Along 66, August 2020: The Illinois RnR Museum and Motorheads

AUGUST 13--  The future home of the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 in Joliet, Illinois, was given landmark status.  It is at 9 Cass Street and was originally a White store and later a Goldblatt's

It has also been several other stores during its life.

So far, no opening date for the museum has been set.

We can always use another museum on 66, especially one about rock and roll (and especially those great 1960s Chicago bands like New Colony Six, Shadows of Knight, Cryan' Shames and Buckinghams.

AUGUST 15--    The world's largest Route 66 sign at Motorheads in Springfield, Illinois, is now up.  Just one more reason to check this place out.  We went there just a few days after it opened.  Later, we had a great time watching the St. Louis Blues win the 2019 Stanley Cup there with a whole bunch of Blues fans.

Springfield is torn between Chicago and St. Louis sports.

--RoadBluesRock

Chicago Wolves vs. Milwaukee Admirals-- Part 5: Kid Hockey, Tee Shirts, Zambonis and a Blowout

Friday, January 31

Between periods, they had a youth hockey game for about eight minutes and those little guys were really moving up and down the ice (and falling down a lot).  They'd fall and pop right back up, as did the AHL players.  Not so with me anymore.  I go down and it isn't, "Help I've Fallen and Can't Get Up" but approaching that.  And on ice, not likely at all.

In the second between periods game, one team's goalie was really good at stopping shots.  With how badly the Wolves goalie was going we decided that they should offer the little guy a one-day contract.

Plus, between periods and during time outs, girls would go out on the ice and throw and toss tee shirts to the kids, which would cause a stampede in our area.

The Zamboni's came out between periods and would smooth out the ice.  One time they had a special Zamboni where people were sitting on top and waving to the crowd,which probably filled about one third of the arena.

First and second periods the Wolves were outscored 2-1 in each.  The second one, the Wolves goalie was in the net by us and he sure looked big enough that he shouldn't be letting all those pucks go by him, but he sure did.  Where's that kid goalie when you need him.

We left with the Wolves down 6-3 and one out for the count as a result of a fight.  We later heard that the final score was 7-3 so we didn't miss anything.

--RoadPuck

Chicago Wolves vs. Milwaukee Admirals-- Part 4: A Time for Fighting

Friday, January 31, 2020.

I have to say that I have never seen as many fights in a hockey game as I saw tonight.  It seemed that one broke out every few minutes.  And, these weren't just shoving matches.  I thought I was watching that mixed fighting stuff.  And, the crowd sure got into it, especially the young kids.

These guys would start to duke it out and then one would throw his helmet onto the ice, followed immediately by his sparring partner.  Then, they would go for blood.  There must have been eight boxing matches tonight.  And, they were connecting on each others' faces.

Fighting at NHL games is way down compared to this.  AHL is wide open.  I looked up AHL fighting and found there are several sites devoted to it.

So, in the American Hockey League, this must be the thing.

The penalty for fighting in the AHL is five minutes, but almost every time both players get a "time out."

May the Best Fighter Prevail.  --RoadFight

Chicago Wolves vs. Milwaukee Admirals AHL Game-- Part 3: That's Wayne Messmer Singing

One thing I can say and that there sure were a lot of kids there, especially youth hockey players.  There are a lot of activities set up in the halls for them.  You had to keep a weather eye out for wayward hockey sticks.

While the teams weer practicing before the game  there were lots of kids up by the glass and putting their hands on the glass and forming a target.  Every so often, a player would toss a puck over the glass which would set off a stampede.  Enjoyed watching the Zambonis doing their thing on the ice.

The game was slated to start at 7, but didn't until about 7:15.  The Wolves sure have an interesting and impressive intro to the game, complete with flames and fireworks.  My buddies had been there before and told me to get ready for the "Heat."  And we sure got it when those flames went off.

Well-known Chicago talent and singer Wayne Messmer, sang the National Anthem.  he was the original Chicago Blackhawks singer before Jim Cornelisun.  When he hits those last notes, WOW!!!

Watching the NHL on TV, you don't really get the feeling of how fast the action goes and the quick switching of the lines.  But, I sure got it tonight.

