Hawks Hockey Hoiden

Last night I was watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation as I do most every year around this time.  Blackhawks fans should know this movie well as a couple of the characters (including Chevy Chase) sport Blackhawks’ jerseys throughout the movie.  It’s also a classic Christmas movie from one of our generation’s most brilliant (if not properly lauded) film makers, John Hughes.

In the movie, Chevy Chase’s “Clark Griswold” wears the now classic ‘Griswold 00′ Blackhawks jersey in the scenes where he starts to lose his grip on reality thanks to some of the most rude, vulgar, and annoying relatives you ever want to meet.  At the United Center, the ‘Griswold’ jersey — which is kind of pricey at $191.50 — has come to symbolize older generation hockey. (You know, the guys who were there long before you were and who still call jerseys, sweaters?)  And that’s ok.  Those guys have watched a lot of bad hockey for a lot of years, have paid their dues, and now deserve to flaunt it a little in the newbie hockey fans’ faces. (more…)

Clearly the players ham it up a bit more when they’re mic’d up. Like when a Nashville Predators opponent asked Adam Burish during the October 13 game, “Got the mic on tonight?” implying Burish was being a bit more dramatic than usual, and Bur says “Is the dinosaur talkin’? Let the kids play dinosaur.” Too hilarious. (more…)

Perhaps I’m old school, but I can’t help being offended by a trend I am consistently seeing in games all over Chicagoland, from Wrigley to Soldier Field and the United Center. Since when is it ok to boo your own team? (more…)