Hawk Tawk!
This is my friend's new Blackhawks blog that he just put together. He's a sports journalism major, so he knows his stuff! Check him out!
My least favorite thing about hockey fans is when they can't respect another team...
Per Wikipedia:
There have been numerous reasons cited for Smythe’s decision to rename the team. The Maple Leafs say that the name was chosen in honour of the Maple Leaf Regiment from World War I.
Now can people stop being inconsiderate assholes about the spelling of Leafs? Are we done acting like elementary school kids? It’s a proper noun to honor men who served in World War I. Additionally, Conn Smythe himself chose that name. I know that most of y’all respect that trophy we have that is named after him, now respect his decision from generations past. Why anyone thinks it’s funny to pick on that is beyond me. Fans who say that they can’t take a team seriously because they supposedly spell something wrong in their name irritate me to no end. Did you know that technically the word Blackhawks does not exist in the dictionary because it is a proper noun that is not commonly used. And if we want to dissect the argument of not taking a team seriously because of something silly in their name and/or logo, I for one have never seen a penguin wear ice skates, let alone use them properly, or handle a hockey stick for that matter. Hockey fans should have respect for every NHL team, because they’re exactly that…NHL hockey teams. They are one part of an entire organization. I can understand not liking some teams. Almost everyone has one or two teams that they just do not like. I do not like the Red Wings, but I sure as hell respect what an outstanding franchise they are.
Maybe I’m asking for too much from people, but at least now fans don’t have a good excuse to pick on Toronto’s name…
Okay, I’m done being nit-picky now.
I was the runner-up in the Dave Bolland haiku contest today!
My friend Haley actually won the grand-prize (two tickets to tonight's Blackhawks game) and my other friend Cheryl and I won the runner-up prizes! All female hockey fans representing our favorite team! Very cool and very fun. My prize: a Tony Esposito bobblehead! GO HAWKS!
Playing With Fire: Make death threats and you're going to get burned
I don’t really care if you’re just venting or joking around, there is nothing light about wishing death or severe bodily harm on a hockey player, a hockey fan or anyone for that matter. I can understand that things said on Twitter/Tumblr during games are usually in the heat of the moment things that no one sincerely means (and usually they’re just along the lines of “GOD I HOPE SO-AND-SO CHECKS SO-AND-SO INTO THE DAMN BOARDS UNTIL HIS HEAD SPINS”), but when you rant non-stop on Tumblr, or whatever your networking site of choice is, hours after games are over about the horrible things that you want to do to other teams’ players or their fan base, you look like a damn fool who can’t control that brain-to-mouth function you are lucky enough to possess. Don’t ignore. Use it. Honestly, I’m ashamed of Blackhawks fans that make death threats. You’re not cool and you’re sure as hell not funny. You’re a damn embarrassment to your team’s fan base, that’s what you are. Chew your words thoroughly before you spit that garbage out, especially on the internet.
I only want Scott playing one position tonight: BUTT. Stand in front of Luongo and don't move from there. Waggle your butt, fart, flirt with Lu. Whatever.
"What are your thoughts on crazed hockey fans befriending hockey players on Facebook & knowing every bit of information about said player?"
I really wish that Blogger had a nifty little feature where I could receive questions like on Tumblr. I get all of my best hockey questions on that cesspool. Oh well. Anyway, my answer to the Facebook question is pretty split. It’s a two-way street. You have to look at it this way: not only are the fans finding them on Facebook, but the players are on Facebook in the first place. I know most have their profiles set to private so that you can only find them, but cannot view anything. If they get a Facebook during their hockey career, they’re free game as far as I'm concerned and undoubtedly want to be found. If they don’t want to be found, they’re either not on Facebook or have taken the necessary precautions to make sure that their profile is private. When I still had Facebook, I was friends with Jeremy Morin for a time, but that was it. He accepted me and took the risk. That was his judgement call. And my profile was actually set to private and unsearchable. Facebook gives you the tools to have a stalker-free experience, it’s just up to you to utilize them. Although I will admit that fans that troll through multiple players’ profiles because they genuinely want to know every detail of their lives are a tad overboard. I have friends that go through player profiles for sheer amusement, which I think is fine. Some of the pictures these boys will post on their Facebooks are pretty hilarious.
My Season of Technology; What social networking has taught me about being a hockey fan
So this was my first hockey season where I actually utilized social networking sites and technology in my following, and by that I mean blogs (my own and others), mobile alerts, Twitter, Tumblr, etc... Before that I was simply a game-by-game fan. I didn't check stats, watch other teams' games, follow other players, or know much about the salary cap or league happenings. I just turned the TV on when the game started. Let me tell you, all of these technological outlets have most definitely changed me as a fan. Here are the top three things that I have learned in my season of technology.
