History Will Be Made

In about an hour, then Blackhawks will attempt to close out the Canucks, in the hopes of reaching their second straight Western Conference Finals.  It's highly imperative, in my mind, that they do so tonight, at the Madhouse, because all this Vancouver team needs is a little momentum going back to GM Place to suddenly make this a very uncomfortable series.  However, I don't think this is going to happen, as the Hawks have flipped a switch after a terrible Game 1 loss, reeling off three consecutive impressive victories all while completely and irrevocably getting into the Canucks' heads.  Like Alec Baldwin in Glengarry Glen Ross would say, the boys in the Indian Head need to remember ABC: Always Be Closing.  They have this Canucks team in a stranglehold, and they need to finish the job tonight.  Go get 'em, gentlemen.

But what I really wanted to highlight is the new ad campaign that the NHL has put together for the 2010 playoffs.  It's one of the best series of commercials that I can remember, with the worst leaving you in awe and the best giving you full-on goosebumps.  Here they are, they speak for themselves.

What if Stevie Y never inspired Hockeytown?

What if Mario wasn't so super?

What if Bobby didn't fly? (my personal favorite)

What if Roy played like a rookie?
What if there was no Greatness?
What if Bourque didn't believe in one more year?
What if Messier didn't lift an entire city?


and some unbroadcast NHL.com versions (and a great fan knockoff)
What if Versteeg didn't make Madison's house go mad?
What if Bolland played like he was short-handed?
What if the Blackhawks didn't kill Hossa's double minor?


and these are for my boys Pat and Sean
What if Bombay didn't blow a .08?
What if Savard wasn't so resilient?


Simply a great ad series, and I hope they continue to add upon the first wave in the coming years.


On a less stellar note, the Cubs finally got a clutch hit from Tyler Colvin, who put them ahead 3-2 in the 8th after the team was no-hit for six innings or so by young Mike Leake of the Reds.  But of course, Dempster served up a 3-run homer to noted Cubs-killer Joey Votto in the bottom of the inning, and whatever spark Castro brought with him is now extinguished.  The Cubs will limp home after a dreadful 1-5 roadtrip, and hope to regroup at Wrigley tomorrow night against the Marlins.  


Finally, congratulations to Dallas Braden, the A's lefty who just about an hour ago threw the nineteenth perfect game in MLB history, cooling off the sizzling Tampa Bay Rays with a line of 9 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K, taking only 109 pitches to do so.  It's the first since Mark Buerhle's last year for the South Siders, but this one didn't feature any defensive gems of a Dwayne Wise caliber.  Nonetheless, a very, very impressive feat, so kudos to the young lefty.


Go Hawks, hopefully Chelsea Dagger plays Vancouver right out of the UC