RIP Mr. Hockey

http://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/hockey-legend-gordie-howe-dies-at-age-88 Gordie Howe is gone....

I got to see him play for the Whalers a few times as his career was winding down. He was such a presence, when he went out onto the ice, he just elevated the whole atmosphere around him.

the sport has had few greater players and no greater ambassador.

No! Say it isn't so. What a gentleman he was.

Still the greatest off all time, for my money. And an even better human being. Sad day in the Motor City today.

I saw this a couple of years ago.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/wayne-gretzky-recalls-special-moments-with-mr-hockey-gordie-howe-1.2948439

Hockey is a brutal sport, yet Gordy lasted a LOONNGG time. We have seen way too many retired pro sports guys die too young, 40's, 50's, that to see him make it to 88 is another testament to how tough he really was.

In reply to cwh: Yup, back when hockey was brutal. Godspeed Gordie.

I hate the Redwings, but I love Gordie Howe.

I really should have started that celebrity death pool back in January when I thought about it. No one would have guessed we'd be losing so many people on a monthly basis.

Kimbo Slice 2 days ago, now Gordie Howe? This is getting crazy this year. Why can't any of the celebs I WANT to see dead kick the bucket already instead of so many greats that actually did important things with their lives? Like, the Kardashian family jet can't hit a mountain already?

Even as a born and bred penguins fan, this is a hard hit to take.

revrico wrote: , the Kardashian family jet can't hit a mountain already?

please... joined with a couple privately owned campaigner jets

He's very fortunate to even make it to the age of 88 considering the aggressive nature of his sport but w/ having two strokes and advanced dementia it is not the quality of life such an accomplished man could relish in his remaining years.

What a life.

And compared to modern pro athletes, I don't think he made the big dough $$$ like even mediocre players make now. His career spanned almost 40 years-right after WW2 to around 1980 or so? Sorry don't have time now for exact years but dang that's a long time. Living to 88 going through a life time of near physical torture that pro hockey (at the level he played at) is, is truly amazing.