But I guess it's time to give them some props.

It's not because of their hold on First in the NL West.

It's because many Padres are fervent Blackhawks fans. In a post game interview Thursday,  Luke Gregerson (from Park Ridge) swerved the interview away from him to the Blackhawks. (This would be the most hockey talk I've heard on SD Sports Radio  this entire season)

Gregerson, who has had a fine season setting up Heath Bell,  was as happy as any Hawks fan would be after the dramatic win. (He was literally gushing with pride in discussing the Cup victory) He told XX Sports that he passed up going out with others (more on this later) to stay in his NYC hotel to see the 6th game of the finals. (The Padres were rained out that day)

It seems a contingent of other Padres/Hawks fans Led by the Hairston brothers,  Hairston Jr,( born in Naperville), and his brother went specifically to find a place to root on the Hawks, as any other fan might do. Gregerson stayed behind -- he said he wanted to watch the game closely. (Of course, in a bar/lounge you might miss some of the action, and you don't catch the pbp.)

So, for a while you won't hear me bad-mouthing the Padres. Can't do it.

However, Matt Stairs is still a Montreal fan, so he's not off the hook.