Last week I saw they were having one at the bar about six blocks away from my apartment for Monday's game at Los Angeles, and since we frequent there every once in awhile (they have pretty good food), I decided to give it a go. Luckily, we got there early enough to get a table by the TVs, and was able to order and eat dinner before the game even started, The bar actually wasn't packed, which was nice, but it was still amusing to watch some of the regulars come in and just kinda stare in bewilderment at all the people in hockey jerseys and two scantily clad glorified cheerleaders bopping around.
The game was good (THANK YOU HOCKEY GODS FOR TWO POINTS IN REGULATION KTHXBYE), but this was even better:
Yes my friends, that is a genuine Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup Championship ring, sitting in my girlfriend's hand. Gene Honda was at the bar - he's the PA announcer for the Blackhawks at the United Center and also does White Sox games (which I will now forgive him for). Since the Hawks organization seemingly bought everybody but the cleaning ladies at the UC a ring, he was sporting his. It was pretty damn obvious -a prolonged beam of light on it could have burned a hole in the roof. As he was walking by our table, my girlfriend called him by name, which I assume impressed him somewhat as not everyone knows what the guy who makes the "one minute remaining in the period" announcement looks like. She asked him if we could look at his ring, and just TOOK IT OFF AND GAVE IT TO HER. 30K sitting in our hands - wow. I had to take a picture with it, but since I didn't want to take up too much of his time, I got only one shot with it, thus the goofy look on my face:
Gene was very nice, and I appreciate the time he spent with us. Actually I give props to the Hawks folks for setting these up, even if I didn't win the signed Niklas Hjalmarsson jersey. Boo.
Anyway, the game was good - the Kings dominated the first, the Hawks dominated the second, so fittingly they went into the third tied at two. The Hawks took the lead, but after taking three penalties in a row, of course the Kings tied it up. Toews was in the box when the Kings scored, so he worked a bit of magic and got a puck to ricochet off of him with about five minutes left, which ended up being the game winner. Was it pure dumb luck? Why yes, but with the way we've been hemorrhaging points, I'll take it, thank you very much.
Because I haven't done one in awhile - here's a Toews face for ya....
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| Getty Images |
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| Getty Images |
Well, I have a busy hockey week ahead of me, as I bought myself a ticket to tomorrow night's game vs. the Stars (HI ADAM BURISH). My girlfriend is visiting her grandparents in Texas this week, so since I'm by my lonesome, I figured I'd buy myself a belated Xmas present and got a reasonably priced seat in the 200 level. Friday night we're driving up to Rockford for another IceHogs game. So I will have plenty of pictures to upload, and hopefully will get a couple posts up here by the end of the weekend!
2 comments:
THAT IS AWESOME! I've never been to a road watch either, figured it be a lot like your first experience so kinda avoided it, I think I'll make an effort next time it's some where near Lincoln Park (does that ever even happen? lol)
Love the Toews pics :)
Ah Rockford, my home town ... unfortunately lol I haven't lived there since the Hogs became part of the AHL but go to games when we visit...so different than the UC but still fun, great prices & seats...hope you had fun!
That's some bling! My fingers are so small, I'm afraid that ring would reach all the way up to my second knuckle. Good thing hockey players have big hands :)
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