2010 Stanley Cup, the year of sexual assault.

As a life long Blackhawks fan, the joy of watching Jonathan Toews lift the Stanley Cup above his head for the first time since 1961 was awesome. Being able to celebrate with my dad and grandfather gave me lasting memories I’ll never forget. Watching the parade, watching the banner being lifted the next season, going to the Blackhawks Convention, again, memories.

Now, 11 years later, we find out that those awesome memories and celebrations we had, weren’t so great for John Doe, who later turned out to be Kyle Beach. Beach had complained to team leaders back in 2010 that video coach Brad Aldrich sexually assaulted him. Aldrich invited Beach to his apartment for dinner. It was during this time that he sexually assaulted Beach, threating Beach with his place on the team and ruining his hockey career if he didn’t comply.

Beach went to skills coach and team counselor, Jim Gary, confiding in him what had happened. Gary then went to upper management  President John McDonough, Executive Vice President Jay Blunk, Assistant General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Joel Quenneville.

What’s more important, a Cup or handling a sexual assault on a player who is not a team regular. Well, the organization thought the Cup was more important as they swept the allegations under the rug. They allowed Aldrich to continue on the team, get a Stanley Cup ring, celebrate with the team in the parade, all while Beach had to watch the guy who assaulted him, celebrate as if nothing happened.

During the off season, Aldrich was offered the choice of undergoing an investigation into the act, or resign. Of course, Aldrich resigned. Not only was he able to resign, he also received a severance package. Aldrich then went on to Houghton in Michigan. While there, he sexually assaulted a 16 year old member of the hockey team. Aldrich was investigation and was arrested and plead guilty. Once Beach heard about the arrest and what happened, he knew it was time to speak up again.

The Hawks finally did an investigation into the incident and it was found that Beach was telling the truth and upper management failed him. Coach Quenneville, now a coach in Florida, resigned from coaching yesterday. Kevin Cheveldayoff was found to not have knowledge of the incident, or rather not enough to hold him accountable. Stan Bowman was relieved of his duties as general manager.

The Hawks team that brought joy to millions of fans in 2010, has the fans pissed and embarrassed in 2021. Did Toews know? Did Kane? Apparently, there were jokes toward Beach in the locker room about Aldrich being his “boyfriend”. Owner Wirtz has asked the NHL to erase Aldrichs name from the 2010 cup. But, is that enough? Should the NHL strip the Stanley Cup win from the Hawks altogether?

As I’ve stated, I’m a life long Hawks fan. I believe the Hawks fucked up. I believe that they owe Beach a huge payout and an apology on national tv before a home game. If Toews knew about it, like many said he did, do you take away the “C” from someone who was just 22 years old at the time?

I don’t know the answer to any of this. I just know the Hawks organization has a reputation and respect that they have to earn back.

Bobby your dad is here

Back in the 80s I was a young buck in elementary school. I went to a catholic school called JFK and like most catholic schools, it sucked.

Now I’m not going to say I was a terrible student, but I wasn’t the best either. I was hit in the hand with a ruler just once by our Nun, but once was all i needed. School in the 80s were different times. Your parents couldn’t just hop on a computer and see your grades on a portal. Teachers couldn’t email or text your parent about your behaviors or being tardy. Hell, the only way they could get in touch with you or your parents was to call the home phone. Hopefully you were lucky enough to get the phone before they did.

Every night my mom would ask me if I had homework. Nope, no homework today. Really, who wants to do homework or study when you could turn on WGN and watch the Cubs with your dad? We weren’t allowed to do anything when we got home except do homework. Again, for some strange reason, I never had homework.. well, at least i didn’t bring it home. So as I’m sitting watching the Wonder Years, staring at my crush Winnie Cooper, in the back of my young mind all I could think of is the homework that wasn’t at home.

Let’s fast forward to parent teacher conferences. While my dad and mom were talking to my teachers, i was at home waiting to hear the deathly sound of the door unlocking, knowing the ass whoopin that was about to come. And come that ass whoopin sure did. Not only did I get acquainted with my dads belt, foot, hand, Nintendo (yes he got me with a Nintendo lol) but i was also blessed by his presences in school.

“Bobby your dad is here” is what i heard as I was coming out of the cafeteria. And wouldn’t you know it, there was my old man, standing in the doorway at the top of the steps. Now for you young kids, parents were allowed to be in the school to handle their kids in the 80s. We didn’t have a “safe space” like you snowflakes have now. Our “safe space” was close to a friend so when your parent wacked you, they would hit your friend by accident too.

My dad sat next to me in class. You’d think that teacher could recognize the SOS i was coding with the blink of my eyes. Nope, this is the 80s, the teachers taught and parents were parents. Anyways, it came time to turn in our homework. I could say that my dog ate it, but my dad would be there to say we don’t have a fucking dog Bob Jr. So as i frantically look through my desk ( the top lifted up to a 90 degree angle) looking for a paper I knew damn well wasn’t in there, my dads lips began to tighten, as he started to bite his lower lip.

Some of you grew up with your parents death stare, I grew up with tight lips lol. My dad turned my desk top from 90 degrees to 180 degrees lol. It was then I turned into Ralphie from A Christmas Story “oooh fuuuucck”. My dad looked at me, and said “we’ll talk when you get home”. lol The only talking was him saying “move your hands, Bob Jr move your hands” The belt hits different when your hand is involved. I wish I could say i learned my lesson that day, nope, my dad was by my side in class a few times.

Now some today would say that’s child abuse. No, that was the 80s. What i learned, or rather understood later in life is that him sitting next to me all those times and giving me those ass whoopins was because he wanted me to do better because he knew I could do better. And what’s better than tough love?

Yes, he really did hit me with a Nintendo lol