One guy sitting in the front row by the glass, got a good lesson in why you don't want to put an expensive beer up on the ledge by the glass because there was a collision there at that spot and down goes his expensive beer onto the floor.  I noticed that he had other beers later, but none of them were placed back in that spot.

--RoadIce

Chicago Wolves vs. Milwaukee Admirals-- Part 2: Souvenirs and Eatin'

I went to the game with George, Rocky and Mark, who drove.  We even had a pass for parking (which would have cost $20).  Hey, nothing's cheap about Rosemont or the Allstate Arena.  Rosemont is by O'Hare Airport.

Gates open at 6 pm for the 7 pm game, and not a second before that.  We got there at 5:54 and had to wait inside until 6.

Great seats.  We were six rows back near the Admiral player box, so great view of the rink and game.  With time to kill, I went looking at what was available.  Souvenirs were expensive, ranging from $30 for a tee shirt to $180 for a Wolves jersey (well sweater).  Since neither team is affiliated with the Blackhawks, I took a pass.  Now had there been IceHog ones I might have been tempted.

Beer was $8.50 for 16 ounces.  I really like my beer, but NOT at those prices.  There were some interesting items to eat for $8 to $12.  I found a hot dog for $3.50 (but they had the fixins: mustard, relish, chopped onions) and a small bag of popcorn for $3.  That was not much of a hot dog and a hard bun that even the fixins' couldn't help.  The popcorn was more like cardboard.

--RoadWolf

A Trip Out to Minor League Hockey: Chicago Wolves vs. Milwaukee Admirals-- Part 1: Sorting Them Out

This past Friday, January 31, a bunch of us guys from Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg, Illinois, took a trip down to Rosemont, Illinois, to All State Arena to see the game between the Milwaukee Admirals and Chicago Wolves of the AHL, American Hockey League, which serves as the minor league teams of the NHL, National Hockey League.

The Admirals are the affiliate of the Nashville Predators in the NHL and the Wolves are with the Vegas Golden Knights.  I read this past week that the Knights are looking to get an AHL team closer to home.

Right now, the Admirals are in first place in the Central Division of the Western Conference and the Wolves are in third.  Our own Chicago NHL team, the Blackhawks, has their AHL team in nearby Rockford named the IceHogs and they are in fifth.

I'd never been to a minor league hockey game and just one NHL game in my life.

And, even better, the tickets were compliments of Anheuser-Busch.  I was a bit shocked at the price we would have had to pay which was $39.  Wow, $39 for a minor league game.  Definitely more than I pay for a Clinton Lumber Kings game of the baseball Class A Midwest League which is $8 for a box seat right by the dugout.

A Hockey We Go.  --RoadPuck

2017 Indy 500-- Part 8: Hockey, "Idge" Phones and Twisted Kilt

Those Millennials!  On their bloomin' "Idge" phones most of the time.  Hey, there is a big game on the TV and you're blankly staring at your phone!!  

The winner of this game goes to the Stanley Cup Championship.  Big game.    End of 1st a 0-0 tie.  Pittsburgh won the Stanley Cup last year.  Penguins score, then Senators do ten seconds later.

The guy behind us in full Penguin gear and a huge fan.  Talked with him and found out he loves Put-In-Bay.

Just found out that Twisted Kilt will be at the Legion tomorrow and running things.  That is a fairly big restaurant chain whose waitresses and bartenders do a Hooters in the way they dress.  But male bartenders and waiters also dress sexy and in kilts.  Should be interesting.

Group of Millennials just left and three of five are staring at their "Idge" phones.  Hope they trip.  I call them "Idge" phones as my brother refers to our old flip phones as "Dumb Phones."  I am fairly certain you have to be an "Idiot"  "Idge" to devote your life to one of those new so-called "Smart" phones.

Tied 2-2 at end of regulation and Pittsburgh wins in overtime and will go to play for the Stanley Cup against the Predators.

Back to the RV.  Real busy day.

Go Pittsburgh!!!  --RoadDog

2017 Indy 500-- Part 7: Doing My Hockey Thing At the Lehion

MAY 25

The name and logo of the Pittsburgh Penguins is not very scary, nor is the name and logo of the Anaheim Dicks.  Sorry, Ducks and Penguins just aren't scary.  The Nashville Predators are already in the Stanley Cup Championship and I will be pulling against them no matter who they play against in this series.  And this because of their treatment of Blackhawk fans.  It is unacceptable.

