Love for the Chicago Blackhawks could be found all over the city last week.
Even at the symphony.
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra performed a surprise rendition of The Fratellis “Chelsea Dagger” – the Hawks’ goal song. From their YouTube description…
From one championship team to another: Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra capped off a day of celebration by saluting the Stanley Cup-winning Chicago Blackhawks with a surprise reprise of the anthem “Chelsea Dagger.”
It was just another morning after your home team wins the Stanley Cup.
I’m LIVE in River North on WGN Morning News. It’s 4:15 a.m. The bars are closed. The Cup is nowhere to be found. The streets are empty.
Except for one person.
That short interview turned out to be the most-shared exchange of my career. Within a few hours, it had been retweeted hundreds, eventually thousands of times. On Facebook it was even bigger. I was getting messages from people all over the country who had seen the clip pop up on their favorite websites – Deadspin, Bleacher Report, Uproxx and more.
There was a bigger picture here, too. The growth of hockey’s African-American audience has been a much discussed topic as of late, especially here in Chicago. Awful Announcing posted our video and summed it all up nicely….
“There are black hockey fans (and players) out there, but the overriding perception is still of hockey as a very white sport, and past U.S. audience demographics seem to somewhat support that. However, that seems to be changing for both players and fans, and Chicago seems to be at the centre of that change; Shannon Ryan of The Chicago Tribune wrote an excellent piece last week citing numbers that suggest hockey’s black audience is growing dramatically, and its black audience in Chicago in particular is on the rise. You wouldn’t expect to see that issue addressed in a post-Stanley Cup man-on-the-street interview, but here we are. Ain’t that something indeed.”
The video had people talking and sharing everywhere. Later that night, it was featured on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
My WGN Morning News #Blackhawks fan interview was on Jimmy Kimmel Live & The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last night. Anybody know this guy? Would love to catch up with him!Check out the clips…
Unfortunately, this gentleman dropped the mic and walked away pretty quickly. We weren’t able to get his name. We want to track him down – know him? I would love to put together a follow up for WGN Morning News and see what all of this attention has been like.
I’m testing out the LG Watch Urbane Smartwatch for a few days. Have any questions about it? I’ll post my full review in a few weeks. Want to get a good feel for all that it can do.
They’re calling it Cobra’s Curse. Mack Rides designed the new coaster, which takes riders up a vertical “elevator lift” before they head down a 70-foot first drop. You’ll hit speeds of just over 40mph with 2,100 feet of track. They say the ride will be at least 3.5 minutes long. But the most unique aspect has to be the train. As you head along the track, the cars will spin tilt-a-whirl style.
To keep things even more family-friendly, the coaster will have a height requirement of just 42-inches. I love giant coasters as much as the next person, but I also have two young kids at home. It’s great to see parks investing in unique attractions for kids that are too big for baby rides but not quite ready for the big coasters.
You can’t go wrong with a B&M hyper coaster. They’re smooth, quick and usually pack some good air time.
This week, SeaWorld unveiled plans to build Florida’s first hyper, the shark-themed “Mako.” It’ll be 200 feet tall, 4,760 feet long, and hit a top speed of 73 mph. Believe it or not, that’ll make “Mako” the tallest, fastest and longest thrill ride in central Florida. More from the Orlando Sentinel…
“The addition, originally announced April 24, will be a good move for SeaWorld, which has suffered in its public perception in recent years, said Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider website, which covers the industry.
“It’s about the safest possible bet that SeaWorld could make,” he said. “[Manufacturer] Bollinger & Mabillard coasters have wonderful reputations. They’re always a hit when they they’re installed someplace.”
There will be neither inverted twists nor legs dangling from the trains on Mako. Reining in the intensity level compared with new extreme coasters in parks elsewhere is a strategic move, Niles said.
“The baby-boom generation still remains strong in the travel marketplace, and their extreme-coaster riding days are long past,” Niles said.”
If you watch the early WGN Morning News, you are probably aware that anchor Dan Ponce is obsessed with the movie “Point Break.” I’m a fan as well, but nowhere near his (somewhat unhealthy) level of fandom.
This morning brought us the first trailer to the “Point Break” remake. Yes, they are remaking “Point Break.”
“Point Break.”
No Keanu.
No Swayze.
I believe in not judging movies based on trailers. Even if I’m not reviewing movies as regularly as I used to, I’m still a film critic. But if you will just give me this one moment of weakness…..
It’s been the big news across the world today. 14 people were indicted on corruption charges, including some high level FIFA officials who were accused of taking more than $150 million in bribes.
Why is this a big deal? FIFA is the organization that puts on the World Cup, one of the most watched and attended events on the planet.
Last year, John Oliver dedicated one of his segments to the organization, complaining about how this very thing is tarnishing the game he loves so much. It’s worth another watch, nearly one year later. Take a look…
