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Hockey's Finest Originals
Posted by Radatz 3 Days Ago
Category: FEATURED
Tags: Original Six NHL Hall of Fame

 

 

With the Original Six making such a strong showing in the 2013 season (note the absence of "2012-") I'm led to reflect a bit. All six teams made the playoffs. Just five had a shot at making the quarterfinals, what with Boston and Toronto facing each other, and four did. The way the quarters are aligned, the semifinals will also feature half Original Six teams.
 
For some reason all this made me think of the name "Milt Schmidt". I know who he is because he's been associated with the Bruins for so long, either in peripheral roles (he's 95) or in larger ones --- such as the GM who brought Esposito, Hodge and Stanfield from Chicago and drafted Bobby Orr, the coach who took his team to two finals, and the 2-time Cup winner. His Kraut Line from Kitchener and from my parents' generation was the cornerstone of a dynasty --- one which, like the Red Sox and the Bears of the time, was nipped in the bud by World War II, the draft, and in many cases the players' self-sacrificial priorities. The whole Kraut Line enlisted in the RCAF early in the war, returning to Boston only in 1946. Goalie Frankie (Mr. Zero) Brimsek, an American, enlisted in the Coast Guard.
 
Thinking and reading about Schmidt made me wonder --- who, exactly, is the dominant figure of each old franchise for the span of its existence? To young fans, the latest are always the greatest. Of course, the view that athletes simply get better with time is as corrupt as the theory that humanity has 'gotten taller' throughout history. Depends on who and where you were. In Medieval Europe, the land of 5'3" suits of armor, poor weather and nutrition (along with smallpox and a plague or two) helped keep the surviving population's size down. But a cache of 24 sets of Spartan armor almost 2000 years older, unearthed a couple of decades ago, was found to fit individuals between 6'4" and 6'7". And as far as the athletes go, put the modern players in old rinks with old rules and old equipment and they'd be helpless. The old guys might not fare better in the modern game. It's an impossible argument. Players must be judged by their time. Some are so great they transcend debate.
 
I wonder what the popular consensus would be? For Boston, Chicago and Detroit it's easy to guess that Orr, Hull and Howe would be the quick choices today. Montreal? Could be any one of many, but I'm guessing the Rocket would still get the popular nod. Toronto? Their greatest days are long ago, and I've seen rankings with names across time like Syl Apps, Davey Keon, Darryl Sittler, Tim Horton and more. New York is a bit problematic, with most gravitating around Brian Leetch because of his Cup and his fine play over a long span, and of course the great Andy Bathgate.
 
It's the perfect topic for an endless series of blogs and columns by an endless stream of bloggers and writers. Here's what I think.
 
The Bruins? 99.9% of fans polled today would say "Bobby Orr" even if they never saw him. But Bobby Orr himself says the greatest living Bruin is Milt Schmidt, even over teammate Phil Esposito who won six (straight!) goal scoring titles with absurd totals. A look at the records substantiates his claim. Lost in history is the fact that Schmidt was considered the Bruins' #2 star while Eddie Shore still played. But he's 'Mr. Bruin'. And he may never have been brought up if Woody Dumart and Bobby Bauer, his two linemates from junior hockey and lifelong friends, hadn't begged the Bruins to get him. Together they formed the legendary Kraut Line. But wait... the leader of Boston's greatest line and the assembler of Boston's Big Bad Bruins still isn't our man. It's not even Johnny Bucyk, the multigeneration star who scored 50 goals and won Lady Byngs even with those dreaded BBBs. So who? The honor falls to the late Dit Clapper. Why? Well, for starters he played 20 years, all for Boston. When his legs began to slow down Art Ross moved him to defense because he was indispensable. He remains the only NHLer to be named an All-Star at both forward and defense. He scored 41 goals in 1929-30 in 44 games (amazingly, losing the goal-scoring title to teammate Cooney Weiland who had 43). When he retired, he was instantly enshrined in the Hall of Fame as an Honoured Member. Not only was it the first waiting-period waiver, but he was at the time the only living player so honored, let alone the only fresh retiree. He went to seven Cup finals, winning three, more than any other Bruin. He was player-coach on his last trip there, He took Boston to the finals once when the Kraut Line were all in the RCAF. If Tom Brady is the greatest Patriot, how is Dit Clapper not the greatest Bruin?
 
