And if Garland doesn't seem to reciprocate the energy pouring out of the stands, well, that's just Garland.

When he has been at his best, Garland is known as a stone-faced assassin. When he hasn't been so good, that stoic nature gets tagged as indifference.

"I've had that my whole career, especially in Chicago," he said. "There are a lot of people passionate about their sports in that city. If you're not wearing it on your sleeve they think you don't care.

"That's the one thing I have always hated. I really, really dislike when people say that. Just because you don't go out there and show the same emotion as another person, it doesn't mean you're not giving the same effort."