Category Archives: Rich Lindbloom

Lindbloom: Goon Game and the Panic Dance

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Rich Lindbloom| 1 Comment

“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job.” – James 5:3

By Rich Lindbloom

“If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it, if you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.”  Actually, you’re thinking you’d rather punch someone in the face about right now, aren’t you? The 7 game losing streak has seemed to take the life out of Blackhawk fandom, as most prepare for the worst. While not on par with the collapse of the ‘69 Cubs or the ’11 Red Sox, a lot of fans are abandoning ship. Personally, I’ve exhausted all the possibilities when attempting to answer my friend’s question, “What’s wrong with your Blackhawks?” As the Lemonhead song goes, “Patience is like bread I say, I ran out of it yesterday.” Read more »

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Lindbloom: Don’t fret those missed notes

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Rich Lindbloom| Leave a comment

“When you’re alone and life is making you lonely
You can always go, downtown” - Petula Clark

It was sometime around 1989 that I had the great fortune of seeing the two virtuoso’s pictured above. It was probably the highlight of an evening that held great expectations for me. I had asked a young damsel out on, sort of, a blind date. She was a great setter on this co-rec volleyball team I played on. After deliberating at length whether or not I should ask her out, I finally picked up the phone and nervously inquired if she had any plans for the evening. She wanted to know where we were going, however I told her it would have to remain a surprise. I did give her a hint, I told her it involved going “downtown.” As Petula Clark sang in that wonderful song, I was hoping we’d be “listening to the rhythm of the gentle bossa nova;” that we’d be “dancing with them too, before the night was over.” Read more »

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Lindbloom: Glum and The Doomed

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Rich Lindbloom| 3 Comments

“We’re doomed.”

“Some people like to go out dancing
And other people’s, they have to work, just watch me now
And there’s even some evil mother’s
Well, they’re gonna tell you everything is just dirt
You know that, women, never really faint
And that villains always blink their eyes
And that children are the only ones who blush
And that life is just to die…” – Lou Reed

By Rich Lindbloom

Sweet Jane, (“whoa –oh-oh,” I heard you out there!), might be at the top of my all-time favorite songs. It is a serendipitous moment indeed when you’re flipping through radio stations and you’re fortunate enough to hear the Rock and Roll Animal sing ‘Standing on a corner…”  If you don’t immediately crank the volume 4 or 5 notches, you clearly inhabit a world that is “just dirt.” The song comes as close to perfection as humanly possible. My favorite part in the song is when the background harmony comes in when they sing “And anyone who ever had a heart…” The song is the Sistine Chapel of music, Kaner’s overtime dagger in the sixth game of the Stanley cup finals. Clearly, it’s the smile on Mona Lisa’s come hither countenance. Read more »

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Lindbloom: “Turtle” – Pistachio and digging deeper

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Rich Lindbloom| 2 Comments
En Garde!

By Rich Lindbloom

Opportunity; while it’s been said it only knocks once, in reality we are presented many opportunities throughout our lives. What we do with them, of course, is up to us. Marian Hossa was presented with a golden opportunity early in the second period against Buffalo that he didn’t waste-more on that later. For now, suffice it to say Hossa obliterated Enroth’s 5-hole. Before I go into my sagacious analysis of the last few games, I’d like to tell you about an opportunity that I let slip by recently. It’s haunted me for almost two months now.

It was the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving and I went to Jewel to pick up a few items. Unfortunately, the lines were about 10 people deep, even at the self checkout. To make matters worse, as the line was reduced to about 5 people in front of me, we were informed that there was a malfunction in the Visa machine and it had turned into a cash only line. It turned out I had enough to pay for the items I had and so continued to wait impatiently. As we finally approached the cashier, an older lady, who looked worrisome and worn down, put all of her items on the conveyor belt, all except a turkey. I asked her if she wanted me to put it on the belt for her and she said “Well…, yeah I guess so.” Read more »

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Walking Danny O’Carcillo

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Rich Lindbloom| 3 Comments

“Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountainside
The summers gone, and all the flowers dying
Tis you, tis you must go and I must bide.”

By Rich Lindbloom

Danny Carcillo’s decision to self-detonate into Tom Gilbert in the Oiler game last Monday brings to mind a bad decision I once made. Actually the decision was reached with the help of three friends in my scramble foursome 20 years ago at Silver Lake C.C. We found ourselves in a bit of a quandary when our  approach shots on the diabolical 9th hole left us with two unpleasant options  to rescue par. An abnormal amount of debate factored into our ill-fated decision. Read more »

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Lindbloom: Hot Wheels, lucky shoes, Ebony & Ivory

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Rich Lindbloom| Leave a comment

“Tazer, you’d better score next game I go to.”

