B R O A D W A Y***B L U E S H I R T S

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EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) - Mark Messier's famous No. 11 is going to the rafters - again.

This time "The Captain" will be honored by the Edmonton Oilers, his first NHL team that he helped lead to five Stanley Cup titles in seven years.

"I'm not promising anybody I'm not going to cry. That would be a big mistake," he said Wednesday.

One year after the New York Rangers honored Messier by retiring his number, the Oilers will do the same on Feb. 27 when former teammate Wayne Gretzky and his Phoenix Coyotes come to town.

In an NHL career that spanned a quarter century, Messier won six Stanley Cup titles - five with Edmonton and one with the Rangers. He retired in September 2005 as the second-leading scorer in NHL history, trailing only Gretzky, with 1,887 points (694 goals and 1,193 assists).

"I don't know if Wayne Gretzky is as good without Mark Messier and conversely I don't know if Mark Messier is as good without Wayne Gretzky," said former teammate Kevin Lowe, now the Oilers general manager.

His No. 11 will join the sweaters of Gretzky, Paul Coffey, Grant Fuhr, Jari Kurri and Al Hamilton high up in Rexall Place. The game is already sold out and the Oilers will wear vintage blue jerseys that night from the Messier-Gretzky heyday of the 1980s.

Messier was pleased that the ceremony will be held with Gretzky in the building. He said Gretzky, now the Coyotes coach, was the leader of the young Oilers when the club was first learning how to win.

"Wayne was so far advanced to us in so many areas," he said. "I figured out pretty quickly that if I watched and figured out what he was doing and tried to emulate it, I could become a better hockey player."

xavier mcdaniel wrote:

where's springsteen at tonight?

sorry X

Count Basie Theatre , Red Bank New Jersey .


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Bobby Bandiera leads all-star benefit concert

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 12/9/06

BY ED CONDRAN
CORRESPONDENT

It doesn't take long for Bobby Bandiera to pull together recording artists for his All Star Holiday Concert benefit.

"I live next door to some of the guys who will play," he said. "I also can run into them at the grocery store."

Some of the usual suspects, such as Southside Johnny Lyon, will be performing alongside Bandiera on Tuesday during the third annual ALS benefit at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank.

There also are some high profile folks that Bandiera, 53, doesn't see while picking produce in his Brick neighborhood who may or may not appear at the sold-out event.

"You never know who is going to show up," Bandiera said.

The concert is akin to a Christmas present. Fans will have to wait and see what's under the wrapping paper.

Will Jon Bon Jovi, who tabbed Bandiera to join his band for his 2005-06 tour, or his charitable pal Bruce Springsteen pop in for the concert? Or will other high-profile recording artists from out of the area perform?

You'll need a much sought-after ticket to find out who graces the stage. What aficionados should know is that about 20 percent of the material will be comprised of holiday tunes.

"I've been a big fan of Christmas songs ever since I was a little kid," Bandiera said while calling from Cleveland. "I love "White Christmas' by Darlene Love and Chuck Berry's "Run Rudolph Run.' But we're going to be doing a lot of regular material."

The songs are just part of the equation. The unpredictable banter between the artists is worth the experience.

"Most of us who perform together know each other very well," Bandiera said. "We have a good time up there. It's showbiz, but there are no fake smiles when we get up there. It's part of what people come out for. It's loose, but when it comes to the performance, it's very serious.

"I'm not James Brown out there giving fines of $20 for every mistake someone makes in the band. I'll just go up and kick them in the shins. To me, it's a big deal whether you step on the stage of The Stone Pony, Giants Stadium or the Count Basie. You have to be a professional, and professionals will join me for this show. We'll be ready and well-rehearsed by the time the show comes around."

Bandiera can never do enough benefit shows.

"I've been doing shows like this for the last eight years," Bandiera said. "I would love to do more of them. It's good to give back. I've been very fortunate and this is the least I can do. And the other thing is that I enjoy it. To perform is a great way to give back."