We shouldn’t begrudge the Blackhawks if they really believe the Vancouver Canucks are their most-hated rivals. The Hawks are victims of their youth and limited life experience.
So be it. Draw a bulls-eye on the back of Ryan Kesler, who called Hawks forward Andrew Ladd a coward. Odd comment on the heels of Ladd getting the best of the Vancouver center in a middleweight bout.
Both teams publicly have expressed their mutual disdain. OK, I’ll play along.
Pull out all the stops getting under the skin of Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo. Dustin Byfuglien, who was working on occupying crease time in the Hawks’ workout Wednesday, should take a page out of “Slapshot” and blurt inflammatory comments about Luongo’s wife as he camps out in the harrassable goalie’s kitchen.
Hate. Then hate some more. Some of this intolerance is real. Some of it is manufactured. Fake anger can be as useful as any, I suppose.
From the eyes of a 21-year-old, whether he plays for the Hawks or wears a four feathers hat in the upper tank of the United Center, I’m sure Vancouver does feel like the Hawks’ most contemptuous rivalry. It isn’t, of course. That would be Detroit. And by landslide. The Red Wings are the Green Bay Packers in Bauers.
But we’ll save Detroit loathing for the conference finals — if the Hawks dump Vancouver and the Wings dispatch San Jose. Right now, it’s time to stick pins in Canucks Voodoo dolls.
I’m jogging my memory of how spectacular Canucks goalie Richard Brodeur was when he stoned the Hawks in the 1982 playoffs, en route to the Stanley Cup finals.
OK, I remember. Yeah, I hate ’em, too.
Which happens first: Jake Peavy records his first win? Or Mount Zambrano erupts over his demotion to the bullpen? Aces. Right.
Thumbs up to the Bears for trading Jamar Williams to Carolina for safety Chris Harris, whose interception of Peyton Manning on the Colts’ first series preserved the Bears 7-0 lead in Super Bowl XLI. Harris’ return makes their secondary better and is an admission of their mistake to let him get away three summers ago.
Thumbs down to the Bears for not dismissing director of college scouting Greg Gabriel until this week. After the draft. I know the Bears didn’t have first- or second-round picks, but if you think a guy is bad and you’re going to show him the door, don’t you do that during college football season? Or at least before the Senior Bowl and the combine?
Hold on … I think the White Sox just grounded into another double play.
To make things fair, I think LeBron James should take all of his shots with his left hand the next time he plays the Bulls.
A month into the baseball season, Marlon Byrd has been the most productive player on either side of town. This is a sign of either a great under-the-radar move by Jim Hendry or that a long, long summer is ahead.
Former Blackhawk Jeremy Roenick, a rookie television analyst, told my radio partner Matt Spiegel that he and Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro are golfing buds. Guessing there will plenty of room on the calendar for tee times this summer.
I’ll be at Churchill Downs for my fourth Kentucky Derby Saturday. It’s true what they say about every sports fan needing to experience the Derby, but it has nothing to do with horseracing. Cheers.
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Dan McNeil hosts “The Danny Mac Show” weekdays from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. on WSCR-AM 670.
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