Paul Stewart: A Debt of Gratitude to the Fog

Great write-up Stewie! Thanks for posting.

Stewie, I look forward to reading your blog every day.

Paul Stewart: A Debt of Gratitude to the Fog
- Paul Stewart

Thanks Paul, I love reading Freddie stories. Every one of them seems to have a similar subject matter, pay attention, listen, work on what you are good at and worker harder on what you need to be better at, oh and there is always time for a good, ice-cold beer.

Thanks for sharing, Stewie. Long overdue, indeed.

Nice blog Stewie...

Have a great weekend.


Long overdue honor for The Fog

Paul Stewart: A Debt of Gratitude to the Fog
- Paul Stewart

Damn Stewie, you actually got me choked up! Great blog, thanks!!

A wonderful blog, Stewie. Like you I had many, many fascinating conversations with Freddie at the Class of '23 Rink, at The Spectrum, and elsewhere, and always learned something new from him. Freddie even interviewed me once in 1984 between periods of a Flyers game at the Spectrum when he was doing color on the radio for the New Jersey Devils about "The Hockey Trivia Book" (which Gene Hart and I had co-authored) which had just been published. As with you, his players, and countless others, the way I view hockey was forever changed -- and enriched -- by Fred Shero.

I'm glad you mentioned Bob Kelly (who I saw just last night and scored the Flyers Stanley Cup winning goal in 1975) in your blog as he was the subject of one of the most memorable things Freddie ever said to me. After a decade with the Flyers, "Hound" ended his playing career with the Washington Capitals scoring 26 goals -- a career record by a mile -- in 1980-81 for the then perennial last place Caps. When I saw Freddie sitting in the lobby of the Flyers training camp in Vorhees, NJ, the following fall I mentioned this remarkable goal production to him which elicited a mild puzzled frown from Freddie. When I asked him why, The Fog replied with great seriousness, "Any coach who gets 26 goals out of Bob Kelly just isn't using him right!" And of course Freddie's assessment was spot on.

Thanks for your recollections on how Freddie helped you so much at the start of your hockey career. His election and enshrinement in the Hall as a Builder of our game should have come much MUCH earlier while Freddie and his late wife, Mariette, were still with us. I would have loved to hear what Freddie would have had to say about it. However I am sure that his son Ray (whose remarkable and moving eulogy at Freddie's funeral 23 year ago I will never forget) will deliver an extraordinary acceptance speech on Monday night on behalf of his father, his family, and all of the rest of us that Freddie touched. I would encourage everyone to be sure to tune in and watch the televised ceremonies from Toronto on Monday evening.


"The Fog" with Jimmy Watson and Bob Clarke

NOTE: On Monday I will be reposting a blog I wrote on Hockeybuzz last June when Freddie was elected to the Hall of Fame with a few more of my personal recollections of The Fog. For anyone interested in seeing it now it is located at http://www.hockeybuzz.com...logger_id=86#.Un0U9I3P3ms.

Good blog! Your read is one i look for daily. Keep up the good work

His election and enshrinement in the Hall as a Builder of our game should have come much MUCH earlier while Freddie and his late wife, Mariette, were still with us. I would have loved to hear what Friddie would have had to say about it. However I am sure that his son Ray (whose remarkable and moving eulogy at Freddie's funeral 23 year ago I will never forget) will deliver an extraordinary acceptance speech on Monday night on behalf of his father, his family, and all of the rest of us that Freddie touched.
- iScoop

From what I've heard about Fred Shero, I think he may have declined the opportunity to speak. Not out of ego or anything, but apparently he was not a very social guy when it came to large gatherings.

This is awesome to read. Thanks so much for sharing experiences most of us will never have!

From what I've heard about Fred Shero, I think he may have declined the opportunity to speak. Not out of ego or anything, but apparently he was not a very social guy when it came to large gatherings.
- jmatchett383

It is true that Freddie was not a great natural "public speaker", however he was first and foremost a teacher and I am sure that on this occasion his remarks, however short, would have been pithy, funny, enlightening, profound, humble, "Foggy", and most of all brilliant. And so will Ray's.

