Blackhawks, Gold Hearts

By Matt Motyka in News on Dec 15, 2008 5:00PM

ESPN's website recently featured an app that compares your annual income to that of your favorite ball player. Let's see... assuming we're in the uppermost tax bracket (humor us, dividing by zero isn't an option) C.C. Sabathia would out-earn us in approximately 4.1 innings of “work.” Sigh. These tough economic times only exacerbate the disparity between the layman and the star athlete, which makes it that much harder to stomach their oh-so-classy antics. Thankfully, though, we've got the Chicago Blackhawks around to restore the faith.

After wrapping up the first half of their six-game Circus Trip, the Blackhawks were scheduled to hop a plane from Toronto to Chicago for some deserved rest. Upon discovering that general manager Dale Tallon was staying behind to attend the funeral of his recently-departed father, the team decided to show support for their friend and colleague. The entire squad skipped the flight that evening and instead chartered buses for the two-hour drive to Gravenhurst, Ontario, to be present at the service.

On the return trip to Toronto, equal parts hunger and holiday spirit (with perhaps a dash of pride over Happy Meal hockey cards) convinced the team to stop at a roadside McDonalds for burgers and fries, and to spread some cheer to the local population. You can read more about the 'hawks heartwarming tale here.

Let's just hope that the nice-guys-finish-last thing is only a myth.

AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski