Making Peace With Chicago.

As a die hard Vancouver Canucks fan, even after the game seven loss (maybe even especially after the game seven loss), I hate the Chicago Blackhawks. Sure, we finally overcame the demon known as the Madhouse during this most recent postseason. Sure, one of my dear friends (and fellow LSF authors) is a die hard Blackhawk fan. But none of that has any impact on my outright hatred of everything Hawk. Over our recent history, hating the Hawks is almost as much a part of being a Canuck fan as rooting on the 'Nucks.

And that's why it's hard to believe that the Canucks are getting set to announce that the Chicago Wolves are going to be the Orca's new AHL squad. With our beloved Manitoba Moose being kicked out of town to make way for the return of the Winnipeg Jets, we had to go searching, and evidently our search has ended in Chicago. Now I find myself in the odd position of actually caring and being invested in a Chicago hockey team, and as you could guess, it's a weird spot to find myself in.

So, it's time to make peace with the lovely (or so I'm told) city of Chicago. I've often said that Chicago is the US big city that I'd most like to visit next, although it's in a tight foot race with New Orleans. That makes it pretty cool in my book. But, Chicago has to be a much loved American city by all simply for the impressive list of comedians it has produced. Are you kidding me? Bill Murray, John Belushi, Jack Benny, Michael Ian Black, Steve Carrell, Dan Castellaneta, Stephen Colbert, Chris Farley, Redd Foxx, Rick Moranis, Bob Newhart, Mandy Patinkin, Bonnie Hunt, and Harold Ramis are just a few of the greats to come out of the Windy City.

How about the impressive list of movies based in Chicago? Blues Brothers, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Home Alone (1, 2, and 3), A League Of Their Own, National Lampoon's Vacation, Planes Trains & Automobiles (easily the greatest comedy of all time), Return To Me, Tommy Boy, Uncle Buck, Wayne's World (and Wayne's World 2), and When Harry Met Sally? That's a pretty awesome list.

What else could I possibly need to hear to be convinced that I need to get in line and start loving Chicago? Well, that's not the tough part. The tough part is rooting for a hockey team based in Chicago. It's a weird choice by the Orca, but it is what it is, and it's time to get on board. I mean, how could I not be stoked about a minor league hockey team with a wolf for a mascot that goes by the overwhelmingly creative name of "Skate"? 

Done deal.

Go Wolves Go.

-- Sent from my Palm Prē