It is true that Freddie was not a great natural "public speaker", however he was first and foremost a teacher and I am sure that on this occasion his remarks, however short, would have been pithy, funny, enlightening, profound, humble, "Foggy", and most of all brilliant. And so will Ray's.
- iScoop

The Flyers' organization has been blessed with two wonderful teachers: Fred Shero and Gene Hart. Shero instructed his players as well as others, as evidenced by Stewie's blog. That "education" is like a stone in a pond -- the ripples will go out further and further into the "pond" of hockey people and eventually blend into the hockey philosophy at large. Hart instructed his audiences on radio and TV. The Philadelphia fanbase has sorely missed Hart because no one is more responsible for making the fanbase "hockey smart" than Gene Hart. The decline in fan "hockey smarts" may have several causes, but the most glaring is the lack of a teacher in the Flyers broadcast team. Steve Coates' "Coatesy's Corner" episodes that taught positioning, how to make reads, etc. was the last time a broadcast came close -- and many of those episodes were excellent (if brief) teaching tools. I feel privileged that my father, who often worked during Flyers games, impressed upon me to soak up Gene Hart's play-by-play work to learn the game.

My hope is the Flyers will find the "next Fred Shero" and "next Gene Hart," because we were spoiled when both were here.

Stewie, thanks for today's blog. As with your previous contributions, I enjoyed it. As with the aforementioned coach and broadcaster, I feel the NHL is worse off without you working directly for them. You were one of the few referees I felt gave every team an unbiased game of officiating night in and out.

Finally, Scoop: thanks for sharing your memories, as well. They are most appreciated.

The Flyers' organization has been blessed with two wonderful teachers: Fred Shero and Gene Hart. Shero instructed his players as well as others, as evidenced by Stewie's blog. That "education" is like a stone in a pond -- the ripples will go out further and further into the "pond" of hockey people and eventually blend into the hockey philosophy at large. Hart instructed his audiences on radio and TV. The Philadelphia fanbase has sorely missed Hart because no one is more responsible for making the fanbase "hockey smart" than Gene Hart. The decline in fan "hockey smarts" may have several causes, but the most glaring is the lack of a teacher in the Flyers broadcast team. Steve Coates' "Coatesy's Corner" episodes that taught positioning, how to make reads, etc. was the last time a broadcast came close -- and many of those episodes were excellent (if brief) teaching tools. I feel privileged that my father, who often worked during Flyers games, impressed upon me to soak up Gene Hart's play-by-play work to learn the game.

My hope is the Flyers will find the "next Fred Shero" and "next Gene Hart," because we were spoiled when both were here.

Stewie, thanks for today's blog. As with your previous contributions, I enjoyed it. As with the aforementioned coach and broadcaster, I feel the NHL is worse off without you working directly for them. You were one of the few referees I felt gave every team an unbiased game of officiating night in and out.

Finally, Scoop: thanks for sharing your memories, as well. They are most appreciated.
- Flyskippy

I couldn't agree more about Gene whom I worked with for 25 years, co-authored a book ("The Hockey Trivia Book", New York: Leisure Press 1984), shared a second joint passion (opera), and about whom I am currently co-producing with Green Creek films a documentary movie to be released next year on DVD to be called "All Hart". He not only taught hockey to a couple of generations of Philadelphians, Gene also had a long career as a real life school teacher. His range of interests and accomplishments in life also extended far beyond hockey and his enshrinement in the Hockey Hall of Fame. (As a young man he was a talented athlete, served in the US Army as a Russian speaking intelligence analyst, was a carnival barker and Atlantic City Steel Pier MC where he met his wife, Sara, who rode the "diving horse" there, taught school, was a professional basketball referee, lectured on opera, classical music, and many other subjects, etc,) As was Freddie, Gene was a true "one of a kind" who can never be replaced, only emulated. Thanks also for your kind words about my memories. I will be sharing more of them in the future.

