Washington D.C. has not had something exciting happen to their town in a very long long time. Eight long years with Obama and his care packages. The battle royal with Hillary versus Trump as they fought with each other, biting one another. Scratching and pulling hair like two school kids at the bike rack after school. Then the latest tragedy of Trump in the White house. With him meddling into all the sports leagues. Such as throwing big time fuel on Kaeepernick and his kneeling for the National anthem. This caused backlash across the league. It could have been a subject that would disappear on it’s own. Now it’s become more slimy and gruesome, Now you have championship teams boycotting going to the White House to meet that despicable man who is running this country.  These are the dark days of Washington D.C. I can’t even see the local badminton intramural team coming for a visit.

Besides the raunchy smell of politicians in D.C.. the sports landscape has not fared well either. Georgetown still suffers from the Princeton upset in March Madness years and years ago. Then the Redskins have been nothing since the 1990s. Only topics are a name change and getting rid of the Redskins who have played like deadskins. Besides not being able to strike a multiple deal with a franchise quarterback, less of topic to chat about since Kirk Cousins finally departed the DC area and headed to Minnesota. Georgetown and the Redskins are dinosaurs as their history was the talk of our capital. Now they are old clunkers found on the road dead.

The Wizards, Nationals and the Capitals are the three teams that are talked about. However with all the talent these teams have acquired over the years, how come when it comes to the playoffs, they have just fallen on their faces? The Nationals have been a pick to win the World Series every year. Even with Dusty Baker sucking on his swizzle stick, people thought it’s coming soon. The pitchers. Bryce Harper, one of the best young players in the game. However it’s the same old story, the Nationals create mistakes they can’t overcome and watch the Cubs move on to the next round. Dusty gets fired but they went cheap and replaced him with Davey Martinez. Which it could work well. However with Bryce Harper’s ticket out of town coming after this season, it could set their team back a few years. Could be sent to the scrap yard with the Skins. Same with the Wizards who can’t get past round two in the Eastern conference which is very weak. I think people talk more about the few years Michael Jordan came out of retirement and played for the Wiz, over the current teams. Can the Wizards add a player that could put them over the top to be able to get them to the next level? If Lebron James leaves Cleveland, the conference could  be wide open. Could the Wizards beat anybody representing the West? Or do they need to wait until the Warriors break up the band. This could be another Washington franchise heading to the junk pile.

Something finally changed and it was on the ice, not the field when the Capitals finally overcame the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was like finally beating the bully that has tormented you for years. No Capital team during the Ovechkin era has made it past round two. Alex Ovechkin is the Capitals superstar like Bryce Harper is for the Nationals. After the Penguins, the Capitals rolled through the playoffs and made it to the Stanley Cup to face the Las Vegas Golden Knights who have existed only for one season. The Golden Knights won the first game. So you’re thinking more dark clouds forming over the Capital. Thinking a team who was not a team at this time a year ago is going to make history. Now you will be on the bad side of history. However something changed and the Capitals prevailed and won four games in a row. Which won them their first Stanley cup. Finally a Russian helping the city win something that is good for the city. Now we wait to see if the team in Trump’s backyard, stops over for tea at the White House.

 

 

The Charlestown Chiefs and the Syracuse Bulldogs have been going at it again. This time it’s not their usual rumble on the ice to win the championship.

Both teams have squared off again. However they have been predicting playoff outcomes in the NHL playoffs.

First round both teams were perfect with their predictions.

BULL DOGS 4

CHIEFS       4  after first period

STATS:

BULL DOGS GOALS (PREDICTIONS) : DR.HOOK (BRUINS), OGILTHORPE (LIGHTNING), SCREAMING BUFFALO (CAPITALS) ROSS MAD DOG (PENGUINS)

CHIEFS GOALS (PREDICTIONS) THE HANSON BROTHERS (SHARKS), DUNLOP (PREDATORS), BRADEN (GOLDEN KNIGHTS), KILLER CARLSON (JETS)

Second round both teams switched conferences.

