Gordie Howe 1928 - 2016

[Charles Martel]

 

[Charles Martel]

Muhammed Ali's death was the cover story for all the mainstream Canadian news websites.

Yet the death of Gordie Howe, arguably Canada's greatest athlete of all time, is not even mentioned of the front pages of CBC, CTV, etc.

 

[Don Wassall]

Gordie Howe wasn't just a hockey hero but a real (gentle)man in all the positive ways.

Another link to when men were men has been lost, though as alluded to above by Charles Martel, Gordie had already been pretty much confined to the memory hole.

 

[Flint]

Gordie Howe, the anti-Ali, was basically the Babe Ruth of his sport. He was a guy that set all the early records, created the template of what a great hockey player was supposed to be. And of course he was a class act all the way. Like nearly all superstar white athletes. Not a bit of scandal in his long years in the public eye.

It's especially bittersweet to me, growing up in the thriving metropolis of Detroit and watching Gordie and the "Production Line" set records. The comparison to the city he played in and the man himself is interesting. Howe and the city of Detroit were once giants among their peers. While Howe aged gracefully, Detroit did not. I grew up watching, cheering, idolizing the man in a prosperous white city that was once the pinnacle of American achievement. While Howe was scoring more goals then anyone else the city of Detroit itself produced more automobiles then the rest of the world combined. Now Gordie is gone and the city of Detroit does not make a single automobile, or even have a movie theater or chain grocery store. Detroit fell out of the top 20 cities in population in the US for the first time since 1854! Once a city of 1.5 million, it is down below 600,000.

In another failed black city-Louisville, a star studded memorial is going on for a man who preached hate and bigotry, who's actions and behavior are a large part of why those cities sink and fail. I doubt if there will be much attention paid to Mr. Hockey's passing outside of loyal fans. The black african in the white house and the legacy brat in Quebec have a different idea of what constitutes a hero. RIP Gordie.

 

[Ambrose]

Gordie Howe, the anti-Ali, was basically the Babe Ruth of his sport. He was a guy that set all the early records, created the template of what a great hockey player was supposed to be. And of course he was a class act all the way. Like nearly all superstar white athletes. Not a bit of scandal in his long years in the public eye.

It's especially bittersweet to me, growing up in the thriving metropolis of Detroit and watching Gordie and the "Production Line" set records. The comparison to the city he played in and the man himself is interesting. Howe and the city of Detroit were once giants among their peers. While Howe aged gracefully, Detroit did not. I grew up watching, cheering, idolizing the man in a prosperous white city that was once the pinnacle of American achievement. While Howe was scoring more goals then anyone else the city of Detroit itself produced more automobiles then the rest of the world combined. Now Gordie is gone and the city of Detroit does not make a single automobile, or even have a movie theater or chain grocery store. Detroit fell out of the top 20 cities in population in the US for the first time since 1854! Once a city of 1.5 million, it is down below 600,000.

In another failed black city-Louisville, a star studded memorial is going on for a man who preached hate and bigotry, who's actions and behavior are a large part of why those cities sink and fail. I doubt if there will be much attention paid to Mr. Hockey's passing outside of loyal fans. The black african in the white house and the legacy brat in Quebec have a different idea of what constitutes a hero. RIP Gordie.

This is well written Jax. Take my hat off to you!

 

[Ambrose]

Gordie Howe wasn't just a hockey hero but a real (gentle)man in all the positive ways.

Another link to when men were men has been lost, though as alluded to above by Charles Martel, Gordie had already been pretty much confined to the memory hole.

I know Don, so few under 40 even know who the name Gordie Howe; his style seems today that of ancient men of myths who may never have actually lived.

 

[BeyondFedUp]

Gordie Howe, the anti-Ali, was basically the Babe Ruth of his sport. He was a guy that set all the early records, created the template of what a great hockey player was supposed to be. And of course he was a class act all the way. Like nearly all superstar white athletes. Not a bit of scandal in his long years in the public eye.