The problem revolves around the Predator fear of Hawk fans taking over the arena as Nashville is fairly close to Chicago and there would be lot of red in their home, something they didn't like.  But, the way I see it, if a guy is willing to get ripped off at NHL prices it shouldn't matter whose jersey they are wearing.

I am pulling for Pittsburgh as I am not a fan of Canadian teams.

Too bad the Blackhawks aren't there, but I am not surprised.  They had the best record in the NHL, but lost 6 of their last 8 games including several blowouts and then got swept by those gosh-durn Predators.

--RoadDog

2017 Indy 500-- Part 6: Good Eating and a Hockey Playoff Game (Not the Hawks)

Continued from February 25, 2019.

MAY 25, THURSDAY

We now returned to the RV and had Sliders and Paul did some grilling.  We eat well the whole time we're at the Indy.

Afterwards we went to the American Legion where they had a deejay and $2 drafts.

We watched the hockey game between the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins.  Sadly, no Blackhawks as they were swept in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  One time during the much ballyhooed "Dynasty" days of the Hawks when they played a must-win game against the Detroit Redwings.  A loss and the Hawks went home.

At first there were a few Detroit fans in the Legion, but more and more Hawk fans began arriving and with our guys playing well and all the cheering, pretty soon the Detroit fans were gone.

--RoadDog

Illinois' 200th, 20 Sporting Events To See-- Part 11: The United Center

20.  THE UNITED CENTER, Chicago

Seeing the current Bulls and Blackhawks playing at the "Madhouse on Madison" is thrilling, but sometimes infuriating, depending upon how the two teams are playing.  The 90s were especially fun for Da Bulls (6 NBA Championships) and from 2010 to 2016 Da Hawks won three Stanley Cups.

But, no trip to Chicago's Near West Side is complete without visits to the statuers of Blackhawk greats Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita as well as Bulls great Michael Jordan.

You'll find the Hull and Mikita statues outside the center (hey, hockey is cold, you know).  Michael is inside in an atrium.

Chicago Greats.  --RoadDog

Illinois' 200th, Sports Experiences-- Part 6: Da Sports Museum and Da Wolves and Da Ice Hogs

10.  CHICAGO SPORTS MUSEUM,  Water Tower Place, Chicago

On the seventh floor of the Mag Mile Mall.  See an extensive collection of 2016 Cubs World Series memorabilia, including Addison Russell's Game 6 grand slam and Grandpa Rossi's Game 7 catching gear.

There are interactive exhibits.  Admission is free if you eat at Harry Caray's 7th Inning Stretch restaurant next door.

11.  CHICAGO WOLVES,  Allstate Arena, Rosemont.

There is nothing minor league about the award-winning pregame show for the Chicago Wolves in their American Hockey League (AHL) games.

The AHL is the only minor league of the NHL (but sadly the Wolves are not the Chicago Blackhawks minor league team.

Of you want to see the Chicago affiliate, they are in nearby Rockford, Illinois, and they are called the Ice Hogs.

--RoadDog200

Best of Chicago's Sports Theater: Things You Really Have to See at Chicago Sports Games-- Part 1

From the August 7, 2016, Chicago Tribune by David Haugh.

Say that you're coming to Chicago to start your trip along Route 66 and are in mind of getting out to a sporting venue, these are Mr. Haugh's picks of things you just have to see in 2016.

1.  Cubs new reliever Aroldis Chapman in the 9th inning.

2.  Jim Cornelison singing the "Star-Spangled Banner" before a Blackhawks game at home.

3.  Hawks player Patrick Kane during a shootout, or, really, anytime.

4.  A Chicago Bear quarterback Jay Cutler deep pass to Alshon Jeffery (if it is not intercepted).

5.  White Sox pitcher Chris Sale starting a game at Comiskey Park.  (I don't call it by that other name.)

Play the Game.  --RoadDog

Sitting Here At the Munger-Moss-- Part 16: The Curve and the Loss

APRIL 25, MONDAY

**  Next stop was at the Curve Inn across Route 66 from the Route 66 Hotel.  This bar has been there since the 1930s and is a real roadhouse.  They also have a really nice biergarten now.  People were starting to come in for the Blackhawks-Blues game.

