RedEye-Chicago

A couple of RedEye-reading Blackhawks fans want to be just like Shaw and Bollig. Your lack of facial hair is pathetic, ladies. 

Thanks, Stephne! 

redeyesportsguy:

lennygilmore:

Andrew Shaw and Brandon Bollig. Lenny Gilmore ©

This is how RedEye works.

Blackhawks bromance <3

Check out our profile of Jim Cornelison, the guy who sings the national anthem at the Blackhawks games, who may be singing for the last time this season (hopefully not, right?) tonight

Opening act

For Jim Cornelison, performing the “Star Spangled Banner” isn’t as easy as simply walking out on the ice and warbling along. It’s a process that actually starts the day before he sings.

» No bars, no drinks: Cornelison has a self-imposed rule of not going to bars the night before a game. “When you’re at bars, you’re usually talking pretty loud, and I don’t want to exert my voice. I also don’t drink much because it dehydrates you.”

» Quiet time: For at least three hours before the game, Cornelison tries to stay somewhere quiet, often watching a movie in silence.

» The right stuff: He arrives at the United Center about an hour before each game and eats in the media lounge, always making sure to drink a Diet Coke. He stays away from potentially clogging foods like peanut butter and ice cream.

» Band meeting: With 15 minutes to go before game time, Cornelison goes upstairs to meet with Hawks organist Frank Pellico to talk about how best to play the song. Because of a chest injury, Cornelison tells Pellico to play the anthem in B-flat at the April 6 game against the Blues. “It’s significantly lower than usual, but it hurts like hell.”