Opinion

Blackhawk fans' 'tradition' a disgrace

Posted April 22, 2015 12:01 am

Why must Blackhawk fans bring their disrespectful screaming during the singing of the national anthem to Nashville? The owner of the Predators was so offended, as are other teams, that he has asked Nashville fans to join in singing to drown out the idiots.

Contrary to what the Blackhawk public relations claim, this was never a patriotic gesture started during the Gulf War in the early 1990s. That's their spin on it because they can't stop it and it makes the organization look bad. The truth is it started at the onset of the 1984-85 Conference Finals versus the Edmonton Oilers. The only war going on was on the ice. Wayne Mesmer was singing the anthem back then at the old Chicago Stadium and he had a tendency to extend his version of it. The Chicago fans were anxious to get the game started vs. their bitter rivals so they began screaming to give Mesmer a hint to hurry it up.

Now, the Blackhawks PR has convinced veterans to come as honored guests to stand at center ice to witness this disgrace. This behavior doesn't exist anywhere else in sports - only Chicago. It's not something to be proud of as exclusively a Chicago "tradition." Most the fans just go along with it because that's just what you do attending a hockey game at the Madhouse on Madison.

It's time to set the record straight and put an end to this embarrassment, but that will never happen. At least allow other cities' fans to respect and honor the American flag without Blackhawk fans' arrogant nonsense.

Bob Cotton

Naperville

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