Leafs' Lunch Guest Refreshing
Oct 29, 2004 8:32:51 GMT -5
Post by CentreHice on Oct 29, 2004 8:32:51 GMT -5
A pleasant break from "lockout lockout lockout". Earlier this week for a half-hour segment...their guest was Bob Haggert, the trainer for the Leafs the last time they won the Cup in 1967. To think they have to go back that far to say "Leafs and Cup" in the same sentence. Heh heh.
Being in my mid-40's I could relate to the people he was mentioning....I don't remember the 62, 63, or 64 Leaf Cups (too young)....but I do remember a bit about 1967, and I could relate to the names he was mentioning--Punch Imlach, Stafford Smythe, Bob Baun, Dave Keon, Red Kelly, etc.
Haggert is a great raconteur but any Leaf fan under 30 was changing stations. "Where's Wendel? Where's Dougie?"
What I found most interesting was the fact that he said the players played hurt back then because there was no union, no job certainty...and an injury meant you could be replaced permanently. And, he said, they didn't want to quit on their teammates. You played each team 14 times during the regular season. You had a rivalry with every team.
I know back then owners were making ALL the money but somehow, at the end of all this posturing and bickering, the league and the players have to get back to the basics...much like Lafleur said. Haggert's segment was very refreshing.
Being in my mid-40's I could relate to the people he was mentioning....I don't remember the 62, 63, or 64 Leaf Cups (too young)....but I do remember a bit about 1967, and I could relate to the names he was mentioning--Punch Imlach, Stafford Smythe, Bob Baun, Dave Keon, Red Kelly, etc.
Haggert is a great raconteur but any Leaf fan under 30 was changing stations. "Where's Wendel? Where's Dougie?"
What I found most interesting was the fact that he said the players played hurt back then because there was no union, no job certainty...and an injury meant you could be replaced permanently. And, he said, they didn't want to quit on their teammates. You played each team 14 times during the regular season. You had a rivalry with every team.
I know back then owners were making ALL the money but somehow, at the end of all this posturing and bickering, the league and the players have to get back to the basics...much like Lafleur said. Haggert's segment was very refreshing.