I know hockey fans of other teams that with Messmer first and now with Corneliesen that tell me they show the anthem when they’re in Chicago when they don’t always show it otherwise.
On the subject of him doing the Cubs. Besides we already having a fine singer ourselves he does the White Sox I think so he probably wouldn’t be allowed to.
He’s done several Cubs games already. Plus, the Cubs don’t “have” a singer. Yes, Wayne Messmer does some games, but the Cubs allow pretty much anyone to do it. Many of them are… bad.
I thought nothing would top the 1991 NHL All Star game but this did.
Hey last Sunday was great. The 1/19/91 NHL ASG is the best, 3 days after the start of the Gulf War. Never was the Anthem that poignant. Broadcast live to the Armed Services Network around the world. Plus, no stadium past, present or future will ever match the thunder of Chicago Stadium, with its close outer walls, steep balconies and 3,663 pipe Barton Organ.
The only anthem perhaps to challenge 1/19/91 would be 4/14/94 when the ‘Hawks closed out the Stadium’s RS games, bringing down the retired players banners and only 3 days after Wayne was shot in the neck after leaving a bar near the UIC campus. Shot in the neck and he can still belt it out.
I like Cornelison, he does an outstanding job. He’s helped continue the tradition after Wayne was screwed over by former ‘Hawks management (hey, who wasn’t). However Wayne is the original and still the best. Wayne began signing for the ’Hawks in ’82 and the “Anthem Roar” began with game-3 of the ’85 Campbell Conference Finals against the Oilers. This after Oilers fans booed during the Anthem, their “singer” butchered the Anthem in game 1 and the ’Hawks lost games 1 & 2 by a combined score of 18-5.
Yes I may be biased but having listened now to Wayne Messmer for almost 30 years now, he has a resume’ that is near impossible to match.
Wayne set the standard. Jim is following that standard.
Have you seen Wayne sing outside Wrigley?
Jim was hired because he mimicked Wayne’s style, down to the note. Jim has a lot of face time now, that gives him the edge.
You’ve had to see this by now, right? I ask only because I don’t know if you’ve always been in IA or had lived here in ChiTown before: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvpxVE_kQXg
Jim is closing the gap; lots of gigs will do that. Wayne’s age and the lingering affects of what happened to him in 1994 are finally starting to take a toll.
There will come a day when Jim is the undisputed top singer; just not yet.
Plus the Sox have nothing to do with Cornelison. He’s the ’Hawks singer who has been encouraged by Rocky and Co to get as many gigs as he would like to take on in addition to the 50+ ’Hawks games a season.
but as I understand there is limited or no exclusivity as long as it doesn’t interfere with the ’Hawks.
So going to the old North side ball yard for a good part season is not an issue.
JimC is a hot commodity. The resurrection of the Blackhawks and the “format” of the UC Anthem to mimic as much as possible the Wayne Messmer heyday at Chicago Stadium (‘85-’94) has provided JimC a ton of exposure.
he is a treasure. The announcers or at least one of them had heard Jim sing the anthem more than once before and really appreciate him for the fantastic job he does.
if you have never seen the Stanford band (yes, that wild and crazy Stanford band) perform the anthem, you have missed a real treat. It is a solo trumpeter for the first half of the anthem, then the woodwinds and tubas join in and for the final stanza the rest of band (brass and drums) join for a rousing finale. I have seen it a hundred times and it is always stirring. Look for it on you tube.
…we get treated to the Anthem the way it should be sung.
Glad to see the network folks keeping up with the ’Hawks tradition covering it start to finish. And he had his Blackhawks Championship ring on too boot.
I was at the game that was inspiring. I got a text from a Falcons fan 2 minutes later saying simply “WOW! Thank you for giving me the heads up to tune in early!”
(I had heard Jim was doing the anthem and had texted her to tell her to tune in for the pregame.)
my cousin that is an air force pilot is actually dating him at the moment. Very cool guy, I’ve met him a couple times. Shockingly tall. He actually came to my parents house for Easter brunch earlier this year.
On a separate note, I love that part in the beginning where they show Tony Gonzalez and you could read his lips saying to the coach next to him “Who is this?” haha. The coach responds that he doesn’t know.
AWESOME!
cooliogirl47 - September 11, 2011
Props to the announcers for being silent.
dtpollitt - September 11, 2011
I have to say, each time I hear this I like it a little bit more.
Shanghai Badger - September 12, 2011
when he sings the part about the flag and points to it with his hand, I get chills all over...every time
cooliogirl47 - September 12, 2011
I was glad that Fox showed that part.
