from Amazon
Friday, March 23, 2007
Gretzky, Orr… Tavares?
In hockey, like basketball I suppose, there are sure-fire players that you can find at an early age (I’m talking about 15 and younger). Gretzky is the most prominent, as he was a 6-yr old playing against 10-yr olds. And, when he was 11, he met the greatest player ever until that point, Gordie Howe. His destiny was written for him. He just had to execute. Even though he says he loves playing baseball more.
Since Gretzky—The Great One—every few years we get to hear about The Next One. Mario Lemieux was the first to be put on that pedestal (famously refusing to come to the podium when he was drafted, because of stalled negotiations), and he earned it, with his coming-out-ceremony happening with The Great One in one of the most remarkable series and pairing of talent anywhere, the 1987 Canada Cup. The next one to get the label was Eric Lindros (refusing to sign with the Nordiques, who eventually traded him for someone, as it turned out, better in Peter Forsberg, a few other players, and millions of dollars). Until derailed by multiple concussions, Lindros was also on his way. Then, Sidney Crosby was the guy, and he’s in the running for MVP this year, and he’ll still be a teenager when the award will be handed out.
And now, it’ll be John Tavares:
With 72 goals this season, Tavares broke a 29-year-old Ontario Hockey League record for most goals by a 16-year-old player. The old mark was 70 goals, set in 1977-78 by some kid named Gretzky. Last season, Tavares had more points than Bobby Orr had as a 15-year-old for Oshawa. The OHL had to alter its rules to allow Tavares to be drafted as a 14-year-old.
Until he’s finally drafted, here’s some fun look at the Stanley Cup, the way a real trophy is supposed to look:
Champagne is the drink of champions and every year and every party we go to, champagne is always in me. That’s always good. It always cleans me out very good inside. Beer is popular. A lot of players have kids, so I know you mentioned cereal. Froot Loops is probably one of my favorite cereals that has been in me. The first time we were in Russia, they filled me up with vodka — and that’s one big shot glass. Clark Gillies told me that when he won, he used to take his dogs for a walk every day. His dogs were an important part of their win, so he had his dogs eat out of me. Larry Robinson owns farms and he had his cow eat out of me. We went to a movie with Martin Brodeur and his kids and we sat in the front row and they filled me up with popcorn.
Wasn’t Lindros a bit of a disappointment even before the concussions? Jagr was about the same age, made the NHL at a younger age, and seemed to me to be more dominant in his prime. But you probably know hockey a lot better than I do.