BULL DOGS TOOK THE LEAD

AFTER SECOND PERIOD

BULL DOGS 6

CHIEFS 5

STATS:

BULL DOG GOALS (PREDICTIONS) LUSSIER (GOLDEN KNIGHTS) GILMOUR (JETS)

CHIEFS GOALS (PREDICTIONS) LEMIEUX (LIGHTNING)

JOHNNY UPTOWN MISSED IN HIS PREDICTION.

THIRD PERIOD

Chiefs need to go perfect and hope the Bull Dogs faltered

NOT THE CASE

BOTH TEAMS SWITCH CONFERENCES LIKE SWITCHING NETS AFTER EACH PERIOD OR ROUND.

BULL DOGS BRING IN LAST MINUTE GOON DAVE SCHULTZ AKA THE HAMMER AND HE PUTS THE TEAM UP BY TWO GOALS (TWO PREDICTIONS)

STATS:

BULL DOGS GOALS (PREDICTIONS) THE HAMMER (CAPITALS)

THE CHIEFS WERE HELD SCORELESS. MORRIS WANCHK’S PREDICTION JETS OVER GOLDEN KNIGHTS DID NOT WORK OUT

THE FINAL

BULL DOGS 7

CHIEFS 5 FINAL

BULL DOGS GO PERFECT IN THEIR PREDICTIONS TO OUST THE CHIEFS 7-5 IN PREDICTION OF NHL PAYOFFS AND WIN THE FEDERAL PINT

SINCE THE CHIEFS COULD NOT SEND IT TO OVER TIME WE HAVE A STANLEY CUP WINNER PREDICTION

NO WORRIES IT’S  BROPHY FROM THE PRESIDENTS WHO WILL PREDICT THE STANLEY CUP WINNER

WASHINGTON CAPITALS VERSUS LAS VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

JUST DON’T CHECK BROPHY AGAINST THE BOARDS IF HE’S WRONG. HE’S DRUNK AND HE MIGHT PISS HIMSELF ON A HARD HIT.

BROPHY HAS PREDICTED GOLDEN KNIGHTS IN SIX (4-2)

 

 

Buffalo Bills are one of those teams in dire need of improving their receiving core. They have addressed their quarterback situation by shipping Tyrod Taylor to Cleveland. Then inking Cincinnati’s back-up quarterback, AJ McCarron, to a two year deal. Then they moved up in the draft, Wyoming Rough Rider gunslinger, Josh Allen. You have the meats, like Arby’s slogan, now where are your taters? Bills’ only true threat is Kelvin Benjamin, a guy they got in trade last year from Carolina. In round six, they drafted a guy out of Clemson, Ray McCloud. In round seven, they drafted a guy that is very intriguing to me. Could be under the radar. Could be a sleeper. Has football in his blood. Austin Proehl out of North Carolina, son of former NFL wide receiver Ricky Proehl.

Ricky Proehl was one of those guys you needed on the team to move the chains. To get that catch over the middle, to get licked and hold on to the ball to get the first down. He was drafted in 1990 by the Phoenix Cardinals, who now are known as the Arizona Cardinals. He played for a numerous amount of teams which included watching him play for the Bears later in his career. Other teams he caught balls for were the Seahawks, Panthers, Colts, and he was part of the greatest show on turf with the Rams. He was a part of two Superbowl championship teams. In his career he gobbled up 669 catches for 8878 yards with 54 touch downs.

I think the Bills are hoping the son is better than the father. Even if they are the same statically wise, this pick could be huge. I know not many 7th round draft picks make a huge impact. Most of them never even make it. I think the Bills have the leg up when it comes to Austin Proehl as he has ties with head Coach Sean McDermott. Ricky Proehl was a receivers coach in Carolina and was on the same staff with Sean McDermott. The coach of the Bills has known Austin since he was 8 years old. Austin also went to North Carolina for college. Sure you can say both Sean and Ricky are friends and he drafted Austin because of that. However Sean McDermott had the inside track on this kid his whole life in football. Plus I think McDermott is a great coach. He guided the Bills to the playoffs last year. He broke a long sickening drought of the city not getting to playoffs, one of the worst in sports at the time.

