It was short but not particularly sweet — unless your definition of “sweet” includes dropping a couple of f-bombs.
When Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford took his turn addressing the throng gathered at Chicago’s Grant Park on Friday after the victory parade to mark the team's Stanley Cup victory, he talked to the crowd like it was in the locker room.
‘‘(F-bomb) right, Chicago! Woo! Biggest bunch of beauties in the league, (f-bomb) worked their nuts off for this trophy! Woo! No one will ever take this away from us! We’re the champs!’’
Sheer poetry, eh?
It’s not as if Crawford is the first guy to do it. In fact, he’s not even the first Stanley Cup-winning goalie to do it.
Let’s go all the way back to last year, when Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick said to a celebratory gathering at Staples Center, during a live telecast on regional television: “How ’bout this (f-bomb) team right here? Look at this (f-bomb) team right here. Look at these (f-bomb) guys.”
Watch it below, but warning: There are no bleeps on this video . . .
In 2008, Phillies star second baseman Chase Utley punctuated Philadelphia’s World Series title celebration by reminding the home crowd — and live television audience — that the Phils were “world (f-bomb) champions.”
Watch it below, but another warning: There’s no bleeping . . .
Utley took some heat afterward because so many people watching on TV in the Philadelphia area were less enthused by his colorful language than the fans in the stands. He later apologized, saying: "I tell all kids not to use that word. If they're 29 and they win the World Series, I think they can say that.
"But I definitely would say to all the kids out there, 'Kids, it's a bad word. Don't say it. And I'm dead serious.' "
However, let’s conclude with something truly classy. The Blackhawks took out a full-page ad in Friday’s Boston Globe, signed by owner Rocky Wirtz and club president John McDonough, to thank the Bruins fans for how they treated the team and its visiting fans and congratulating Boston for its “big heart and gracious spirit.”
And there’s no f-bomb to be seen.