How about the Chicago Black Hawks? One of the O6's less successful franchises along with the Rangers over the years, they've nevertheless seen a slew of greats come and go... Pierre Pilote. Stan Mikita. Jeremy Roenick. Glenn Hall. Chris Chelios. Add many greats like Ace Bailey of the long-lost prewar years (they won two Cups in the 1930s). But it's a moot point, because the face of the franchise is so clearly Bobby Hull. Always the gentleman player, the muscular speedster with the invisible shot had little trouble maintaining his gentlemanly stature on and off the rink. Once the Bruins' dreaded Ted Green was asked why he seemed hesitant to pick a fight with Hull to get him off the ice. He replied that he wasn't afraid but he wasn't crazy either.
 
Ranking great Montreal Canadiens is kind of like ranking great New York Yankees. So many outlandishly successful teams to pick from, with so many great players. The Yanks did it with money, the Habs with territorial rights (that assertion has been 'debunked' recently by Montreal sources, but Pat Burns himself referenced it when he was fired). The greatest of those dynasties was headed up by Toe Blake, both as a player and as a coach. Blake had almost an all-Hall team, featuring among others the two dirtiest defensemen in hockey according to Andy Bathgate, those being Doug Harvey and Tom Johnson. But his brightest star and the brightest in Montreal's all-time galaxy is generally considered to be the Rocket himself, Maurice Richard. I'll go with that. Opposing teams had fits of angst every time the line of Richard, Beliveau and Geoffrion hit the ice. Fifty goals in fifty games? In 1945? First to 500? All that and much, much more.
 
The Toronto Maple Leafs have produced as many greats as anyone. Overshadowed in Canada for much of their existence by the juggernaut in Quebec, they nevertheless have produced many cups (still #2 to Montreal) and many stars despite a long drought of late. Jack Adams? Lanny McDonald? Bob Pulford? King Clancy? Turk Broda? The teams of the postwar NHL coached by Hap Day (the "Little Major"... Conn Smythe was "The Major") were among the most loved and most successful, even more so than Punch Imlach's '60s squads. But the face of the franchise comes from Imlach's era, and despite his tragic passing in 1974 his name is still strewn all over Toronto. Of course, it's Tim Horton. Bobby Hull said that despite being a gentleman he was intimidating due to his sheer strength, and compared him favorably to the "vicious" Eddie Shore.
 
The Detroit Red Wings have always been among the more successful franchises, and recent times have only embellished their high rank. But there's no point in going down the enormous list of great names, because in this case, as with Chicago, it's too easy. There's only one real candidate, and that's Gordie Howe. Certainly the only player ever to deck both Bobby Orr and Rocket Richard in a fight, he nevertheless had the eternal respect of both. Richard once said that he considered himself one of the best, but that Howe truly "had it all." Orr was asked once whether he thought the best player of all time was Wayne Gretzky or himself. Without pausing for a breath he said "Gordie Howe". He meant it. I'll take their word for it.
 
The New York Rangers have had infrequent dominant teams, but their roster has always included greats like Andy Bathgate, Vic Hadfield, Rod Gilbert, Brad Park, Ed Giacomin, and Harry Howell. A lot of folks today will give the nod to either Mike Richter or Brian Leetch, the latter making considerable sense. But to me Bathgate, who was considered at the level of Howe and Richard in his day, clearly outranks them all --- except for one. The Rangers' most memorable player was cast away (rather like Ted Lindsay in Detroit) after a decade for advocating a players' union, and then proceeded to win four Cups and two Vezinas in five years in his native Montreal, showing what he could do with a great team in front of him. While facing 40+ shots a night in New York, he was asked which NHL team gave him the most trouble. He replied "The New York Rangers." Accused by his coach of having a beer belly, he replied that he only drank Johnny Walker. He was the last goalie to shun the mask except for late NHL short-timer Andy Brown. He was --- who else? --- Gump Worsley.
 
So there they are. Have at it.
 
Comments (11)
WWE to induct Booker T into the HOF
Posted by ScottJax77 Mar 18th
Category: Wrestling
Tags: WWE Wrestling WWE Hall of Fame Booker T

WWE has just announced that Booker T is going into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Comments (2)
This and That - 02/07/13
Posted by ScottJax77 Feb 7th
Category: FEATURED
Tags: Caltech Parcells Sapp Carter Allen Ogden NFL Hall of Fame Peterson Watt RGIII Arians Manning Kuechly

Can anyone sing the Anthem correctly?? What about America the Beautiful?? Props to Ray Lewis, Maybe?? Streak broken?? NFL Hall of Fame and NFL awards in this edition of……

Just worked my first off day in years, plus they had me come in five hours earlier than my normal time. What a difference. I have been so use to working after 6 pm all my Postal life and on my off day they had me come in at 1pm. By 7:30pm my eyes were heavy. The good thing is the time change only happens when I work my off day. Tuesday I was at work my normal time.

