The COVID-19 pandemic has sidelined well-known B.C. Lions hype-man Patrick B次元官网网址楥razy PB次元官网网址� Thomas as professional sports leagues moved to fan-free play.
In September 2019, Thomas, 51, celebrated 15 years as the B.C. Lions superfan and told Black Press Media his goal was to eventually cheer at a Canucks game. He didnB次元官网网址檛 have to wait long because shortly after, he was called in for an interview with the teamB次元官网网址檚 staff.
B次元官网网址淭hey needed someone to rile up the crowd and someone referred meB次元官网网址� Thomas explained.
As a lifelong Canucks fan, cheering at Rogers Arena in front of NHL teams was B次元官网网址渁 dream come trueB次元官网网址� for Thomas. The first few games were fantastic, he said, adding that he was able to get the arena B次元官网网址渞oaringB次元官网网址� which in turn got the team fired up.
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Like the players, Crazy P feeds off the crowd as he hops around, waving his arms and bellowing chants that carry across the stadium. He attributes much of his cheering persona to his former Saanich Hornets football coach, Roy Vollinger, who died in June at 78.
Thomas played for the Hornets in Glanford Park some 44 years ago under VollingerB次元官网网址檚 tutelage. The coachB次元官网网址檚 commanding presence, booming voice and overflowing energy inspired teamwork and passion among the young athletes, said Thomas.
B次元官网网址淐razy P was born here in Glanford Park,B次元官网网址� Thomas said, gesturing around the field now used for soccer. He would rush the field after a game, cheering and shouting chants, not unlike those he uses now to rile the crowds at Lions and Canucks games.
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Cheering for hockey is different from cheering for football, but he quickly hit his stride and cheered at 35 Canucks games B次元官网网址� while also cheering at B.C. Lions games, which required a lot of energy drinks and Tylenol B次元官网网址� before the season was cut short by the pandemic.
HeB次元官网网址檚 hopeful that things will return to normal soon so fans can get back to stadiums B次元官网网址� with cleaner hands and social distancing.
B次元官网网址淚 miss the people most. We need that connection as humans,B次元官网网址� Thomas said, noting that this would have been his 16th season with the B.C. Lions and heB次元官网网址檚 known some fellow fans since the beginning.
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B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e family and thatB次元官网网址檚 the part that really hurts,B次元官网网址� he said while scrolling through photos of himself posing with other fans in team gear.
Thomas hopes there will be some opportunity for Crazy P to return this season.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 so looking forward to next year. This is my calling.B次元官网网址�
In the meantime, Thomas is looking for other opportunities to bring out the Crazy P persona and invites anyone running pandemic-friendly sporting events to reach out to him via Instagram, @crazyp44.
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