FROM THE ESPN ARTICLE:
Ron Kelly is heading into his 16th year as a Chicago Blackhawks season ticketholder.
Standing in the back room of Imperial Pizza as workers shredded giant tubs of mozzarella cheese and Kane and his entourage sampled some of the familiar pies, Kelly talked about the nights he and 3,000 hardy souls were all that bothered to wander into the cavernous United Center.
Now, the Blackhawks sell out every game, the team's contests are on television and a championship is always a possibility. Apart from the rising ticket costs, Kelly jokes, what's not to like?
Kane is a big part of that renaissance.
Since Kane's arrival, Kelly has become good friends with the family. It's why he made the nine-hour drive to share Kane's day with the Cup, as he did three years ago.
"If they asked me to break down a brick wall, I'd probably do it," he said.
He wonders how he might have reacted as a man in his early 20s with all that Kane has.
"I didn't have 400 girls chasing me down the street," he said.
"He's learning on the job."
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