Ugly Sweater Party

For a team which boasts the greatest jersey in all of sports in their home red Indian Head sweater, the Chicago Blackhawks throwback is about as ugly as any jersey in sports. Almost uglier than any Green Bay Packer jersey.

I despise the Hawks alternate 'throwback style' jersey for a number of reasons but here are three. One, it's flat out ugly. Two, they wore it last night in an awful 2-0 snuffing by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Three, the HOME red Indian Head jersey is the greatest jersey in all sports, so why would you ever take it off at home?

Have you taken a close look at the alternate jersey? I've seen better dressed prisoners. Whenever I see it all I can think is that the Hamburglar had a kid with a potato sack and this is what they wear. If the Hawks have any say in it, they need to retire this sucker and demand that the NHL use away alternate jerseys only. Our home Indian Head red is the best uniform in all sports. Most attending home fans wear it. It's intimidating and we need our home team looking the part.

Last night was simply awful. We put 31 shots on net (but only had a few great scoring opportunities), limited them to just 11 shots on Crawford, and essentially lost 1-0 (in that their 2nd tally was an empty netter.) Simply put, the Hawks just looked flat and exhausted. Toews especially, and has been recently missing the dominant edge we saw during the February (into March) win streak. I wonder if he's nursing an undisclosed injury or if fatigue is setting in. They obviously miss Sharp's offense and Bolland's defense but somebody needs to step up. Last year we had depth and guys did step up. This year we may have dug too deep and run 'the core' too hard and too much.

This all may just be a sign of what I've been unwilling to admit this year, that a Cup repeat is out of the question. If it is, do we care about making the playoffs? What does a 1st round knock-out mean anyway? I hate to say these things but maybe I'm better off preparing for them. If they keep playing this ugly they might as well wear the alternate throwback, keep losing, and start the summer early. I'd rather just see them in white or red, playing like they're all capable come playoff time.

I'll take the King Cut Pep, with Chester Sauce, and a side of Malumaleuna

WOW! Literally, 'wow', was all I could say, think, or feel last week when free agency opened up and the Bears came out the big dealer/spender for the 2nd year in a row.

It was apparent to me that while current management and coaches may be on the chopping block, the Bears owners are fixated on adding talent to the Bears' roster.

In all honesty, signing Peppers wasn't as significant to me as the other two. Our Defense, while underachieving as of late, isn't the area we needed new bodies as much as healthy bodies. I would agree that D-Line is an area we need a spark. Singing Malumaleuna, in my opinion is the equivalent of lining up a 3rd stud blocking tackle. At 6' 2" 295 lbs, please try to argue that Forte isn't going to benefit from this addition. Then add a 'do everything RB' in Chester Taylor to the mix and our offensive weapons look downright scary.

I agree we still need a #1 WR or a youngster to step up, like Aromashadu. Even in light of that gaping hole, we have an innovator like Mike Martz building an offensive game-plan based on this unique class of young talent and a mix of proven veterans. My biggest issue with Ron Turner was he wasn't a gamer, he didn't create packages to attack specific defensive strategies. To me, Martz is the antithesis of this.

My bottom line in signing Peppers is that the Defensive Secondary will directly benefit. Whether he's flushing a QB out of the pocket or simply in their face, our Cornerbacks and Safeties will get a chance to make plays and they will have to step up and make them. The first part is the given, the second is the big question.

Even with our top draft pick being a 3rd rounder, I won't be surprised if we land an impact player or two in those 3rd through 5th rounds. We've done well in those rounds before, they'll just have to do it again.

But for now...let the hype begin.