SB Nation User Blog: mmaxon

Welcome back Mr. Williams

mmaxon — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:36:10 -0000

You might be excited about it being Eddie and Jobo night, but what really excites me about tonights game is Jason Williams returning to the lineup.

So gimme your predictions for his night?

I say +1, two assists.

Second Half Predictions?

mmaxon — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:48:54 -0000

I have the Hawks going 17-10-5 in the second half to put them at 40-33-9 for 89 points. I believe this is enough for a playoff spot, but only if they "Commit to the Indian". (Sorry, I had to throw it in). I'm in marketing and that was marketing gold. I think my prediction is generous, but if they stay a float in February out on the road, March will be very good the them and we'll see a playoff push for the first time in a long time.

I do find it interesting if you were able to read both Havlat's and Ruutu's comments about Savard's rant. Both of them played it off like they had no clue what was going on. This is going to be interesting to see how it plays out in the second half. The trade deadline is four weeks away from yesterday and I could see Ruutu being shipped off for a blueliner, but the problem is: Who is going to take him?

Ruutu's Comments

Havlat's Comments

Predictions? Comments? Savard-like rants?

Johansson traded to Florida

mmaxon — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:55:27 -0000

This is a good thing. This is a great thing.

ChicagoBlackhawks.com is reporting that the Hawks have traded defenseman Magnus Johansson to the Florida Panthers for a late round draft choice in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

I consider this a steal! I know we have been very short on defensemen especially as of late, but I welcome this move with open arms. It shows that Dale Tallon has his head on straight and really knows how to improve this team even if it is addition by subtraction. Johansson is not a NHL caliber defenseman and doesn't seem that he will be able to raise his game to that level in the future.

Also, the Hawks announced today that they have signed defenseman Brent Sopel to a 3-year contract extension. I think that these moves are related and it probably means that we will see Sopel on the ice this weekend maybe as soon as tonight. Sopel has been solid for the Hawks this season with the second highest plus/minus rating (+10) for defensemen. He was a training camp casualty when the Wings gave up on him in September and it seems as though he has something to prove this year.

I'm excited to see another piece of the puzzle get back on the ice very soon. He is needed badly and it will be soon enough we'll see Sop and Wisniewski back on the blue line together.

McDonough's latest on ChicagoBlackhawks.com

mmaxon — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:34:39 -0000

If you haven't noticed already.

The Blackhawks have made a couple of changes on their website lately. They are now listing underneather the day's top headlines the times and stations of when their players and management will be appearing on the radio for interviews. This is obvsiously a change that has been made since McDonough has taken over and a good one. The way for people to hear about your team is not to "catch" them on the radio, but to let the people know when they will be on and then give them the chance to tune in.

Yesterday, McDonough and Rocky Wirtz were on 890 WLS with Roe Conn. I didn't listen, but maybe some of you did and can comment.

Today, after his 2 goal performance (one being a Sharpie Shorty), Patrick Sharp will be on ESPN 1000 with Mac, Jurko and Harry at 3:40pm.

And on Wednesday night, December 26th, John McDonough, Dale Tallon and Rocky Wirtz will be on WSCR The Score 670 from 6pm to 7:20pm and will be taking calls from listeners. Jesse Rogers will be acting as a moderator. Fans who want to get on can call (312)644-6767. Then at 7:20pm the Hawks pre-game with Jesse Rogers, John Wiedeman and Troy Murray will start for Hawks/Predators.