With a gunslinger like a Josh Allen and McCarron who can chuck the rock down the field, you still need a safety net guy like an Austin Proehl. I think the Bills had that guy in Chris Hogan a few years ago. Then like vultures, the Evil Empire Patriots swooped in and raised the ante for Hogan, which at the time the Bills could not match. Now you see Hogan as one of Brady’s weapons of mass destruction around the NFL. I liked how Ricky Proehl played the game. He reminded me of another Bears receiver they had In Thomas Waddle. Just a guy that got open, took a wallop and the ball stuck to his fingers. If Austin can come close to playing like his old man, this pick could be a steal.  Jim Kelly had Don Beebe for years. This could be one of Josh Allen’s weapons for a very long time, especially with both of them drafted in the same year.

Did the Chicago Black Hawks make the right decision after the winning the cup in 2010? At the time they had to make some big decisions due to the salary cap in the off season. They had to cut some actual meat off the bone from a team that was deep in talent. Who you keep as part of your core and those decisions can always come back to haunt you. They could keep you up at night. They could send you to the unemployment line. Even though how many hockey executives are starving these days? The one move that bothered me was trading away Dustin Byfuglien.

Dustin Byfuglien was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks. They brought him up as he was seasoned in the minor leagues by the Hawks. He came up as a defenseman but Hawks had other plans for the 6’5 265 pound man known as “BIG BUF”. They switched his position and made him a right winger. The big net presence was huge for the Black Hawks especially in the playoffs. He tallied 11 goals along with 5 assists in the 2010 playoffs. Three of those goals were in the finals. The way he cleared out defensemen as he bulldozed his way to the front of the net to expect the rebound. He drove the biscuit in the basket for a Blackhawk score. It seemed to be a common theme however a theme that did not last that long as he was shipped off to the Atlanta Thrashers. It did not seem that long as he might still have tasted champagne from the holy grail a few days before the shocking news came to him as he was traded.

Atlanta Thrashers moved and became the new old Winnipeg Jets. The original Jets moved from Winnipeg to Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes. While Byfuglien continues to play now for the new Jets, the Blackhawks have won two more Stanley Cups. Finally this season all the pieces were in place and the Jets not only made the playoffs, but have found themselves three games away from getting into the Stanley Cup Championship. In 2015 the Ducks easily swept the Jets out of the first round. This year the Jets have a high octane offense from their young superstars. Dustin Byfuglien is the assistant captain and he is a big part of the Jets defense. He is quarterback of the power play. He uses his big body to knock guys through the boards who most likely come away seeing stars. Plus he leads all defensemen in scoring throughout the playoffs. Big Buf has tallied  5 goals and 10 assists as he has slapped some screamers through the net for big scores to help Winnipeg knock out a great Nashville team.

Last time we saw the Blackhawks in the playoffs, they were swept by Nashville. This year the Blackhawks did not make the playoffs. It ended a nice run. Would things of been different if the Hawks would of kept Dustin Byfuglien? This season especially, it looked like Seabrook and Keith were ready for the retirement home. They have been on the decline for a long time. They looked very slow and lethargic-like on the ice. They were exposed more as the Hawks super star goalie Crawford missed most of the season. For years, Crawford bailed out the team’s defense by becoming a brick wall as pucks bounced off more and more every game.  Brent Seabrook only had seven goals while Duncan Keith had only two goals. Byfuglien has 5 goals in 13 playoff games so far. The main staples of the defense lost their zest for scoring. Plus they look like they’re washed up, while Big Buf has a lot of game left in his big frame.