Early morning, April 4
A shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride – U2

They say the most segregated hour during the week in America is at 10 am on a Sunday morning. Although there have been signs of change, birds of a feather still tend to flock together. Fortunately, the church I attend actually has a good cross section of various races. Through my involvement in Children’s Church, I happened to meet and befriend a lady by the name of Laverne. Laverne and her husband, Kevin, had a bunch of us over for a barbecue one day in their back yard. It was there that I chanced to meet Laverne’s friend Lamont. Let’s just say Lamont had more Fred Sanford in him than his namesake. Read more »

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Lindbloom: Blackhawks – Slap That Tail

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Rich Lindbloom| Leave a comment

By Rich Lindbloom

Mark 8:28 “But what about you,” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

While realizing this is a sensitive subject, I can’t help reflecting on that babe born in a manger some 2000 years ago. “What child is this?” that inspired so much incredible art and beautiful music that we are blessed with at this time of year. (Although, if I hear Feliz Navidad one more time my head will explode.) As with Moses, Jesus was born in very humble surroundings.  Both men shunned earthly kingdoms. Both men were on a mission to lead lost sheep to the Promised Land.  I’ve always found it somewhat amazing that the first people on this earth to see Jesus, were the lowliest of the low. A group of shepherds tending their flocks on a deep and dark night near Bethlehem, go to the stable after being terrified by an angel that told them not to be afraid. “I bring you news of great joy for all men.” Read more »

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Lindbloom: On Big Bad John, the Kaner Dance and the long journey back to that elusive rock

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Rich Lindbloom| 2 Comments

“HEAVEN ON EARTH” THE BOYS (and fish) from JIM’S ROCK
“Trust me Gar!”

By Rich Lindbloom

Trophies, they’re never easy to come by, are they? While the trophies being held up in the photo above may not rival a toothless Duncan Keith hoisting the Cup two years ago, it’s rather apparent the four knuckleheads are quite proud of their efforts on a rain soaked day of fishing in Canada. Apparently, one of the boys on the fishing trip decided to stay in the cabin and raid the liquor cabinet – that could explain the off center photo. The lad on the left was my baby brother Jim, who passed away around this time last year. A friend who was known as the tenth Lindbloom, Rabbi Voshnewsky, sent the picture and one of my all time favorite stories as a very pleasant reminder of the last of nine Lindblooms to enter this world…. Read more »

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CarBomb Defuses Bluesy Bully, David Backes

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Rich Lindbloom| Leave a comment
Dan Carcillo vs Skut Farkus

By Rich Lindbloom

In the movie A Christmas Story the only thing that saves the town bully, Scut Farkus, from total annihilation, was Ralphie’s mom. The refs may have saved Backes on Saturday when Danny Carcillo finally had enough of the Blues attempt at intimidation. In a reversal of their game plan when they shut the Hawks out on Nov 8th, 3-0, the Blues regressed to malfeasance and thuggery as an ill advised strategy. Truly, you’d think they’d finally get it by now. It was a statement game for the Blues, a game where they once and for all hoped to dispel the aura of Blackhawk supremacy. Next time, maybe they should stick to playing hockey. To the Blues credit, they didn’t resort to the obligatory tomfoolery their fans have grown accustomed to at the end of the game. The term ‘sore losers’ has been equated with St Louis Blues hockey for quite some time now. Read more »

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Lindbloom: Ow!

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Rich Lindbloom| Leave a comment

By Rich Lindbloom 

“Ow! Ohhhh yeah

I used to think maybe you loved me, now baby I’m sure
And I just can’t wait til the day when you knock on my door
Now every time I go to the mail box, gotta hold myself down
Cos I just wait till you write me your coming around.

I’m walking on Sunshine, wooah
I’m walking on sunshine, woooah
I’m walking on sunshine, woooah
And don’t it feel good!” - Kimberly Rew

Ok, I get it. This song was probably the furthest thing possible from anyone’s mind leaving the United Center Wednesday night with their tail between their legs. Perhaps a more fitting song would be the dirge by Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, “There’s something wrong.” However the start of “Walking on Sunshine,” particularly the word “OW!”, reminded me not only of the Hawks’ game. It also brought back a memory of a Chemistry 101 lab and a scorching hot test tube I had heated up. I’m not sure why, but when it was time to clean up and head to my next class, I firmly grabbed hold of the test tube with three fingers. All were instantly blistered. I didn’t even have time to think of a swear word, I just exclaimed, “Ow!” as the test tube flew out of my hand and broke on the floor. The chemistry teacher kind a shook his head and asked if I needed any first aid. In this highly embarrassing situation I said, “No, I’m ok.”

Needless to say, the Blackhawks were not ‘ok’ Tuesday night. I’d imagine their ears were pretty blistered by the time Coach Q finished his assessment of their efforts; or perhaps better put, lack thereof. Read more »

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