Hawks shutout caps Sunday funday

Ever since my son Jaykeb was brought home from the hospital in late January, I have had a hard time finding time to enjoy things outside of being a father. I thought the days of me driving around touring places and attending professional sporting events were done.
But Sunday, Feb. 24 brought a nice change of pace for me as I was able to do both things I love: touring and sports games.
Knowing I'd have a day to myself because of Alyssa's family taking care of Jaykeb for the day, I set out for Gary, Indiana and the boyhood home of Michael Jackson. Although I was alone, I found the experience joyful seeing the birthplace of one of the world's most recognizable people in music history. They had a memorial, flowers and a wall to sign your name at the home in the 2300 block of Jackson Avenue, right across the alley from Teddy Roosevelt High School.
But while I was there, I was given an even better surprise when my mother called me and said my cousin and her boyfriend had tickets to that night's Blackhawks game and I was invited to go with my father.
That made the day even better. The Hawks are undefeated in regulation, the best team in hockey and the talk of the town.
What was even better was the atmosphere at the game. Hockey is the best sport to watch live, period.
I got chills listening to the Star Spangled Banner sung throughout the cheers at the Madhouse on Madison. Andrew Shaw of the Blackhawks scored the game's lone goal, so we also got to hear "Chelsea Dagger" the famous tune that plays whenever Chicago scores a goal or wins the game.
While Columbus' netminder Steve Mason played lights out, Corey Crawford was a little better - notching his second career shutout in a 1-0 win over the last place Blue Jackets. The win extending the Hawks' already record setting streak to 18 games without a regulation loss to start the season.
Being in attendance at the game and driving to a city to view a famous place like Michael Jackson's birth brought me closer with the joy in life that I used to sometimes take for granted.

Sunday taught me that no matter how much you think you are done with life's great experiences, they can sometimes pop up when you least expect them.

Photo: The Hawks defeated Columbus 1-0 Sunday, earning Corey Crawford his second career shutout win.