Stan Bowman might be looking at himself in the mirror thinking he gave up the wrong guy after the first cup was won. However would the Hawks of put Byfuglien back at defense? I know he’s not a goon but he can be an enforcer. But Byfuglien should of been kept for his scoring and he was a big guy that could unleash you against the boards with ease. Some of the things I think the Hawks were missing was Guys like Byfuglien and Shaw that were able to stand in front of the net and fight for the puck and poke it in. Plus these two guys never backed down and were able to take hits and also give them. Plus Big Buf was able to throw down the gloves and protect the team’s superstars. He would lay out most of the guys as well. The Blackhawks have lacked toughness over the last few seasons and maybe before then. Watching Big Buf play defense brings you back to the days when Duncan Keith played like an animal spitting his own teeth out like a pez dispenser. It’s the typical Chicago way as they always send the wrong guys packing and for sure they always come back to haunt you. Plus they go on to win somewhere else. Sometimes you wished the brain trust of the people running our teams in Chicago would be traded away. It seems they hold on to these jobs like the Pope in the Vatican.

The Federal league are putting on the foil and predicting NHL playoff outcomes.

TWO OLD RIVALS SQUARE OFF IN THIS SQUARE DANCE

In each round, a player from each rival has made a prediction in each match up of the NHL playoffs.

The first round each team went perfect.

BULLDOGS predicted all four correct. They had the Eastern conference games: Dr. Hook (Bruins), Ogilthorpe (Lightning), Screaming Buffalo (Capitals), and Ross Mad Dog (Penguins)

CHIEFS predicted all four correct. They had the Western Conference. The Hanson’s (Sharks), Dunlop (Predators), Braden (Golden Knights), and Killer Carlson (Jets).

After 1st period: Syracuse 4

Charlestown 4

In the second round, both teams switched conferences like switching nets after the first period

This time the Chiefs had Eastern Conference and the Bull Dogs had Western Conference.

Syracuse remains perfect with both predictions correct. Lussier (Golden Knights) and Gilmour (Jets).

The Chiefs hit one out of two predictions. Lemieux (Lightning)

Johnny Uptown had Penguins over the Capitals for the first blemish of the game.

After the second period, Syracuse pull ahead by one goal.

Syracuse 6

Chiefs      5

ROUND THREE: I HOPE YOU BROUGHT YOUR TOYS WITH YOU

Both teams will switch nets again. Syracuse will be predicting Eastern Conference while the Chiefs have the Western Conference.

Chiefs need to get their prediction correct in hopes the Bulldogs fail which will force a tie going into the Stanley Cup Championship. They hope to take home another Federal Cup.

EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

WASHINGTON CAPITALS VERSUS TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Syracuse up to their old tricks again as they made a last minute change to their line up. They have brought back one of the most feared players in the league from back in the 1970’s. Part of the Broad Street Bullies of the Philadelphia Flyers.

KNOWN AS THE HAMMER DAVE SCHULTZ

THE HAMMER’S PREDICTION BESIDE BURYING YOU UNDER THE ICE IS CAPITALS IN SIX.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS WIN SERIES (4-2)

WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

WINNIPEG JETS VERSUS LAS VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Meanwhile the Chiefs are relying on Morris Wanchuk. Of course his prediction came after he got some snatch from one of the ice dancer gals.

MORRIS WANCHUK’S PREDICTION IS JETS IN SEVEN  (4-3)

NBA ROUND THREE PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

DO WE KNOW ANYTHING?

When it comes down to it, the NBA is easy to figure out who’s going to win each match up.

OUR FIRST ROUND PREDICTION STATS: 7-8 IN MATCH UPS

UTAH JAZZ OUR ONLY BLEMISH

OUR SECOND ROUND PREDICTION STATS: 4-4 IN MATCH UPS

OUR TOTAL STATS SO FAR: 11-12 IN MATCH UPS

Utah Jazz is a team on the rise. It’s a young team that has really come together and has been a great story all year. The way they knocked out the Thunder, a team with three potential hall of fame basketball players, is what I would like to see more of.

