Bandwagon jumpers should do it right

What is a bandwagon good for, if not to jump on? Are there people who've hopped aboard the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup bandwagon despite not knowing the difference between icing and offsides, between Dustin Byfuglien and Al Secord, between the crease and the slot, or between Jim Cornelison and Wayne Messmer? Sure. And they will probably be screaming the loudest if and when the Hawks bring home the hardware.

It's the same in every sport, and always has been. Half a century ago, Bill Veeck wrote that any ballclub that had to rely solely on serious fans for its survival would "be out of business by Memorial Day."

In the case of the Blackhawks, those fans who long ago "committed to the Indian," in Denis Savard's memorable phrase, should not allow their pleasure to be diminished by the fact that newbies are crashing the party. Fans who are just along for the ride can't take anything away from the die-hards who have followed the team faithfully and suffered through the lean years. Inevitably, the Hawks' success means a great deal more to the die-hards.

I have a couple suggestions for the newcomers who are trying to blend in. When the time comes, don't buy a cap or T-shirt that says "2010 Stanley Cup champions." This will give you away immediately. Instead, buy a cap or T-shirt featuring the Hawks' logo and nothing else. Then you can say, "Oh, I've had this for years." Better yet, buy a genuine Blackhawks uniform sweater. Never, under any circumstances, refer to it as a jersey. It is a sweater. It should have one of the following numbers on the back: 1, 3, 9, 18, 21, or 35. If you don't understand the significance of those numbers, just forget it.

Christopher Tabbert

Arlington Heights