Maestro!
“The sound of the orchestra is one of the most magnificent musical sounds that has ever existed.” – Chick Corea
By Rich Lindbloom
I recall talking to RoseLee and Earl between periods of a game last year, by the pillar they lean against in front of Section 101. Lonnie, one of the two “brothers” who sit in the row directly behind them, was also in the vicinity, and joined the conversation. Lonnie obviously had made note of the numerous musical references in my musings, asking me if I ever listened to classical music. I’m not sure if he was trying to encourage me to broaden my horizons in musical taste, or was subtly critiquing my hockey references to The New York Dolls or The Village People.
It seems that classical music is more of an upper class, “hoity-toity” genre of music. You know, tuxedos, bow ties, champagne – the sophisticates. If the truth be known, I have a lot more in common with the “hoi-polloi” like Willie Robertson from Duck Dynasty, than the upper crust. (Hoi-polloi = dregs of society, masses, rabble, riff raff)
At any rate, I fumbled around trying to answer Lonnie’s question, quickly realizing he could read through me like a cheap book. I sheepishly admitted that was not an area of my expertise! I do have three classical albums in my collection – a three record set of a Haydn String Quartet, Gustav Holst’s The Planets and an Arthur Rubinstein piano concerto. My brother Bob stoked my interest a few years back when he told me that’s about all he listens to on the radio anymore. I tried listening, but had a hard time figuring it all out.
Well, the light finally went on as I drove home from Grand Forks, North Dakota on Monday after dropping my son Greg off at school. It’s an 11 to 12 hour ride depending on traffic and weather conditions. Trying to find a station you like, let alone a decent song, can prove to be a challenge. I finally got sick of hitting the “seek” button and turned the radio off. Then it dawned on me…
Why don’t I try something different and just listen to classical music for the bulk of the ride home. Ya know, edjamacate myself a little – we can all use a little refinement. I found a Public radio station and gave it a whorl. Much to my delight, I found myself enchanted. It was fresh and unpredictable, making the long ride seemingly fly by. Best of all, it was all new to me. And lest anyone think that classical music is a soothing, soporific affair, let it be known that only one car passed me on the 742 mile trek. Not quite a Taj Majal “Six days on the road and I’ve got to see my baby tonight,” moment, but it pumped me up none the less.
I’m not sure that one of Wisconsin’s Finest Cheese Heads would have listened to my story about being pumped up on classical music, but I had the alibi prepared just in case. Besides, if that didn’t work I figured I could praise the Packers. Actually, I think a lot of Wisconsin called in sick on Monday. I felt my odds were pretty good talking my way out of a ticket. (On a side note, my daughter Taylor gave a Glenwood officer the worst ever excuse for a traffic violation. When he pointed out that she hadn’t come to a complete stop at a stop sign she said, “No one comes to a complete stop at this stop sign.” And he let her go!)
As I approached the Illinois border, it dawned on me; Corey Crawford is the classical music of goal tending. Like classical music, we know he’s good, yet so many fans just don’t tend to appreciate him. A “let’s flip to another station,” mindset. I had to laugh, when not banging my head against the wall, when many fans were saying trade Cor-dawg to reduce the salary cap. “He’s not worth $6 million,” was a common refrain. Bring up dat Darling guy and go with him and Raanta. After all, “You only need a mediocre goalie with the team the Hawks have out in front of him.”
The dump Crow while we can get something for him picked up a lot of steam after his foot was stepped on by a solidly built Wisconsin woman in the mosh pit, while attending a Rise Against concert at The House of Booze. All the pundits have claimed he hasn’t been the same goaltender he was before the Wisconsin behemoth took him down. To be honest, I could not notice any discernible difference in Crow’s play, other than a few more goals were trickling through. However, the questions about his possibly injury related struggles, were picking up a head of steam in the media.
Finally, Steve Konroyd noted before the Wild game, where Corey ended up stopping 42 out of 44 shots, that “the team out in front of him,” hadn’t been all that stellar lately either. Hell, against Colorado, there was no team out in front of him when Nathan McKinnon dished the disc to Talbot to put the Avalanche up 2 on 0 at the 1:17 mark of the first period. There’s that and the old axiom, “hockey gonna hockey,” (i.e. the puck takes weird bounces sometimes), which certainly had an effect on Corey’s declining save %.
Despite the incessant doubting of his abilities, Corey has had a pretty impressive career with the Hawks. The Chateauguay, Quebec native was named to the NHL Rookie All Star team, wrestling the starting goal tending position from Marty Turco in 2010-11. He posted 30 wins that season, and 30 more in his sophomore campaign. The second year was when the Hawks bowed out to an inferior Coyote team – and Corey was called a lot of bad names for letting in two softies. (That’s the goal tenders lot, isn’t it. No matter how many times they bail you out, the fans and media are going to remember the gaffes.)
In the season shortened lockout year, 2012-13, Corey went 19-5-5 while sharing the pipes with Ray Emery. Coach Q relied heavily on Crawford in the playoffs – and that worked out pretty good when Corey battled Tuukka Rask toe to toe. I’m going to step out on a tenuous limb here and say the Blackhawks will go nowhere in the playoffs without Cor-dawg manning the pipes. His career playoff numbers, 2.21 GAA and .920 Save %, are not too shabby. Over the last 4 regular seasons, Crow has posted a 2.36 GAA and .914 Save %. Oh yeah, I forgot though, it’s the team out in front of him. Gag me with a wooden spoon.
Currently, Corey is 4th in the NHL with a 2.15 GAA, and 10th in the NHL in Save % at .924. As the saying goes, “If it is not Baroque, don’t fix it.”
Classical music was once described as “anything that lasts a long time.” A bit like the NHL season, eh? I recall trying to describe classical music to my friend Mike McP back in our college days. I used the word, “soothing,” to which he tersely replied, “No, that is the one thing you cannot call it!” (According to a professor at Notre Dame) I wonder if he’d let me get away with calling it “Corey Crawford.”
At any rate, after my 742 mile trek, I have to say I feel a bit more sophisticated. I feel I can finally have a semi-intelligent conversation with Lonnie. Although I’ll still kick anybody’s ass who advises Stan Bowman to trade our Maestro! And I sit in Section 320, Row 11 seat 7 if you want to discuss this further. After his sterling 42 save effort against the Wild last week, Eddy-O asked Corey if the beginning of the season, before his foot injury, was the best hockey he had played in his life. Corey gave a great answer, “The Cup run in 2013 was pretty good.”
I smell another Cup or two in our maestro’s future.
Other important stuff:
It absolutely drives me crazy when fans say we shouldn’t have lost to Edmonton. They had gone 2-1-2 prior to defeating the Hawks. In addition, they had lost a series of one goal games. They have a lot of speed and Ben Scrivens is an excellent goaltender. There are no gimmee’s in the NHL.
I need one or two of you old farts to help me out with this one. Do any of you recall the game where Stan Mikita was acting like a conductor in the penalty box at the Forum in Montreal. He stood on the bench waving his sticks and hand in time to the Canadian fan’s jeering and heckling, until everyone in the place was laughing. Stan Mikita was a symphony.
Did you get a chance to check out Jamal Mayers bow tie the other night? I’m pretty sure he’s one of the hoity-toity.
Is it just me, or does Mike Yeo bear a resemblance to Peabody?
Teuvo is a thing. Love watching him play so far.
Rich Lindbloom
