Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Clarke and Childhood Sports Heroes

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Clarke and Childhood Sports Heroes
- bmeltzer

First!

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Clarke and Childhood Sports Heroes
- bmeltzer

Excellent write up Bill, well done!
My first hero was Bernie Parent, I had the Time Magazine cover taped to my bedroom door, a poster of Bernie on the wall and my first jersey was, wait for it..., Bernie!

I also demanded to play goal in all the neighborhood street hockey games, although once I started ice hockey, I came to my senses and switched to D!

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Clarke and Childhood Sports Heroes
- bmeltzer

Sportsnet interview with Mason for your reading pleasure..

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...battles-ray-emery-in-net/

Man, I can't wait til this month is over and training camp is in sight.

Excellent write up Bill, well done!
My first hero was Bernie Parent, I had the Time Magazine cover taped to my bedroom door, a poster of Bernie on the wall and my first jersey was, wait for it..., Bernie!

I also demanded to play goal in all the neighborhood street hockey games, although once I started ice hockey, I came to my senses and switched to D!

- BiggE

As a kid, my room had several posters of Ron Hextall on the walls. He's the reason I play goal in ice and Ball hockey today.

Sportsnet interview with Mason for your reading pleasure..

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...battles-ray-emery-in-net/

Man, I can't wait til this month is over and training camp is in sight.
- Hextall271

Good article, thanks for the post

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Clarke and Childhood Sports Heroes
- bmeltzer

Lindros was my first. I was 9 when he got pummeled by Stevens and I cried after that game.

Lindros was my first. I was 9 when he got pummeled by Stevens and I cried after that game.
- JFlyers00

I was 31 and I cried.

I was 31 and I cried.

- MBFlyerfan

I was gonna post the same thing LOL, but I was 26..

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Clarke and Childhood Sports Heroes
- bmeltzer

My sports childhood hero growing up was Ron Hextall. Happy birthday Mr. Clarke.

All this being said, my childhood sports hero was Don Mattingly.

Hmm i'm trying to think back and I really didn't have one. The Flyers as a whole really. Don't care much about the players, just the logo.

I was 31 and I cried.

- MBFlyerfan

I was 45 and I cried the second it happened through the rest of the first period. I thought he'd die.

I lived in North Jersey in my formative sports years and loved Whitey Ford, who lived in my town. Didn't get to hockey til my teens when we moved to Philly and the Flyers were born about the same time. Clarkie was my first hockey love (no crush, just loved the play and the results).

The Flyers STH Town Hall was last night. Five sessions. Luukko and Tilger, Homer, Lava, Hexy, and Chris Pryor. Have a lot of notes but probably won't have the blog up 'til the weekend. Will post a link in whatever thread is live then.

My first childhood sports hero was Shaquille O'Neal.

I grew up in London, ON in the 80s and 90s so of course Lindros was my first Flyers idol.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Clarke and Childhood Sports Heroes
- bmeltzer

Great write up by the way Bill. What makes it all the more awesome is the fact that you've been able to parlay your love of hockey (especially the Flyers) into a career. Plus, you do one hell of a job at it.

I remember as a kid growing up my dad got me a set up plastic Fisher Price golf clubs (he was a golf pro), but rather than use them as how they were intended to be, I used them as hockey sticks. My goal was the archways in the house.

As I got older, my brother and I played hockey in the garage, he was the goalie. He used old tee shirts as knee pads and the best part, knee high socks balled up as his cup. He also had a baseball glove for his catchers mitt.

We didn't have the money for all the equipment but it didn't stop us from having fun. Kids today don't realize what they're missing sometimes.

G'morning, Bill. Excellent write-up!

I've done the "quick switch" in line of questioning before when interviewing someone I admired as a youth as well--to similar results. (Mine was in academia at a conference, but I share the feeling you felt with BC in the elevator.)

My childhood hero was Mark Recchi. Still one of my favorite all-time players despite my wishes that he would have remained silent in "diagnosing" Max Pacioretty's post-concussion symptoms, as well as his "sour-grapes" interview with the Bruins too many men on the ice in the playoffs.

To me, Recchi was the consummate team-player with a decent two-way game. He was pass-first, but not gun-shy. His work on the boards and in the dirty-areas of the ice--especially as a "smaller" player during the 90s (he was only 5'10" in the era when D-men started to hulk-up) was the epitome of a blue-collar hockey player. In his second stint, I do not think his impact working with Simon Gagne can be taken lightly.

That he was able to play an effective game into his 40's is a testament to his skill and dedication to the game.

I have heard second-hand (but cannot confirm) that Recchi wanted to stay in Philadelphia after his contract expired during his second stint--but then GM Bob Clarke told Recchi that he thought didn't have a role on the team anymore despite Recchi's willingness to take a contract discount. (Of course, I was not privy to the actual conversations, and therefore do not know how much, if any of this, is true.)

