First off let me say that this was one interesting read. Most hockey books I’ve read are amalgams of amusing anecdotes about teams or players told by reporters who have covered them. Very seldom do we hear the story from the perspective of an actual player. The last autobiography that packs the punch of Theo’s book was Phil Esposito’s “Thunder and Lighting”. Unfortunately, Theo’s story is no bundle of laughs.

While I would not condone Fleury’s behavior under most circumstances, his story of self-destruction and redemption is a tale that had to be told. His story needed to be shared if not for the sake of  his own sanity, then for the sake of any young boy out there that is or was victimized by a sexual predator disguised as a friend and mentor. Sheldon Kennedy was abused by the same guy as Theo. Mike Danton is another abused player that comes to mind.

When I first learned that it was the custom for Canadian boys as young 14 to be sent away from their homes to pursue their dreams of becoming NHL players, it sent up a red flag.  As a Ranger fan, all I ever saw was the players when they hit the ice at Madison Square Garden. I didn’t know about the process they had to go through to get to the NHL. Seeing the movie Youngblood was when I learned that teenage boys were routinely sent away to junior teams to broaden their experience in hockey.

In the movie, Dean Youngblood was billeted with a woman who was a sexual predator. I know it was fiction so I guess that doesn’t count. I know if that had happened to my son I would have been pretty pissed off. I now understand why a good friend was willing to relocate with her son for his junior hockey experience. Fortunatley, he is playing on Long Island, attending college here and living at home. Most American players who have made it to the NHL do so through the college ranks. Sure some go the junior hockey route but we mostly think of the “Miracle on Ice” college boys. 

In addition to the abuse that Theo tried to repress with alcohol, gambling, drugs and womanizing, he had other underlying problems. Both of his parents were substance abusers when he was young. They didn’t provide a strong home environment for him as a child growing up. He also had issues about being an aboriginal and being of small stature.  He had to rely on the kindness of other adults in his life, coaches, parents of  friends, etc. It was just his misfortune to have one of the adults he looked up to betray him.

Despite all his issues, the fact that Theoren Fleury possessed a prodigious talent was always evident to himself and all who watched him. He channeled all his hurt, anger and confusion into a desire to win and a passion for the game. The result is a roller coaster ride of a career and a life. Judging from the conclusion of the book, Theo has come out on the other side and is still standing. Theoren Fleury has won a Stanley Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal. No one can take that away from him.

I met Theo last week at his book signing at the Borders by Madison Square Garden. Many waiting in line were going through the index to see what Theo had to say about his Ranger years, his teamates and his time in New York. He really didn’t have anything to say that I hadn’t already surmized.  He looked healthy and happy and he is moving on with his life. That’s all that counts.

Posted under New York Rangers

I couldn’t be at the game tonight because I was attending the Confirmation of my great niece.  I gave my tickets to tonight’s game to my good buddy Fred who is Slovak, a Gaborik fan and a devout Catholic. I am an Irish American, a Ranger fan and of late, a heathen. I needed to be at church supporting my family and my niece more then at the Ranger game.

The actual Confirmation ceremony was in the middle of a Mass.  When you sit through Mass, you have an opportunity to reflect upon your life and the current condition of your spirit. I mostly appreciate the time to thank God for the good health of my friends and my family and for all our blessings. So many people  are struggling these days. I have much to be grateful for. I should go more often. 

Oddly enough, I also thought about the Rangers during Mass. Going to a Ranger game is like going to church. You attend games with a building full of people of whom you number many as friends. You cheer at the Garden, you sing in Church. I know I’ve prayed many times at the Garden. As a season subscriber the Garden is like a second home, your friends and seatmates an extended family.

As Roman Catholics we believe we are all part of one body. What so ever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me. We believe in the communion of Saints and the forgiveness of sins. We are taught to love one another and ask God to forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who’ve trespassed against us. 

I thought about  how I had decided to set aside my displeasure and anger after Saturday night’s game.  Easing up on the negative criticism and changing my attitude would go along way toward making this season of transition more bearable. I decided on Saturday to make patience my watchword and forgive  the mistakes of our young players. 

It’s times like Saturday night when I would have been well served to remember not only the words of the Lord’s Prayer but also my personal hero Scott Hamilton:

“The only disability in life is a bad attitude”

 I’m glad Fred and Anka got to see the Rangers win.

Posted under New York Rangers

“Maybe you wanna give me kisses sweet
But for only one night with no repeat
Maybe you’ll go away and never call
And a taste of honey is worse than none at all
In that case I don’t want no part
That would only break my heart

But if you feel like loving me
If you’ve got the notion
I second that emotion”

-Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

After a rip roaring start to this season, the Rangers are finding their level. The Rangers have gone  3 and 7 in their last ten games. After the second period of last nights game, boos rained down on the team as they left the ice. When the game was over, the disappointment was palpable. One of the guys in my section compared the season thus far to woman who is a tease.  He feels he’s been suckered in by the Rangers and then abandoned. It’s understandable.

