Pricey road trip to Philly worth it, say Hawks fans

PHILADELPHIA - Hawthorn Woods' Ron Kelly was perfect this season - and was rewarded along with so many others with the perfect ending.

The 41-year-old salesman attended both Blackhawks' preseason games at the United Center.

He made the two-hour-plus round-trip for all 40 regular-season contests to sit in his Section 118 seats and, of course, showed up for all 11 home playoff games.

Kelly even hit the road to see the Hawks play at St. Louis, Columbus and Buffalo.

So when it became apparent the Hawks could claim their first Stanley Cup since 1961 on Wednesday night at Wachovia Center, there was no question he needed to make one more road trip.

Kelly and Prairie Grove's Todd Greenwald, who went in on season tickets together in 1998, paid $900 apiece for sixth-row seats to share in the moment.

"I've watched these kids grow up as Hawks and it's just a phenomenal thing," said Kelly, who has become friendly enough with Patrick Kane, among others, to joke about their shared inability to grow decent playoff beards.

"You can't miss this. This is history for us as Hawks fans. Maybe it legitimizes all those years of bad hockey. Maybe it just gives us a championship - something we haven't had for a long time."

As Kelly and Greenwald walked the crowded concourses before Game 6, they usually stuck with buddies Jason Falkinham and Jack Goldberg from Beach Park just in case Flyers fans did more than cuss at them.

Jack Basich and Stevan Desancic didn't share those fears. The Northwest Indiana residents flouted their fandom.

Desancic painted his face in red, black and white and donned his typical playoff gear - an Indian-style headdress and faux deerskin shirt - while Basich wore his spiked-hair skullcap that features autographs from Rocky Wirtz, Denis Savard and others.

"Anyone that thinks they're big enough, bring it on," said Basich, sipping his first beer of the night.

If you watched the game Wednesday, chances are good you saw the duo in their seats.

After Desancic won $17,000 in the Hawks' 50/50 raffle at Game 5 (and gave the woman who sold him the ticket a $1,000 tip), he turned to Basich and said, "We're going to Philly and sitting in the front row!"

Desancic paid $1,500 apiece for two seats in Sec. 115 right on the glass.

For the rest of their lives, they'll be able to say it was worth every penny.