The Blackhawks season came to a close this past week, but it was an exhilarating, nail-biting ride. A full five games (three against Detroit alone) in the post-season forced overtime to decide a winner. The Hawks final game was no exception. Trailing 3 games to 1 in the series, the Hawks needed a win to stay alive. In what may have been the most exciting final 30 seconds I have ever witnessed in a hockey game, the Detroit Red Wings mounted a desperate frenzy as they attempted to put the game winner past Blackhawks France-born backup goaltender Cristobal Huet before regulation time ran out. With less than 30 seconds left, Huet made the stop of his career to send it in to overtime. Was it skill? Was it luck? I don't know, but it was one hell of a "fantastique french foot flip!"

(See Blackhawks goaltender Cristobal Huet's last second save here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtfXK6JoRys)

Ultimately, the Wings scored in overtime to end the game and our season, but what a season! Here is a team that didn't even make the playoffs last year (actually they hadn't made the playoffs for the better part of a decade, but that's another story for another time) dispatching the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks to advance to round 3 against the defending champion, one round away from the Stanley Cup finals! In the last 18 months, the Blackhawks have made what Forbes magazine termed “... arguably the most remarkable turnaround in the history of sports in the United States.” How far have they come?

(See a video montage of the resurgence of the Blackhawks here: http://blackhawks.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=690&id=40168)

Even cities we eliminated on our rise were cheering for us. I was interviewed last week by the flagship radio station for the Calgary Flames, "960 AM The Fan." Expecting a cool reception at best, I was surprised to find the hosts were as excited for us as we were. They breathlessly wanted to know what the atmosphere was like in town, and how fans and non-fans alike were reacting to the spectacular turnaround of our Original Six, heritage team. I simply told them..."The Roar Is Back... at The New Madhouse On Madison, baby!!!"

The similarities between the current Blackhawks team and the team that brought us our last Stanley Cup championship in 1961 are quite startling and somewhat eerie. Back then, we had a couple of youngsters (one fair-haired, the other dark maned) named Hull and Mikita who were the new "face" of the franchise. Young, fast and exceptionally talented, they were the jet-fuel the team needed to re-invigorate the fan base and excite the city, just as Kane and Toews are doing now. Anchored by veteran goaltending from Glenn Hall (Nikolai Khabibulin now) and a stunning upset of an aging arch-nemesis Detroit Red Wings by an upstart Blackhawks, and the picture is complete. Well... not quite yet. It took several tries before the 1961 team finally hit the jackpot, but hit it they did. That core group were a dominant force in the NHL for the next 10 years. I believe we may very well be witnessing history repeating itself.

(See the Blackhawks win the 1961 Stanley Cup in Detroit here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB-csuX0GBk)

This past Thursday, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS joined me on my show from 10am-3pm to update me on the progress on their new album and summer tour plans. In the finishing stages of recording an "old-skool" KISS album, the guys were amped about releasing it and getting on the road. In an interesting concept, where the band will play this time around will be determined by fan demand. Would you like to see KISS in Chicago this summer? If so, cast your vote through www.wlup.com today!

KISS are legendary for their over-the-top shows. This weekend the actors/comedians behind the always competing, but seemingly always falling flat "other" band Spinal Tap presented some of their most infamous send-ups at the Chicago Theatre. Beyond hysterical, "This Is Spinal Tap" is a brilliant and viciously biting satire of the rock music business. Appropriately, their live performance was presented without a drummer. Perhaps they know better by now?

(See the movie trailer for "This Is Spinal Tap" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBllPEwjEJ4)

(See the infamous Spinal Tap scene "Goes to 11" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7IZZXQ89Oc&feature=related

(See Spinal Tap's creators perform live at the Chicago Theatre here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvxbLGTcZ7I)

This Friday during the lunch hour, local rock phenoms The Last Vegas will be stopping by my show to play live and give away copies of their new CD and tickets to their show that night at the Metro.

All this week from 10am-3pm on my show, chances to win tickets to the Judas Priest/Whitesnake show July 19th at Charter One Pavilion, and $10,000 with "10 Grand In Your Hand"at 10:05am and 2:05pm every day! Don't miss out!