Snake Bit
“The world is not respectable; it is mortal, tormented, confused, deluded forever; but it is shot through with beauty, with love, with glints of courage and laughter; and in these, the spirit blooms timidly, and struggles to the light amid the thorns.” – George Santayana.
By Rich Lindbloom
Am I the only one who gets goose bumps when I read a quote like Santayana’s? It seemed to be a snapshot of the Blackhawk season this year. And to think many of you thought I possess no more knowledge than, “Hit Someone.” I’m not sure even most of the intelligentsia in the 100 section can digest that run-on-ish sentence! I guess if you’re a philosopher you can get away with that stuff.
For those of you who need help digesting such a heavy thought, allow me to interpret it for you; the good news is it’s rather apparent the Blackhawks have not peaked too early. In fact, were pretty tangled up in those nasty thorns.
The bad news is, watching the Hawks the last few games has left me feeling morose. Something just ain’t right. Maybe when we get Johnny Oduya back, possibly Trevor van Riemsdyk, the pieces of the puzzle will begin to take shape. Right now this team reminds me of my half-hearted attempts at puzzling. I can get pieces that are pretty close, but often times try to squeeze them into a spot. As anyone who has ever puzzles knows, when it’s right, it’s right. As we begin the stretch run is it just me, or do other Hawk fans feel we’re still trying to squeeze some parts in our lineup. Has the creepy thought of, “we’re getting older,” entered your “fragile, eggshell mind” as Jim Morrison so eloquently put it; certainly the core is at the very least, maturing.
Actually, the utter discombobulation caused by Patrick Kane’s absence, has been compounded by a term I think many of us are starting to label Patrick Sharp with – snake bit. Sharpie has been working his butt off, with very little to show for his efforts. Patrick was robbed by both Talbot, and the cross bar in the Ranger game. Instead of limiting Sharps playoff time, perhaps Coach Q needs to take a page out of Moses’s play book.
As the Israelite’s approached the Promised Land, they grew increasingly impatient with Moses’s, (and more specifically, God’s), leadership and map reading ability. The people begin to grumble against God and Moses for about the bazillionth time, saying “Have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food or water, and we detest this miserable food!” (the manna which God allegedly provided for them each and every day.) After abiding, providing and guiding the Israelite’s for almost 40 years, God had enough of their incessant grumbling and sent fiery snakes among the people, which bit the people causing many to die.
The people begged Moses to intercede on their behalf, so that “He” may remove the snakes from them. The Lord tells Moses to make a snake and set it on a pole. He told Moses that if they look to at the bronze snake Moses made and attached to the pole- they would not die. The snake was a subtle representation of their sin, which would eventually be nailed to a cross some 1400 years later. I think you know where I’m going with this…
I know this may seem nonsensical to many; however, perhaps all Coach Q needs to do to bust Sharpie’s, and several other Hawks snake bit ways, is attach a bronze snake to a hockey stick. (Toews pass on a 2 on 1 with Hossa was another snake bit moment, eh?) The three coaches can take turns holding it up for the players to gaze upon periodically before they pull the trigger. You might think I’m crazy, but it worked for Moses and the Israelite’s! The ladies below came up with a slightly different suggestion;
The Patrick Sharp Fan Club discusses his slump at a recent get together. Their conclusion, “He needs more of momma’s meatballs.”
While the game against the Rangers was a marked improvement over the Oiler fiasco, Cam Talbot put a kibosh on the proceedings, sending the faithful to the exits grumbling among-st themselves. (Ha, when Lundquist comes back will the Rangers ever have a goalie controversy!) Both Talbot and Corey Crawford brought their A+ games to the rink Sunday night. Talbot turned aside 29 Hawk attempts and was awarded the number one star of the game. Crawford, turned aside 36 of 37 shots, earning the number three star accolades. Derrick Brassard ended the contest with an heat seeking missile that appeared to sneak just under Cor-dawg’s blocker. I had to chuckle when, in a post-game interview, Brassard admitted he had a lot of bad memories of the United Center from his days in Columbus. He just may be on the hottest team in hockey at the moment.
I wasn’t chuckling when I noticed Rozsival out there at the beginning, and end, of the OT 4 on 4. Don’t get me wrong, Rozsival actually played ok against the Rangers; I especially enjoyed the ride he gave St. Louis along the boards behind Crawford in the third. However, is he really our best option when the open space on the ice increases 20%? Again, I’m no genius, but Michal’s skating, especially at that point, appeared a bit labored. It’s obvious he tried hard, but he seemed ready to lose his balance at any moment. Although Brassard wasn’t exactly his man on the game winner, moments prior he chased his mark almost all the way to the benches at center ice. I realize OT is more of a one on one proposition, but somehow having your left defenseman almost directly vertically in line with your right defenseman, is a disaster waiting to happen.
