The Reason Books Rule

I was moved to tears yesterday.
No kidding – as I am prone to do in blogs. No exaggerating – as I am also prone to do. No making up part of this or changing details so it reads better.
Just tears.
From reading.
The book: They Don’t Play Hockey In Heaven.
The story: A 250 page autobiography of a 31 year old man trying to revive his professional hockey dreams after 9 years and removal of a brain tumor. (The brain tumor is its own story chronicled in Man Made, which I will be searching for in used book stores.)
Ken Baker wasn’t just some hack former player, he was the winning goalie on the US Under 17 world championship youth hockey team. World Championship.
He was on track to be on the ‘92 Olympic team, former teammates with Mike Modano. Baker thought he just lost the desire to play, or lacked the commitment to stay in shape, but unknown to anyone, the brain tumor sapped his testosterone. Life unexpectedly stole his dreams.
In later years, the tumor was discovered, treated and a dream – an actual sleeping dream – inspired him to play gain. First in afternoon pickup games and adult league fun games, and then he tried out for AA hockey
To Ken Baker, it didn’t matter. He just wanted a shot at being paid to play hockey, so he left his successful writing career, his new marriage and his home, and moved to Bakersfield, California.
AA hockey. Two steps below the NHL. Rarely do players make the transition. Think Wheeling Nailers. Think long bus rides, long hours, #3 goalie, with practically no practice time, 32 years old by this time, without knowing if he would ever get into a game. $50 a week, as an emergency goalie.
He was determined to do it. Dedicated to the dream. It was real life. Inspirational.
And when he finally got into a game – the last two minutes with a 7-2 lead – and made a save, the crowd went wild. (they knew his story) and I broke down. Perhaps I was tired from reading for 5 straight hours for the second day in a row.
Perhaps Ken Baker is that great.
Either way, I was moved.
Later he played a whole game. He won. I was moved to tears again.
He retired after that one season, but he’d made it.
Live the dream.

Peace
Larry

Pens vs Flyers: threats, fan(atic)s and accusations of tanking

Wow. People (supposedly normal people) posting on the internet while waiting for the Pens-Flyers series to start are angry. And rabid - not in a good way.
Internet discussions are pretty much focused on petty name calling and accusations about players, fans and whole cities sexuality, manhood, and general superiority compared to their fans, players and city.
Can I get an intelligent conversation about hockey?
Or do the sites only let posters on who also tip cars and burn couches after major and minor victories.
Here’s my predictions for the series:
Both teams’ fans will complain about officiating – even when they win.
All Flyers fans will say Sidney Crosby dives, and Pens fans will say the Flyers are goons.
Crosby will be booed in Philly and Hatcher will be booed in Pittsburgh.
Whoever loses will blame it on officiating first, unlucky bounces second and underachieving third. Neither will admit the other team was better.
Oh, yea, and in the midst of this complaining a great series of hockey will take place, between two teams with great skill, grit and passion.
And if I hear one more comment about how the Pens 'tanked' their season finale against the Flyers so they didn't have to play the Flyers I think I'll scream. It was bad enough that the Senators tried to use this tactic to motivate their team, but now Philly is using it?
Hello Philly fans, if you really think the Pens tanked that game, you'd better be really worried, because your team barely won. An empty netter? Against a team bent on tanking the game? One goal against a team determined to lose?
If that's all the better the Flyers play, they're not going to fair well against that same team going all out.
So to all you internet posters, Shut up, and talk hockey.
Larry (posting on the internet)