Gentleman Johnny Bower

[nicknock-2013]

Great story Mike. They do seem to be some of the most unpretentious athletes you'd ever want to meet. Humble and fan friendly. Let's hope it stays that way. Believe it or not Billy Martin was a great guy towards fans too. Grew up in the Bronx and spent many many days at Yankee Stadium. He was managing the Yanks I think it was '77. Not good with dates, but me and a few of the boys had great seats behind the plate one night. Steinbrenner and Billy were having a contract dispute at the time. One of the guys made a sign that read; Hey Steinblubber give Billy what he wants. Martin saw it from the dugout, heard us yelling it throughout the game. Several times during the game he came up to the top step of the dugout monitoring to us to quiet down. We were about 12 beers into the game each so that wasn't going to happen. Anyway the game ends. We're hanging around the stadium long after the game. We had purchased a couple of six packs from a local bodega. We never expected what happened next. Billy comes out the press gate and heads to his Lincoln town car, license plate NY 1. He sees us, we see him and he waves us over. We spent the next hour in the vacant players parking lot while Billy shared a couple of beers with us leaning up against his town car. Just chatted the hour away about normal stuff. We didn't ask for autographs, we were all kind of drunk and shocked but he made our summers. But, I digress, this is a hockey forum. Hope I don't get time in the Chateau Bow Wow for telling this story.


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[irv]

Originally Posted by Hot Springs Bathers

Neil- That is a great story, I too am sorry for your loss.

The stories of the hockey guys being nice are fun. Growing up in the south I had limited access to the game after CBS stopped showing games back in the late 1960's.

Everything I read is that they are easily the nicest of the major sports. I think I have posted this before but the only two hockey players I have ever met are Bobby and Brett Hull. Back in the 60's my Dad was our airport manager and he called home one day for my Mom to bring to the airport. After arriving Dad said he had a surprise for me, in a few minutes a cab pulled up and out stepped Bobby Hull. He came here monthly to visit a doctor who had pioneered hair plugs! He shook my hand and we talked hockey for a few minutes before he climbed into a Beechcraft Baron and left.

In the Fall of 1998 I was excited to find that the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators were playing a game in Little Rock so a friend and I headed over. After arriving my buddy went to get us some beers, he soon waved for me to come down with him. He asked if I knew what the players looked like out of uniform and I responded that I might recognize the stars. He led me to the hall where we found Brett Hull leaning up against the wall. We walked over and said hello, he could not have been friendlier. He asked us if "we wanted to meet the boys." We said sure and he took us into the Stars locker room and introduced us to several players. All were very cordial. Later as the teams warmed up we saw Brett come out in street clothes and point up to us. He led about a dozen players and GM Bob Gainey up to our seats. We were told the ice was questionable in the old 1930's stock yard arena and they were sitting most of the older players. We spent the game chatting with them and could not have been more impressed.

On the drive home we kept asking each other if players in other sports would have been that nice. Just a great experience.

Originally Posted by nicknock-2013

Great story Mike. They do seem to be some of the most unpretentious athletes you'd ever want to meet. Humble and fan friendly. Let's hope it stays that way. Believe it or not Billy Martin was a great guy towards fans too. Grew up in the Bronx and spent many many days at Yankee Stadium. He was managing the Yanks I think it was '77. Not good with dates, but me and a few of the boys had great seats behind the plate one night. Steinbrenner and Billy were having a contract dispute at the time. One of the guys made a sign that read; Hey Steinblubber give Billy what he wants. Martin saw it from the dugout, heard us yelling it throughout the game. Several times during the game he came up to the top step of the dugout monitoring to us to quiet down. We were about 12 beers into the game each so that wasn't going to happen. Anyway the game ends. We're hanging around the stadium long after the game. We had purchased a couple of six packs from a local bodega. We never expected what happened next. Billy comes out the press gate and heads to his Lincoln town car, license plate NY 1. He sees us, we see him and he waves us over. We spent the next hour in the vacant players parking lot while Billy shared a couple of beers with us leaning up against his town car. Just chatted the hour away about normal stuff. We didn't ask for autographs, we were all kind of drunk and shocked but he made our summers. But, I digress, this is a hockey forum. Hope I don't get time in the Chateau Bow Wow for telling this story.


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Both great stories, guys. Thanks for sharing them!

My thoughts are, just like real life, you are going to find a-holes and you're going to find great people, in all walks of life.
I know with the NHL, appearance, your behaviour, all those things are very important to not only the team you play for but the NHL as a whole too.

A young kid, who is the nephew of a friend at work, (Ty Dellandrea) who currently plays for the Flint Firebirds of the OHL (Michigan) couldn't believe the info they had on him before he was drafted. His parents were also shocked.
Thing is, unbenounced to him or his parents, he had been watched/scouted for years. They had everything on him, things from FaceBook, snapchat, twitter, Sony on-line activity, schools, you name it. They told him he was well behaved, and if he hadn't of been, he might not be here right now.

Jeff, my friend, said it was a real eye opener for everyone, especially, Ty, but it goes to show you, being mannerly, polite and staying out of trouble, is very important.
Not bad pts for a rookie, and just 16 yrs of age. http://flintfirebirds.com/players/7400 He played for the Whitby Fury AAA team and was an excellent player. If he continues on this path, I have no doubt he'll be in the NHL some day.