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My CNN Ramble

Currently, I’m watching CNN, one of the few that still do and I would like to make a few suggestions:

CNN needs a new personality. Is it possible to get this personality without punditry? I think so. We don’t need comedians and we certainly don’t need poorly mimicked Jon Stewart impersonators. We need newsmen. CNN has to hire people who are not satisfied with quoting the nebulous group of “some people” (i.e. “Some people say…”). I want a reporter who isn’t contented with using the banal buzz-phrases like “the American people” or “those on the right (or left or wherever) think…”

It is my experience that people want and need a reliable broadcast news station; the market is there, so to speak. CNN is uniquely placed to tap into a whole demographic of intelligent, moderate viewers disillusioned with the MSNBC/Fox wars.

It’s discouraging to observe the cable news state and equally frustrating that CNN (or any network for that matter) won’t step up to the challenge of integrity.

Confessions of a Bandwagon Fan

Admittedly, I am a bandwagon fan. Two years ago, I couldn’t name a single Blackhawks skater, nor could I tell you who my favorite US soccer player was. I never played hockey, and soccer was nothing more than a summer beach amusement. But this hockey season I got hooked (many months before the playoffs) on the graceful violence that is a hockey game, and now I’

m committed to the franchise that was previously absent to my generation in Chicago. The other day, I watched the entirety of the USA vs. England soccer match, something I would not have done if the US were still the international farce of soccer.

So yes, I confess. If these teams were not successful, I probably would not have become a fan. But to all the die-hard sports snobs out there, I promise you, I’m here to stay.

The bandwagon fan is only truly despised when he or she makes the transition to the fair-weather fan—i.e. the fan that is more infatuated with the success and popularity rather than the team and the sport. White Sox fans know who I’m talking about and Cubs fans, well we have our own problems when it comes to faux fans. It’s easy and understandable for dedicated fans to be protective of their teams: Fair-weather fans call into question the authenticity of the entire population of supporters and should be frowned upon. But with bandwagon fans, patience and temperance are important; long-time, hardcore fans should do their best to be welcoming and accommodating.

In reality, bandwagon fans really are just new fans, and everybody is a new fan at some point. But when someone ditches their team during a rough year, then by all means ostracize that person out of town.

Hockey and soccer are both examples of burgeoning sports in Chicago. Their popularity is rising and fans of all ages and demographics are flocking to the stadiums, rinks and bars to support their newfound passions. Hopefully, someday track and field will catch on with the same fervor.

Blackhawks Stanley Cup Parade and Rally!

What a showing. I'll keep the words minimum and the pictures plenty. I don't think it can be understated how much the Stanley Cup means to this town at this moment. It's more than a championship title, it's a resurrection of a sport this town has missed. The pictures speak it all, and the Blackhawks have solidified an entire generation of die-hard fans. Though the Stanley Cup will be here only temporarily, thememory of this season, the thrill, and an entire city hungry for more damn good hockey will have lasting effects for decades.

Now for pictures: