silly headlines (Chicago newspaper edition)

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.

it's the one-year anniversary of my first Hawks game at United Center

and I need to write a real photo-filled writeup of that soon, but I'm not sure when due to THE BIG EAST COAST HOCKEY TRIP I'm going on this week. (sorry about the shouting.) first I'll probably write the "first 365 days following the Blackhawks" piece I thought of yesterday, on day 365, when I was at my first Blackhawks game of 2010, on Marian Hossa bobblehead night. here it is:

Hawks vs. Blue Jackets, 12/1/09: wow

so, to count the ways that was an exciting/significant game: 1) it was the Blackhawks' first game at home since Nov. 15, after the successful 6-game Canada/California trip and 2) first game this year against division rivals the Blue Jackets (and Hawks still haven't even played the Blues yet, but played Avalanche 3 times already?) (and my first time seeing the Jackets).

I bought a copy of The Committed Indian from Sam outside the United Center--oh, I'll count that as 3) even if I buy one at every game. I got there in plenty of time for my 4) free winter hat, which I'll be wearing in Pittsburgh this weekend (probably covering up the corporate logo on the back).

and in time for the warmup, where the Hawks were sporting their 5) third jerseys for the first time this year. sure, they're virtually identical to the Winter Classic ones...

I got to see all the players up close though getting pictures with a point & shoot was challenging. I saw Kane toss pucks to people near me, twice.

the game! 6) Marian Hossa's home debut with the Blackhawks. I loooove this video they show right before the game but have yet to get a photo of my favorite scenes, which of course involve the L train going by. this scene is in Millennium Park:

7) exciting goals. Hawks are first to score with a shorthanded goal from Versteeg, and the other two Hawks goals in regulation (by Toews and Sharp) are on power plays. two assists from Hossa!

and it was a 8) close game because oh right, the Jackets scored a few times too, and had the lead for a good chunk of the game. worst of all was the goal scored just 40 seconds into the third to take a 3-2 lead.

so it went to overtime and then a 9) shootout. okay, so I haven't said anything yet about this teenage boy behind me who spent the WHOLE GAME talking to a friend/acquaintance from Australia, who'd never been to a hockey game before. now, the Australian wasn't asking questions. the other kid just felt the need to explain everything about hockey and the Hawks to him, and when I'd hoped for sweet relief by the second period, he moved on to explaining America to him. really. how our seasons and our gun laws and drinking laws compare to Australia, and what Texas is like, and...I'm surprised he didn't throw in an explanation of the electoral college, or how the development of the interstate highway system contributed to patterns of housing segregation in cities. he didn't say anything stupid (though he blanked on what Hossa's first name is) until: "Everyone loves shootouts." uh, well they'd be fun to watch if they didn't actually COUNT. he was saying this in the 3rd period, and that he'd never seen a shootout before. did that curse us to have one?

so, shootout. Hossa scored one early. Rick Nash fell down, hilariously. then nothing happened for a long time. the Hawks stars you might expect to win this didn't, as did players like Kopecky and Byfuglien who haven't been doing a lot recently and this would have been a great time for them to save the day. I nearly felt ill as it kept going and going. I'd say I was developing a heart condition but when I got home I heard about the Leafs' Jonas Gustavsson having to leave last night's game due to one, and that worries me. anyway, it 10) finally ends with Seabrook for a Hawks win!

I found out later it was 11 rounds, the longest shootout in Hawks history, even worse than anything involving the Avalanche. nice to be part of "history," maybe, but damn, I was blaming it on that kid. in my mind, I was going through the list of hockey penalties (which of course, he'd tried to remember out loud for his friend earlier) and committing all of them against him. well, I don't know how I'd manage "too many men on the ice," but any that involve hitting with a stick, YES.*

so Keith got his requisite star of the game (#1 this time) and look, he's #2 on this list at From the Rink of the NHL's top defensive defencemen (Hawks have 3 spots of 25). and I'd remembered this before the game but completely forgot during: 11) the game was Joel Quenneville's 500th win! and he'd just been listed as #2 on Puck Daddy's Top 10 NHL Coaches of the Past Decade. also, here's a nice feature on his time playing for the Hartford Whalers.

