I went to the game with 3 of my buddies.  We had no clue what we were in store for…

This game was a 2:00 PM start on a Saturday for the record.

We get there to discover a already moderately to heavily boozed up middle aged man sitting in the row in front of us.  The moment we got to our seats “Lenny” as we have called him, turns to me and says “what a move by the bears.”  The NFL Draft was going on simultaneously.  I said “yeah can’t go wrong getting value at the QB position in the late rounds.”  The guy instantly fell in love with us. Then things took a turn for the weird/awesome.

This guy was a typical 45 year old guy.  About 6’2 and a little overweight maybe 240 lbs.  Not obese but a big dude.  Slightly balding, sporting a white Hawks Jersey.  He was there with his friend who was a little mousey guy who said nothing.  Lenny’s intensity was off the charts.  He spent the entire game on an emotional roller coaster.  He had epic highs when the Hawks scored.  This would lead him to air humping, high fiving everyone, frantic fist pumping, more air humping and screaming.  And his devastating lows where he was almost reduced to tears.  During the Preds 3 straight goals he just sat there.  Kept looking back at us and saying “there done” and he would leave frequently to “go to the bathroom”  I believe he was leaving to cry.  All the while we were there with him each step of the way.  For his highs he would turn around and celebrate with us. We would rub his head, spill beer on him he loved it.  For the lows we tried to keep him up.

The game itself was amazing.  the Hawks were up 3-1.  Blew that lead to trail 4-3 and Marian Hossa committed a 5 minute boarding penalty with the Hawks trailing and about 1:00 minute left.  Things looked very bleak.  “Lenny” walked out.  We all thought he left.  With 13 seconds to play Patrick Kane netted the game tying goal and the place went crazy.  It was freaking bedlam.  Beer everywhere, I almost tackled my buddy Danny causing him to spill 1/2 his beer on some other bald guy who did’t even care.  All of a sudden firing up the stairs comes “Lenny” air humping his way all the way back to his seat.  Lots of head rubs and towel whips and beer spills from us and Lenny was back!  The game hits OT and the Hawks kill 4:00 minutes of the Hossa Penalty. Just as Hossa comes out of the box he goes to the net and puts home a Sopel rebound to win the game 5-4 Hawks!  they pull off a miracle tying the game with 13 seconds left and winning in OT.  The celebration this time is even bigger.  While me and my 3 buddies are hugging, screaming, jumping up and down. There is beer raining down upon everyone in the UC.  All of a sudden we all go flying back against our seats.  It was like we were hit with a damn freight train.  We look down and Lenny is bear hugging all four of us at once.  He now has tears of joy in his eyes and all is right in the world.  The whole stadium stayed and cheered for the next 10 minutes.  It was a great experience.  And a huge win for the Hawks. 

Not only was it an epic game that will be talked about for years.  Lenny was there to provide lots of entertainment and comic relief.  That guy was great.  I wish I could watch every game with him.