Uniblab 12 Report post Posted June 10, 2009 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/mr-h...article1175365/ Mr. Hockey is hurting. Gordie Howe's wife, Colleen, died three months ago and life hasn't got any easier for the Hockey Hall of Famer. “You can think you're a big, strong guy, but if something like that happens, it makes you as weak as a kitten,†Howe said Tuesday. “I watched her when she choked, put her head back and went. That was hard to take.†Howe, 81, planned to be in Connecticut on Tuesday night with his son, Marty, to watch his beloved Detroit Red Wings play at Pittsburgh in Game 6 needing a win to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. “We're trying to keep dad occupied,†said Mark Howe, director of pro scouting for the Red Wings. “He's great when he's with people — family or strangers. “But if no one is around him, he says, ‘It's pretty lonely.' Especially at night, it's been pretty difficult for him.†It wasn't easy for Howe when his wife was living with Pick's disease, a degenerative brain disorder that causes dementia. She died at home in March at 76. “Mom couldn't speak at all for the last 3 1/2 years,†Mark Howe said. “The last two years, she was confined to a wheelchair or bed at home — where dad wanted to keep her — and was in bad shape after dealing with the disease for at least 10 years. “It was really hard on dad because he was alone with her when the caregivers left at eight at night until they came back at eight in the morning.†Before the disease took hold, Colleen Howe lived a full life. The woman known as Mrs. Hockey was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000. “Somebody recognized her abilities,†Gordie Howe said. She founded the Detroit Junior Red Wings, the U.S.'s first junior hockey team, and developed the first indoor ice arena, “Gordie Howe Hockeyland,†in the Detroit suburb of St. Clair Shores. “We could ill-afford that rink,†Gordie Howe said. “But she wanted to give a lot of kids the chance to play and she did.†She was one of the first female sports agents and discovered in 1973 that the upstart WHA allowed players under age 20 while the NHL did not. That cleared the way for her husband to play with sons Mark and Marty and gave young stars such as Wayne Gretzky an earlier opportunity to play professionally. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Colleen Howe was a “formidable woman, the wife and partner of our iconic player, the matriarch of a remarkable hockey family.†Mr. Hockey is a living legend in Detroit and the Red Wings don't take it for granted that he still pops in the dressing room to say hello. Howe scored 801 goals, a total only Gretzky topped, and led the Red Wings to four Stanley Cups from 1950-1955. He won the Hart Trophy six times as NHL MVP and was a 21-time all-star. He played in Detroit from 1946-71 and came back to the league with Hartford during the 1979-80 season and the 51-year-old forward had 41 points. “It's special whenever he's around,†said Red Wings forward Kris Draper, who joined the storied franchise in 1993. “Lately, we've been seeing him more. “It's pretty neat when you see him and Ted Lindsay and think about what they did in the 1950s is what we're doing today.†Draper's seven-year-old son might keep the tradition going after a recent talk with Howe. “He said to Gordie, ‘Why did you want to be a hockey player?' †Draper recalled. “And Gordie said, ‘I loved it when I was a kid and when I was playing, and I still love it. “And my son said, ‘Mr. Howe, I love it, too.' How awesome is it that a seven-year-old boy can go up to Mr. Hockey and have a chat like that?†Howe doesn't freely engage in conversations as much as he did before his wife died, but he still makes time for people who want to talk — even if he makes them work for it. “Got a minute?†a reporter asked him Saturday night. “No, maybe in 30 minutes,†Howe replied. “OK,†the reporter said, walking way. “Hey I was just kidding,†Howe said. “He can still turn it on,†Mark Howe said. “It's natural.†Howe marvels at how much better the league has become with the influx of European players instead of just relying on North Americans. “I'm goofy crazy about this sport called hockey,†he said. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Psychlone 0 Report post Posted June 10, 2009 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/mr-h...article1175365/ Mr. Hockey is hurting. Gordie Howe's wife, Colleen, died three months ago and life hasn't got any easier for the Hockey Hall of Famer. “You can think you're a big, strong guy, but if something like that happens, it makes you as weak as a kitten,†Howe said Tuesday. “I watched her when she choked, put her head back and went. That was hard to take.†Howe, 81, planned to be in Connecticut on Tuesday night with his son, Marty, to watch his beloved Detroit Red Wings play at Pittsburgh in Game 6 needing a win to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. “We're trying to keep dad occupied,†said Mark Howe, director of pro scouting for the Red Wings. “He's great when he's with people — family or strangers. “But if no one is around him, he says, ‘It's pretty lonely.' Especially at night, it's been pretty difficult for him.†It wasn't easy for Howe when his wife was living with Pick's disease, a degenerative brain disorder that causes dementia. She died at home in March at 76. “Mom couldn't speak at all for the last 3 1/2 years,†Mark Howe said. “The last two years, she was confined to a wheelchair or bed at home — where dad wanted to keep her — and was in bad shape after dealing with the disease for at least 10 years. “It was really hard on dad because he was alone with her when the caregivers left at eight at night until they came back at eight in the morning.