In 2010 I discovered that a young girl named Abby had a special talent for predicting Hawk wins. "Abby Would predict a Hawk win" and sure enough, time after time, the Hawks won.
As the Hawks moved into the playoffs this year, I joined forces with Abby (not that she needed my help, of course) in an effort to bring about enough Hawk victories to, once again, bring the Stanley Cup back to Chicago. The following is my correspondence to Abby during the series with Boston:
Abby I hope that you sleep peacefully tonight, savoring the future destiny of your beloved Hawks: visions of Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Toews, Saad and Bickell skating just that much faster than their foes; the distinctive sound of crisp passes from the sticks of Keith, Stalberg, Oduya and Seabrook; the impenetrable force of Crawford between the pipes. Savor Abby – the cup is in sight; the Hawks are set to take it.
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Dear Hawks - Don't worry about the heart disease - take as many OT's as you want to finish the job.
To Boston - you're not playing the Penguins anymore. To Chicago - no one will ever accuse you of being too quick.
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Dear Abby, I expect that you were sleeping soundly - never a doubt!
19 shots in the first period and 9 shots in the rest of regulation -one period does not a hockey game win.
Abby, our Hawks appear to be temporarily sedated; perhaps this stems from overtime abuse and perhaps from man advantage interruptus - it matters not! It is once again time to show, in no uncertain terms, the difference between Penguins, which are cute and Hawks, which are predatory. Abby, think it, see it, know it; Hawks win - Hawks win on Wednesday.
Abby, I picked a bad week to give up Bacardi 151. I don't expect you to know what that means Abby (you better not), but even the faithful are prone to waiver under certain circumstances. Abby, unlike the docile penguins, the Hawks have thus far matched their thug opponents. All that's left is a 3 game series in which our beloved Hawks will claim their destiny - The Cup, Abby, The Cup.
Abby as you prepare to sleep on this the longest day of the year - as your mind winds down, as your eyes flicker during the REM sleep that will fuel you for tomorrow - Abby remember this: As a pod of dolphins can successfully attack and dismantle a shark, so, too, a cast of Hawks can take down a bruin!
Abby, strangely enough - I made a prediction before the Hawks game tonight. Hawks win 4-1. I find it interesting that one of my favorite sayings is "why would I want to be perfect when I could be reasonable." The way I figure it, although 4-1 would have been perfect - 3-1 is, in fact, reasonable. Abby, winning in 4 would have been perfect; winning it in 6 is reasonable -- GO Hawks - Monday it is time to fulfill your destiny.
Abby, as if you didn't know, it is winning one more game by one goal that separates our Blackhawks from Lord Stanley's Cup. The Cup is more than a trophy Abby - it is a solid representation of Hockey's greatest triumph: overcoming the best that all others have to give.
Tomorrow, Abby, in Boston, the Hawks can close this thing out and likely secure a special place in hockey history. Once again it is time to demonstrate that Hawks are not penguins. It is time for Boston Strong, like Goliath, to fall on home ice. One last time Abby - Hawks Win!
Abby, as you – the unmatched pint-sized prognosticator – me, and the countless Blackhawk fans who have come to treasure your predictions, and the Blackhawks, who indeed did skate faster, pass crisper and tend goal more steadfastly than their bully opponents prepare to summer with Stanley Cup in hand, I could not resist one final missive. (Abby, as you learn to write, keep it like Royko or Hemmingway – short sentences - as opposed to the above)
Abby, some say the number 13, like in 2013, is unlucky; we know better. Some say that thugs rule; we know better. Abby, you predict – some, nevertheless, doubt; we know better.
The world is not perfect Abby, there are a number of explanations for that, but every once in a while -Abby- every once in a while things fall into place in a manner that is undetectable from perfection: The grand canyon; Secretariat in the 1973 Belmont Stakes; kids, like you, playing in the sand or snow; and now, Abby, add to that list the 2013 Blackhawks. As you predicted, our Blackhawks won again and again until there were no more teams to beat or games to win – nearly undetectable from perfection.
