The immortal words of Bluto still ring in my ears as the pundits and many fans write-off the Blackhawks. A sophomoric statement from a sophomoric kid who just didn’t know any better, and that’s kinda where the Hawks are now. They must have felt a little shell-shocked after Sunday’s game. I’m getting about what I expected in this series and with no complaints. At this crossroads in time, the skill level and maturity of the Redwings is still greater than that of the Hawks. Still, we get to see glimmers of what is to come and we even had a taste of the future in a couple of overtime contests in this series. I know the odds aren’t favorable. I know it doesn’t look good-but I also remember another moment in time from MY not-so-distant past.
The following story is a fact. As a highschool tennis coach I wound up at the State Tournament watching one of my players-a sophomore at the time, playing late into the afternoon. He was my only player in the tournament and we knew that if he lost, we’d have to make the long, silent trip back home that night and he’d have to face all of his friends and detractors at school the next morning. My player was talented but wasn’t always able to summon his talent when he needed it. It was a matter of will. The match was slipping away quickly and when he was at the worst uphill climb a player can have -literally- I called my final timeout. He was down 0-6/ 0-5/ and love-forty at match point. I was out of strategy and gave the only actionable advice left, “You have the skill to win-all you have to do is win one point now, and just consistently remind yourself of that. If you want to stay in it, and if it really matters to you, just forget the score and win each point by itself.” The advice wasn’t particularly original or creative, but it was accurate. I’ll skip the drama and get to the conclusion. That young man came back to win that game, that set and eventually the match. He didn’t win the State Title that year, but he did teach me a lesson in sports and life. First you have to want it, then you have to strive for it and if you have skill and luck on your side, you may even win it.
The Hawks have come farther than I would have expected at the start of the season, but I still want more. Maybe if THEY want more they’ll remember my vintage advice-or Bluto’s!
Happy Memorial Day!
And Go HAAAAAAWKS!