Cubs President John McDonough to leave the Cubs and run the Blackhawks

mmaxon — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:01:53 -0000

The following article is being reported by cubs.com:

CHICAGO -- John McDonough, who has been with the Cubs since October 1983, most recently as team president, is reportedly stepping down to take over the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks have called a noon CT news conference for Tuesday, and McDonough is expected to be announced as team president at that time.
McDonough has been the Cubs' team president since Oct. 1, 2006, after serving as the club's senior vice president of marketing and broadcasting since May 2004.
In his 24 years with the Cubs, the team has enjoyed its 24 highest attendance totals in franchise history, including four consecutive seasons (2004-07) of drawing more than 3 million fans.
McDonough joined the Cubs in 1983 as director of sales and promotions, and was named the team's marketing director in 1987. He was promoted to vice president of marketing and broadcasting in December 1991.
He's responsible for the creation of the Cubs Convention, which began in 1986 as a winter fan fest and became the prototype for other league and club events. The Cubs Convention was the first of its kind among all professional sports, and has raised more than $5 million for Cubs Care.
McDonough replaced Andy MacPhail as team president after the 2006 season and boldly announced that the team's mission was to win the World Series. The Cubs did win the National League Central in 2007 under new manager Lou Piniella but were swept by Arizona in the NL Division Series.
McDonough's long-term job status had been uncertain because of the pending sale of Tribune Co. and the likely sale of the Cubs.

I personally think this is a great move on behalf of the Blackhawks and I don't know how they lured him away from the Cubs except for the fact that McDonough's job was secure with the impending sale of the team. I'm glad and sad at the same time. This is a much bigger gain for the Hawks than loss for the Cubs.

His track record in professional sports marketing is through the roof and he is responsible for many ideas like celebrities singing the 7th inning stretch and the Cubs Convention to name a few. As Pat Hughes says, "There's a drive hit deep to left... This ball's got a chance... ... ... GONE!" Rocky Wirtz has hit a home run for his first major move for the franchise!

Give Me Back My Organ!

mmaxon — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:42:14 -0000

After attending the Hawks dismantling of the Wings on Sunday night, my buddies and I wondered what had happened to the organ all night. We had heard that Frank was "sick" earlier in the week and figured that his absence was due to this. Then I saw on the Tribune's website that Frank was not sick, but indeed given a lesser role on game days.

<fieldset>Organizers

6:27 p.m.

Judging by the amount of e-mails I received today, it seems many Blackhawks fans are upset with the team's apparent decision to phase out long-time organist Frank Pelico.

Pelico has long been a fixture in front of the big pipe organ pounding away at the keys and leading Hawks fans in "Let's Go Hawks!" chants.

The Hawks were off today so I didn't get a chance to ask anyone in the organization what the deal is, but it appears from reports that Pelico has been replaced with recorded "popular" music.

I don't know Pelico, but I always get a kick out of seeing him in the press box area hunched over the organ wearing his Blackhawks sweater. It's true that hearing the same organ music before games can get monotonous if you arrive as early for games as I do, but the direction they've gone with music at the United Center is beyond disturbing.

I'm not sure who thinks it's a good idea to pump in ear-splitting, non-sensical music at every break in the action but it borders on ridiculous. Especially when the arena is half-empty. EVERY song starts out too loud and has to be turned down and I'm not even sure what genre the music is. I would call it "Shrieking."

It's obvious the Hawks are distancing themselves from the plodding, stuck-in-the-60's organization they've been with the young players, Ice Girls, home games on TV, etc., but some things should be left alone. Not every new fan is going to be a 20-something who reacts to loud music and flashing lights like they are part of a big production.

I don't want to come off like a curmudgeon, but this is not a minor-league hockey team where bells and whistles are needed to draw crowds. If the Hawks just keep heading in the direction they are with the young players and fan-friendly decisions, people will come to the United Center, have a good time and come back.

It's too bad Pelico is getting caught up in the shifting culture at the UC--the Hawks have a long and storied tradition and organ music and Pelico should remain part of it. </fieldset>

I understand that the Hawks are trying to attract crowds, but what I don't understand is how the organ relates to this. No one watching on TV can hear the organ during the game or in between periods when they cut out the Frank Pelico Show during the second intermission. I find this to be a complete ignorance against the claim that the Blackhawks want to keep traditions alive while moving forward as a franchise. Frank Pelico is a great part of the hockey experience at the UC and should not be overlooked.