When he does the anthem for the Blackhawks, the local TV people know to show that. Glad the national TV people figured it out.
Al Yellon - September 12, 2011
I know hockey fans of other teams that with Messmer first and now with Corneliesen that tell me they show the anthem when they’re in Chicago when they don’t always show it otherwise.
On the subject of him doing the Cubs. Besides we already having a fine singer ourselves he does the White Sox I think so he probably wouldn’t be allowed to.
puckishcubsfan - September 12, 2011
Nonsense.
He’s done several Cubs games already. Plus, the Cubs don’t “have” a singer. Yes, Wayne Messmer does some games, but the Cubs allow pretty much anyone to do it. Many of them are… bad.
Al Yellon - September 13, 2011
I never saw him sing at Wrigley.
Wayne seems to always do it unless it’s a guest.
puckishcubsfan - September 16, 2011
Um, no.
Wayne does it maybe once a homestand. Recently, it’s been mostly “guests” — who are mostly bad.
Cornelison has done at least two, maybe three National Anthems at Wrigley since last year. I’d like to see him do more.
Al Yellon - September 17, 2011
AS you know
AS you know because of my health issues I haven’t been to a lot of games this year. Actually my all time low.
puckishcubsfan - September 18, 2011
I thought his reaction at the end was telling, too
It was clearly emotional for him.
Shanghai Badger - September 12, 2011
saw that too, what a treasure we have.
cooliogirl47 - September 12, 2011
Indeed.
I would like to see the Cubs ask him to do more national anthems at Wrigley, as many as he’s willing to do.
Al Yellon - September 12, 2011
me too
cooliogirl47 - September 12, 2011
Messmer
Jim is great but Wayne is just as good.
Why don’t you like Messmer?
puckishcubsfan - September 12, 2011
who said I didn't?
cooliogirl47 - September 12, 2011
I read as you didn’t saying you’d rather have Jim singing the anthem.
I think we’re lucky we have 2 great singers in town.
I thought nothing would top the 1991 NHL All Star game but this did.
puckishcubsfan - September 12, 2011
Nope....not really, not really at all
Hey last Sunday was great. The 1/19/91 NHL ASG is the best, 3 days after the start of the Gulf War. Never was the Anthem that poignant. Broadcast live to the Armed Services Network around the world. Plus, no stadium past, present or future will ever match the thunder of Chicago Stadium, with its close outer walls, steep balconies and 3,663 pipe Barton Organ.
The only anthem perhaps to challenge 1/19/91 would be 4/14/94 when the ‘Hawks closed out the Stadium’s RS games, bringing down the retired players banners and only 3 days after Wayne was shot in the neck after leaving a bar near the UIC campus. Shot in the neck and he can still belt it out.
I like Cornelison, he does an outstanding job. He’s helped continue the tradition after Wayne was screwed over by former ‘Hawks management (hey, who wasn’t). However Wayne is the original and still the best. Wayne began signing for the ’Hawks in ’82 and the “Anthem Roar” began with game-3 of the ’85 Campbell Conference Finals against the Oilers. This after Oilers fans booed during the Anthem, their “singer” butchered the Anthem in game 1 and the ’Hawks lost games 1 & 2 by a combined score of 18-5.
Yes I may be biased but having listened now to Wayne Messmer for almost 30 years now, he has a resume’ that is near impossible to match.
blackhawk24 - September 15, 2011
It's nice in your opinion you think
Wayne is the best but I find Jim to be much more inspiring. I like Wayne but Jim takes it to a higher level in my opinion.
sue369 - September 15, 2011
OK...that's cool
Wayne set the standard. Jim is following that standard.
Have you seen Wayne sing outside Wrigley?
Jim was hired because he mimicked Wayne’s style, down to the note. Jim has a lot of face time now, that gives him the edge.
You’ve had to see this by now, right? I ask only because I don’t know if you’ve always been in IA or had lived here in ChiTown before: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvpxVE_kQXg
Jim is closing the gap; lots of gigs will do that. Wayne’s age and the lingering affects of what happened to him in 1994 are finally starting to take a toll.
There will come a day when Jim is the undisputed top singer; just not yet.
blackhawk24 - September 16, 2011
I have seen that clip before.
To me there is no comparison. Jim wins hands down. You think otherwise and that’s fine.
sue369 - September 16, 2011
He does the Sox as far as I know so he probably wouldn’t be allowed to do Cubs games.
He did the hockey game but that wasn’t a Cubs game. If my memory serves me Wayne sang for the Northwestern game.
