MONDAY MEANDERINGS
ANNIVERSARY GOLDEN FOR JET, HAWKS
Good news for those who couldn't get enough of the 1961 Blackhawks who helped present the team's 2010 Stanley Cup banner Saturday at the United Center. The team will hold a Heritage Night to honor the 1961 Stanley Cup champs on Jan. 8. For the mathematically challenged (such as yours truly), this is the 50th anniversary season of the Hawks' NHL champions. Among the players to be honored are Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita. The first 10,000 fans at the game will receive a Heritage Night hat.
- Speaking of the Hawks, captain Jonathan Toews will be the featured guest on Comcast SportsNet's ''Inside Look'' tonight at 9 (after '' Blackhawks Post Game Live''). Additional interview material will be available at CSNChicago.com.
On being nicknamed ''Captain Serious,'' he says: ''The guys still like to ride that out as much as they can, but I don't know, I guess it's who I am.''
- Speaking of hockey (which is what the following event is all about), Zanies Comedy Club in Chicago will present ''Bumps, Bruises and Bedtime Stories: Untold Stories from the NHL'' at 7 p.m. on Nov. 4. The show will feature former NHL players Stu Grimson, Jim McKenzie and Reid Simpson sharing stories, playing video highlights and taking questions from the audience. Tickets ($20) are available by calling (312) 337-4027 or online at www.zanies.com.
SIGN HIM UP
VIDEO-GAME COVER A FIRST FOR JORDAN
Once again, fans have a chance to be like Mike.
As in Bulls icon Michael Jordan.
He is the cover image of ''NBA 2K11,'' the video game that came out last week. The game lets game players add Jordan to their team.
It is Jordan's first appearance on the cover of an NBA-licensed basketball game. Why now?
''To connect to this generation, when in essence a lot of these young kids never saw me play,'' MJ said. ''They do remember me from [the movie] 'Space Jam,' but not from basketball. So I felt like this would be a good opportunity to kind of expose them to that.''
Included in the video game are features such as the ''Flu Game'' [1997 NBA Finals vs. Utah] and the ''Shrug Game'' [1992 NBA Finals vs. Portland].
Gamers must complete a ''Jordan Challenge'' -- a series of 10 memorable performances from his career -- to be able to have Jordan on their team. Also on the list is his 1986 playoff game against the Celtics when he scored 63 points in Boston.
''To me the toughest was probably the flu game under the circumstances, what I had to deal with to play and what was at stake at that time,'' Jordan said. ''And the easiest of the ones that was on the list was probably the 63-point game, which is the only game I probably lost of all the highlights.''
NOTEWORTHY
TOP NBA JERSEY SALES IN EUROPE
1. Kobe Bryant
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CUP, A PLEA
BANNER-RAISING EVENT REMINDS TURCO WHY HE CAME
After two games, the Blackhawks' season is one more of a raised Stanley Cup banner than it is of raised expectations.
That's what an 0-2 start can do.
Veteran goalie Marty Turco, who signed with the team in the offseason, witnessed the Hawks' banner ceremony before Saturday's game at the United Center against the Detroit Red Wings.
''It's disappointing not to give the fans what they deserve, especially on a special night like this, and give them a win against division rivals,'' Turco, 35, said after Detroit prevailed 3-2.
His Stanley Cup aspirations remain intact, however.
''You dream of winning the Stanley Cup for your whole life, ever since you can remember. To be around that kind of atmosphere [Saturday] kind of cemented those feelings of how bad you want it. It was pretty special. We have a long way to go to say the least. But there's a reason why I come here, just to have a chance. After two games we still have a pretty good chance.''