Paul Stewart: A Debt of Gratitude to the Fog
- Paul Stewart

Another fantastic read, Stewie.

It's amazing how everyone who knew Fred Shero seems to have warm memories of him and recognized his brilliance as a coach and teacher of the sport of hockey.

It's a shame that he was not recognized by the HHOF before now, but it's wonderful to see The Fog finally take his rightful and well deserved place among the legends of the game.

Paul Stewart: A Debt of Gratitude to the Fog
- Paul Stewart

thanks for sharing this, paul. had no idea about your connection to shero and the flyers. great stuff.

I couldn't agree more about Gene whom I worked with for 25 years, co-authored a book ("The Hockey Trivia Book", New York: Leisure Press 1984), shared a second joint passion (opera), and about whom I am currently co-producing with Green Creek films a documentary movie to be released next year on DVD to be called "All Hart". He not only taught hockey to a couple of generations of Philadelphians, Gene also had a long career as a real life school teacher. His range of interests and accomplishments in life also extended far beyond hockey and his enshrinement in the Hockey Hall of Fame. (As a young man he was a talented athlete, served in the US Army as a Russian speaking intelligence analyst, was a carnival barker and Atlantic City Steel Pier MC where he met his wife, Sara, who rode the "diving horse" there, taught school, was a professional basketball referee, lectured on opera, classical music, and many other subjects, etc,) As was Freddie, Gene was a true "one of a kind" who can never be replaced, only emulated. Thanks also for your kind words about my memories. I will be sharing more of them in the future.


- iScoop

i was a baby during the flyers cup years, and didn't discover them until 1980. i feel so fortunate looking back to have had gene hart as my teacher. he is just as much a part of the flyers for me as clarke, lindbergh, and lindros amongst all the other greats.

I couldn't agree more about Gene whom I worked with for 25 years, co-authored a book ("The Hockey Trivia Book", New York: Leisure Press 1984), shared a second joint passion (opera), and about whom I am currently co-producing with Green Creek films a documentary movie to be released next year on DVD to be called "All Hart". He not only taught hockey to a couple of generations of Philadelphians, Gene also had a long career as a real life school teacher. His range of interests and accomplishments in life also extended far beyond hockey and his enshrinement in the Hockey Hall of Fame. (As a young man he was a talented athlete, served in the US Army as a Russian speaking intelligence analyst, was a carnival barker and Atlantic City Steel Pier MC where he met his wife, Sara, who rode the "diving horse" there, taught school, was a professional basketball referee, lectured on opera, classical music, and many other subjects, etc,) As was Freddie, Gene was a true "one of a kind" who can never be replaced, only emulated. Thanks also for your kind words about my memories. I will be sharing more of them in the future.


- iScoop

You are most welcome, Scoop. Great stuff there.

I've been blessed with a good memory myself. I look forward to sharing them with my 4 month-old as much as I have my 11 year old. I will share a bit now:

My earliest memory is when I was around 2 in Gloucester City (as we had not moved to Westmont yet). I recently shared this story at Villa Barone's in Collingswood at my dad's surprise 65th birthday party complete with a "roast." My contribution was more or less thanking him for introducing me to hockey:

I was supposed to be napping, but Dad stored his tabletop hockey game under my first bed. So, in a rare act of insubordination, I got out of bed, pulled out the game and was having a fabulous time moving the "men" around -- players represented by the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers, none wearing helmets and goalies sans masks. Well, I was making more noise than I was aware of and the door opened. I froze upon seeing Dad open the door and ask, "Are you supposed to be doing that?" "Noooo," I replied, shamefully as I pushed the game back under the bed before retiring to it.

[As I look back on it now, my parents reserved their "penalty box" ("dog house" in Mom's terms) for my brother a lot more often than for me, but I was the first one to risk being sent to it. My brother is a year younger than me and it would be 27 years after the above incident when we'd finally have the opportunity to play ice hockey together for the first time.]

