Reflections From the 2009 Winter Classic

On this fine, 32-degree New Year's Day of 2009, I proudly attended what was one of the more unique sporting events of my life. I'm not even sure where to begin with my reflections from the event, so I apologize if this comes across as a laundry list.

There were some great signs in the crowd today. "Blago is in the penalty box," was a favorite, as were "No Detroit Bailouts Here," and "Holy Cow, It's Cold!" There were a few more that I can't repeat in polite company that ranked highly.

A baseball stadium was a poor choice for a hockey game, but the atmosphere at Wrigley Field made this game special. Last year's Winter Classic, on a football field in Buffalo, seated almost twice as many people and had more natural sight lines than a baseball field is able. The snow falling in Buffalo, coupled with the dramatics of a great game, made the event a winner.

But today saw two big-name franchises playing in one of sport's hallowed stadiums. There are very few things that are ahead of Wrigley Field on the list of landmarks identified as representing Chicago.

On a survivably chilly day on the North Side, a raucous crowd came to show their appreciation for the rebirth of their hockey team.

I have attended three playoff games at Wrigley (including the Mark Prior-Greg Maddux game in 2003), the great Cubs vs. Yankees game on a summer Saturday that saw Kerry Wood defeat his idol, Roger Clemens, and a White Sox-Cubs game in each of the past seven seasons.

The roar during the national anthem today was as loud and electric as I have ever heard Wrigley Field. Even the players, as their being quoted in the national media, saw how special this event was at Wrigley.

For once, Commissioner Bettman got it right.

The Red Wings own the Blackhawks...but they better watch their backs. For more than a decade, the Red Wings have been the class of the Central Division, the Western Conference, and, in many ways, the National Hockey League.

They continue to buy top-notch talent, and write checks to the Commissioner's office for being over the salary cap, but they keep winning as well.

For those of us that are over the age of 20, especially those of us watching these teams play from the Chicago perspective, this is a story that might be more familiar than initially recognizable.

In the late 1980s, another Detroit team was dominating their sport and a young Chicago team was biting at their heels, trying to get over the hump and get to that elusive championship level.

Watching the Winter Classic live today, couple with the previous meetings between the Red Wings and Blackhawks this year, there is no question the Red Wings still run the show just like the Pistons of Isaiah and Joe D.

But these young Blackhawks are good, young and hungry, and the gap is closing. Maybe someday soon we'll be talking about Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane the way we look back at MJ and Pippen.

I ran into Blackhawks President/Marketing Jedi John MacDonough in a bar a little after 9 o'clock this morning. Rather than doing one of the more popular options people default to when meeting someone they respect (either the deer-in-the-headlights "duh" approach or the Chris Farley "You remember that time when you..." approach), I had my game still (it was only 9 on New Year's Day, I had only consumed four beers).

I extended my hand for a shake and thanked him for fixing hockey in Chicago. I thanked him for bringing this game and this event to Chicago, and for making the Blackhawks relevant again.

After a moment of conversation, I can testify to a personal feeling that MacDonough truly cares about the fans in Chicago and is legitimately happy that Hawks fans have fallen back in love with hockey.

Short of hoisting the Stanley Cup, today may have been the crown jewel in MacDonough's career.

I might have a larger-than-normal level of affection for the jerseys the Blackhawks and Red Wings wore for the game today. The throwbacks, in such a classic venue, were awesome. I proudly wore an authentic Brian Campbell Classic jersey to the game today.

I could have probably done without the candy cane socks the Wings wore, but the fact that they dominated the Hawks might play into that a little.

I love military flyovers at any sporting event. I just do. It's cool.

The only part of the ceremonies that I felt cheated on was the introductions of "Chicago Sports Legends" before the game. Represented were the usual suspects from the Hawks: Mikita, Hull, Savard, and Esposito. But the only other icons appearing were former Cubs Billy Williams, Ryne Sandberg and Fergie Jenkins.

Where were the Bears' Dick Butkus and/or Gale Sayers, both of whom played at Wrigley? And Mike Ditka? Seriously? Maybe an appearance from (gulp) someone from the White Sox? Ozzie Guillen? Carlton Fisk? Harold Baines? To only include the Cubs and Hawks was understandable, but sold the city short.

Overall, the 2009 Winter Classic was a smashing success. From the fan festival in Wrigleyville to the pregame ceremonies, the entire experience ranks in my top ten events. If the Hawks could have just won the game...