Two minutes, twenty-three point six seconds, that’s how long it took to drag out the National Anthem. I’m sick of Rock’n rollers, Blues, Rap, Pop, Country, Soul, anyone that has to play it to please themselves. How about singing the National Anthem the way it was suppose to be and put an end the this crap.

While I’m at it, why did Jennifer Hudson have to mess it up for the Sandy Hook Kids? What a way to ruin America the Beautiful.

Congrats to the Baltimore Ravens on winning the Super Bowl.

Congrats on Ray Lewis ending his career a winner. I don’t like you as a person. You’re a phony and I’ll end it at that.

Nah, I won’t. If you ever work as a football analysis for any station. I will not watch it. Just like I turned off anything that was related to Ray Lewis during the long hours that ESPN, NFL network and CBS did this past Sunday. If you were half the man you are as an outstanding Linebacker you would be a great person. But, your not.

Wow, after losing 228 games in a row, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) baseball team won its first game in 10 years by winning 9-7 over Pacifica.

Congratulations to the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2013:

Guard/Tackle Larry Allen:

Played 14 seasons, 12 with the Dallas Cowboys and 2 with the San Francisco 49ers. 11 time Pro Bowl player and 6 time first team All Pro. Play every position on the line except center.

Wide Receiver Chris Carter:

Long overdue selection. Chris played 16 seasons, 12 with the Minnesota Vikings, 3 with the Philadelphia Eagles and one with the Miami Dolphins, amassing 13,899 yards in 1,101 receptions and 130 touchdowns. 8 time Pro Bowl player, 2 time First Team Pro Bowler and the 1999 Walter Payton Man of the Year. Number retired by the Minnesota Vikings.

Defensive Tackle/Nose Tackle/Guard: Curley Culp:

Played 14 seasons, 6½ seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, 5½ seasons with the Houston Oilers and 2 seasons with the Detroit Lions. One fumble recovery for a touch down. 6 time Pro Bowl Player and 1 First Team All Pro.

Tackle/Guard Jonathan Ogden:

Played 12 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. Has two receptions for two yards and two touchdowns. Played in 11 Pro Bowls and a 6 time All Pro.

　

Coach Bill Parcells:

Every team he coached he turned them into winners. Bill coached for 19 years for the New York Giants winning Super Bowls in 1987 and 1991, New England Patriots who he led to the Super Bowl in 1997, New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys. Parcells ended his career with a 172-130-1 record.

Linebacker Dave Robinson:

Played 12 years, 10 with the Green Bay Packers and 2 with the Washington Redskins. Dave had 27 interceptions with one being returned for a touchdown. A 3 time Pro Bowl player and a one time First Team All Pro.

Defensive Tackle Warren Sapp:

Played 13 years, 9 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 4 with the Oakland Raiders. Had 96½ sacks and 4 interceptions (one for a touchdown) while playing DT. Helped turn Tampa Bay into a winning team. A 7 time Pro Bowl player, 4 time first team All Pro , won the 1999 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

The 2nd Annual NFL Honors show gave out its awards this past Saturday. These awards are voted on by 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. Here are the recipients:

Adrian Peterson Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year:

Who would have thought that Peterson would come back to play at the beginning of the year after messing up his knee, a career-threatening major knee surgery, at the end of the 2011 season? Well not only did he come back, he came back with a bang, rushing for 2,097 and 12 touchdowns. Peterson also had 217 yards receiving with one touchdown. What’s more telling he was a workhorse, with 348 carries and 40 receptions and averaged 144.7 total yards per game (131.1 rushing a career high and 13.5 receiving).

A cut above any player in the NFL.

Adrian Peterson 30½ votes

Payton Manning 19½ votes

J.J Watts Defensive Player of the Year:

Okay, the Houston Texas defensive was worse than last year, and it should have with the loss of Mario Williams, who left the team for the Buffalo Bills. But Texans improved their record to 12-4 and J.J. had a stellar season. 20.5 sacks (up from 5.5 a year ago), forced 4 fumbles and blocked 16 passes. Watts was selected to his first Pro Bowl and a First team All Pro in his second season with the team.

J.J. Watts 49 votes

Von Miller 1 vote

Bruce Arians Coach of the Year:

Bruce had to take over for Coach Chuck Pagano who was diagnosed with leukemia. Under normal circumstances, this would have devastated any team, yet Arians used it as a rallying point to guide the Colts to a 9-3 record and into the playoffs, this becoming the first interim coach to win the award.

Peyton Manning Comeback Player of the Year:

Peyton missed all of 2011 due to problems with his neck. Be we know that wasn’t the real reason the Colts let him go. It was because he was due a $25 million dollar roster bonus. The Colts loss was the Broncos gain because Manning led Denver to a 13-3 record and a first place finish in the AFC West Division. Peyton threw for 4,659 yards and 37 touchdowns while throwing only 11 interceptions.

