The rumors are true: RMNB is throwing a tailgate party for the Stadium Series game between the Caps and Toronto Maple Leafs this Saturday at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. We’ll announce more details later this week, but I had to share this quick story of how the flags we’re flying over the festivities reconnected me with a fondly remembered past.
We had procrastinated on deciding whether to have flags made at all, so by the time we decided to do it last week, I needed to find a place that could turn them around quickly. I did what anyone would do and Googled “custom flags,” reviewing a few of the early results and settling on a site called BestFlag because it was easy to use, the prices seemed competitive, and they promised a standard production time of two days, which meant we’d get the flags in time for the game.
We got the artwork ready and I placed an order for one large flag with the infamous Russian machine avatar, and a smaller one with the iconic RMNB letters. A few hours later I got an email with the proofs for approval, and you’re not going to believe who sent it (unless you read the headline already).
Hey Nathan,
Thanks for the order. I happen to see this one come in and I started laughing as I recognized the name. I have been one of your twitter follower since around 2010. I have enjoyed all the content over the years, thanks for keeping it going.
What a small world, I think to myself. That this random guy who runs a flag printing business knows about RMNB. What a fun coincidence! But wait, there’s more.
My brother played there for awhile …
Oh okay you have my attention.
… Mike Knuble ….
For those of you who may be new around these parts, from 2009-2012 my buddy Ryan and I were better known as Sir Ryan and Sir Nathan — Knuble’s Knights. As the unofficial Mike Knuble fan club, we did a lot of dumb stuff such as dressing up in armor and following Mike around fan events, celebrating his 1000th game with an epic sign, knighting people (including Ian!), and almost getting kicked out of Verizon Center for holding signs that said “Free Knuble” and “Scratch Hunter” when then-coach Dale Hunter had Knuble sitting in the press box.
Getting a random email from Mike’s brother Steve, who runs this flag and sign-printing business, was a blast from the past for both of us. Steve continued.
… so I have continued to follow the Caps. The Caps were a great experience and time for Mike and for me as a brother. Fond memories of DC, Winter Classic and the Dad’s trips.
He also offered his hopeful prediction for this year’s Caps team.
Keep up the good work and I am hoping this year, when they weren’t expected to win the Cup, they actually will!
So there you have it, folks. Mike Knuble’s brother Steve made the flags we’re flying at the RMNB tailgate before the Stadium Series game this Saturday. If you’re going to the game, stay tuned for more details this week. And if you ever need to produce some flags (or other signage), give BestFlag a look!
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