This was the greatest hockey game I ever attended in person in my life. (I was not at SCF game 7...)
But still, this game was unbelievable. I was in tears at the end. I loved the anecdote from Trautwig about how he heard a woman tell him that the Matteau game was the first game she ever went to.
17 years to the day. Friday May 27. The greatest game I have ever attended including game 7 of the Cup finals. The Rangers had a 3-1 lead in game 7 against Van. Marty had a problem with wraparounds moving right to left. Adam Graves got him again in game 5 in 1997. You saw Matteau pick up the puck. Matteau wraparound and you see the puck in the net.
Most of the people who voted probably didn't know the sport of hockey existed 5 years ago.
I remember when the United Center was constantly empty and they had a hard time finding a local channel to show their games. Now....
Well, that was due to "Dollar" Bill Wirtz raising ticket prices to exorbitant levels, and refusing to allow games to be broadcast locally. The AHL Chicago Wolves ended up with a full TV deal, great attendance numbers and even the 'Hawks lifelong play-by-play guy as a result. The thirst for hockey never died in Chicago, just the tolerance for unarguably the worst owner in sports.
Well, that was due to "Dollar" Bill Wirtz raising ticket prices to exorbitant levels, and refusing to allow games to be broadcast locally. The AHL Chicago Wolves ended up with a full TV deal, great attendance numbers and even the 'Hawks lifelong play-by-play guy as a result. The thirst for hockey never died in Chicago, just the tolerance for unarguably the worst owner in sports.
The season before the Hawks won the Cup, my friend, who was born and raised in Chicago, told me the Hawks were going to win the Cup that season.
The reason? Because they won it in '34, '38, and '61.
Much like I don't buy it that Penguin fans had reasons for not attending/watching games, the same I hold for every Hawk fan. For a while, the Bulls were Chicago's team and the Hawks were nothing more than that other team that played that other sport.
The season before the Hawks won the Cup, my friend, who was born and raised in Chicago, told me the Hawks were going to win the Cup that season.
The reason? Because they won it in '34, '38, and '61.
Much like I don't buy it that Penguin fans had reasons for not attending/watching games, the same I hold for every Hawk fan. For a while, the Bulls were Chicago's team and the Hawks were nothing more than that other team that played that other sport.
Am I thinking too much or missing something about the reason?
1994 was a long time ago. The memory will never go away, but it stings sometimes too given the amount of horrific hockey the organization has played since then. And it will continue to sting until the Rangers make the finals again.
And let's just twist the knife a little deeper--Vancouver is in the finals...
That Spring was wild between the Rangers,Knicks and O.J. Simpson for sports fans. On the 27th I was at the now closed O.B.I. in Oak Beach Long Island on the water. It was a Friday Night and very warm out and the place had probably 1000 people inside. All the T.V.s had the game on with no sound and as the 3rd period wound down people were celebrating. When Zelepukin scored in the last few seconds everyone was in shock. For what seemed like forever the place got quiet and nobody went onto the dance floor until Matteau scored and the place went wild. The next 3 weeks NYC was crazy!
The season before the Hawks won the Cup, my friend, who was born and raised in Chicago, told me the Hawks were going to win the Cup that season.
The reason? Because they won it in '34, '38, and '61.
Much like I don't buy it that Penguin fans had reasons for not attending/watching games, the same I hold for every Hawk fan. For a while, the Bulls were Chicago's team and the Hawks were nothing more than that other team that played that other sport.
I mean, the games weren't televised locally. At all. The owner wouldn't allow it. At the same time, he was charging the highest ticket prices in the league for a team that missed the playoffs every year. Do you not see the problem there? Chicago had legitimate issues. As I said, the Chicago Wolves became one of the premiere AHL franchises out there, because Hawks fans started going to Wolves games instead. Hell, they could even watch the Wolves on TV!
"The other team that plays that other sport" is a phenomenon seen in countless cities. You could make the argument that it was and is true for us, as well. Knicks/Yankees town, and we're just the other team.
you know, the Matteau goal was rather fluky and Kane's goal won a Stanley Cup. Don't hate. Congratulate.
You know Kane's goal came against a terrible goalie and was just as fluky as Matteau's was? He did it against a HOF net-minder in 2OT. It should have won. In an historical context, that game was MUCH better than the game last year.
you know, the Matteau goal was rather fluky and Kane's goal won a Stanley Cup. Don't hate. Congratulate.
It's not the quality of the goal that matters, its the feeling afterwards and what it represents, and the epicness of the moment, Kane's goal was not epic at all, it was more like "wtf just happened?" It's hardly a historical moment as it will be forgotten about in a few years time, whereas Howie Rose's screams of "Matteau!!" will always be one of the greatest calls in all of hockey, and a moment many people will never forget
you know, the Matteau goal was rather fluky and Kane's goal won a Stanley Cup. Don't hate. Congratulate.
Kane's goal wasn't in game 7 of a series against a rival where the Rangers were trying to get to the SCF to end a 54 year drought after letting in the game tying goal with 7.7 seconds left. Don't get me wrong, it was a great moment but the Matteau goal was an amazing moment that is topped by few in the history of the NHL.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nyr2k2
I mean, the games weren't televised locally. At all. The owner wouldn't allow it. At the same time, he was charging the highest ticket prices in the league for a team that missed the playoffs every year. Do you not see the problem there? Chicago had legitimate issues. As I said, the Chicago Wolves became one of the premiere AHL franchises out there, because Hawks fans started going to Wolves games instead. Hell, they could even watch the Wolves on TV!
"The other team that plays that other sport" is a phenomenon seen in countless cities. You could make the argument that it was and is true for us, as well. Knicks/Yankees town, and we're just the other team.
Exactly. It's the same reason why I can't get on Isles fans for not going to the Coliseum all these years. It's one thing to go through a bad stretch or time of hockey, it's another to have completely inept management and ownership. I can't blame the Hawks fans at all for not showing up, what was going on with the team under Wirtz was disgraceful.
I just really hate bandwagoners. Call me bitter, but rooting for some sub-par teams (past the Giants awesome run to SB42) has made me despise people who just follow the flavor of the year team.
I just really hate bandwagoners. Call me bitter, but rooting for some sub-par teams (past the Giants awesome run to SB42) has made me despise people who just follow the flavor of the year team.
I hate bandwagoners with a passion too but it happens with every team in every city. I mean, just look at the Yankees. Back in 86 when the Mets won, the Mets were the toast of the town while Yankee Stadium was half empty on nights. Now we have the exact opposite. There will always be front runners out there. I just take solace in the fact that when one of my teams win (which will be never but I can dream) I'll enjoy it more than any of the bandwagoners have enjoyed there's combined.
Yeah, that's what I say too. I can look back at Matteau and the 94 cup run and feel proud even if I was too young to really savor most of it back then. Bandwagoners can't truly do that. Still though, it bothers me having to deal with frontrunners on a daily basis when my teams are well...my teams.
You can't truly feel the pain and annoyance of bandwagon fans unless you're from England, when I started playing hockey about 5 years ago, we would scrimmage and it would be "whoever is wearing red on this team" because so many wore Detroit Jerseys, now it's all Pittsburgh Jerseys. Its the same in soccer, I was bullied as a kid because I supported a mid-table team, not Manchester United
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYRFAN218
I'll enjoy it more than any of the bandwagoners have enjoyed there's combined.
Believe me, that is completely true, it is much more satisfying
Yeah, I'm a bandwagon Knicks fan. It's really just because I don't care about pro basketball. When the Knicks suck (the past decade...), I don't really follow them that closely. The next time they win a championship, I'll enjoy it, but not even close to the degree that I'd enjoy a Rangers/Mets/Jets championship.
This moment was matched up against Patrick Kane's OT winner last year in that History v History thing on NHL.com, have a guess who won...
Funny. I consider that goal last year to be the most anti-climactic cup winner in the history of cups. No one knew it went in. On the road. No one except the players seemed to care.
