Mr. Miller's BLOG
Thank you.Posted on June 15, 2010
With the end of another Blackhawks' season - perhaps I should say the Blackhawks' season - it comes time, once again, to thank everyone who continues to make this site a continued success.
In September when the preseason began, the website and message boards totaled 51,012 pages views (or "hits" as most people know them). A month ago, in May, that number was 126,431.
Blackhawk Zone might never rank up there with CNN or Amazon as the web's premiere attraction, but the niche it's carved out among Blackhawk fans is more than I ever dreamed it would be back in 2000 when this all began as WirtzSucks.com. And my God/Allah/Buddha/Elvis, we even have a Facebook page!
To Hawkymon: How can I NOT acknowledge the woman behind the scenes who not only puts up with my day-to-day crap, but also is a bigger Blackhawk fan than most people I know (and I know a lot of 'em). Finding a good wife and a good mother is hard enough for most people. But to find one who can argue with me on the merits of Brian Campbell on the PP is rare, indeed. I love you.
To Frank Porcelli: You're the one who originally took Blackhawk Zone to the highest level and graciously let me run it into the ground. I never thought I could fill your big shoes, but damn has it been fun trying.
To HESCORES: We've come a long way from the time you had to put up with me when you were moderator on the 'official' boards. You've been a great moderator at the BHZ boards and an even better friend. Of course, buying me multiple beers at the UC doesn't hurt either. I know that you'll be a hell of a dad and for the sake of my boys, I hope you have a little girl.
To arctikdeth: your ALL CAPS, MSNPLLD, drunken rants against capitalism, Rocky Wirtz, Ticketmaster and anything political always provide a nice distraction when the rest of us argue amongst ourselves on the future of Huet or Versteeg.
To those congratulating me: You'd be amazed at the number of people who took the time to send me an email, a text or called me to congratulate me on the Blackhawks winning the Cup. It's not as if I lost 7 teeth in the conference finals or played in the Stanley Cup finals with a fractured shoulder. In the big scheme of things, I'm nothing but a fan like so many others. Yet it was hard to wipe the continual smile from my face as message after message kept pouring in from so many. A guy like me needs a good ego boost and I surely have it inflated enough now to last through this coming off-season.
TheShaman and Knucklepuck: Your graphic work on the site is appreciated and I look forward to using your PhotoShop skills in the future.
To the Chicago Blackhawks: thank you so much for bringing the Cup back to Chicago. Forget what it meant to me personally, but think of the rest of the 1,999,999 people who showed up at the victory parade.
Everyone else on the boards: How we could argue and piss each other off as the 'Hawks marched their way through the playoffs is still a bit perplexing. But I think it just goes to show the passion, the knowledge, and diversity of thoughts that have made this site so reputable. I'd take that over the "rah-rah, life is always good" mindset on the 'official' boards any day.
One of the many good things about the Blackhawks playing through June 9 is that the off-season is shorter, free agency begins sooner and the 2010-2011 schedule will be put out before we know it.
Of course, the negatives still exist: the candy-ass goal song, Tommy Hawk, the "die-hard" fan on the train who admitted she didn't know how to keep score in hockey (asking: "Is it like softball?"), McEgo's annual price increases, Detroit...
Ahhh. Maybe I'm just not happy unless I have something to bitch about. But at least for now, I can breathe a sigh of relief and simply enjoy the moment of what it means to be a fan of the greatest sport in the world, of the best team in hockey, with the absolute best logo on any jersey, and whose website has the best following of fans a guy could ever ask for.
Thank you!
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