October 16, 2014: The Greatest Ever

No, this is NOT an article about the Kansas City Royals and their advancement to the World Series, although it has been very impressive.  They went on to win their 8th straight postseason game this year; something no team has ever done.  To win 4 of those in extra innings, including the first in that winner take all wild card game after being down 4 runs in the 8th inning, and then complete 2 series sweeps against the 2 top teams in the AL during the regular season, the Royals are red hot.  I’m glad and I will be rooting for them to win it all, but that’s not what I’m getting at here.

I’m talking about the Chicago Blackhawks.  Why would I talk about this after their first loss of the season vs Calgary?  It’s actually something I’ve been thinking about.  It’s something that I think the Hawks have a chance at doing.  It’s something that we’ve done before here in Chicago.

We’ve already witnessed the greatest NBA basketball team ever with the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls.  72-10:  The best regular season record ever capped off by a 4th NBA title which started their 2nd 3-peat of the decade, that Bulls team was the best EVER.  Even though my NBA history only goes back into the 80s, I would take that team over ANY team in NBA history… regardless of era.  That team with Jordan at the helm was motivated to win EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.  They didn’t always achieve that result, but they did it enough to earn the best record ever.  With that behind me, and the fact that it’s Jordan & the Bulls and I’m from Chicago, I’m staking claim at the best NBA team ever.  Period.

We’ve done that in football as well.  Yeah, I know the undefeated Dolphins… I hope they choke on their champagne one year.  I’m sure they were great… to make it through an entire NFL season undefeated, regardless of the era, their team HAD to be great.  But… I’m sorry, I’m still giving that title of best NFL team ever to the 1985 Chicago Bears.  Oh yeah, their record wasn’t half bad either.  Going 15-1 with their only blemish to the Dolphins (go figure), I’d take that team against anybody on any Sunday.  Rules have changed over the years, and based on what we did to the QB that year half the defense may be suspended, but still… that team known for its defense also had the #1 rated offense led by THE greatest RB ever and maybe the greatest leader the Bears have ever had on the offensive side of the ball in Jim McMahon.  Anybody, anywhere, any time… 1985 Bears all day long.

And no, I didn’t forget about baseball, but I don’t think any Chicago team can make that argument.  I’m definitely not going to write about some Cubs team from 100 plus years ago, and while the Sox own the only World Series title in my lifetime, which was punctuated by an impressive 11-1 post season, I don’t think I can give them that title.  Maybe Sox fans DO think that about their team, but without reaching that 100 win mark during the regular season (99 was oh so close), there were many, many teams that were better.  Sorry Sox fans.

In fact, experts levitra price are evaluating these medicines for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. This kind of medicine may be found in many names just like Kamagra, Kamagra oral jelly, Zenegra, Silagra, Zenegra, viagra without prescriptions, Caverta, and Forzest etc. The conscious thoughts of a person directly affect the way we age and that some diseases we buy viagra sale carry in our DNA. And these diseases infect people who get cars and with high income, gold-collar or high-level overnight cialis delivery white collar more and more. OK, back to the Hawks, and the point of why I bring this up:  I think they can challenge the best record ever in the NHL.  What is that best record?  Well, I’m going to look at the team with the most points in the regular season, which was the 1976-1977 Montreal Canadiens.  How many points you ask?  132!  That may be a record that may never be broken, but if it can, this Hawks team has a good a chance as any.  The last team to challenge that mark actually owns the record for most wins in a year:  the 1995-1996 Detroit Red Wings.  They won 62 games, which with ties added in, was good enough for 131 total points.  I’m going to still give the greatest ever title to that Canadien team, and no, not because it was the Red Wings who had the most wins, but simply because the Wings didn’t win the Cup that year; that eliminates you from the conversation just like the 15-1 New England Patriots in the NFL from last decade.  Quick trivia note:  Who coached both those teams?  Hint:  It was the same coach.  Yeah, that same guy who is a special advisor for our Hawks and whose son is our GM.  Scotty Bowman.  I actually met him downtown and shook his hand:  now that’s NHL royalty.

So the fact that he’s on our side now, helps the cause.  It also would be pretty cool if he was involved with another of the great teams in NHL history.  What was the closest we’ve came?  That would be the year we won the Cup back in 2010.  The Hawks finished with a total of 112 points that season.  We finished with 107 points last season which would tie for 2nd best in Hawks history with a couple teams from the 70s.  Remember, the year we won the cup back in 2013 was a strike shortened year.  Maybe we could have challenged it then???  Reeling off 24 games with at least 1 point to start the year, you could make that argument.  Oh by the way, that streak is still alive this year.

So yeah I know the Hawks just lost a game, but I still believe they can be the greatest.  Tonight is a perfect example of why it’s not going to be easy.  To outshoot your opponent 50-18, win the faceoff battle 35-27, and have 7 power plays to their 1, and STILL lose is not easy, but it just proves how hard it is to win in this league.  It also shows how hard it is to beat a goalie who stands on their head, like Hiller did tonight.

With the heightened competition especially in the Western Conference this year, this NHL point total record may seem even more impossible to reach.  Yet, it’s still nice to believe they could do it.  Maybe I’m dreaming again… I like to do that.  Yet, when I look at the over/under point totals this year, you know, the ones you can bet on in a certain city in the desert, the Hawks total has been set at 111.5.  If they eclipse that total, and say win only 11 more games (11 more games!?!) than that, that’s the record!  Couple that with the Hawks being the odds on favorite to win the Cup at 6-1, and Papa Vegas is saying this is a REALLY GOOD TEAM too.

So maybe I’m dreaming, but maybe I’m not.  Maybe it’s not so far fetched.  So, I’m sticking to it.  1976-1977 Canadiens, you’ve been put on notice.  We’re coming for you.  I want to give a 3rd Chicago sports team the title “greatest ever”.  Now that’s something to shoot for.  Coach Q, let’s use THAT as some motivation for these guys night in night out.  We’ve got the talent, we’ve got the skill, we’re still mad about last year, and we’re ready to kill.  Hey, that could be the first verse of the Stanley Cup shuffle!  Greatest Ever?  By the way, those Canadiens LOST their 3rd game of the season, so we’re already ahead of pace.  Let’s get it boys!