Chris Chelios: A Night of Tribute to a Chicago Legend
“I never take anything for granted. I think that’s why I played so long, because I knew someday it was going to be over. Just like life. We don’t take it for granted, we live every day and enjoy it."
In 1993, 3-4 nights a week I was down in the locker rooms at the Chicago Stadium covering the Blackhawks, the Bulls, and all of their opponents. I first did this for a show on SportsChannel, then on my own radio shows. I barely got paid, but it was a glorious time.
Tonight was "Chris Chelios Night" on the ice in Chicago, where they retired the jersey of one of the best American hockey players to ever lace up a pair of skates. For a Chicago sports fan, it was a big deal. For a hockey fan, it was riveting. Even on TV.
Chelios owned a bar in Chicago called “Cheli’s Chili” — and he opened another one in Detroit after he started playing for the Redwings. It was kind of ironic because the guy was the furthest thing from a big public personality.
One night, a few of my friends and I were out at a bar on the North Side. Lo and behold, Chelios and Hawks star center Jeremy Roenick were a few tables away. If you followed the life of the team closely, you knew these guys were close friends — and hard drinkers. And when Roenick recognized me, you can bet I bought the two of them shots.
Chelios was the shier type, versus the gregarious Roenick. But the eleven-time All-Star defenseman never hesitated on the ice. Number 7 was one of the hardest hitters to ever play the game. Wayne Gretzky even admitted in the tribute video to Chelios that he was one of the few players that ever struck fear into his heart.
Chris Chelios grew up in Evergreen Park, a Southside Chicago suburb, before his family moved to California in his teens. He couldn’t play high school hockey there, and he had a rough time in his one year playing at San Diego State. But after skating in Canada for a bit and putting on about 40 pounds, he came back to the States a different athlete. Chelios was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1981, then played two years at the University of Wisconsin. He started his career in the NHL in 1984 — and it spanned an amazing 26 years.
In his speech tonight, before they raised a flag with his number up into the United Center rafters, Chelios could not have expressed more gratitude or humility. And in his thanks, he pointed to the secret to his longevity:
“I never take anything for granted. I think that’s why I played so long, because I knew someday that it was going to be over. Just like life. We don’t take that for granted, we live every day and enjoy it.”
Chicago Blackhawks who originally hail from the Windy City are very rare. Standing with his family, Chelios finished his remarks with a joke that made every hockey fan in the UC smile:
“I couldn’t be more proud, to represent you, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the city of Chicago as one of your own. I hope someone else from Chicago is standing here one day saying the same thing, but, it’s gonna take a long time!”
A special athlete. A special night.