Winnipegger who came up with Jets Whiteout bursting with pride

AnotherWhiteoutis coming tothe MTS Centre Wednesday nightas the Winnipeg Jets take on the Anaheim Ducks in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup playoffsand the man who created the traditionsays he'sproud to see itcontinue.

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"People react positively to cool ideas. The Whiteoutwas a cool idea because people jumped all over it. It was cool then, and it's cool now. It's cooler now than it ever was," Rod Palson said.

In 1987 Palson was a partner and creative director at Palmer JarvisCommunications, the company that did advertising for the Winnipeg Jets.

"The Whiteout was absolutely unique, it just looked classy, it looked clean, it sparkles.- Rod Palson

At that point the Jets were up against the Calgary Flames in the first round of the NHLplayoffs, and the team was looking for something to compete withCalgary's Sea of Red.

One idea had fans wearing white, red and blue, the Jets colours, but Palson said that was too complicated.

"Back in those days the whole concept of fans wearing jerseys wasn't even heard of. I mean at that time, I don't even think could go and buy those jerseys," Palson said

He saysit wasn't as simple as going out to a store, picking up a jersey and wearing it.

Over the course of a lunch meeting, Palsonhatched the idea.

"We need something that is simple, that has a very quick turn around because we had less than a week to make it all happen and you know, I just said, really, most people have an article of clothing that is white in colour at home, they don't have to go out and buy anything, they should be able to participate simply by putting on a clean, white T-shirt and coming down to the rink, and low and behold, it stuck," Palson said.

He says as he was driving to the arena that night he hoped his family wouldn't be the only ones wearing white.

"As soon as we got out of the car in the parking lot I thought 'oh man this is happening, this is really working,'" he said.

And Palsonthinksit lookedmuch better than the Sea of Red in Calgary, which at a distance, he said even now, lookslike empty seats.

"It doesn't make astatementlike the Whiteout. I mean the Whiteout was absolutely unique, it just looked classy, it looked clean, it sparkles. It's justa class statement and, you know, today, it looks even better than ever," Palson said.

This week, after so many years, Palson was in the stands with his son to watch the revival of the Whiteout, he said it's something that can never be duplicated in any other city, even Phoenix, where the original Jets went after leaving Winnipeg.

Palson says the Whiteout isn't something he started.

"If the community hadn't have bought in all of those years ago we wouldn't be talkingabout it today. and it's happening because we have the best fans in hockey."