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INTERVIEW WITH "BIG SEXY"
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Mike Lindsley chatted with “Big Sexy,” known to others simply as Mark Hayes, a senior account executive with the Syracuse Crunch. Hayes is seen each year dancing and stripping his clothes as music plays during breaks in the action at Crunch games and has become a fan favorite:
L: How did this "Big Sexy" thing start?
H: The Big Sexy thing started when Patricia Kara, from “Deal or No Deal,” was a celebrity guest at a game. She was to dance with the Quickway Ice Girls and after her egging me on, I got up and started to dance. I wasn’t thinking, but it got a good response from the crowd.
L: You take your shirt off in front of thousands of fans. You are really cool with that?
H: I am fine with taking my shirt off. It is supposed to be fun and I am comfortable with myself.
L: How did you end up with the Crunch?
H: I was just graduating from Syracuse University with a degree in Sports Management when one of my friend’s parents told me that the Crunch had a sales position open. About a week later I met with Jim Sarosy and started in August 2006.
L: What do you think of this year's team?
H: This year’s team has a lot of talent and when they gel, they show signs that they could be one of the top teams. They just need to be more consistent.
L: The Outdoor Classic?
H: The Outdoor Classic was one of the highlights of my sports career. The F16 fly over, seeing the players come out on the ice, the skydiver and the jam-packed grandstand were amazing. I just kept walking around and was in awe that it was actually happening.
L: Best part about your job?
H: The best part of my job is being able to interact with the fans. The game days are my favorite because it is the culmination of all the work done during the day to day.
L: Worst part?
H: I wouldn’t consider it being the worst part of the job, but the schedule and season is long and hectic. Many do not realize the time, planning and the many moving parts it takes to run a team.
L: Favorite NHL team and why?
H: I grew up a Rangers fan. My first hockey game and first ever hockey experience was at Madison Square Garden
L: Other favorite sports teams?
H: I am a big Yankees, Giants and Orlando Magic fan.
L: What is the key to the Crunch's success in Syracuse?
H: The key to the Crunch’s success in Syracuse is the fans and the backing of our great sponsors.
L: Can you believe the team has been here so long?
H: I can believe the team has been here so long. The games are entertaining and full of energy, which are some of the reasons why the fans keep coming back.
L: Mark thanks and good luck.
H: Thanks Mike and the same to you
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MIRABITO OUTDOOR CLASSIC RECAP
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The Syracuse Crunch topped the Binghamton Senators 2-1 in the Mirabito Outdoor Classic at the New York State Fairgrounds, the first ever outdoor game in American Hockey League history. Here are some game day nuggets:
*Attendance: 21,508. Wow. The largest crowd to ever see an AHL game.
*A beautiful day for hockey.
*Nice scoreboards.
*Former Crunch stars Dan Smith and J.F. Labbe return. Former Sabres Danny Gare (broadcasted the game on Time Warner Cable) and Rob Ray in attendance as well as Islander great Bobby Nystrom.
*174th Fighter Wing flyover. Chills.
*The one knock on the day was the traffic situation entering the Fairgrounds. There wasn’t a soul directing traffic and Gates 2 and 4 were closed. This caused at least a two-mile line of cars before Exit 7. Some fans arrived late and missed some of the historic action.
*Crunch goalie Kevin Lalande was the difference-maker in this one. What a performance. 36 saves on 37 shots. He moved side-to-side and make plenty of tough saves.
*Enjoy your hot bath Mark “Big Sexy” Hayes. You deserve it after that stripping masterpiece.
*Binghamton goalie Mike Brodeur certainly not the Devils’ Martin Brodeur.
*Hard to think that the Crunch made money from this. The cost of the operations alone had to trump any money coming in.
*Bounce, bounce, bounce goes the puck.
*It’s about time the big events started coming to Syracuse. This Outdoor Game was truly great. The Dave Matthews Band and Phish came to town over the last year and the men’s basketball team is always a great national draw. Now, if this town had money and could look a little nicer...
*What a great game-winning goal by David Liffiton. Perfect snap-shot over the shoulder with 11.7 seconds left in the 2nd period. When teams give up late goals before an intermission, it really sucks the wind out of them.
*“This is a great basketball town.” “This is a great football town, but it’s a helluva hockey town.”
-Crunch owner Howard Dolgon after the game.
*“I didn’t sleep last night.” “I was here (Fairgrounds) all night.”
-Mike Folsom, Crunch senior director of sales.
*“It was better than the War Memorial.”
-Crunch forward Alexandre Picard after the game talking about the ice surface.
Click here for Mirabito Outdoor Classic sound:
Islanders great Bobby Nystrom
Trent Cull
Former Sabre Rob Ray
Syracuse Crunch head coach Ross Yates
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Photos taken by staff photographer Rocco Carbone
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