June 9th, 2010
I gathered with co-workers over at Casey Moran's two hours before puck drop and plucked a table right in the middle of their open-air patio. Soon thereafter, the place was packed with Hawks fans, all donning there brand new Blackhawks gear. I just picked up my Towes shirt at Wrigleyville Sports (I was to cheap to buy a jersey). It was another thrilling game, they all had been. The crowd was hung up on every surge, every hit, every goal. OT had just began, people were still rushing back from the bathroom, our bucket of beers just arrived; I noticed Patrick Kane darting around Philly's net, grabbed a beer, looked back up, then I asked myself "What the hell just happened?" Three seconds later, my friends at the table, everyone at the bar & the entire city finally caught up. The Blackhawks were Stanley Cup Champions. We spilled onto Clark St. chanting, dancing and throwing people in air. We were soon followed by the Blackhawks themselves. Surging, as if they were still on the ice, back to Chicago directly to The Pony Inn. Parades seem to follow at every bar in the city as the Hawks did there absolute best to celebrate with Chicago. Fast forward to this season; The Hawks, after some extreme roster turnover and the entire off season of drinking out of Lord Stanley's Cup, seem to be hitting the skids a bit. The season is young, and I'm sure as time passes the new pieces will gel and we'll see more consistency on the ice. But it all seems very familiar to me.
In 2005, my White Sox won the World Series. After 88 years, a party was in order. It lasted through the 2006 season and every game I attended that year was a celebration of 2005. And it was just as important to the players. Every time AJ Pierzynski or Jermanie Dye were at Tavern on Rush or Gibsons, every time Brian Anderson or John Garland were at Spy Bar or Leg Room, every time Ozzie Guillen was at Lalo's or Plush, they were all seriously celebrating that World Series trophy. Fans often joined in, and every night was memorable. A funny thing happened though. I thought for sure the Sox would be competing for another title. They added Jim Thome to an already dominant team, and jumped out to an early lead in the AL Central. But, as most of us learned the hard way, what usually follows a legendary party is a legendary hangover. Come the middle of the season, the White Sox were in a 3 team race with DET and CLE that lasted until the last few weeks of the season where the Sox faded out.
A year long party seems to be the right thing to do after so many decades of heartache. You want to share those amazing times with family, friends, and definitely with all your rivals (here's looking at you Cub fans). The pitfall to the good times is waking up with an incredible headache and having to deal with a new season. The White Sox didn't take advantage of the opportunity to win another World Series. Instead, they had a phenomenal time and finished in 3rd Place. It is my hope the Blackhawks realize the opportunity is there not just celebrate one title, but many; Or at least hope they've packed some Alka-Seltzer.
In 2005, my White Sox won the World Series. After 88 years, a party was in order. It lasted through the 2006 season and every game I attended that year was a celebration of 2005. And it was just as important to the players. Every time AJ Pierzynski or Jermanie Dye were at Tavern on Rush or Gibsons, every time Brian Anderson or John Garland were at Spy Bar or Leg Room, every time Ozzie Guillen was at Lalo's or Plush, they were all seriously celebrating that World Series trophy. Fans often joined in, and every night was memorable. A funny thing happened though. I thought for sure the Sox would be competing for another title. They added Jim Thome to an already dominant team, and jumped out to an early lead in the AL Central. But, as most of us learned the hard way, what usually follows a legendary party is a legendary hangover. Come the middle of the season, the White Sox were in a 3 team race with DET and CLE that lasted until the last few weeks of the season where the Sox faded out.
A year long party seems to be the right thing to do after so many decades of heartache. You want to share those amazing times with family, friends, and definitely with all your rivals (here's looking at you Cub fans). The pitfall to the good times is waking up with an incredible headache and having to deal with a new season. The White Sox didn't take advantage of the opportunity to win another World Series. Instead, they had a phenomenal time and finished in 3rd Place. It is my hope the Blackhawks realize the opportunity is there not just celebrate one title, but many; Or at least hope they've packed some Alka-Seltzer.
I am sad, sad because the Blackhawks seemed to have locked up enough of their younger players to make multiple runs at titles. The worst thing that ever happened to Chicago sports was the trade of Wilbur Marshal that signalled the end of competative Bears teams and potential dynasties. The Bulls twice had threepeats, and the Sox had a once in a lifetime season. Their efforts to improve the team in 06 took away from chemistry. The Cubs? Who cares, they just signed Quade to be their bench coach..er Head coach.
ReplyDeleteI thought that the Hawks were going to be a force to be reckoned with for a long time. The Sox try to make moves, and sometimes they are good, other not. But at least they make moves. The Bears and the Bulls take years to make decisions, they operate in five year plans. The Sox operate on yearlong plans. The CUBS? 103 and counting!
I think the Blackhawks will get better the closer they get to the playoffs. Its just with SO much turnover, you'd kind of hope they throttle back on the celebrating. The Bulls would celebrate their titles and come the next season it'd be business as usual. They have the talent to win mulitple titles, I just don't know if they have that competitive fire yet. Jordan stoked those flames with his teammates, and I expect Towes to do same with this team. I'm not a big hockey guy, but just as the Bulls did with casual fans, the Blackhawks brand of play definitley got my attention the last couple of years.
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