Ponder This

“Why the beard Tony?”

 

“What’s up with the beard, starting a revolution?”

 

I’ll answer the second question first, no I am not starting a revolution.

I am currently in the second round of my playoff beard experiment, at least that’s what I refer to it as, an experiment.

To bring you up to speed, ugly facial hair tends to make an appearance this time of year as part of a decades-old tradition belonging to professional hockey players. It is an act of camaraderie, where all members banish their razors in hopes of some good luck in the postseason.

While I am not a diehard hockey fan, I do love me some Blackhawks on occasion. In honor of their first trip to the playoffs in quite a few years I have decided to join them, letting my vicious weird-beard grow.

Originally my plan was to abstain from the shave for both the Bulls and Blackhawks playoff stints, cleaning it up after one of them lost. Something special is going on in Chicago, and my viewpoint has shifted. Not because of the Bulls, I think they have benefited by some good luck not having to face Kevin Garnett, and Ben Gordon is currently auditioning for a cash soaked contract with some other team next season.

It’s because of the most exciting thing to happen on frozen water since Blades of Glory.

I have spent some time with good people who consider themselves ‘Hawks fans over the past couple of weeks. I have toasted eight dollar Jager bombs when Chicago lit the lamp. And I am the proud owner of a pretty face that has not shaved in 14 days.

Everything is falling into place for the Blackhawks, this is the reason for my supportive, yet subtle display of pride, my playoff beard.

 They went from league worst home attendance last season, to tops in 2009. They have an outstanding core of young, talented players who should play for Chicago’s Original Six team for many years to come.

We can’t forget the nightly headstand performances from Nikolai Khabibulin, and all the other names we cannot pronounce. See, told you I’m no diehard. Go Blackhawks!

I’ve decided to dust off the drum kit and start a band. It will be called “The Kung Fu Shop.” Hopefully no other band has that name. More to come.

e just read that Carlos Quentin broke his wrist the other night and will miss a few weeks, and thats the soonest he could return. This is a giant blow to the White Sox who have lived and died by a potent offense this season. This is a prime opportunity for Jim Thome, Griffey, Swisher and Pauly to step up big time because the pitching probably will not answer the call. I will update after the Sox- Angels game later tonight.

I am not going to waste time with a first post intro about myself, hopefully we can get to know me over the course of this experiment. Today I want to talk about the magic number.

The magic number is a term used in baseball as a countdown of sorts to when a team is guaranteed, or clinched, a slot in the post season. About a week ago today a friend of mine brought up the Chicago Cubs’ magic number during a game. The other three people in the room, myself included all began to rag on him for this. There were just under 2 months of baseball left in the season and he announced the Cubbies had a magic number of 37. Big deal.

Although I am a Chicago White Sox fan, always have been, this is not why I thought it was a bit inappropriate and early to even bring up the Cubs’ magic number. I just thought it was too soon, too soon for any team to focus on a number.

The magic number is a combination of Team A’s wins and Team B’s losses. A magic example, the Cubs would need a combination of 37 wins or losses by the second place team in order to lock up a slot in October.

A few days ago the magic number was discussed on a local sports talk radio show, and the general consensus by the hosts was similar to my view, it’s just too soon.

For Cubs fans I understand why they can get excited about this in August, They’ve waited 100 years for a World Series victory. They have a lot of big name players now. They have a manager well known for his emotional style. Essentially they have a lot riding on it this season.

On the South side of town the White Sox find themselves in a fierce battle with the Minnesota Twins for a spot in the postseason. At press time the Sox had a one game lead on the Twinkies with 36 games remaining for each team. Whoever wins the
AL central will have to fight to the end most likely, a magic number might not be a factor until the final week or two of the season.

I think use of the magic number this early on is a way of boasting or bragging for a team. They are in first place, and barring a meltdown will be in the postseason.

A ballclub in first place can continue to perform well and that should be good enough on it’s own without the need for a lame statistic like “the number.”

Announcing a magic number with 2 months left in the season? Premature celebration if you ask me.