As one of the few American cities to still have two daily newspapers, Chicagoans are treated to TWICE the chances for silly sports headlines. At first I thought these were the same paper, because I've often mixed them up after the Tribune partially switched to the Sun-Times' tabloid format. But nope, they BOTH did it. Here, actual photos of actual newspapers I bought!
After game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals:
Not just a groaner, but he's, uh, SLOVAKIAN. Sure, maybe it was one country when he was born there, but you're supposed to say Czech Republic or Slovakia now, right?
After game 2:
I haven't seen puns like this since NHL.com during the Olympics (did I post much then? bet I have some extras I didn't use). Maybe the recent world championships had some too. I can accept it when the competition is between different countries, but it seems extra-silly during NHL playoffs.
Oh well, the Chicago newspapers just aren't used to having to write THIS much about hockey, are they? Today was the latest date the Chicago Blackhawks have ever played.
I don't know if the papers will have anything good for game 3, but the postgame from NHL.com:
Did I post a Giroux one already? I know they have fun with Leighton, too.
I let my disappointment at not being able to go to a Final round Blackhawks game, after dozens of regular season and playoff games, kind of keep me from participating in hockey blogging much last week. But I wouldn't let it stop me from going by the United Center Saturday evening, before the 7 pm game. The building opened extra-early, at 5. I made it there after 5:30 and stayed for a few minutes, then got two buses back to get home before the game. The sunlight was harsh (some 90 degree weather last weekend) so these aren't quite what I wanted, but they're historic and all, right? The first Stanley Cup game played and won in this building, and Chicago's first SCF win in 37 years.
I took a photo of this sign before every game I attended. (All the UC signs say "Home of the Bulls." I'm guessing we'll see at least one "Home of the Blackhawks" next year.)
If people say "meet at the statue," this is usually the one they mean:
First Flyers fan sighting (there was a taunt about giving his sister her shirt back) (not by me):
You shouldn't judge people on appearances. Unless it's these three--then go right ahead:
I usually enter on this side because my tickets were usually through TicketExchange. Sam from Second City Hockey sells The Committed Indian bulletin nearby. I said hi (nice beard!) and bought a copy--not the first time I've gotten one for a game I couldn't attend.
Couldn't resist sneaking this shot on the Damen bus north, even if with her hair and Kane jersey she probably (right or wrong) fits the stereotype of a Chicago "bandwagon" fan. Whatever, I've seen a lot of people who aren't stereotypical hockey fans or bandwagon fans...I just can't always get a quick photo of them!
I didn't go before yesterday's game; I wanted to run some errands and besides, Chicago was cloudy and rainy for nearly all of Memorial Day. (Until I was out running errands in a hoodie and the sun came out and it went up to 75 and humid.) I saw many people online refer to a pregame nap; well, I had a pregame ritual of taking photos of West Side/Oak Park vacant storefronts and shopping at a Mexican grocery, instead. The sun came out right before the Flyers-Blackhawks game...how ridiculously symbolic. (Er, for the home team.)
Note: the updated version of the post before this one still holds. I figured I could post something though, and I wanted to at least blog before I went to my next sporting event. Tonight's my first White Sox game of the year, and somewhat incredibly my first night baseball game in Chicago.
I have a backlog of these from the entire NHL playoffs (and possibly a few from the regular season). Stupid computer trouble tonight sapped my energy to write an essay I needed to, so just this quick post for now. A nice thing about these unpredictable playoffs--new stars have emerged! AND NEW PUNS!
Two consecutive playoff shutouts for the Flyers' Michael Leighton. Flyers up 2-0 over Canadiens. And now have a ridiculous 13 unanswered goal streak. This was the headline after the first game, pointed out to me by @antistrophe on Twitter (from the Flyers' website, not the NHL.com front page--I'd been forgetting to check team sites):
Meanwhile, another fantastic Blackhawks win to put them up 2-0 over Sharks--but no amusing headlines, dammit! I'll just have to be content with their tying the NHL record for most consecutive playoff road wins (7), and setting a new franchise record with that.
Not much to say now. My beer-of-cautious-optimism which became my beer-of-triumph is now my beer-of-shame-and-regret. (Er, it's just one large beer, which I didn't open till after the game. Let me get back to it.) I've had a post-game phone call with my Boston friend Dan (the one who's also a Blackhawks fan). I've read plenty from Bruins and Flyers fans and neutral observers on Twitter.
To blow a 3-0 series lead and then a 3-0 GAME LEAD, and lose both 4-3--yes, I guess that is historic. The Bruins didn't try hard enough, the Flyers wanted it more, road teams are doing spectacularly well these playoffs, Bruins have trouble with game 7s, NHL.com ruined it with all their hype about a possible huge comeback (actually, I thought that would jinx it)---whatever. I'm disappointed to say the least. I'm thrilled the Bruins made it as far as they did given how rough the second half of their season was...but once they did make it that far I was hoping again my long-ago dream of a Blackhawks-Bruins Stanley Cup final.
Instead, the 7th and 8th seeds in the East will square off for who gets to face the 1st or 2nd seed in the West. For a while I've been disgusted at the thought of the East winning...even more so now. I agree with the people joking that San Jose-Chicago is the de facto SCF, or that the East finals should be cancelled to make it the SCF. But then...no matter how bad their regular season record or how they just barely squeaked into the playoffs (Flyers because of a friggin' SHOOTOUT, on the last day of the regular season--I wanted them to lose just for that injustice)...Montreal and Philadelphia have been ferocious in the playoffs and I'm a bit scared.
The Bruins fan side of me is crushed, but the history-and-statistics-loving side of me (the same part that, when the Chicago Cubs lost horribly in their home opener in Atlanta, was amused at how, at least, it was a record-setting loss) is impressed that the sixth and seventh 3-0 playoff deficit comebacks in professional hockey history happened in the same week and involved losses for the Bruins and their ECHL affiliate, the Reading Royals. (The Bruins AHL affiliate in Providence didn't make it to the playoffs this year, for the first time in many years.) At least the Red Wings didn't do it this year too.
I want to say thanks to the Bruins fans whose blogs and Twitter have kept me informed and entertained this year, my first season truly following the team. I'm disgusted with how it ended, but I'm not a bandwagon fan; I'm not bailing on them. (Next season I'm following and sort of rooting for the Atlanta Thrashers in the East because of their Chicago Wolves affiliation, but Boston is my East Coast favorite.)
edited to add: READ THIS from Hockey Gone Wild. READ IT NOW...please.
before I post today's Boston vs Chicago countdown, a roundup. lots of good stuff here.
Jeff of Blackhawk Up got to do the Five Reasons [He] Loves Hockey at Puck Daddy. I posted a defensive comment directed at another commenter about "bandwagon" accusations and, as happens anytime I post anything remotely personal and/or political and/or angry on the Internet (including some recent posts here...), I got all wussy about seeing if anyone responded (never sure what's worse, being attacked or being ignored) so I didn't check back.
Kukla's Korner asked today about Your Favorite Hockey Related Websites/Blogs and invited readers to promote their own blogs, too, so of course I did. I named a bunch, but not any specific Blackhawks blogs because I'm too petty and vindictive that only one is blogrolling me so far I didn't want to play favorites. oh, and I'm wracked with guilt about those of you I didn't mention there, don't worry...I mentioned that Third String Goalie posts so much good stuff it's hard not to link every day. look, I'm linking today, because Dec. 15 is the anniversary of the first game played at the old Chicago Stadium (I'm ashamed of not knowing that already) and he's got a nice piece up, vintage postcard and all.
Oklahoma City might be getting an AHL team next year. I'd noticed the Anaheim Ducks don't have an AHL affiliate this year...but OKC's team would take over the Oilers affiliation. I'm confused already.
watched the Leafs-Caps game online Sat. night. I actually predicted (to myself) they'd beat the Capitals last time (they did, 2-1), but seeing them come from losing 2-0 going into the second period to win 6-3 was pretty impressive. the 29th-place team beat the 1st-place team (and the Leafs are up to 27th now!). I read the NHL.com recap and saw...something not quite right:
heh. I think you can get your portrait taken for a few dollars at Walgreens, if you need a new one. I left the feed on and saw Canadian nightly news for the first time! there were two stories about hockey before they got to the sports results. wow, that country should get another NHL team or something.
some town where there's a battle over allowing pond hockey, and later a story about concussions in youth hockey
not to detract from a serious story, but: pink hair = awesome. I left it on and the Caps-Leafs game was rerun (a shorter, intermission-less version) afterwards; I didn't even know they did that.
NHL.com posts so much material and has to do much of it so quickly, that I'm not bashing them for making the occasional mistake. but I will point them out!
that word made me think "fiesta" first, then "fiery," but I realized they meant "feisty" (which my dictionary defines as "lively or flamboyant in manner or appearance." flamboyant? okay, they probably meant the second definition, "spirited").
tonight I saw Scott Hartnell, The Guy In the NHL Who's Actually Uglier Than Brent Sopel, and the rest of the Flyers play the Penguins. there were 2 goals and 3 fights within barely the first 6 minutes of play! (someone Twittered to the effect: "hey Flyers, 1975 called, they want their style of hockey back") Pens won 6-1. Flyers were in Boston last night, and as noted, my friend Dan attended as his first Bruins game this season. I'd hoped to watch it all online because he had a good seat and I could have maybe got a screenshot of him, but the feed (it was NESN! yes, #getjackedwardsontwitter!) vanished after the first few minutes and I didn't find one again until the painful third period. (then it ended before the NESN Blackhawks preview).
he saw the Bruins lose, but he did get to see the kids' hockey during intermission result in a fight (there were no fights in the actual game). and he'd seen the same thing happen (but with younger kids) during a Providence Bruins game. I love New England! I mean, of course it's awful in some ways...but funny in others. not sure if video has turned up (and I wouldn't feel okay posting it if it did), but it's worth noting.
