Hawks fans raise the decibel level with another stirring start
From the moment Jim Cornelison opened his mouth Saturday night, it took 1 minute and 40 seconds for the golden-throated tenor to perform the National Anthem for the first time before a Stanley Cup final.
At least, it appeared as though Cornelison sang for the 22,312 fans jammed into United Center.
They made so much noise during the anthem - particularly when Cornelison pointed to the flag at the 58-second mark - sometimes his effort was more of a rumor than fact.
NHL.com's decibel meter measured the peak of the crowd's enthusiasm at 121 decibels.
According to the Ultimate Sound Pressure Level Decibel Table, that approximates the assault of being in the front row at a rock concert and having 200 refrigerator-sized speakers blaring in your face.
Cornelison's trademark performance capped an entertaining and uproarious pregame atmosphere at the UC.
Seventy-five minutes before the opening puck drop, an abnormally large number of early arrivals were treated to highlights from the Hawks' last Stanley Cup champion.
The black-and-white footage from 1961 featured Ken Wharram speeding in on an Dave Bolland-esque breakaway to push the Hawks' Game 6 lead at Detroit to 5-1.
When time ran out, the helmetless Hawks respectfully gathered around the Cup. Captain Ed Litzenberger broke the ice by engulfing the Cup in a bear hug. Veteran defensemen Pierre Pilote and Moose Vasko gave it polite smooches before being ushered away.
As the first Stanley Cup Final game in United Center history drew closer, seven adults in bright orange Flyers wear climbed toward their nosebleed seats in Section 310.
They were greeted by a round of boos - none more furious than from the 10-year-old Hawks fans who waved their towels, popped their red T-shirts and screamed their fauxhawks off at the interlopers.
They were even more irked to discover the Flyers fans' tickets were right behind them.
The visitors took advantage of their ample chances to enjoy goal-laden Game 1,but the youngsters had the final laugh ... even though they couldn't see over all of the longer-suffering Hawks fans who stood and counted down the final seconds of the franchise's first Stanley Cup win since 1973.