What was Russell Westbrook’s problem with one of the Jazz fans?

Was this guy ringing his door bell at the hotel?

NBA is too predictable right now. The Championship finals is the usual suspects. In a few years it will change and become a better league when more teams battle it out with each other. Lots of young teams like Philadelphia, Milwaukee and we talked about the Jazz. Minnesota is another team maybe in need of a player, not an X- Bull, to help them be a consistent force. Chicago Bulls will still suck. Our championship is another Police Academy sequel. Citizens versus Nazis on surf boards.

IT WILL BE ANOTHER SWEET CHUCK VERSUS HIGH TOWER

WE HAVE ANOTHER GOLDEN STATE VERSUS CLEVELAND CHAMPIONSHIP

LEBRON VERSUS CURRY FOR ALL THE MARBLES FOR ANOTHER WEEKEND AT BERNIE’S

ROUND THREE MATCH UPS  (BEST OUT OF SEVEN)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

BOSTON CELTICS VERSUS CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Boston has been doing great things in the playoffs. However I think they run out of gas against Lebron and company. It’s the same old story, same old song and dance.

OUR PREDICTION: CAVALIERS IN 6 (4-2)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS VERSUS HOUSTON ROCKETS

I think this match up would be a great championship. It’s got the MVP of the league in Harden going up against well you know, THE WARRIORS, who do come out to play. I think the Warriors have too many weapons but this will be a well fought series.

OUR PREDICTION: WARRIORS IN 7 (4-3)

BERNIE IS DOWN FOR THAT SEQUEL

SOME OF THE BOOBS IN THE UP COMING NBA FINALS

 

 

What ever happened to capturing the other school’s mascot? Usually you hear rival schools get into an old fashioned rumble. The world has changed these days as you never hear about the flaming dog poop on the porch trick done anymore. These days, kids are most likely defacing the other school’s property with spray paint. That might be the understatement of the decade. Can you pry a kid away from their phone? These days rival wars are fought on fac book through the computer screen with emojis and hashtags.

Thomas Tramaglini of New Jersey has some old school fight in him. He’s a man that has bitter feelings against his rival school. Unless he has bathroom issues. Only problem, Thomas is a 42 year old man. Plus he is the Superintendent of Kenilworth Public schools in New Jersey. Shakedown breakdown you are busted for taking a crap on the rival school’s football field. You might think a dog is pooping on your lawn all these times when you wake up to fetch the newspaper.  However have you looked in the mirror? Who have you pissed off? Someone might be squatting on your lawn and leaving you a nice hot steamy surprise in the morning.

Let’s profile the alleged pooper. First, it was not Thomas’ first rodeo. This has occurred more than once so now we have to dig deeper because we have a serial pooper. This was not a once in awhile thing either. The track coaches at Holmdel high school reported the findings of the human poop on the lawn on a daily basis. This prompted a sting operation in which police found Thomas in the act letting out a deuce. My first thought… did he get a chance to wipe before the cuffs were placed on his wrists? What about washing his hands as well? I feel sorry for the guy doing the fingerprints on him. Thomas Tramagini faces a list of charges such as lewdness, public urination, defecation and they threw in littering as they threw the book at him, Danno.

Thomas is the first crazed public pooper. In 2015, they called this person the Bowel Movement Bandit as he pooped on 19 parked cars in Akron. Just think of a person climbing on the hood and letting projectiles fly out on top of your ride. Hope the wipers work for those muddy ones. Then the Mad pooper in 2017 in Colorado Springs, was a women jogger who just stopped, let it out and continued her morning run. Southern Illinois had somebody pooping in the washing machines. Can you imagine not catching the whiff opening up the lid there and throwing your delicates in that super loader? You know the list is a lot longer with others loving to be a free pooper of society. Only their dog is not walking behind them picking up the turds in a plastic bag.