**  I had their wings, which is the Monday special and a great deal at 25 cents each.

**  We then went back to the Route 66 Hotel and to the Filling Station bar where we saw the Blues-Hawks game.  Sadly, we lost and are out of the Stanley Cup playoffs.  Congratulation St. Louis.  We'll be pulling for them now.

--RoadDog

DeKalb for Homecoming 2015-- Part 3: Lord Stanley's

Entering Lord Stanley's, I found out where everyone was.  The place was already packed.  A lot of alumni were already there, many claiming tables for friends as seating is limited for a Footstompers show.

Lord Stanley's advertises itself as "Hockey Bar USA."  This is a Blackhawk Bar to be sure.  There are pennants, banners and other Blackhawk stuff all over the place as well as other hockey teams.  We even considered going to this place during the last Stanley Cup Run.  Being there would have to be an experience.

Even the name, Lord Stanley, comes from the Championship Cup.  They use a caricature of Stanley Laurel from the old Laurel and Hardy team as well.  Drink prices are very reasonable and they have great pizza.  And, even better, the Blackhawks had a game tonight.

This place puts the dive in dive bar.  Believe me, nothing is elegant.  But it is fun.

Back when we were students, it was called The Shamrock and later Daddy-O's Shamrock.  At one time it had an upper level that was open, but has been closed ever since a college student fell off it and died.

Good Time at Stanley's.  --RoadDog

A Beach Trip Spring 2015-- Part 1

APRIL 21ST, 2015, TUESDAY

Leaving on a really cool day with temps in the 30s.  Got a late start at 2 p.m..  Took Il-120 to Il-47.  Stopped in Dwight, Illinois, to eat at the Old Route 66 Family Restaurant on the old road.

By Mahomet, we got on I-74 and took it the short distance to Champaign and got a room at the Super 8 across from the TGIF and watched the Blackhawk -Predator game until it went to overtime and then went back to the room.  Found out later that the Hawks won in the third overtime.

I hate the 8:30 game times, especially with the 20 minute overtime periods.  We enjoyed talking with a woman in Champaign for training with Jimmy Johns, which started in nearby Jacksonville, Illinois, at Eastern Illinois University and now is headquartered in Champaign.

She was from Nashville and a big Predators fan.  She didn't know, nor did we, when the Predators started or where they got the name or logo.  She looked it up (I still haven't figured out how to use my 2002 flip phone)  The team started in the 1997-1998 season and got its name when work on the foundation for a big downtown building revealed the skull of a type of saber tooth tiger.  That would explain the name and logo.

--RoadDog

The Traveling Cup: Travels of the Blackhawk's Stanley Cup-- Part 4

I was just reading that the World Soccer Cup is heavily guarded and no one but winners and heads of state get to touch it. Definitely not a People's Cup like the Stanley.

MOOSE JAW, SASKATCHEWAN-- Besides having one of the neatest names for a town (right out of the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show) and having Al Capone run an alcohol distribution network from there and you can tour the Tunnels of Moose Jaw that were used for the illegal operations. Troy Parchman took the Cup here.

WINDSOR, CANADA-- Located right across the river from Detroit and was the childhood home of Coach Joel Quenneville took it for two days. He also had it there another time when he marched with the Cup in Windsor's Canada Day parade.

HINSDALE, ILLINOIS-- Brent Sopel is from Saskatchewan, but lives in Hinsdale. His four kids ate cereal from the Cup and he drove it through town on an old tractor and renewed his wedding vows in front of it.

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA-- Known as the coldest city in Canada and nicknamed Winterpeg-- had a two-day celebration for Captain Jonathan Toews, the series MVP and Canadian Olympic star. He was greeted by 10,000 spectators and a lake was renamed after him.

And that is just some of the things that happened to the Stanley Cup this past summer. That cup that doesn't look much like a cup sure gets around.

