Here is a test for all Blackhawks fans out there: name
three, make it one, Hawks player from before 2007. Take a minute. Anyone? Eric
Daze? Tony Amonte? Nikolai Khabibulin?
I am not trying to practice for an
audition with the show Stump the Schwab or attempting to impress lovers of
sports nerds. My goal is to point out a problem that plagues the sporting
world. This issue currently infests the hockey scene in the Chicagoland area.
The problem I speak of are bandwagon fans springing up like weeds.
So called Blackhawks fans have come out of nowhere to support “their”
team. Hockey sweaters of Kane, Toews, and Hossa have become a fashion fad like sperrys or Oakleys. That is just what being a Hawks fan has become: a fad.
Ask most Hawks fans why they cheer for the team and if they answered you
honestly they would say “Cause it’s what everyone else is doing.” If you rooted
for the Hawks in the early 2000's you were looked at like a homeless man
preaching random bible passages on the street corner. Now if you don’t root for
the boys in red, and you live in the Chicago area, you are a cast-off.
True, there are die-hard fans out there that have been through the days when the
Hawks were not on television. I tip my cap to them and pat them on the back.
However before the year that ended with Toews grabbing the Cup from goblin Gary
Bettman, the United Center would be half-filled for Hawks games. The most
popular hockey team in Chicago was the Wolves of the AHL located in
remote Rosemont.
I want the Blackhawks to win another cup; I truly do. Seeing
the Madhouse on Madison rocking is a tremendous sight for a city whose baseball
teams are struggling right now. Still,the springing up of these
fans only after success, casts a negative light on Chicago sports fans.
Most
fans of the Blackhawks are now the prime example of bandwagon fans. I am not
the only one who thinks this. Ask Red Wings fans, Blues fans, or any other fans
in hockey.
I do not expect this to change any time soon. I do want to
get the word out though that if you are a Hawks fan, stick with the squad
through thick and thin. If they struggle next year, still pack the UC. Educate
yourselves about the non-mainstream players like Sheldon Brookbank and Nick
Leddy. Enjoy these winning seasons Hawks fans; we wished we could sniff this
success when Jocelyn Thibault was between the pipes.
While you guys watch the
Hawks throughout the rest of the playoffs, I’ll be enjoying deserted White
Sox games. Anyone want to join that bandwagon? Didn’t think so.
Follow Nick on Twitter @KapN93
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