In 1991, I was accepted to the University of Chicago, and started there a mere 3 days after my 18th birthday. Chicago is a great town, especially for sports, and I immediately fell in love with the Chicago Blackhawks. I followed them closely the entire year, even going to a couple of games ($20 standing-room-only tickets at the old Chicago Stadium can never be underestimated). I spent many nights putting off homework so I could listen to the game on the radio. In the '91-'92 season, the 'Hawks were stocked with greats like Jeremy Roenick, Ed Belfour, Chris Chelios, Steve Larmer, and a rookie goaltender named Dominik Hasek. They dominated in the first rounds of the playoffs, winning 11 straight playoff games (a record at the time).
They then promptly got swept in the Finals by the Mario Lemieux/Jaromir Jagr-led Pittsburgh Penguins. And they had not been back to the finals since.
Until this year. The 'Hawks, after 15 years of languishing under the policies of owner William "Dollar Bill" Wirtz, were finally "liberated" by his unfortunate passing in September 2007. (As a testament to Wirtz's tight-fisted ways, many Blackhawks fans were happy to see him go, even in such a final way.) With a few good free agents, but mostly through some very savvy draft picks and farm-grown players, the 'Hawks finally emerged this season.
And now, after all this time, the Blackhawks have WON THE STANLEY CUP!!! It's been a long time coming.
GO HAWKS!
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