July 18, 2020: Unfit to Play

I think I mentioned I finally got my bike… bicycle to be clear. It had been a bunch of years since I rode one. Now that my son is finally riding one, I had to get one. It was like looking for toilet paper at the beginning of COVID trying to find a bike out there. Walmart after Walmart… nada. I went through Craig’s List too; there were a couple options, but nothing. Target was too expensive, although their selection was limited too; I didn’t want to pay more than $200. Maybe I’m just cheap… So finally at about the 6th Walmart, there was one bike left in its box, sitting there; I still would have missed it had the girl not pointed it out to me. It was my size and it was $150; sold! Of course, nobody was there to assemble it, and with free assembly, there ain’t no damn way I’m taking it home and trying to put it together. I came back the next day to pick it up. I decided that I was going to ride it home; it was like 11 miles. Yeah, just jump right into it, except we decided to stop by my mother in law’s for dinner; that was only 6 miles. I made it barely… Problem was is that now, I had 7 more miles to go to get home. That one wasn’t as rough as I thought; maybe that full stomach helped. I guess I wasn’t as unfit as I thought…

Speaking of unfit… the Blackhawks recently announced that Corey Crawford was “unfit to play”. When I first heard that, I thought this guy had been sitting on the sofa eating bon bons with a big ol’ gut like Thor in the last Avengers movie; that’s what it sounds like right? Corey with a t-shirt that doesn’t go past his belly, with his thick beard, sitting there with a bucket of chicken and a beer. OK, then I thought maybe he was experiencing more concussion/vertigo etc type issues. I’m sure that’s no joke. Then I finally read about the NHL’s policy, and that how “unfit to play” was the verbiage to be used; then I thought he had COVID. Then I read about how he and his wife just had a baby, and maybe this was Corey opting out; it’s definitely a personal decision, so whatever. Whatever it may be, fact is, it looks like the Blackhawks will be without their star goalie for this bonus playoff round come August 1st; this doesn’t bode well… or does it?

You know, that 12.5% chance of getting the #1 draft pick if they lose. I would never root for that; I could never root for the Blackhawks to lose. However, by taking Crow out of the mix, and with Lehner long gone, and with the Blackhawks defense allowing guys to camp out in front of our goal, this could be over quick. The absence of Crow almost guarantees an Edmonton series victory… and now Toews could be out? Conspiracy? Is the Hawks brass pulling moves to ensure they get that 12.5% chance?

Hopefully the guys are healthy; that’s number one. Whatever happens after that happens. I’ll be tuning in come August 1st either way; I’ve actually entered into our calendar. 4 months since a live hockey game… I’m watching. I better enjoy it, because it very well could be 3 and out. Then, and only then, will I root like hell to hit jackpot on that 12.5%. Good luck to us!