I'd Like to Drink a Beer From It. --RoadDog

Traveling Cup: The Travels of the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup-- Part 3

One thing I really like about the NHL's tradition of letting Stanley Cup winners take it out to their hometowns.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK-- The Hurricane Deck at Niagara Falls was renamed the Hurri-Kane Deck for Patrick Kane's visit and the Cup got wet from the falls. The next day, the Cup returned with Kane to Chicago and made an appearance with Jimmy Buffett, lucky Cup!! No parrots were injured.

MAPLE RIDGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA-- Cup goes wake-boarding with Andrew Ladd and Colin Fraser.

MORRISTOWN AND LIVINGSTON, NJ-- Went golfing with John Madden and Donald Trump. Got fired.

VANTAA, FINLAND-- Antti Niemi and Cup enjoyed a sauna.

I know of no other trophy that has such an interesting life.

It Seems Like They're Really Trying to Find New Ways to "Entertain" That Cup. --RoadDog

Traveling Cup, the Travels of the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup-- Part 2

A Diary from the Road.

Here are some high points from the travels of the Cup:

ORONO, ONTARIO-- About an hour north of Toronto. Bryan Bickell-- a lifejacket strapped on the Cup as it went fishing.

ROSEAU, MINNESOTA-- Less than ten miles from Canada, Dustin Byfuglien-- Cup and people went four-wheeling to the Canadian border.

SURREY, BRITISH COLUMBIA-- Second-largest city in province. Colin Fraser-- Serenaded by bagpipes and escorted by Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Was Dudly Doo-Right there?

SEA BRIGHT, NJ-- Mike Haviland-- Along with 60 close friends took Cip to Sea Bright Beach on the Jersey Shore where it was mobbed by beachgoers.

TRENCIN and NOVA DUBNICA, SLOVAKIA-- Marian Hossa (from Trencin) and Tomas Kopeckey (from Nova Dubnica)-- Hossa ate pirogi and Kopecky had Slovakian soup out of the Cup. They took it to medieval Trencin Castle.

More to Come About This Roadin' Cip. --RoadDog

The Traveling Cup, Travels of the Blackhawk Stanley Cup-- Part 1

The October 10th Chicago Tribune had a whole page devoted to the travels of the Stanley Cup as various Blackhawk players, coaches and executives took it all over the world from Bolingbrook to Paris over this past summer.

I think it is neat that hockey allows winning players to take the cup out to the fans and towns of the world, so they can see it up close and personal-like. Just try seeing the Super Bowl or World Series trophies.

This past summer, the 35 pound trophy found itself on the road about 100 days. Each person got the cup for a day and sometimes two. Most took it to their hometown. It went to hospitals, police stations and a myriad of other places, including a sauna in Finland. In Paris, it went to the top of the Eiffel Tower and fishing and boating in Canada (but, it had a life preserver strapped on it).

The Tribune had a map of the US and Canada, showing the towns it visited (mostly Canada). It also visited seven places in the Chicago area: Bolingbrook, Chicago, Elmhurst, La Grange Park, Hinsdale, Lombard and Hoffman estates.

Overseas, it went to two places each in Finland, Slovakia and France and one in Sweden.

Now. That's Some Traveling. --RoadDog

ILMOTOUR 2010-- Part 8-- Road Boaters Again

Like I said, Road Boaters used to be J.J. Twigg's and had only been open a month back in June when we were there. The place had been completely remodeled and the bar moved.

The owner, Latham, is from Roscoe, Illinois, a little north of Rockford. He also owns a business in Las Vegas where he does casino landscaping and lawn maintenance. In addition, he has a restaurant in Big Bear, California. If you ask me, this is one really busy man.

Road Boaters was having its grand opening this weekend.

Their menu is not your standard bar grill fare. We were getting a little hungry so tried the Wasabe Burger & fries for $7.95. A unique creation to say the least.

The Chicago Blackhawks won 4-3 in overtime, their first Stanley Cup in 47 years!!! Are you going to remember where you were when the Hawks finally won again. And the really amazing thing is that the new owner, Rocky Wirtz, the son of the previous owner turned an almost forgotten Chicago team into a winner like this in just three years.

We had another pitcher of beer for $7 to celebrate.

Go You Hawks!! --RoadDog