†Before the disease took hold, Colleen Howe lived a full life. The woman known as Mrs. Hockey was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000. “Somebody recognized her abilities,†Gordie Howe said. She founded the Detroit Junior Red Wings, the U.S.'s first junior hockey team, and developed the first indoor ice arena, “Gordie Howe Hockeyland,†in the Detroit suburb of St. Clair Shores. “We could ill-afford that rink,†Gordie Howe said. “But she wanted to give a lot of kids the chance to play and she did.†She was one of the first female sports agents and discovered in 1973 that the upstart WHA allowed players under age 20 while the NHL did not. That cleared the way for her husband to play with sons Mark and Marty and gave young stars such as Wayne Gretzky an earlier opportunity to play professionally. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Colleen Howe was a “formidable woman, the wife and partner of our iconic player, the matriarch of a remarkable hockey family.†Mr. Hockey is a living legend in Detroit and the Red Wings don't take it for granted that he still pops in the dressing room to say hello. Howe scored 801 goals, a total only Gretzky topped, and led the Red Wings to four Stanley Cups from 1950-1955. He won the Hart Trophy six times as NHL MVP and was a 21-time all-star. He played in Detroit from 1946-71 and came back to the league with Hartford during the 1979-80 season and the 51-year-old forward had 41 points. “It's special whenever he's around,†said Red Wings forward Kris Draper, who joined the storied franchise in 1993. “Lately, we've been seeing him more. “It's pretty neat when you see him and Ted Lindsay and think about what they did in the 1950s is what we're doing today.†Draper's seven-year-old son might keep the tradition going after a recent talk with Howe. “He said to Gordie, ‘Why did you want to be a hockey player?' †Draper recalled. “And Gordie said, ‘I loved it when I was a kid and when I was playing, and I still love it. “And my son said, ‘Mr. Howe, I love it, too.' How awesome is it that a seven-year-old boy can go up to Mr. Hockey and have a chat like that?†Howe doesn't freely engage in conversations as much as he did before his wife died, but he still makes time for people who want to talk — even if he makes them work for it. “Got a minute?†a reporter asked him Saturday night. “No, maybe in 30 minutes,†Howe replied. “OK,†the reporter said, walking way. “Hey I was just kidding,†Howe said. “He can still turn it on,†Mark Howe said. “It's natural.†Howe marvels at how much better the league has become with the influx of European players instead of just relying on North Americans. “I'm goofy crazy about this sport called hockey,†he said. Seems like he has some great family support which is good to see. Props to Mr. Hockey, there's nothing like a Gordie Howe hat trick . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted June 10, 2009 such a class act and amazing man... it saddens me to think of what he's going through Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingslogo19 281 Report post Posted June 10, 2009 Class= Mr. Hockey Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zata20 4 Report post Posted June 10, 2009 Win the Cup for Gordie! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casey 145 Report post Posted June 10, 2009 Win the Cup for Gordie! Seriously. This may be his last. Win it for the MAN! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tsudzy 2 Report post Posted June 10, 2009 He can hang out at my house! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,207 Report post Posted June 10, 2009 I want to give that guy a hug. He should lace 'em up on Friday and hoist the Cup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catbox_9 1 Report post Posted June 10, 2009 Let's win a cup for Mrs. Hockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Electrophile 3,554 Report post Posted June 10, 2009 Wouldn't it be amazing if we win Friday night and Gordie Howe skates out there? Holy s***, the damn building would collapse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdinc 45 Report post Posted June 11, 2009 Hang in the Gordie Win it for Mr. Hockey! :octo: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheUkrainian 49 Report post Posted June 11, 2009 Can we all email the Wings brass and tell em to have Gordie in the locker room and have him come out if we win? That would be the best cup celebration I've ever seen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shanny is the man 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2009 I met Mrs. Howe and Gordie when they came to Lakeview Square Mall in Battle Creek back in '93. I was working as a stringer with the BC Enquirer and they sent me to cover an autograph session. I met with them in the mall offices to interview them and the affection between the two of them was evident. Two of the kindest, most sincere people I've ever met. I'll never forget that day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BowHuntingFool 0 Report post Posted June 11, 2009 Much love Gordie! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EuroTwin 240 Report post Posted June 11, 2009 Oh, my heart breaks for him. <3 Gordie. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MississippiWing 14 Report post Posted June 11, 2009 If anyone sees his at game 7, I know that we all have massive respect for Gordie but show him some extra love. Tell him how much you appreciate him being there and all he's done for the city, the team, and hockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites