Chicago Sports Radio Sucks

by Battery on Mar 9, 2010 1:37 PM CST

I just ran out to grab lunch , and I happened to scan my AM670 and they were talking about the Hawks anthem. They were trying to figure out how it started, and they had no idea. People were texting them saying it was when Iran released the hostages when Regan took office, and all kinds of crap.

Then the one guy said he has an issue when Jim Cornelison sings "our flag was still there" that he point at the flag.

Really?

How pathetic. It's not so much that they didn't know, but they just were guessing and apparently dont know about "the google".

So for the idiots on the radio here is the real story, thanks to Puck Daddy for running it and Jeff Bartl for writing it so well. And for the fans that just never heard the history, here it is. Personally, because of how it started, I love the tradition even more.

Link: http://tinyurl.com/yg29am7

Chicago’s National Anthem tradition

I get chills discussing what this feels like. I even interviewed current Anthem singer Jim Cornelison for my blog before the season because I needed to know what goes through his mind attempting to sing over 20,000 screaming fans before each home game.

The tradition started when the Blackhawks returned home for Game 3 of the 1985 Campbell Conference Finals trailing mighty Edmonton 2-0. The fans were so ecstatic, they began cheering during warm-ups and didn’t stop. They cheered through the National Anthem, throughout the entire game and saw their Blackhawks get back into the series.

When Chicago hosted the 1991 NHL All-Star Game just days after the Gulf War began, the tradition reached its pinnacle and inspired the country when Wayne Messmer bellowed out the tune over a packed house waving American flags and displaying signs supporting the troops.

I’ve never heard a stadium so loud than when I was in attendance for Game 1 against the Calgary Flames in last season’s playoffs. I couldn’t even hear Cornelison, it was THAT crazy at the United Center. Over 20,000 people standing, clapping and cheering at the top of their lungs to get behind their team is inspiring. It’s a tradition that’s stuck for nearly 25 years and will continue before each game as long the franchise exists. If you’ve never experienced this, you need to.

Here is a youtube link of the anthem during the all star game so you can see first hand why this became a tradition.

Anyways, the I’d be more offended at the dudes starting hawks chants than the cheering at the national anthem, as it’s more about patriotism than hockey imo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvpxVE_kQXg&feature=player_embedded

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For the record

this is the most common and frequent explanation for how the tradition began, but it’s certainly not the only one. Right around the time of the Olympics Rocky Wirtz himself gave an interview where he said it began following the 1980 Miracle on Ice.

It would be a good issue for the new Blackhawks official historian to put to rest.

I was there for that Calgary game, what an experience. I have also seen the SJ coach interviewed on NHL Network where he talks about how much he loves having his team play in front of our fans because all of the energy in the building gets both teams ready to play.

by Scott13 on Mar 9, 2010 1:55 PM CST reply actions

Sometime in the early 80s

I remember starting to cheer towards the end of the Anthem. I’ve always felt it was incited by Denis Savard beginning to skate before the end of the song.

Competitive violence, that's why you're here!

by cdz3210 on Mar 9, 2010 3:59 PM CST reply actions

Um, I listened to a good chunk of it also

and there were several theories thrown about. Like Scott13 said, even Rocky Wirtz disagrees with the commonly held belief that it started against Edmonton in 1985.

You can say Chicago sports radio sucks, but I wouldn’t cite this as a reason why. And as for “Googling”…I bet you could find people denying the Holocaust ever happened with a simple Google search. Just because it’s on the internet, that doesn’t mean it’s right. Just look at Rozner for Pete’s sake. If his column came up in a Google search, would you believe it?

by GenPabloSecobar on Mar 9, 2010 4:14 PM CST reply actions

why didnt

you just call in and correct them? seems kinda pointless to get that worked up over this

by TJ3117 on Mar 9, 2010 6:55 PM CST reply actions

FYI They say stupid shit all the time.

This post elaborates on one example of how Chicago MSM sucks (especially with Blackhawks coverage), but it’s easy to find other examples that aren’t as egregiously bad. Just yesterday Jeff Dickerson and Jesse Rogers tried to have a debate about whether Cutler or Huet was a bigger disappointment. During their conversation, Rogers also said that Huet was the 2nd biggest sports celebrity in Chicago. This mostly led to angry Bears fans texting in that no one cares about hockey. Your other options are listening to Waddle and Silvy just talk about how they don’t know anything about hockey, or listening to Danny Mac bitch about Huet and make fun of Boers and Bernstein trying to cover the Blackhawks.

The only guy on the radio who spends an appreciable amount of time on the Blackhawks is Les Grobstein (spelling?) and listening to him is like a text book on tape. Very caught up in sports history minutia and long, rambling tangents. Most of his show is predicated on disappointed sports fans making angry phone calls, or other geezers complaining about a bad call in a high school basketball game 50 years ago.

So yeah, I’m guessing that the anthem thing is not what’s grinding his gears. No point in calling in when ESPN & SCR just broadcast stupid opinions all the time.

"Why does Jay Cutler look so bad running these awful plays behind an incompetent offensive line?" - VeryFakeAlDavis

by TrialsBass on Mar 9, 2010 9:54 PM CST up reply actions

i guess my point is

If you know they don’t know or talk about the blackhawks as much or as insightful as you would like then don’t listen. There are millions of websites,this one included, that you can share thoughts and ideas with other blackhawks and hockey fans in general.

and honestly we all know hockey is 4th in this town behind the bears, cubs, sox and bulls so of course they are going to cater to those listeners because they are their audience. pretty simple. but hey to each his own i guess. i listen to waddle and silvy, and boers and bernstein because they are entertaining not because i hope they can give me some serious blackhawks discussion.

by TJ3117 on Mar 9, 2010 10:37 PM CST up reply actions

Wow didn't realize I was ranting; I can always appreciate humor

I’m thankful that I don’t have to go to the radio for my sports news and opinions, but I do end up listening to it on my commute (everything else on my car stereo is broken). Truthfully, I don’t have a problem with any of those guys. Loved Doug and OB last year because the Bears were so bad that they threw a fit after just about every game and racked up a shitload of FCC fines.

Interestingly enough, one of the topics that comes up frequently is hockey snobbery. So would you rather have the ‘Hawks get no pub, or just some bad commentary? I’m willing to deal with the silly discussions as long as it generates interest in the sport and the team. The Jesse Rogers/Jeff Dickerson thing did piss me off though.

And yes, I get much of my coverage from SBN and other sites because MSM is rather superficial with actual sports reporting.

"Why does Jay Cutler look so bad running these awful plays behind an incompetent offensive line?" - VeryFakeAlDavis

by TrialsBass on Mar 10, 2010 12:14 AM CST up reply actions

I would have

they never said their number and the one i found on the internet was their business office.

also it didnt seem like they were taking calls, i did send them a twitter message tho.

http://twitter.com/ChrisFalco/status/10234007690

Second City Hockey

by Battery on Mar 15, 2010 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions

They have to fill up the time

Discussions like these do that…

btw I love the Score, especially now that North and Murph are gone

by 815Sox on Mar 10, 2010 7:17 AM CST reply actions

Murph

You just hate the Murph because he’s a Cubs fan. I don’t disagree about North though. I also can’t stomach Terry Boers, who I’ve previously commented about on here.

by Badgerdano on Mar 12, 2010 4:29 PM CST up reply actions

IMO

Who cares what others think about Hockey? The stadium is sold out and the team is good. Hockey is number 4 in this city and will likely continue to be. Sports Radio is still learning how to cover hockey, it will take time.

by 815Sox on Mar 10, 2010 7:26 AM CST reply actions

biased...but

i know i’m biased here, but B&B tried to get to the bottom of this. they pretty much agreed that 85 was the official start, but hundreds of calls and texters came in arguing different dates. even bob verdi, the official hawks historian, couldn’t pin down a specific date. like most traditions, it evolved.

http://chicagonow.com/redlightdistrict

by jayz670 on Mar 10, 2010 9:36 AM CST reply actions

Radio

Not everyone in Chicago follows hockey, there are a few of us that are devoted and have been for a long time. Hockey had no place on the radio in Chicago until recently, we should just be glad they are even talking it. Especially B&B two huge baseball and football guys, they were just giving the info of the Stupid fans that call that show and there are tons of them. Hockey will became a greater part of the Chicago culture and the people will begin to become smarter ( not much hope, but a guy can try).

by Dust'em on Mar 10, 2010 11:28 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

Rec

Chicago hasn’t been a “Hockey Town” since the 50s

by 815Sox on Mar 10, 2010 6:09 PM CST up reply actions

Chicago hasn’t been a "Hockey Town" since the ~~50s~~ 2009’s

Second City Hockey

by Battery on Mar 15, 2010 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions

I've been going since the early 70's and I recall that the cheering first started near the ending of the anthem

As time went by the cheering started earlier and earlier in the anthem (and more fans participated) and it kind of snowballed to where nearly everyone participates and it goes for the entire anthem.

by Duck99 on Mar 10, 2010 4:49 PM CST reply actions

In conclusion

I guess, if sports is your business, I kinda expect you to know a little more about your teams than the average fan, especially if you’re going to do a segment on tradition like that.

Also, I rarely listen to sports talk or MSM, anymore, knowledgeable fans, blogs, and whatnot, are 1000x better. If anything I’ll listen to postgame stuff if I’m driving or watch the post game on csn/wgn

I actually like sports shows on Sirius/XM because they’re national, talk all sports and you dont get the homers nearly as much, or the “my sport is better than your sport”.

Anyways, it annoyed me, and I decided to rant.

It also amused me to see the piece about it in the Committed Indian for the next game as well.

Second City Hockey

by Battery on Mar 15, 2010 2:47 PM CDT reply actions

I agree that the motivation is patriotism...

…which I’m always ambivalent about, because, during the game, the guys we root for (except for Kane, Burish, and Buff) are all furriners.

I can’t help but wonder what the other players are thinking during all of this.

by cliffkoroll on Mar 15, 2010 4:45 PM CDT reply actions

Mike North

once said Joe Crede is going to be better than Brooks Robinson. I don’t know he was on this station or not at one point but that statement, albeit a baseball one goes to show they hire boobs.

When in Rome we shall do as the Romans, when in Hell we do shots at the bar.

by HolyBlackhawksBatman on Mar 17, 2010 4:07 PM CDT reply actions