I can see in times of desperation. Times when you’ve got to go go and nothing around for miles. It’s either in your pants or a spot behind the jiffy lube. Obviously Thomas Tramagoli has anger and resentment issues to drive over to a rival school on a daily basis and unload. You wonder is he reading a newspaper while he waits? What’s he doing for toilet paper? One guy I know found himself in a sticky situation in a port a potty with no toilet paper. He took off his under shirt, ripped it up and made his own toilet paper. The Macgyver of the port a potty world. Thomas Tramogini is no dummy as to rise in the ranks and become a Superintendent, he obviously has education. However to risk a job paying him $147,000 dollars a year to poop on the rival’s football field is mentally insane. He must have had plenty of rage built up where he needed to go to this field and let one loose almost every day. No worries… he’s on a leave of absence and will be getting paid through June. However after that, he might be drowning in his own mudslide of life.

 

FIRST ROUND WE WENT 7-8 IN MATCH UPS

UTAH JAZZ WINNING IS THE ONLY ONE WE HAD WRONG

ROUND TWO (BEST OUT OF SEVEN)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

MATCH UP

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS VERSUS NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

OUR PREDICTION WARRIORS SWEEP  (4-0)

MATCH UP

HOUSTON ROCKETS VERSUS UTAH JAZZ

OUR PREDICTION ROCKETS SWEEP (4-O)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

MATCH UP

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS VERSUS TORONTO RAPTORS

OUR PREDICTION CAVALIERS IN 7 (4-3)

MATCH UP

BOSTON CELTICS VERSUS PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

OUR PREDICTION 76ERS IN 7 (4-3)

 

 

CHARLESTOWN CHIEFS VERSUS SYRACUSE BULL DOGS

Both teams are not battling for the Federal cup. Both teams are battling for who’s better at picking an NHL hockey playoff series.

AFTER FIRST PERIOD (ROUND ONE)

BOTH TEAMS WENT 4-4 IN THEIR PREDICTIONS IN ROUND ONE

CHIEFS 4

BULL DOGS 4

THE STAT LINE

CHIEFS’ GOALS: THE HANSONS (SHARKS) DUNLOP (PREDATORS) BRADEN (GOLDEN KNIGHTS) KILLER CARLSON (JETS)

BULL DOGS’ GOALS: DR. HOOK (BRUINS)  OGILTHORPE (LIGHTNING) SCREAMING BUFFALO (CAPITALS) ROSS MAD DOG (PENGUINS)

SECOND PERIOD/ SECOND ROUND PREDICTIONS

IN HOCKEY THEY SWITCH NETS AFTER EACH PERIOD. BOTH THE CHIEFS AND BULL DOGS WILL PREDICT ROUND TWO WITH OPPOSITE CONFERENCES.

BULL DOGS WILL GET WESTERN CONFERENCE IN RD TWO.

CHIEFS WILL GET THE EASTERN CONFERENCE IN RD TWO

PREDICTIONS

OUR SECOND ROUND MATCH UPS – BEST OUT OF SEVEN

FUCK THE CANADIAN SONG IT IS ROUND TWO

WESTERN CONFERENCE (SYRACUSE)

SAN JOSE SHARKS VERSUS LAS VEGAS KNIGHTS

ANDRE “POODLE LUSSIER PREDICTION VEGAS WINS SERIES IN 6 (4-2)

WINNIPEG JETS VERSUS NASHVILLE PREDATORS

GILMOUR TUTTLE PREDICTION JETS IN 7 (4-3)

EASTERN CONFERENCE (CHIEFS)

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS VERSUS WASHINGTON CAPITALS

JOHNNY UPTOWN’S PREDICTION PENGUINS IN 6 (4-2)

BOSTON BRUINS VERSUS TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

DENIS LEMIEUX PREDICTION LIGHTNING IN 6 (4-2)

 

 

 

 

The Chicago Blackhawks did not make the playoffs this season and the NHL playoffs are not scratching your itch. What about the Chicago Wolves versus the Rockford Ice dogs in the first round of the AHL playoffs? With the Bulls tanking. The baseball scene in Chicago has not been interesting except when they are rain or snowed out. This is minor league hockey, but it has a lot of local twist to the factor to make this series interesting to watch.