Northwestern also did a great job on SAturday.
puckishcubsfan - September 12, 2011
You really think the White Sox would stop the National Anthem singer from doing Cubs games too?
Why on earth would it matter if he did it for both teams?
bdlugz - September 13, 2011
It wouldn't.
And Cornelison has sung at Wrigley several times, including once during the last homestand.
Al Yellon - September 13, 2011
And the 1/1/2009 Winter Classic
Plus the Sox have nothing to do with Cornelison. He’s the ’Hawks singer who has been encouraged by Rocky and Co to get as many gigs as he would like to take on in addition to the 50+ ’Hawks games a season.
blackhawk24 - September 15, 2011
If that truly is the case...
… the Cubs should sign him up for as many games as he’s willing to do.
Al Yellon - September 15, 2011
He's a Blackhawks employee
but as I understand there is limited or no exclusivity as long as it doesn’t interfere with the ’Hawks.
So going to the old North side ball yard for a good part season is not an issue.
JimC is a hot commodity. The resurrection of the Blackhawks and the “format” of the UC Anthem to mimic as much as possible the Wayne Messmer heyday at Chicago Stadium (‘85-’94) has provided JimC a ton of exposure.
blackhawk24 - September 15, 2011
That being the case...
…. again, I hope the Cubs sign him up for many games, once the hockey season is over.
Al Yellon - September 15, 2011
Actually I'd rather see Messmer continue at Wrigley
Sure the occasional thing at Wrigley for Cornelison is fine but I’ve been a Messmer fan since he started at the Stadium.
blackhawk24 - September 15, 2011
Messmer is good.
Cornelison is better.
Al Yellon - September 15, 2011
You know Cornelison mimics Messmer's style & pitch right?
That’s how he got the ’Hawks gig. He best fit the style ’Hawks fans became enthralled with for all those years at the Stadium.
How long have you heard Messmer? Better asked: How many times have you heard him before he was shot in the neck in 1994?
blackhawk24 - September 15, 2011
Many...
… since he was the Cubs PA announcer in those days.
Messmer is great. Love listening to him. I think Cornelison has bettered Messmer.
Al Yellon - September 15, 2011
Agreed.
sue369 - September 15, 2011
I agree that
he is a treasure. The announcers or at least one of them had heard Jim sing the anthem more than once before and really appreciate him for the fantastic job he does.
sue369 - September 12, 2011
It is an excellent version of the anthem
if you have never seen the Stanford band (yes, that wild and crazy Stanford band) perform the anthem, you have missed a real treat. It is a solo trumpeter for the first half of the anthem, then the woodwinds and tubas join in and for the final stanza the rest of band (brass and drums) join for a rousing finale. I have seen it a hundred times and it is always stirring. Look for it on you tube.
lookingdeadred - September 12, 2011
Over 50 times a season at United Centre
…we get treated to the Anthem the way it should be sung.
Glad to see the network folks keeping up with the ’Hawks tradition covering it start to finish. And he had his Blackhawks Championship ring on too boot.
This was Jim’s 3rd straight Bears game…
blackhawk24 - September 12, 2011
I got chills watching that yesterday.
As Tony Siragusa said yesterday (paraphrasing): “If that doesn’t move you, check your pulse.”
Rusty in Peoria - September 12, 2011
Was there
I was at the game that was inspiring. I got a text from a Falcons fan 2 minutes later saying simply “WOW! Thank you for giving me the heads up to tune in early!”
(I had heard Jim was doing the anthem and had texted her to tell her to tune in for the pregame.)
puckishcubsfan - September 12, 2011
It gave me chills.
And on top of that the Bears played a GREAT football game.
Love my city, love my country.
mikegncb34 - September 13, 2011
Believe it or not,
my cousin that is an air force pilot is actually dating him at the moment. Very cool guy, I’ve met him a couple times. Shockingly tall. He actually came to my parents house for Easter brunch earlier this year.
On a separate note, I love that part in the beginning where they show Tony Gonzalez and you could read his lips saying to the coach next to him “Who is this?” haha. The coach responds that he doesn’t know.
Lweb23 - September 14, 2011
He needs to all the Bears games
Just a great way to start the game.
Chi-Fed - September 16, 2011
Mesmer/Corneliesen
That actually is a new debate in Chicago sports who’s better.
I’ll throw someone else in the mix. Kathleen Messmer can really sing too. I’ve heard her do the anhem on her own she might be the best of the 3.
puckishcubsfan - September 16, 2011
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