12) can't beat the deal I got on this (unless you got free tickets). posted to prove to my friend who's asked, that with TicketExchange you do get a real ticket, not a printout.

*all expressions of violence in this blog are purely for dramatic/comedic purposes and should not be taken seriously by any potential employers, or dates.

Blackhawks in California (& mood swings) recap

so, after winning the first three games, all in Canada, on their circus trip...
game 1 in California, Hawks vs. San Jose Sharks:
Second City Hockey puts on another Chicago blogger-and-blog-commenter get-together. I head out to the Whirlaway, a terrific neighborhood bar that's a mile walk from my place. lousy weather but I want to watch this with people, especially since the last get-together (my first with this group) was the Hawks getting beat by the Coyotes. there's often homemade food there (thanks!) and since it's Thanksgiving eve, there's a full spread. a big table of savory dishes and a small table of desserts. I get beer and food and oh right, there's a game... 

Hawks score a zillion times. shorthanded goal, then another and another (Hossa's first goal for the Hawks and then one by Sharp happening within thirty seconds of each other on the Sharks' power play...I am speechless). Hawks aren't the greatest at scoring on their own PP, but if they want to score a bunch of times on their opponents', I'm fine with that. then four more goals, including another by Hossa. this is ridiculous. I expected maybe a Hossa goal and a close game (with either team winning), not THIS. (since both the other teams I follow--Maple Leafs and Bruins--had won that night, I wasn't sure Chicago would too.)

but by late in the game, I'm expecting a Hossa hat trick AND a Huet shutout AND for members of the Sharks to have to come clean out the mildewy parts of my pantry I've been afraid to touch. but then, Sharks quickly score twice in the last few minutes (oops to all the Sharks fans that understandably had left the game by then) and turn our hilarious 7-0 shutout into a mere 7-2 blowout.

mood: giddy, drunk, exhilarated, drunk, disbelieving, actually I wasn't all that drunk, happy, arrogant, prideful, what are the 7 deadly sins? pretty sure I covered them all that night (had several plates of food at the bar, anyway). the mood lasts, well, at least I have a good 16 hours or so till I find someone making an obnoxious rape "joke" about the Hawks win in comments on a Hawks blog. BUT! never mind that now, I'll just repress my rage put on a smile and work on my revenge address that later. moving on, game 2 in California, Hawks vs. Anaheim Ducks:

with all due respect to the real Hawks bloggers out there, this screenshot was the best description of the game. how nice of them to write this recap--and during the first period, too! okay, the game came back on (Ducks scored their first goal while it was off) and it wasn't pretty.

except for the above. the only good thing I got out of this game--noticing what a truly handsome (or hjandsome, if you prefer. no, you don't.) fellow Hjalmarsson is. game winds up Ducks 3-Hawks 0. zero? ZERO? I don't even know what that means anymore!

mood: stunned, angry, humiliated. headed out immediately to catch the Chicago Wolves game (of which more later. I'm glad I went, but DAMN I wish I'd seen the Maple Leafs 6-4 win that night). and so, game 3 in California, Hawks vs. L.A. Kings:

seriously, Yahoo? technical difficulties again? they did switch to the game about 5 minutes in. it doesn't seem super eventful (it was late and I was getting distracted, though). Kings score first. Toews scores a power play goal much later and I'm giddy we at least won't be shut out again. OT, nothing happens except a penalty. shootout (one of the 6 last night, as noted in the prior post). Kings get one, Hawks don't, Kings get one, Hawks don't, it's over.

(bonus Hjalmers, to distract me from thinking of any attractive talented Swedish guys who might be on other Midwestern teams. must forget that...forget that...)

mood: disappointed, but not wanting to seem greedy. 9 out of 12 possible points on the road trip is VERY good. I honestly didn't expect to win this many. psychologically, with 6 games, I would have preferred the losses in, say, games 2 & 3, or 3 & 5, though...

overall, great job on the trip and I'll be at the Blackhawks vs. Blue Jackets game Tuesday. Hossa's first home game with the Hawks! free winter hat night! third jerseys debut! and I got a game ticket for $13.50! really, $13.50!