I was at a Blackhawks game on 10/25/11 and had really awesome seats because we bid on these seats for silent auction from a local charity. My seats were in section 103, row two and seat 6.  I was literally a few feet away from the goalie.  For any sports fan or hockey fan, these seats were a dream come true.  I will probably never sit in this section again! This was an amazing once in a life time experience.

While I was up close and almost personal with the players, I took a look around the stadium and appreciated the magnificence that is the United Center. That night 21,000 fans packed the UC to cheer on the Hawks against the Ducks.  If you have never been to a Blackhawks game then you should put it on your bucket list of things to do.  Even if you aren’t into hockey, attending a game to hear the national anthem being sung by Jim Cornelison is worth the ticket price.  During the national anthem, the crowd claps and cheers loudly, making the UC the loudest place for several minutes. The experience is indescribable and should be experienced once in a lifetime.   Hockey is the only Chicago sport that has such a moving national anthem. 

The thing about sporting events is that for several hours communities of people are united despite differences in gender and race.  They share one common goal to root for the home team.  Countries like South Africa used sports to try to unite the country after apartheid. When Nelson Mandela, became president of South Africa, he used the men’s Rugby team to unite the country when they hosted the 1995 World Cup.  The men’s rugby team won the championship that year (for more details watch the movie “Invictus”). 

After the tragedy of September 11, the National Football League, debated on canceling the start of the season.  But the league decided against it and postponed the games.  Part of the reason to postpone the games instead of cancelling them was due to huge impact football had on American way of life.  So the league decided to continue the season and showed the world that America would continue to thrive. 

So what’s the point this chick is trying to make about sports!  The point is that sports can bring a community of people together who share different backgrounds.  It can also provoke a sense of pride.  RMU has several athletic teams who would love for students to attend and show their pride for their school and support for their athletes.   If you have a chance, before you graduate, you should attend one of the many sporting events held at RMU.  It’s not too late to support the new RMU football team. There are two games left of the season. The link for the RMU Athletics page is attached.  http://www.robertmorris.edu/athletics/
 

Week one of the winter quarter is here along with cold weather in Chicago. There is about two week left before Christmas. So time to cash in on some of the last minute deals! I am almost done with my shopping, but have a few more items to purchase.

Christmas in Chicago is my favorite time of year. The city is lit with holiday decorations making the city sparkle and shine. Walking down Michigan Ave during this time, you can feel the buzz of the holiday spirit emanating through the streets and passer byes.

I am looking forward to the professional development week at RMU which is being held for from December 13-15. There are going to be several interesting speakers that I am looking forward to listening to.

Other than that I am still working on organizing Morris Women and am looking for members who are interested in joining. Morris Women is geared towards providing women with tools and knowledge needed to succeed in the business and in their careers; through mentoring, volunteering, and networking opportunities. If you would like more information and become a member please contact me at rodrn222@robertmorris.edu.

Until then, I am wishing everyone and their families a safe and Happy Holiday and Happy New Year!