When it comes to Chicago sports, when saying “only one”, we could be referring to a few different things. Michael Jordan and Walter Payton come to mind; we’ve been blessed with having those two one of a kinds playing for our city. I think about our one and only Super Bowl, and the one Cubs World Series I have seen in my lifetime. Today, I’m referring to the Blackhawks retiring of Marian Hossa’s number last night at the UC; he was the first, and now will be the last, to wear the #81 for the Blackhawks, so yeah, he is truly the only one to wear that number. He was pretty good too.
Does he deserve to get his number retired? I think so. Like he mentioned in his speech, there will be others from the 3-Cup team in the 2010s whose numbers will be hanging in the rafters. Actually, all those guys were in attendance… the guys who were on each of those 3 Stanley Cup teams; it was really cool to see Keith, Seabrook, Hammer, Sharp, and of course, the two left on the team, Kane and Toews. Including Hossa, it was that 7 guy core that remained at the heart of each Cup run; ahhh, the good old days. Surely, 2, 19, and 88 will be raised over the next few years; not sure about the rest. But Hossa, #81… yeah, he was huge for us. As stated during the presentation, do the Hawks win those 3 Cups without him? Thankfully, we don’t have to find out. Can’t take those away from us.
Hossa joins the other Blackhawk greats whose numbers are in the rafters. Hull, Mikita, Esposito, Hall, Savard, Pilote, and Magnuson are now joined by Hossa; can’t wait to see it hanging in person the next time I’m at the UC. It was a really cool ceremony. It reminded me of those glory days, when the Hawks were kings of the NHL; damn we had a good run. All the highlights they showed, Eddie O emceeing the event, Foley talking a lot on the big board, the Stanley Cup in person, and all the boys together again; I watched the whole thing. I like how afterwards the current broadcasters were saying that the current team should/would be inspired by this and play their asses off; well, they did come storming back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game in the 3rd, before Crosby and an empty netter ended the night on a sour note. We know this year will be tough; we remember when the Hawks made it tough on the entire NHL for a number of years.
It’s great to take that walk down memory lane; it’s especially needed during the down years. To see one of our all time greats honored, is really cool too. He certainly WAS one of the greatest free agent acquisitions in Chicago sports history. Dropping him in the middle of the young, up and coming Hawks, was the cherry on top of the cake. His experience, his two-way play, that long reach, that puck possession, that huge frame, speed, skill… Marian Hossa was just what the Blackhawks needed; he helped kick off the dynasty that was, winning in his first year with the Hawks in 2010, for his first Cup, and again in 2013 and 2015. Who knows when we’ll be back, but we will always remember this Hawks team that Hossa was an integral part of. Thanks again Hoss and congratulations on this honor; enjoy!
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