I saw mistakes all over the ice last night. There were mistakes offensively and defensively. Even Henrik Lundqvist made mistakes. But I didn’t see apathy. I didn’t see a lack of effort.  What I did see was inconsistency. I saw tentativeness. What characterized the play of the early season, attack and puck possession has digressed into players looking to Gaborik to score the goal. It was eerily similar to the Jagr years. Unlike earlier in the season,  I don’t see other players (especially on defensive) looking to take the initiative.

Going into this season, we knew that all the new faces might translate to loses rather then wins. You’ve got to break eggs to make an omelet. People need to stop looking for someone to blame, Sather, Tortorella, Drury, Rozsival or Redden and start realizing that with so many rookies and young players, expectations after the quick start need to be adjusted. The fan base needs to put things in perspective. I especially include myself in that number.

Lately the emotions and feelings at Ranger games run the gamut. Last night I felt elation, anger, confusion and disappointment. I felt the same emotions everyone else was feeling. I cannot but believe the players feel it too, especially when they are booed. Unfortunately, the one emotion we all really need to display right about now is patience. Patience is one of the complex emotions. It is also a virtue.

Posted under New York Rangers

Posted under New York Rangers

This evening’s Ranger Fan Forum at the Manhattan Center was far different from the forums last year that featured a smirking, wisecracking Scott Gomez jumping in on everyone’s questions. This time around there was still some good natured kidding among the boys. But for the most part, they answered the fans questions and showed what charming young men they are in the process.

Here’s what we learned. Mark Staal loves to sleep. Brian Boyle is a Boston boy who has 12 siblings and is Black Irish.  Ryan Callahan chose junior hockey because colleges were not banging down his door. Enver Lisin is a sweet young man working to overcome the language barrier and is happy to be in New York playing with Marian Gaborik.  Henrik Lundqvist’s sister thinks he needs to be meaner and lash out at guys who try to run him.

The questions and comments from the audience ranged from germaine to deranged. For example, someone asked why no Ranger retaliated against Glencross’ dirty hit on Drury or the mutiple runnings of Henrik Lundqvist.  I asked if Sam Rosen could get some old tapes of Billy Smith to show Henrik. I told Henrik he needs to get meaner and if Tortorella had a problem with that to tell him Mrs. Hurley said it was okay.

Some tool of a Yankee fan got up and suggested that Tortorella show the Rangers the Yankee ticker tape parade. I was wondering how long it would take for the inevitable rubbing of the Ranger’s noses in the Yankee’s success, ala Mike Keenan in ‘93. I guess this guy didn’t get the memo that the Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy in sports to win and that hockey players are 100 times better athletes then baseball players. He also forgot that, unlike the Yankees,  the Rangers have stopped trying to BUY a team.  They are  finally endeavoring to develop a team from within, with their youth.

The forum served to remind the fans in attendance that this is a team of youngsters who are a work in progress. They need our patience and support so they can succeed down the road. Messages about heart and soul don’t need to be sent with a sledge hammer, at least not to the boys there tonight. They absolutely get it.

Posted under New York Rangers

Don’t you love farce?
My fault I fear.
I thought that you’d want what I want.
Sorry, my dear.
But where are the clowns?
Quick, send in the clowns.
Don’t bother, they’re here

- A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim

The Rangers ended their Western Canadian roadtrip last night going 1-2 in three games.  While taking 2 points in 6 may be regretable, what really is unfortunate is that this team and their coach placed a higher premium on points over pride.

Most of my regular readers know that Chris Drury has never been a favorite of mine. What Curtis Glenncross got away with last night was murder. He deserved a five minute penalty and a game misconduct for headhunting Drury. He got neither.

Were I John Tortorella, I would have realized at that point that O’Halloran and Pollack were calling the game in favor of Jerome Iginla and Dion Phaneuf on Hockey Night In Canada.  I would have let the dogs out on Glencross and any other Calgary punk who got in the way. There’s only one problem. The Rangers don’t have any dogs. Because the Rangers failed to respond to Calgary’s phyical attack, they look like clowns across the league.

Avery was pretty tough with his mouth on Thursday against the Oilers but I guess he was told to disappear against Calgary in view of the whole “sloppy seconds” episode that got him suspended last season. The one man we signed to prevent what happened last night has been out of the lineup with an arm injury.  Brandon Dubinsky may have broken a bone in his hand blocking a shot. No one else in the Rangers lineup was willing to go out and run Iginla or Nigel Dawes to send a message.

Now down two centers, Sather wants to go out and sign another aging “skill” player with a bum foot, Forsberg, to fill in at center. Yeah, that’s just great Glen. Go buy us another soft player made of glass that’s more injury prone then Gaborik.  

Tortorella, Sather and every single player on this team needs to grow a set and quickly or there’s going to be a revolt among the Garden Faithful. I’ll be the first volunteer to lead it. While it’s anotomically impossible for me to grow a set, I’ll do my best. To bad the same can’t be said said for some of the pussies on this team. 

PS. Glen-Colton Orr got an assist last night as Toronto dismantled the mighty Red Wings 5-1 and didn’t even take a penalty.

 Just sayin’.

Posted under New York Rangers