After moving to Westmont in Haddon Township, Dad started sharing his hockey card collection with us. The teams' logos were stickers and he let us put them on the corkboard in our bedroom. I remember seeing the Kansas City Scouts and Atlanta Flames stickers thinking they were neat -- but not as cool as Dad's favorite team, the Philadelphia Flyers. Listening to games on the radio, Don "Big Bird" Saleski was my favorite due to his nickname and my love of Sesame Street. Upon watching games on TV, though, I found a new favorite: Bobby Clarke. Though Dave Poulin supplanted Clarke as my favorite a decade later because Poulin had a heck of a lot less skill but just as much heart, I still remember the thrill I would get when Mom would turn on the TV and I'd see # 16 out there. Gene Hart came into our home through and made us feel like we in the Flyers fanbase were all in this together: loving the sport of ice hockey and the camaraderie that Ed Snider and the Flyers' organization invited all to share.

I want to again thank Stewie for his blog and allowing us who appreciate Fred Shero's work and celebrate his Hall of Fame induction to share in this special occasion.

The Flyers won the Stanley Cup one day in 1974 and "walk together forever." I need to go borrow the book, "Score!: My Twenty-Five Years with The Broad Street Bullies" from my dad now....

You are most welcome, Scoop. Great stuff there.

I've been blessed with a good memory myself. I look forward to sharing them with my 4 month-old as much as I have my 11 year old. I will share a bit now:

My earliest memory is when I was around 2 in Gloucester City (as we had not moved to Westmont yet). I recently shared this story at Villa Barone's in Collingswood at my dad's surprise 65th birthday party complete with a "roast." My contribution was more or less thanking him for introducing me to hockey:

I was supposed to be napping, but Dad stored his tabletop hockey game under my first bed. So, in a rare act of insubordination, I got out of bed, pulled out the game and was having a fabulous time moving the "men" around -- players represented by the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers, none wearing helmets and goalies sans masks. Well, I was making more noise than I was aware of and the door opened. I froze upon seeing Dad open the door and ask, "Are you supposed to be doing that?" "Noooo," I replied, shamefully as I pushed the game back under the bed before retiring to it.


- Flyskippy[As I look back on it now, my parents reserved their "penalty box" ("dog house" in Mom's terms) for my brother a lot more often than for me, but I was the first one to risk being sent to it. My brother is a year younger than me and it would be 27 years after the above incident when we'd finally have the opportunity to play ice hockey together for the first time.]

After moving to Westmont in Haddon Township, Dad started sharing his hockey card collection with us. The teams' logos were stickers and he let us put them on the corkboard in our bedroom. I remember seeing the Kansas City Scouts and Atlanta Flames stickers thinking they were neat -- but not as cool as Dad's favorite team, the Philadelphia Flyers. Listening to games on the radio, Don "Big Bird" Saleski was my favorite due to his nickname and my love of Sesame Street. Upon watching games on TV, though, I found a new favorite: Bobby Clarke. Though Dave Poulin supplanted Clarke as my favorite a decade later because Poulin had a heck of a lot less skill but just as much heart, I still remember the thrill I would get when Mom would turn on the TV and I'd see # 16 out there. Gene Hart came into our home through and made us feel like we in the Flyers fanbase were all in this together: loving the sport of ice hockey and the camaraderie that Ed Snider and the Flyers' organization invited all to share.

I want to again thank Stewie for his blog and allowing us who appreciate Fred Shero's work and celebrate his Hall of Fame induction to share in this special occasion.

The Flyers won the Stanley Cup one day in 1974 and "walk together forever." I need to go borrow the book, "Score!: My Twenty-Five Years with The Broad Street Bullies" from my dad now....

csb

csb
- watsonnostaw

You are most welcome, Scoop. Great stuff there.

- Flyskippy

Thanks, Flyskippy, and thanks for your memories too.