so here's a New England fight that turned up on hockeyfights.com this week, a brief Whalers-Bruins fight from 1992. I know very little about these teams circa that era, but I did like the old jerseys, the utter indifference of the fans in the front row seats, and the nugget of wisdom at the end:
rather than a preview of the Flyers @ Bruins game tonight, here's something I've been waiting a while to post, and I'm finally doing so thanks to seeing "Why Philadelphia Flyers Wear Orange Jerseys" at Third String Goalie today. tonight will be the first Bruins game my Bruins-Blackhawks fan friend in Boston is going to this season (meanwhile, I've already been to ten Hawks games--and a Bruins game in Detroit!--this fall. but the Hawks didn't jack up their ticket prices this year due to post-season success like he says the B's did...) anyway, from The Simpsons' "Treehouse of Horror IV":
from the Wikipedia entry for the episode (in which Homer accidentally sells his soul for a donut, and has a trial with the devil to get it back): The "jury of the damned" at Homer's trial "consists of John Wilkes Booth, Lizzie Borden, John Dilinger, Blackbeard, Benedict Arnold, the starting lineup of the 1976 Philadelphia Flyers, and Richard Nixon."
it was a bit of work to find the episode online and get screenshots, so I didn't get all the ones I wanted (here's when the jury disappears).
as a kid in the middle of Iowa when this first aired, this is a joke that went over my head (though I think I knew all the non-Flyers references). I'd forgotten it until I found the Society for International Hockey Research's website and started browsing the section on hockey in TV and movies. is there a better hockey reference in a non-hockey TV show or movie than this one?
a little roundup. looks like the Penguins stuff will have to wait till after the Blackhawks-Rangers game tonight, oh well. first: OMG PUCK DADDY USED ONE OF MY PHOTOS. (here!) I've slogged along here for oh, six weeks or so, and now I've made it! well, it didn't credit me or link to the photo (from Tumblr; though I posted it on Flickr and here too). I finally delurked there to comment (I'm "kofchicago"). I think they're the most popular hockey blog, right? at least that's what I've said to impress non-hockey-fan friends...
so yesterday Brendan Witt, defense for the Islanders, was hit by a truck. but decided to play in last night's game anyway. here's a brief Deadspin piece and I'm giddy that I at least know enough about hockey to get all the jokes in the comments. well, nearly all. the Flyers broke their winless streak in that game; I half-watched it online. so much scoring: "Interesting box score from Tuesday's Islanders-Flyers tilt, as Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, John Tavares, and Claude Giroux each scored back-to-back goals, in that order." (Puck Daddy)
I'll watch most any game I find online. Stars at Ducks was on late; I don't care much about those teams but it was a very high-quality feed. Stars were ahead 3-0 in the third, but Ducks went on to tie it. with the 2nd and 3rd goals scored with about 6 minutes and 1 minute left, both by Dan Sexton, playing in his third NHL game. those were his first two NHL goals. damn! the feed disappeared in overtime and when I came back the stars of the game were being announced. Ducks won 4-3.
Monday I had the Wild @ Coyotes game on. it was one of the 4 shutouts in Monday's 9 NHL games, Coyotes winning 2-0. not that exciting (but since then Coyotes defenseman Ed Jovanovski was suspended two games for a hit to Andrew Ebbett's head. I missed this. I saw Ebbett in at least one of his games with the Hawks before he went to the Wild recently). but there was a relatively rare (at least I hadn't seen one yet this season) post-game fight; it goes from a scrum to a fight between the Coyote's Vernon Fiddler and the Wild's (very attractive--hey, I had to research this) James Sheppard. not sure if anyone's gotten in trouble for this (I know starting a fight in the last 5 minutes is penalized; what happens for one after a game?)
more Ukrainians in hockey! I wasn't looking for past players, but I just added Greatest Hockey Legends to my Bloglines and a new piece on the Boston Bruins led me to a page on Johnny Bucyk:
Given lots of ice time, Bucyk immediately stepped in and established himself as the star the Bruins had hoped for. Starring on the "Uke Line" with fellow Ukrainian-descent players Vic Stasiuk and Bronco Horvath, a former junior teammate. For six years their line was as good as any in the National Hockey League, however team success would not follow. The Bruins only made the playoffs twice.
the "Uke Line!"
housekeeping: at the bottom of the righthand column, below the blogroll, archive, and tags, I'm now keeping a list of every arena and ballpark, major or minor league, I've been to, and the teams I've seen. right now these don't link to anything because I haven't posted all the ballparks on my Flickr account yet. there's also a list of favorite Wikipedia pages on sports; handy for trivia, settling bets, wasting time...how amazing/depressing is it that 13 of the 30 current NHL teams have never won the Stanley Cup? or that the Yankees have won more than 25% of all the World Series ever played? (as a Cubs and Red Sox fan? very.)
Trying--for real this time--to blog regularly, but I do get distracted by adventures to abandoned factories filled with parade floats (see above) and such. (And sorry right now the blogroll's a couple years out of date.)
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