Now this is an interesting story: the Hockey Hall of Fame understandably wants the hockey stick Mike Green used in Tampa this past Saturday to set an NHL record for the most consecutive games by a defenseman scoring a goal, but Greener ain’t parting with it. That, too, is understandable. Think about the Green family back in Alberta being able to add that to the family trophy room collection.
“I can’t part with that one,” Green told the Associated Press Tuesday afternoon.
“They wanted it right after the game, and I wasn’t going to give it up.”
Green’s stick was special beyond the player’s feat with it — it lasted an unheard-of 10 games without breaking. And every goal he scored during his record-setting streak was with the stick.
“That one felt the best I’ve ever used,” Green said. “It just comes off
the blade good. You don’t have to look down. It’s a good feel.”
I guess so. But this story raises for me an interesting if mild dilemma. An athlete who secures an extraordinary record would justifiably stake a claim to his feat-accomplishing bat or racket or stick; indeed, baseballers (even the juiced-up ones) go to great lengths to secure special home run balls that fall into stranger fans’ hands. And yet, Green’s stick indisputably would be a special addition to the Hall collection in Toronto.
Remember how the Hall wanted the entire uniform for Wayne Gretzky from his final NHL game in 1999? One of the things I liked best from that story was learning that Gretzky had ordered sticks enough for every Rangers’ teammate, and signed them.
If you were Mike Green, what would you do with that special stick?
12 Comments
i’ve gotta tell ya, if i were green, i would keep that stick in a locked glass case and never give it away- a special part of hockey history, to be sure, but probably one of the happiest moments of green’s life. you don’t wanna give that away.
Score some more goals with it, lead the Caps to a Cup and then have it sent on a worldwide tour of the Middle East to promote peace.
Oh and then give it to the hall.
I’d give it to Big Dave… and when Big Dave was done with it, the Hall could have it.
Notice that it’s not an entirely selfish motive – he was thinking about how he can score more goals with that stick
But I agree with Muddapucker — keep the puck if you can, and give the stick to dad, and dad can decide whether to give the implement of his son’s magical achievement to the Hall.
To me, you never “give it away,” because father and son, children, etc, can always visit the Hall to see it. And see it properly memorialized in the way that only the HoF can do it.
He can do whatever he wants with it. It’s his stick. I notice you didn’t mention this bit of blasphemy from the notes at the bottom of the article:
“Boudreau, who appeared as an extra in ‚ÄúSlap Shot,‚Äù was happy to learn that a studio is planning a remake of the 1977 classic hockey movie.” I almost barfed.
Gee thanks, Victor, my day is now ruined. Actually a remake couldn’t be worse than “Slap Shot 2″ was, but it’s still an awful thought.
Filmaking seems uniquely the art form that insists on “remaking” classics. No one feels compelled to rewrite ‘The Old Man and the Sea,’ or “re-paint” the Mona Lisa. For good reason.
Sigh.
I would give it to the Hall.
Pepper is right. If it’s in the Hall it isn’t “gone.” It’s forever immortalized in there and it will be kept safe.
You have to include music, P&B. Lots of people think they can re-interpret classics, like Michael Bolton and “The Girl From Ipanema,” for example.
The key info here is that Mike Green is actually *still* using that stick… maybe if he goes a few games without scoring, he can give it up then. But why give it up now? It’s not like a homerun baseball, which will never be used again.
Donnie is right — since it’s still in good shape, Greener should keep the stick until it breaks. Then the Hall can glue it back together and stick it in a trophy case.
I agree with ANon, Donnie, and Mike Rucki, there’s probably still some goals left in that twig, especially in Green’s hands. Keep burying the biscuit with it, ’till it fails! All hail the Mean Green Machine!
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