Rozsival’s partner, Duncan Keith must wonder what he did to lose a Seabrook and gain a Rozsival as his partner. I was actually wondering what Keith was doing on a play that left him with the puck, all alone, about 13 feet from Talbot. The ranger net minder was still out of position as Keith debated what to do. (I guarantee you, that puck would have been embedded in the twine if it were Stamkos or Ovechkin with that golden opportunity.) Duncan waited a moment, skated two steps closer and absolutely blasted the puck smack dab into the middle of a Ranger defenseman’s shin pads. Reportedly, when he let it fly, he hollered, “Feel the pain!”
The only thing I can gather is Keith wanted to make sure he got the puck on net. At any rate, the hesitation blues issue will be brought up at the next meeting of the Duncan Keith Admiration Society, which coincidentally will be our first meeting. All I can figure is by moving closer, he was attempting to reduce the possibility of missing the net. To me, it bordered on a decision of someone with an alcohol addled brain.
The other Blackhawk who had a notable game against the Rangers was Teuvo Teravainen. The kid appears to have ice water in his veins, adding new meaning to the phrase cool as a cucumber. If I were Coach Q, he would be put on the number one PP unit without hesitation. (and I know hockey, LOL) He seemed to be the only Hawk who could skate the puck into the Rangers zone. He’s a perfect fit for Kaner’s perch along the right mid boards on the PP. Like Crazy 88’s, T-dawg does not get easily flustered, treating the puck more like “his precious” than a hot potato. His eyes are always up – looking for that slight opening. Give him a little space and he’ll cut your heart out and hand it to you in a carry out bag.
A couple of players who I expect will play with a bit more heart tonight, are the members of the Hawks newest edition of the third line; Bickell/Richards/Sharp. When I saw that trio penciled in together, I immediately thought, “This could be good. All three players hate Coach Q right now and will hopefully take it out on the Coyotes!” I’m typing this about two hours before game time – although I feel quite confidant this line will be the pick to click. Damn the torpedos – full speed ahead lads. Pretend Smith is Coach Q.
The last point I want to make about the discomfort many of us our feeling as we inch closer to the post season, came to mind in the scoreless second period. As I watched the proceedings, I noticed how dead the United Center was – you could have heard a pin drop. To be very blunt, the problem is the price of beer at the United Center. With tip, a cold Honkers Ale runs you approximately $10.00. (Coincidentally, that was the price of a ticket in the 300 section in Toews and Kane’s rookie season.) It’s almost as if the Hawk organization is forcing us into a self-imposed prohibition. It’s turned the United Center into a polite crowd.
The “Family Oriented” atmosphere has silently replaced blood and beer thirsty hockey fans. Hockey fans when I grew up, tended to have a rough edge to them, especially the ladies – and I use that term very loosely! If there wasn’t a fight on the ice every game, you could pretty much count on one or two in the stands. You sort of took your life into your own hands when you entered the jam packed bathrooms – with only one way in and the same way out. Now I’m not saying you need to have 6 to 8 beers at a game. Yet when you have to decide on your second or third beer in a game, or picking up baby formula on the way home, well you lose an edge in the arena. Instead of hollering, “Kill the ref” or challenging one of the opposition’s meatballs to climb into the stands to have a go at it, we have the half dead, frozen chosen eagerly awaiting the next Zamboni race on the Jumbo-trom.
So, in summary, if the Hawk organization is serious about righting our listing ship before the playoffs begin, decrease the beer prices. Actually, how about the winner of the Zamboni race gets a free beer instead of whatever it is they give away now. That’s a no brainer. Also, if the Hawks continue to remain snake bit, well there’s that bronze snake on a pole thing.
At any rate, keep “struggling to the light amid the thorns.” When it’s right, hockey is filled with glints of courage, laughter, beauty and love.
Other Important Stuff:
“The first day of spring was once a time for taking the young virgins into the fields, there in dalliance to set an example in fertility for nature to follow. Now we just turn the clocks ahead an hoour and change the oil in the crankcase.” – E.B. White
Seven more days until the swallows return to Capistrano, a notable harbinger of Spring. They complete their 6,000 mile journey from Argentina on March 19th. Sort of give a new meaning to the phrase, “Snow Birds,” eh? Life is full of little miracles if we only have eyes to see.
Do you know anyone whose spirits were not lifted today in the sunshine and 60 degree weather?
Is it just me, or does it seem the playoffs actually begin about right now. For teams on the cusp, every game is a playoff game. A lot of fierce hockey is played in the month of March.
Any chance Sharpies first shift tonight comes up snake eyes?
Any chance we fans stop grumbling? Nah, I didn’t think so either.
Tonight’s forward line up, if it remains true to the earlier practice, is the one I think we should go to war with; 23/10/81; 20/86/80; 29/91/10; 42/16/65.
I continue to recover from my brother’s blatant cheap shot. As soon as I’m about 80%, I vow to go after him. It’s like the young pup trying to become the Alpha dog. You have to nip that stuff in the bud immediately.
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Rich Lindbloom
