posted on Saturday, December 27, 2008 2:04 AM by Jim

Finally, some offseason entertainment

I went to my first Blackhawks game in seven or eight years Friday night -- a 5-1 victory over the Flyers -- and I realized a couple things:



No. 1:  It's great that hockey is big again.   It's only a shame that Bill Wirtz wasn't around to witness a regular-season United Center-record crowd of 22,712 for a game that was televised in the Chicagoland area.  He could've seen, first-hand,  how very, very, very, very wrong wrong wrongwrongwrongwrong he was.

When the Flyers flinged a puck into the stands five seconds into a penalty kill, you could feel the bloodlust in the crowd as it chanted for the delay-of-game penalty, leading to a 5-on-3 the Hawks capitalized on.

No. 2:  Gene Honda's job is sweeter than I thought.  His job is to go to White Sox and Blackhawks games and read aloud.  If only my voice carried...

If you missed it the first time, check out the Fifth Feather. 

Comments

# re: Finally, some offseason entertainment

Saturday, December 27, 2008 10:55 AM by knoxfire30
I have two buddies that get to escort those ice girls around during the intermissions and tv breaks. Now that is one heck of a job, I think you know what I mean.


But yea hockey is an awesome sport live, the UC is a great stadium. A productive team which I believe is now third in the western conference and is currently the youngest team in the NHL really has people excited!

# re: Finally, some offseason entertainment

Saturday, December 27, 2008 12:42 PM by UribeAuction
I got out to the game yesterday as well. I had been to a few Hawks games before, but never one with the kind of atmosphere that the UC had last night. From the packed house cheering through the anthem (which is something every sports fan needs to experience) to the two goals in the first three minutes to the ridiculous number of power plays and two fights to the countless number of "Detroit sucks!" chants, that game will go up on my list of best atmospheres I've ever experienced.

# re: Finally, some offseason entertainment

Saturday, December 27, 2008 1:48 PM by Conor
We don't have to worry about the possible Willy Taveras signing anymore, although we might have to worry about a Dye for Taveras trade.


http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081227&content_id=3729066&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp

# re: Finally, some offseason entertainment

Saturday, December 27, 2008 1:57 PM by soxfan1
I was at the Hawks game last nite also and was pleasantly surprised to see a great number of people with Sox caps and jackets. I agree with everyone's comments on the atmosphere. The pregame stuff and first 5 minutes of the game were worth the price of admission. Attending a game is a "must-do" item if you are in town.

# re: Finally, some offseason entertainment

Saturday, December 27, 2008 3:24 PM by El Duque's Raft
Gene also does Depaul games and the Final Four. He has hands in on everything. Oh, and he's an occasional host on Channel 11 telethons.

# re: Finally, some offseason entertainment

Saturday, December 27, 2008 7:57 PM by Jim Margalus
I still can't embrace the United Center, though. It really kills the sound compared to the Stadium.

There was a guy in my section who kept yelling "Detroit Sucks," and it got kind of annoying. Especially when he got annoyed that nobody cared to join him at the time.

Taveras can't be traded for Dye in the offseason, at least. Have to wait until June, IIRC.

# re: Finally, some offseason entertainment

Saturday, December 27, 2008 8:24 PM by knoxfire30
The old stadiums roar was as strong as the odor. The UC is a fabulous stadium I am very happy with it.

# re: Finally, some offseason entertainment

Saturday, December 27, 2008 8:39 PM by Jim Margalus
Agreed with you there, but as somebody who's never spent a second in a luxury box, I wish they'd let the levels overlap so the sound doesn't escape.