I’ve been a sports fan since I was 7 years old.

I’ve witnessed a little bit of everything — both as a fan and as part of my work. But last week I experienced something I hadn’t in the previous quarter century.

I watched an NHL game from start to finish on TV.

It’s not that I planned my day around the Chicago Blackhawks’ first playoff tilt since 2002. A confluence of events — a torn apart kitchen, a long day of painting, the sun setting and my son getting hungry — led us to the living room for dinner that just happened to coincide with the opening puck drop.

As a mainstream sports junkie, I have an appreciation for hockey but never devoted any time toward following the sport unless my alma mater, Wisconsin, was to advance to the Frozen Four.

The 2008-09 Blackhawks have piqued my curiousity just enough to make that investment.

When Chicago’s Martin Havlat scored the game-winning goal 12 seconds into overtime, I couldn’t help but think of my cousin, Dan Leiting.

Roughly three years ago we were at a family get-together and he was incessantly chewing my ear off about the lack of respect hockey was getting in this publication.

At the time, the NHL was at an all-time low in popularity. The league had just emerged from an ugly labor fight that saw the entire 2004-05 season go by the boards.

To put it bluntly, no one outside of the hardcore hockey faithful cared about the NHL.

That is beginning to change around the I-94 corridor.

These Blackhawks are recapturing a long-dormant fan base with aggressive marketing, increased local TV exposure and a quality on-ice product.

For my cousin and other fans in the area, I hope the Hawks have a long run in them.

*Earth to Vinny: It is inexcusable for an NBA coach to not have at LEAST one timeout remaining for an end-of-game situation.

Yet for the second consecutive game Chicago Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro failed to conserve any for the end of regulation.

Coaches are allowed to stash two full timeouts and a 20-second timeout for the final two minutes.

All three allow the team to take out the ball at halfcourt. The last time I checked, a set play from halfcourt is a better percentage play than a three-quarters court heave.

*Book it (11-9): Let’s see if a week off can break my prediction skid.

For the second consecutive year, Tiger Woods let me down at the Masters by not winning it. So did Rory McIlroy, who finished outside of the Top 10 in a tie for 20th.

If history is any indication, keep an eye on McIlroy next year at Augusta. In 2008, I picked Steve Stricker to make a Top 10 — he missed the cut. But this year, Stricker finished in a four-way tie for sixth.

This week, the Green Bay Packers in the midst of converting to the 3-4 defense will take a rush defensive end/outside linebacker with their first pick (No. 9 overall) when the NFL Draft begins on Saturday.

Mike Larsen is a sportswriter for the News. E-mail him at mlarsen@kenoshanews.com