If he had stayed, I could see Recchi's number 8 hanging in the rafters. But as it is, I wonder how he is viewed by the Flyers' fans now because of his post-Flyers stints in enemy territory--Pittsburgh and Boston.

Apart from the Doctor Recchi jokes, I have always seen him as a passionate and intelligent player. I wonder if he will can translate those skills into either coaching or an administrative role with a club in the future. The game is better with Recchi--my first "hockey hero."

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Clarke and Childhood Sports Heroes
- bmeltzer

that was a fun read, thanks bill

also, lol at you calling out the guilty cousin by name

I was 31 and I cried.

- MBFlyerfan

My aunt's dad is Stevens butcher now to make it worse. From what I've heard he's a very nice guy, into the farming/hunting life like them. If I ever somehow meet him, there is no way I don't ask about that hit.

My aunt's dad is Stevens butcher now to make it worse. From what I've heard he's a very nice guy, into the farming/hunting life like them. If I ever somehow meet him, there is no way I don't ask about that hit.
- JFlyers00

Don't forget the Kariya hit, either.

Great write up by the way Bill. What makes it all the more awesome is the fact that you've been able to parlay your love of hockey (especially the Flyers) into a career. Plus, you do one hell of a job at it.

I remember as a kid growing up my dad got me a set up plastic Fisher Price golf clubs (he was a golf pro), but rather than use them as how they were intended to be, I used them as hockey sticks. My goal was the archways in the house.

As I got older, my brother and I played hockey in the garage, he was the goalie. He used old tee shirts as knee pads and the best part, knee high socks balled up as his cup. He also had a baseball glove for his catchers mitt.

We didn't have the money for all the equipment but it didn't stop us from having fun. Kids today don't realize what they're missing sometimes.
- hockeylover

Haha--we used to use baseball gloves, Starter jackets, and cereal boxes taped to our legs for goalie pads--those were the days.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Clarke and Childhood Sports Heroes
- bmeltzer

terrific stuff, bill. thanks.

nothing shocking here: i didn't have a true flyers hero until 1982. his professional career was ephemeral, but not a day goes by where i don't think about Pelle Lindbergh.

On many days, I'd play street hockey with my friends right in front of the house or in the back patio with my orange-bladed Bobby Clarke Street Hockey stick with a sturdy wooden shaft and plastic blade. We'd use an orange Mylec street hockey ball or orange Bobby Clarke Street Hockey puck (each sold separately, of course).

We're about the same age, so it doesn't surprise me that Mylec got your money too!

Great post, Bill......

Don't forget the Kariya hit, either.
- Moose_15

and kariya returned to the game and wired an absolute bullet over brodeur's glove. gorgeous goal. sadly, the ducks lost in 7. gee, how surprising.

G'morning, Bill. Excellent write-up!

I've done the "quick switch" in line of questioning before when interviewing someone I admired as a youth as well--to similar results. (Mine was in academia at a conference, but I share the feeling you felt with BC in the elevator.)

My childhood hero was Mark Recchi. Still one of my favorite all-time players despite my wishes that he would have remained silent in "diagnosing" Max Pacioretty's post-concussion symptoms, as well as his "sour-grapes" interview with the Bruins too many men on the ice in the playoffs.

To me, Recchi was the consummate team-player with a decent two-way game. He was pass-first, but not gun-shy. His work on the boards and in the dirty-areas of the ice--especially as a "smaller" player during the 90s (he was only 5'10" in the era when D-men started to hulk-up) was the epitome of a blue-collar hockey player. In his second stint, I do not think his impact working with Simon Gagne can be taken lightly.

That he was able to play an effective game into his 40's is a testament to his skill and dedication to the game.

I have heard second-hand (but cannot confirm) that Recchi wanted to stay in Philadelphia after his contract expired during his second stint--but then GM Bob Clarke told Recchi that he thought didn't have a role on the team anymore despite Recchi's willingness to take a contract discount. (Of course, I was not privy to the actual conversations, and therefore do not know how much, if any of this, is true.)

If he had stayed, I could see Recchi's number 8 hanging in the rafters. But as it is, I wonder how he is viewed by the Flyers' fans now because of his post-Flyers stints in enemy territory--Pittsburgh and Boston.

Apart from the Doctor Recchi jokes, I have always seen him as a passionate and intelligent player. I wonder if he will can translate those skills into either coaching or an administrative role with a club in the future. The game is better with Recchi--my first "hockey hero."
- Moose_15

I really liked Recchi and wanted to see him finish up here. I think he was as important to Simon Gagne's development as anyone.

I was 31 and I cried.

- MBFlyerfan

i was 28 and i think i broke something.