Gordie Howe dies... at 88 years old

[do or die]

According to every known news source on the planet.....Mr. Hockey passed on, a couple of hours ago.   As a life time hockey fan, and a sports fan in general.....this is one of the saddest days ever.

The words, superstar, generational, elite, and great.....get thrown around pretty loosely, on boards, and in the media, these days.    Gordie Howe was all of those, and more....

You could call him sport's true multi-generational talent.  My condolences to the entire Howe family.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 10, 2016 by do or die

[IC Khari]

I remember sitting on his lap and posing for a pic when I was 6. He was a great person off the ice, not so nice on by all accounts . The world has lost some classy people in the last week ... 

[Ducky]

Yep, Howe and Ali were on or very near the top of their respective sports and will go down as one of the best of all ti me.

Condolences to the Howe family.

[kelownabomberfan]

Read his book last year.  He sounded like he was ready to go.  His wife was gone, his kids grown, and his memory going due to Alzheimers.  He was one heck of a great guy.  I strongly recommend everyone read his book.  Interesting fact - his first ever pro camp was in Winnipeg, with the New York Rangers.  They gave him a full set of gear to wear and he had to sit and watch everyone else put their gear on, as he had no idea what most of it was, as he had never had a full set in his entire life.  If you read the conditions in which he grew up, it is hard to believe it was Canada.  But that's what made him so tough.

[Ducky]

1 hour ago, kelownabomberfan said:

Read his book last year.  He sounded like he was ready to go.  His wife was gone, his kids grown, and his memory going due to Alzheimers.  He was one heck of a great guy.  I strongly recommend everyone read his book.  Interesting fact - his first ever pro camp was in Winnipeg, with the New York Rangers.  They gave him a full set of gear to wear and he had to sit and watch everyone else put their gear on, as he had no idea what most of it was, as he had never had a full set in his entire life.  If you read the conditions in which he grew up, it is hard to believe it was Canada.  But that's what made him so tough.

Is this it?

https://www.amazon.ca/Mr-Hockey-Autobiography-Gordie-Howe/dp/0670068721

[IC Khari]

Memories ... love this Jets jersey BTW, would be nice to see it as a 3rd.

[kelownabomberfan]

On 6/10/2016 at 11:51 AM, Ducky said:

Is this it?

https://www.amazon.ca/Mr-Hockey-Autobiography-Gordie-Howe/dp/0670068721

yup

[kelownabomberfan]

On 6/10/2016 at 5:49 PM, IC Khari said:

Memories ... love this Jets jersey BTW, would be nice to see it as a 3rd.

won't be long and all the legends from that era will be gone...

[IC Khari]

6 hours ago, kelownabomberfan said:

won't be long and all the legends from that era will be gone...

[Ducky]

Howe's starts in the 50s...

[kelownabomberfan]

actually the 1940's, if you can believe it.  His biggest regret was never getting an education.  When he played junior, he worked in a munitions plant in Ontario (because it was WW2) instead of going to school because the money was so good.  But he said if he could do it again he would have gone to school instead.

Edited June 13, 2016 by kelownabomberfan

[Ducky]

ya, but he didn't really become a star until the 50s...........played on some really good teams in the 50s.

[kelownabomberfan]

2 hours ago, Ducky said:

ya, but he didn't really become a star until the 50s...........played on some really good teams in the 50s.

until Jack Adams traded away Ted Lindsay in 1957 because he wanted to start a player's union.

[rebusrankin]

I'd say the trade Adams made in 1955 getting rid of nine players including Sawchuck was worse.

[kelownabomberfan]

1 hour ago, rebusrankin said:

I'd say the trade Adams made in 1955 getting rid of nine players including Sawchuck was worse.

yeah that's right.  I got my years mixed up.  That trade gutted the Red Wings, right after they had won the 1955 Stanley Cup.  They were never the same after that.  And there was now no one strong enough to stand up to the Montreal Canadiens, who won five straight cups in 1956 - 1960.

Edited June 14, 2016 by kelownabomberfan

[Noeller]

In the midst of 6 sold out shows in Saskatoon, Garth Brooks buys 100+ boquets of flowers to decorate the Gordie Howe statue as a memorial. Looked amazing...pretty classy gesture.

[kelownabomberfan]

That Garth, he really does his research.  What a great guy.

Edited June 14, 2016 by kelownabomberfan

[kelownabomberfan]

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/five-fantastic-and-true-gordie-howe-stories/

[Ducky]

They want to name the new arena in Motown the Gordie Howe Arena.

[Ducky]

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/nhl-to-honor-howe-by-creating-a-lasting-tribute-to-his-immortality/

 

excellent idea...