Peyton Manning 31½ votes

Adrian Peterson 17½ votes

Jamaal Charles 1 vote

Robert Griffin III Offensive Rookie of the Year:

Robert led the Redskins to their first NFC East Division Title since 1999 finishing with a 10-6 record. RG3 threw for 3,200 yards and 20 touchdowns passing while throwing only 5 interceptions. He also rushed for 815 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Robert Griffin 29 votes

Andrew Luck 11 votes

Russell Wilson 10 votes

Luke Kuechly Defensive Rookie of the Year:

The Panthers didn’t make the playoffs this year but it wasn’t the fault of Kuechly who led the NFL in tackles with 164 and had two interceptions. The key was his move to middle linebacker which helped Carolina’s defensive improve to 10th in the league.

Luke Kuechly 28 votes

Bobby Wagner 11 votes

Casey Howard 6 votes

Janoris Jankins 3 votes

Lavonte David 2 votes

Til Next Time

Scott

　

　

 

 
Comments (16)
Wrestling - Newest Member to the WWE Hall of Fame Announced on Monday Night Raw
Posted by ScottJax77 Jan 28th
Category: Wrestling
Tags: WWE WWE Hall of Fame Trish Stratus

Trish Stratus will be inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame.
Comments (0)
Five Minute Frags - The Art of Timing
Posted by fragnoli Jan 11th
Category: FEATURED
Tags: MLB Steroid Policy Hall of Fame

On Thursday, Major League Baseball and the Player's Union quietly announced that they were expanding drug testing in the game. The new rules will allow for in-season blood testing for Human Growth Hormone and also a newly developed test that will detect synthetic testosterone.

Both moves were seen as a boost to a strengthening drug program and will allow baseball to now battle against the two biggest drug culprits of the last 20 years. HGH was seen as a huge boost for players that padded their statistics in the 1990's and early 2000's, while synthetic testosterone was growing in popularity, as seen by the suspensions last season of both Melky Cabrera and Bartolo Colon.

This was a win-win for both sides as the battle against performance-enhancers wages on. Nothing more to see here, move along.

But wait, there is more to the story here.

They say that timing is everything, and make no mistakes about it, the timing of this announcement is impeccable. Sit back and think about it for a moment, this announcement comes just one day after the Baseball Writer's Association of America failed to elect a single candidate to the Hall of Fame, presumably because the class was littered with candidates that had seen trial or been accused of using steroids during their careers. This comes a day after union chief Michael Weiner had this to say about the BBWAA's vote:

"Today's news that those members of the BBWAA afforded the privilege of casting ballots failed to elect even a single player to the Hall of Fame is unfortunate, if not sad. Those empowered to help the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum document the history of the game failed to recognize the contributions of several Hall of Fame worthy players. To ignore the historic accomplishments of Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, for example, is hard to justify. Moreover, to penalize players exonerated in legal proceedings -- and others never even implicated -- is simply unfair. The Hall of Fame is supposed to be for the best players to have ever played the game. Several such players were denied access to the Hall today. Hopefully, this will be rectified by future votes."

Does announcing this decision the next day seem more planned than not? 

I've spoken numerous times on exemption based on speculation, so if I had to put my money on it, I would assume that both Bud Selig and Weiner saw this day coming from a mile away. They knew that candidates were going to be punished for transgressions, regardless of court proceedings, and omitted on this ballot.

The Union took a beating on Wednesday, watching as their years of burying their heads in the sand and fighting to allow players to live in the shadows was blamed for what occurred with the BBWAA. They knew that the current crop of players, those who may one day have a shot at baseball immortality, would not want to have their career's called into question by being associated with a generation cheaters and scoundrels.

Selig knew this was his chance to push for stronger testing, knowing that the Union would be in a weak position to argue the rules change. He knew the players wanted stronger testing and knowing how the Hall of Fame would react was the nail in the coffin he needed to hammer it home.

No, this was a day of reckoning and one that was long overdue. Both sides are finally starting to understand the ramifications of their actions. in the past and how they must move forward in the future in order to avoid a permanent blot on the game. 

That all said, this does not excuse the fact that the BBWAA dropped the ball with some very deserving players from past generations that got punished on this ballot along with the cheaters. However, it was certainly the wake-up call that baseball needed.

History cannot be re-written, no matter how much the BBWAA, the MLBPA, or Bud Selig's office may try from each respective angle. However, this will go a long way toward penning a much better ending.
Comments (7)
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