Hey, how 'bout a hand for the Hawks' fans?
Mike "Doc" Emrick's call on NBC-TV of Patrick Kane's impossible-to-see winning goal sounded something like, "Schubaduacrosstheskates. Oh, my, it rattled around and then it kicked on back and then ... SCORE!!!"
By then, half the Hawks bench had spilled onto the ice, and the roar of the crowd at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Woodridge was deafening.
The restaurant's sound system then pre-empted any further TV commentary, and "Chelsea Dagger" blared forth. At least, I don't think the Hawks theme song was being played in Philadelphia.
"I think I'm gonna have a heart attack," gasped Lee Ann Stawczyk.
Unlike some of us Johnny-Toews-come-lately fans, Stawczyk has been solidly in the Hawks corner since she was a schoolgirl. She lived near Elmer Vasco, a member of the 1961 Stanley Cup champions, and became a dyed-in-the-wool Hawks lover.
On Championship Night, Hawks sweaters abounded at BWW, bearing the names of the current heroes - Toews, Kane, Byfuglien. Stawczyk was the only person wearing the "3" sweater of the late Keith Magnuson, a Hawks star of the '70s. Vasco died even earlier, and Magnuson gave the eulogy at Vasco's funeral. Wearing Magnuson's sweater was Stawczyk's homage to her former neighbor.
I met Stawczyk when she sent me an e-mail with the subject line: "Blackhawks #1 Fan," encouraging us to take a picture of her garage, where she had painstakingly painted the Hawks' Indian head logo. The story of her love of all things Hawks was chronicled by staff writer Beth Mistretta.
A few more details of Stawczyk's fanaticism trickled out as we watched the Hawks win the Stanley Cup Wednesday night. Her co-workers shared tales of her enthusiasm, such as her taping a broom to the door of her office in anticipation of the Hawks' sweep in the San Jose series. "I just got swept into the vortex," said Dawn Williams of Warrenville, whose level of fanaticism might be a shade lower.
For instance, Stawczyk took the day off work Thursday to begin her next fan project - painting an image of the Stanley Cup next to the logo on her garage.
Meanwhile, I marvel at how the coverage comes together. Hawks beat writer Tim Sassone's lead story Thursday was poetry on deadline. ("They did it for themselves. They did it for their veteran coach ... They did it for their owner ... And they did it for those loyal fans who stuck it out through some of the darkest days in franchise history just a few short years ago.") It was part of a herculean effort by our sports staff.
On the news side, I'd like to tell you it was a herculean effort - that, for instance, we heard Rich Young sounding his train horn celebrating each Hawks goal while we were prowling the streets of Carol Stream for unique Hawks angles. Truth is, his wife, Fiona, told us about it. Ditto Dick Wagner. No heroic sleuthing dug up the 40-year season ticket holder from Winfield who got to attend the championship game in Philadelphia. A good job, though, by our employee network when we put out the call; Wagner's related to an advertising staffer.
The day after the Hawks' final victory, I asked Stawczyk what stories we should be pursuing. More about the fans, she suggested, and how they're celebrating.
So, here's to the fans - especially the ones who have shared their stories and made our coverage even better.
jdavis@dailyherald.com