Far be it of me to criticize the physical culture of the country where through circumstances beyond my control I took my first breath. And indeed, I vividly recall the celebrations - old hat, perhaps, thought some grizzled Torontonians then - surrounding the glorious spring of 1967, the last year that Toronto’s own buds brought home the silverware that Lord Stanley bequeathed to shinny.
14 became my favourite number then, sparkplug Dave Keon sported that numbered jersey, and later took the helm of a team in decline from the chief, Cap’n George Armstrong, who had to endure a brief period as coach of a franchise in decline run ragged by pal Hal himself.
Scriveners since have bemoaned the fall of ther once mighty Maple Leafs, symbols - once - of Canadian hockey supremacy, always competing against an even grander franchise, les Habitants de Montréal.
This whimisical and admittedly nostalgic look into the past was triggered by the success of the Estonian sledge hockey team at the Paralympics. True, olympian achievement gets recognition more for able-bodied results than for those who do not accept limitations, indeed thrive in the face of challenges. It is a travesty, that although the Paralympics are well attended, well followed, that the coverage afforded to able-bodied athletes is not available to paralympians.
It was just a blot on a page for many, to read that the Estonian sledge hockey team was able to prevent the host nation, USA, from gaining victory. Fit to be tied the Yanks were, but you would never know from the coverage the media gave the game. Not surprising, of course, as the importance of results seems to be tied into nationality.
Which brings me to my own, personal point. Dave Keon was my hero, because a scrawny undersized guy scored when it mattered most. Passed to the right sniper when the situation required it. Keon embodied grit, courage, and skill under pressure, and it was a damn shame how pal Hal treated him. Indeed, that number would have been retired by any other franchise.
Keon was a plugger, overachiever. Much like Estonians have been over the centuries. A country of few, achievements worthy of much larger populations. And while some may dismiss sledge hockey as not being on the same level as NHL action the fact remains that the paralympics bring together competitive, dedicated athletes with the same level of desire, the same wish to win as anyone.
That is why the Keons of the world are appreciated. Not everyone receives the genetic material of a Gretzky or an Orr, that enables making the dazzling commonplace.
Finally, professional athletics ( and try not to kid yourself by suggesting that the olympic games are amateur competitions) these days are all about gold, gold, gold, filthy lucre passes hands under the guise of performance bonuses and other such incentives. If you already are performing at elite levels, such stimuli are superfluous. Or even unneccessary.
The mere mortal finds the salaries paid to professional athletes, entertainers obscene. Fines levied for misconducts amount to annual salaries for highly educated individuals toiling week in, week out, with no off-season. Dave Keon had the misfortune of being employed as a professional athlete during a time when sporting efforts were not rewarded on the astronomical level that it is today. As well, having a parsimonious boss soured Keon to the degree, that years after Pal Hal’s death, when Keon was voted one of the top 25 players in the history of the franchise he chose not to attend the recent festivities marking the 75th anniversary of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
And for those brave athletes competing under the blue-black-and-white tricolour - as sledge hockey players, kudos! Even if that result was largely ignored or poorly represented in the Western media, the very effort produced by those athletes confirms the need for, and principles of, behind those guiding the paralympic games.
Editorial: Hockey night in Estonia
Arvamus
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