The Wolves arrived on the scene in 1994 when they were founded. It was a time where the Blackhawks were in disarray. The United Center sounded like crickets chirping at each game. At the time, Bill Wirtz was running the team into one of the worst franchises in sports. He broke up a pair of great TV announcers in Bill Gardner and Pat Foley. Bill Gardner became the Wolves TV announcer and to this day he is still calling games for the team. Eventually Wirtz fired Pat Foley who then was reunited with his friend Bill Gardner in the booth for a season with the Wolves. Foley did go back to the Hawks when Bill Wirtz’s son Rocky took over the day to day operations when his father passed away. By that time, the Wolves had established roots in Chicago as a team that will be here for decades to come.

The Wolves played in the IHL at that time. The tickets were affordable and all their games were on the television. Unlike the way Bill Wirtz was handling things. In the beginning, it was cool watching Ex-Blackhawks suit up and skate. Like Al Secord and Troy Murray. Years later, that traitor Chris Chelios. From the last three championships Adam Burish skated with the Wolves along with Brent Sopel, Ben Eager, and Colin Fraser.

 

These guys are animals as the Wolves advertising, advertised for their product. Their animal-like play went on the ice and they made the playoffs almost every year. They even made a crack, “at least one Chicago team can make it to the playoffs,” referring to the Blackhawks on down times. The Wolves came at the right time, the ownership put good teams on the ice and they made going to their games lots of fun and very affordable. The only game seven \ in life I imagine I will ever get to go to was in 1998. It was the Wolves’ first Tuner Cup they won. First any cup they won. At that time I walked into Caron Pirie Scott, went to Ticketmaster, purchased  seven tickets and we went with a group of friends and watched the Wolves beat the Detroit Vipers in that 1998 championship. The place was electric. The Wolves then went on to win another cup in 2000. Then the IHL folded and they moved to the AHL in which they matched their Turner cups with two Calder cups in 2002 and in 2008.

With all that history and all the games rooting on the Wolves, now they play the Rockford Ice dogs. Besides that both teams play their home games in the state of Illinois, this series has more to it than territory. The breakdown is simple: the Rockford Ice Dogs are the Chicago Blackhawks affiliate. Now it becomes Chicago Blackhawks versus the Wolves. The Chicago Wolves are affiliated with the Las Vegas Golden Knights who have been shocking the NHL this season in their very first year in the league. The Ice dog will eventually go from Rockford to Chicago. While the Wolves players will go to Vegas and return to Chicago as the enemy. If you root for the Wolves, you are rooting against your other local team and you’re pulling for the Las Vegas team. It’s a dog eat dog world like Norm Peterson would say and my underwear is made out of milk bones.

The Wolves once were the St.Louis Blues affiliate. Now that it is the Golden Knights, who are not a rival to the Blackhawks, it makes things easier. Detroit Redwings would be a sin against mankind. This is a series where I will root for the Wolves because of all the history I have. All the games I went to. All the games I have watched on TV. I’m invested. Would you shoot your sister if she turned Cubs fan? Now that is a stupid question because everyone knows I’d rather my sister work at a whorehouse than be a Cubs fan. With those standards I have to stick by the Wolves. This series will be a good series as both teams historically do not like each other. If the Wolves do lose the series to the Ice Dogs, it’s still a win-win the way I look at it. In a way, it’s like having two horses in the mix. If the Wolves move on, we will eventually see the Ice Dog players on the United Center Ice as the Black hawks need some young blood to turn around their first season missing the playoffs in almost a decade. This is not Cubs versus the Sox, where you draw a line in the sand and you know where you stand. This playoff series has you rooting for one team, but in a way you are rooting for both teams.