It's especially bittersweet to me, growing up in the thriving metropolis of Detroit and watching Gordie and the "Production Line" set records. The comparison to the city he played in and the man himself is interesting. Howe and the city of Detroit were once giants among their peers. While Howe aged gracefully, Detroit did not. I grew up watching, cheering, idolizing the man in a prosperous white city that was once the pinnacle of American achievement. While Howe was scoring more goals then anyone else the city of Detroit itself produced more automobiles then the rest of the world combined. Now Gordie is gone and the city of Detroit does not make a single automobile, or even have a movie theater or chain grocery store. Detroit fell out of the top 20 cities in population in the US for the first time since 1854! Once a city of 1.5 million, it is down below 600,000.

In another failed black city-Louisville, a star studded memorial is going on for a man who preached hate and bigotry, who's actions and behavior are a large part of why those cities sink and fail. I doubt if there will be much attention paid to Mr. Hockey's passing outside of loyal fans. The black african in the white house and the legacy brat in Quebec have a different idea of what constitutes a hero. RIP Gordie.

Flint/Jax, I want to commend you for a fine post, almost a eulogy, to a great sportsman and a once great city. You are the only poster on here besides Don of course that's been here at CF as long as myself. I've enjoyed a lot of your postings and insights over the years but that one took the cake. I guess I have a sentimental attachment to the heroes of old, of the America we grew up in.
Don and you are doing a great work here. We don't tell you guys enough. Keep on keeping on, bro.

 

[Rebajlo]

Gordie Howe, the anti-Ali, was basically the Babe Ruth of his sport. He was a guy that set all the early records, created the template of what a great hockey player was supposed to be. And of course he was a class act all the way. Like nearly all superstar white athletes. Not a bit of scandal in his long years in the public eye.

It's especially bittersweet to me, growing up in the thriving metropolis of Detroit and watching Gordie and the "Production Line" set records. The comparison to the city he played in and the man himself is interesting. Howe and the city of Detroit were once giants among their peers. While Howe aged gracefully, Detroit did not. I grew up watching, cheering, idolizing the man in a prosperous white city that was once the pinnacle of American achievement. While Howe was scoring more goals then anyone else the city of Detroit itself produced more automobiles then the rest of the world combined. Now Gordie is gone and the city of Detroit does not make a single automobile, or even have a movie theater or chain grocery store. Detroit fell out of the top 20 cities in population in the US for the first time since 1854! Once a city of 1.5 million, it is down below 600,000.

In another failed black city-Louisville, a star studded memorial is going on for a man who preached hate and bigotry, who's actions and behavior are a large part of why those cities sink and fail. I doubt if there will be much attention paid to Mr. Hockey's passing outside of loyal fans. The black african in the white house and the legacy brat in Quebec have a different idea of what constitutes a hero. RIP Gordie.

Flint -

Outstanding post, mate.

Gordie Howe was a figure of legend to a hockey mad little kid who lived in 1970s Australia - a country which was, ironically, completely bereft of hockey.

RIP Mr. Hockey

 

[sprintstar]

Gordie Howe was and will always be a legend of hockey. I doubt we will ever see an athlete in any sport compete at a high level in his 50's. In his final NHL season over the age of 50 he scored 15 goals and led the Whalers in scoring points. Humble, manly, tough as nails on the ice and gentle as a lamb off the ice, married to the love of his life until her death in 2009. How many Negro athletes can say this about themselves. As a Canadian this is a sad event in Canadian history not just in the sporting world. I would say most Canadians including young hockey fans know who Howe was. One of his legacies left for hockey players in the NHL is called a Gordie Howe hat trick game, 1 goal, 1 assist and a fight all in the same game. Wayne Gretzky is even proud he had one of these games in his career and he couldn't punch out a stuffed animal..

Cheers Mr.Hockey the world will miss you.