Relying on the Rookie
Blackhawks at Canucks, 04/15/2011, Round 1, Game 2
FIRST PERIOD: Have you ever seen a chicken run around with its head cut off? Yeah, I haven't either, but I imagine it looks a lot like Chicago's first period of play against Vancouver in Game 2. Sloppy passes, turnovers galore, and moments that were likely to send most of Chicago into cardiac arrest as the Blackhawks scrambled to keep up with Vancouver's physical style of play. The Canucks opened the game with Alexander Edler laying out Patrick Kane along the boards, a hit that immediately sent him back to the bench. It seemed like a majority of the first period was in Chicago's end, with Corey Crawford doing his damned best to keep the Hawks in the game. About halfway through the first, Nick Leddy was manhandled and the Blackhawks got their first power play of the game. CLOWN SHOES. Back to even-strength after two minutes of nada (does it even really count as even strength for us?) and the Canucks draw first blood with a goal from Jannik Hansen with 12:30 left in the second, assisted by the Sedin twins. Cue my skin crawling. From there the game just got more and more physical. Checks everywhere. Brent Seabrook made his presence known with a few hits worthy of that vending machine commercial. Speaking of commercials, playing that One Goal commercial that features half of the team talking about winning...yeah, it's probably not the best idea to play that when we're down and playing like it's pre-season or something. Awkward. Anyway, with forty seconds left in the first, Patrick Sharp is called for tripping and heads to the sin bin. The Hawks end the first period with 1:20 left on the Vancouver power play, down by one and yet out shooting the Canucks 7-6.
"Your thoughts on Bettman fining and ejecting Wings fans for throwing octopus on the ice?"
This is a question that was left in my Tumblr's ask box. I'm going to guess that this question stemmed from the recent $500 fine a Wings fan received from the Detroit police after hurling an octopus onto the ice during Game 1 on Tuesday night. The fan was also ejected, a punishment that isn't exactly new and has happened before, but the fine is relatively new. Don't be fooled. I may be a Blackhawks fan, but I've always enjoyed the octopus twirling tradition that exists in Detroit. You have to admit, it is pretty entertaining to watch fans of all shapes and sizes whirling slimy sea creatures above their heads. That tradition has been around for nearly sixty years now. It’s a part of Detroit hockey, and trying to take it away is like trying to tell Detroit fans that they can no longer call their city Hockey Town as far as I’m concerned. The Panthers throw rubber rats, the Yotes throw rubber snakes and the Wings throw octopi. That’s just how it is.
However, I do understand why the NHL is instating this punishment. An octopus, if you’ve ever held one (I have), is an extremely slimy creatures. I know that there have been complaints in the past about the gunk the octopi leave behind on the ice because it’s hard to clean off or even see sometimes, which, if skated over, I can imagine would become dangerous to players and refs on the ice, although I have yet to hear of such an injury resulting from the octopus twirling. Maybe the Wings and the league can come to some peaceful compromise such as throwing rubber octopi onto the ice instead of actual ones? I don’t know. Just a thought.
Female Fan Frenzy: Charlene
- First name: Charlene
- Twitter handle: @Blackhawksgrl88
- Favorite NHL team(s): Chicago Blackhawks
- Fan since: Forever
- How did you originally become a Blackhawks fan? Went to my first game in the 90’s and was completely hooked.
- Were you ever a fan of a different team before the Blackhawks? Nope.
- In your opinion, why are the Blackhawks such a great team to be a fan of? Young, talented group of guys who play the game hard and with a bunch of heart.
- What is it about the game of hockey that you like so much? The speed and the talented players.
- If you could change one thing about hockey, what would it be and why? The officiating, I mean c’mon.
- Which rule would you toss from the rulebook? Goaltender interference, especially when it gets misused.
Female Fan Frenzy: Teri
- First name: Teri
- Twitter handle: @tdspringer
- Favorite NHL team: Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and whoever is playing the Buffalo Sabres.
- Fan since: 1963
- How did you originally become a Penguins/Red Wings/Blackhawks fan? Wings: my uncle was the team dentist. I went to my first game in 1963. Hawks: lived [in Chicago]. Parents were friends with Mikita’s. I used to babysit their kids, and Meg later babysat my son. Penguins: not sure why. I have just followed them since expansion.
- Were you ever a fan of a different team before the Penguins/Red Wings/Blackhawks? I think #5 answers this pretty well.
- In your opinion, why are the Penguins/Red Wings/Blackhawks such a great team to be a fan of? Wings and Hawks have a great history. Pens, I am friends with someone on the team now.
- What is it about the game of hockey that you like so much? What’s not to like? It’s fast, it’s intense, and it’s on ice and has hot men.
- If you could change one thing about hockey, what would it be and why? Colin Campbell. I am ready, willing and very able to step into his job tomorrow for no pay, just expenses.
- Which rule would you toss from the rulebook? Instigator.
Queen Crash Revamped
I know that this blog has been grossly neglected in the past two months. Between schoolwork, the Blackhawks making the playoffs by the skin of their teeth, discovering the succubus that is Tumblr, and launching a whole new set of hockey designs on a brand new hockey Tumblr, I've been overwhelmed. I swear that's going to change, preferably soon. If you haven't noticed, I've revamped the whole blog with a new look. Hope that everyone likes it. I apologize to my followers (do I even have any?) for the long absence.
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