me a new PPR hat!

There was some great plays in the game, including a great TD catch by Vincent Jackson. I’m looking forward to making a lot more games this year. Bolt Up!

San Diego Air & Space Museum

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:32:23 -0400

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Air & Space Museum today, or as they should refer to it… the Bear in Space Museum! We were given a private tour by my new Bearmate, Verne Wochnick, Mr. Wochnick started off by putting me into a flight simulator. I got to fly all around downtown! I flew from PETCO Park to Balboa Park, and made a safe landing on North Island. Next up I got to help one of the sailors clean out a cylinder.

One of the planes needed my help to look intimidating, so I suggested that they paint a picture of one of my cousins, and it turned out looking just like him! I got to go inside many of the planes around the museum, but one of them stood out - I was in the fastest most dangerous plane known to man! Nobody had ridden it twice and survived! I was brave enough to get in it.

I got to sit on an ejection seat and ride shotgun on a WWI Medical Car. One little known fact is that people believe Snoopy actually shot down the Red Baron, and that is partially true, but I assisted as I got back into the driver seat and helped him out. They made me do work as I assist Alan Renga with digitizing some of the footage they have. I even got to meet the Curator, Terry!

They treated me like the Great Bear I am! I only had one request, and that was to go to the Moon, I thought it was a long shot but Verne made it happen! They put me in one of the earlier space shuttles and blasted me to space, while I was up there I just roamed around and I found a moon rock and took it back for NASA. I did all of this in just one day!

Now I have to find out where I should go next, can you help me?

I had some meetings this morning so I had a late lunch. I ran...

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:18:00 -0400

I had some meetings this morning so I had a late lunch. I ran out to Nicky Rottens with some co-workers and had a great meal. I didn’t see a Honey burger on the menu, so I decided to go with the Rotten Breakfast Burger — egg? potato cake? bacon? yes please! Amazing burger! Check them out next time you’re in the Gaslamp Quarter, and let me know how it is!

I was lucky enough to attend the Field of Hope dedication at San...

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:10:00 -0400

I was lucky enough to attend the Field of Hope dedication at San Pasqual Academy with Philip Rivers and Quentin Jammer of the Chargers. The field is amazing and right in the middle of orange groves. A big shout out to one of our valued members, Hellas Construction who put in the field!

Oh, and on the way home I stopped by a local fruit stand and bought a bottle of honey!

Well, I’m back in the office after a long two weeks in...

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:42:35 -0400

Well, I’m back in the office after a long two weeks in Washington DC and Ann Arbor. This large iced hazelnut latte from coffee bean is really getting me through the day. It was a great trip and I’d like to thank Josh, Alan, Anthony and John for taking such good care of me throughout my journey — except when Josh stuffed me in the X-ray machine, not cool!

I do have a fun-filled day today as I’ll be heading out to San Pasqual for a field dedication with Philip Rivers and Quentin Jammer. I’ll make sure to post a picture later today!

I got to take in a Red Wings game tonight (and lift the Stanley...

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 02:18:54 -0400

I got to take in a Red Wings game tonight (and lift the Stanley Cup!.. kind of). It was an impressive atmosphere with so much action — I might actually have to get into hockey. I have a cousin who’s a polar bear that’s a big fan, maybe I’ll call him next week to talk some puck. Didn’t get to throw an Octopus this time, I wasn’t sure where to get one! I did throw some popcorn at Anthony though… I thought it was funny, he wasn’t as amused.

Off to bed before an early morning at the Big House!

I made it out to the College Football Hall of Fame this morning...

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 23:27:00 -0400

I made it out to the College Football Hall of Fame this morning to check out all of the great memorabilia and history that they have. It made me appreciate the history that we house at the San Diego Hall of Champions even more. There are so many great artifacts and people there, and I may have even found my long lost relative! Thank you to the HOF for hosting me and showing me around!

I’ve made it safely to Michigan! Brushing my teeth before...

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 11:51:42 -0400

I’ve made it safely to Michigan! Brushing my teeth before I go out for the day to enjoy the sights.

After my trip to the White House last week, I’m right back...

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:21:05 -0400

After my trip to the White House last week, I’m right back at the airport on the way to the Big House! I’ll be rooting for Ryan Lindley, Ronnie “Heisman” Hillman and rest of the Aztecs and I’ll make sure to keep you all updated on my trip to “enemy territory”!