My local cable system gave us a free week of NHL Center Ice. Last Saturday night I thought I would take a break from all the SuperBowl coverage. I decided to tuned in to watch Ottawa Senators at the Toronto Maple Leafs. More important than the game was a chance to see some old friends. I was excited to learn that this would be the Hockey Night in Canada feed. Which included the pre-game show hosted by Ron MacLean, and the always colorful coach Don Cherry. Before I moved a few years back this was required viewing on Saturday night thanks to my roof top antenna.
Yes, my life was that boring back than. I also didn’t have any money either. So not only could I not afford cable, but could not afford to go out on Saturday nights. So I stayed home and watched hockey on TV. Now I can afford cable, but my life is still just as boring. I’m still home on Saturday nights watching hockey games.
Anyway, the broadcast started with MacLean, but no Cherry. He was at the Air Canada Center. I was a little disappointed until I found out why. It was military night. Cherry appeared with about ten members of the Canada’s armed forces. Coach Cherry then gave up his mike. (I know that’s hard to believe, but he did.) He passed it around giving these brave man and women a chance to introduce themselves, and say hello to their families. Then Cherry thanked 200 season ticket holders who gave up their seats for the troops.
From there the action switched to the ice for a special ceremony. First four military men lowered themselves from the rafters on ropes. I could have done without the music. The theme to the Mission Impossible. Not from the TV show. That would have been okay. But they used the one from all those terrible Tom Cruise movies. Still, seeing something like this happening live instead of in a movie was really cool. Then the Senators and Maple Leafs stood on the blue lines while four members of the military were introduced. The final one being a general who was handed a puck. He was to do the honors for the ceremonial face off.
After the captains of the two teams skated to center ice the general stepped forward. The general pause for a second. He looked like a thought had just crossed he mind. The general then turned and had the three other soldiers introduced with him come forward. The general then had them all grab his arm so they could be included. This was great because being the highest ranking member there it would have been easy for him just represented the armed services and dropped the puck himself. Instead we had this spontaneous moment it which this general was saying something like were all in this together. I may have more strips than you, but you all deserve this honor just as much as me. I’m sure that is moment was improvised because I bet if members of the Toronto Maple Leafs staff knew he was going to do this they would have brought out four pucks instead of one.
While this was going on a military marching band silently came onto the ice. After the face off a member of the band stepped forward and sang a wonderful edition of the Canadian National anthem. Once again another leader was only as good as his troops. Because the band behind him played “Oh Canada” wonderfully. So well performed that the crowd gave them a standing ovation, and the members of both teams banded their sticks against the ice in approve.
Following the first period it was back to the studio for Coaches Corner with Cherry and MacLean. It was just like I remembered. With Cherry doing his usually stick while showing highlight and explaining to the kids what was done right and wrong. MacLean doing his great job as straight man, and getting a few zingers in now and then. ..
Ron: When I’m out in public I’m always being asked if I can get them Don Cherry’s autograph? I say sure, do you have a crayon?
Don: See what he adds to the program kids?
MacLean then reminded viewers that next Saturday was Hockey Day in Canada. With games and events planned for the whole day. The final word was left to for the coach. Cherry turned serious while showed a picture of an Army corporeal. He told a story about meeting this soldier’s family that past week. Cherry then not only thanked this solider for his service but his family too. Cherry reminded us all that when you have a family member in the military it not only affects the solider, but the family too. And that on military night we should all thank the soldiers, and their families, for the freedoms they protect for us. The freedom to celebrate our game next Saturday. Well said coach!
And well done Canada! Anytime we get a chance to honor our military, no matter what part of North America they are from, it should be a special event. Just like Hockey Day in Canada will be today. The annual event that you do to honor the game. A special game! And last Saturday night in Toronto you reminded me why I love this game so much. Oh Canada, thank you! Thank you for military night last week, and have a great Hockey Day, today.
It really didn’t surprise me when I heard that Tiger Woods did not make the cut for the US Open. While listening to sports-talk radio I heard all the excuses why. “He took too much time off,” one host said. Another said, “I’ve noticed something wrong with his swing for awhile now.” Tiger is being a good solider and saying the right things. “I just didn’t execute well,” he said. While watching his interview on television I could read between the lines, and see the pain in his eyes. He is feeling the same way I did last year at this time. Nothing is tougher than your first Father’s Day without you Dad.
Another host had the gall to criticize Tiger. He said something along the lines that most people only get a week off when their Father’s die. Then it is back to work. Tiger took nine weeks off. Yes, when my Father died a year ago at this time I went back to work a week later, but if I had the means to take nine weeks off I would have too.
You don’t get over the death of a parent that quickly. It really hits you when you go to the cemetery on that Sunday in June instead of watching a sporting event with him. I still remember Skip Cary trying to broadcast a Braves game on his first Father’s Day without his Dad, Harry. In a cracking voice he told viewers to go and make a phone call to their Dad because he would give anything if he could call his. I would too. I would also give anything if I could shoot back-to-back 76s like Tiger did.
So get off of Tiger’s back. Some of the things the media has said and written is a disgrace. Believe it or not Tiger Woods is only human. So let him take another day off from work to mourn. I’m sure he will work enough Father’s Days in the future. Tomorrow will be hard enough for him. It will be for me too, and for many others reading this.
So let’s say we all make a deal this Father’s Day eve. Instead of getting down let’s think of our best Father’s Day memory. Tonight when I sit down to watch game six of the Stanley Cup Finals I’ll remember another game six on Father’s Day eve in 1999. We stayed up to the wee hours of the morning to watch my Buffalo Sabres lose on a strange No Goal call. I was heartbroken! After a few minutes my Dad put his hand on my shoulder and said, “it's not the end of the world son;” Neither is not making the cut.
God Bless all our Fathers. I have a few more Father’s Day memories to share. So please keep an eye out for my blog. It might not be for a day or two because I think I’ll take Sunday off.
I Love Sports, all Sports! I also love Words. My dream is to become a writer, but I lack confidence in my writing. So I'm hoping that blogging will help me out, and maybe even get me noticed. My teams are the Bills, Sabres, Lakers, and all NL Baseball teams. I don't hate the DH rule, but I don't love it either. I live in Upstate NY with my wife, 2 dogs, and cats. I am very lucky because besides major league pro-sports I am surrounded by lots of minor league sports. Everything from hockey, soccer, indoor and outdoor lacrosse, arena football, and baseball. (Single A ball to triple AAA) Plus tons of great high school and college sports. Most nights you can find me at either a stadium or an arena. I love the passion and sportmanship I witness, and hope to share those stories with you. Enjoy!
