ELVIS AARON PRESLEY, widely known as the “King of Rock,” left this world in 1977. But as long as Costco member Martyn Dias is around, fans can still celebrate the King. The young men and the sea: Dias, 43, of St. Albans, Left to right: Dylan LeValley, Hertfordshire (near London), Greg Spooner, Jordan Hanssen, has performed under the Brad Vickers. Inset: Their home stage name Elvis Shmelvis for two months. ( www.shmelvis.com) for the Row, row, row past eight years. Dias has studied Elvis closely to perfect his voice, moves and general (and row and row) your boat knowledge of Presley, and even has his outfits made by the same people who made THE NEXT TIME YOU HEAR someone gripe about American team to win a premier international Presley’s. Performing about the weather, how long it takes to get somewhere or ocean rowing race. 200 shows annually, Dias how tired they are, just whisper these two words: Rowing two at a time, 24 hours a day, seven typically portrays Elvis Jordan Hanssen. days a week, the four say they are performing during his jumpsuit-clad Beginning June 10, Hanssen, a Costco member, this ultimate test of mental and physical Vegas days (from and three friends will attempt to row their 29-foot strength and endurance for glory, for chal- 1974 to 1977), boat 3,100 miles across the Atlantic Ocean—from lenge, for adventure and to raise money for which allows him New York Harbor to Falmouth, England—braving the American Lung Association, as a trib- to draw from sun, rain, fog, storms, icebergs and waves in the ute to Hanssen’s father, who died from Presley’s entire Atlantic Ocean Fours Rowing Race. an asthma attack in 1985. catalogue. The men, Hanssen, 23; Dylan LeValley, 23; Greg “There is no prize money in this Dias’ family Spooner, 26; and Brad Vickers, 23—all rowing team- race,” says Hanssen. “The rewards lie in the is involved in the mates from Washington state’s University of Puget challenge and the competition.” act as well: “My Sound—hope to be the first American team of row- For more information, visit wife, Sue, is my ers to cross the North Atlantic Ocean, and the first www.oarnorthwest.com.—T. Foster Jones manager and agent, and basically runs One cliché at a time the business side. And my two sons, “HE’S GOT ice water in his veins.” ing to Costco member Dr. Don Powell, Mickey, 14, and “There’s no ‘I’ in team.” “We author of Best Sports Cliches Ever! David, 12, are big shot ourselves in the foot.” “Clichés create a mental picture— Elvis fans and What do these sayings have like ‘the QB threw a wounded duck,’” could step in for in common? They’re all sports says Powell, president and CEO of me at any time, clichés, of course. the American Institute for Preventative as they know all There are more of these Medicine in Farmington Hills, Michigan. the songs and all the moves. verbal nuggets than you may Powell’s inspiration came when he was If only they were big think—more than 5,000, accord- killing time on an airplane. “I jotted down more enough.”—Will Fifield than 300 clichés during the Adam@Home by Brian Basset flight,” he recalls. But he didn’t rest on his laurels. The list grew into the thou- We want to sands. He narrowed it down to his favorite 1,700 or so for hear from you the book. IF YOU HAVE a note, photo or What are Powell’s go-to story to share (it should be cliches? “Their chances are about Costco or Costco mem-slim and none—and slim just bers in some way), you can left the building.” And, “He send it to “The Member Con-held the football out like a nection,” The Costco Connec- loaf of bread.” tion, P.O. Box 34088, Seattle, To purchase an auto- WA 98124-1088, or e-mail to graphed copy of Best Sports connection@costco.com with Cliches Ever!—including a “The Member Connection” handwritten cliché from in the subject line. Submis-Powell—go to bestsports sions cannot be acknowledged cliches.com.—Mark E. Stroder or returned.
OAR NORTHWEST
MARTYN DIAS
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