I love how embarrassed Bobby still gets when he's introduced. I don't think he every truly believed how great he really was. The classiest, most humble athlete I have ever known. And I had the privilege, no....the honor, of seeing him play. God truly blessed me as a sports fan to live in Boston and to witness some of the great sports moments I've lived thru. This truly is some place. Farewell to the greatest sports carhedral I have ever known. I still get teary eyed when I see Raymond Bourque helping Normand Leveille skate around the ok'd Garden....or should I pronounce it correctly.... The old Gaahhden ice for the final skate. I think I even miss the rats.
"And our next guest is the greatest player in the history of the National Hockey League" Wow! I got goosebumps hearing Fred Cusick say that. How fortunate I was to see him play. Incredible memories.
As a United States Marine grunt. been around most of the world. Other than being alongside my brother Marines the Boston Garden was my favorite place to be. The rush feeling inside you would get watching Bobby Orr swing around his net for one of his end to end.
The best applause was the night they retired his number... Non-stop applause. Could not get the fans to stop applauding to start the ceremony. Truly legendary applause for a legendary player.
Grew up in Northern New Hampshire and lucky enough to catch a few games at the Garden. Like Fenway Park, walking through the concourses, etc and then seeing the ice, seats, banners, the monster, field, seats, etc what a feeling. And man could the Garden get loud. Bobby Orr was the best ever to play but always a humble generous gentleman. The Bruins alumni bowing when he was introduced was just so awesome.
Bobby Orr only played 10 years because of bad knees......He totally reinvented the defenseman position and really took the game into the modern era......A one man wrecking crew!......I truly believe he is the greatest player....and I've been a Ranger fan for over 50 years!!!!
This was a great ceremony: no laser beams, no pyrotechnics. Just class all the way. If you don't get get goosebumps when Bobby Orr is introduced, you are not a hockey fan.
Btw....THAT'S how humble Bobby Orr was. Boston Garden? Best Ever Player?....no. My mother is here and THAT'S why it's a special night. :) #greatestever
Anybody who ever saw him play knows it's still true even all these years later. I believe Ken Dryden stated it best a few years after Orr retired. "He left no heirs," Dryden wrote.
I met Bobby at Blunt Park in Springfield Mass. when I was playing Hockey as a kid. He was my Idol growing up......the GREATEST hockey player EVER. I LOVED watching Wayne BUT.......put Orr at CENTER with Glen Anderson and Jarri Kuri as his wingers....with the modern equipment....modern surgery.... and Bobby would have scored 150 goals a season. The greatest PURE SKATER EVER!!!
Dryden and Shero knew how to stop him..Silliest thing ever labeling this guy the greatest of all time..He wouldn't have trouble scoring 10 goals in todays NHL
Bobby Orr, Dale Earnhardt Sr, Joe Montana, etc., the greatest at what they do are rarely say they are the best at what they do. Bpbby's humility was fully evident.
The old Gahden had such an aura about it. The place was just magical. The minute you walked into that building you just knew you were some place special. The Bruins 1929 Stanley Cup banner hanging up in the rafters was amazing to look at. And all the retired numbers of Bruins legends; Not to mention the all Celtics World Championship banners and Celtic legends. I could not get the smile off my face whild watching this video. Thanks for posting!
@Lava1964 You can't really tell by the video, but the crowd was so loud when Fred Cusick was listing Bobby's accomplishments that you could barely hear him. It remains the loudest ovation I've ever heard when he walked out - more than a rock concert. What they call the Garden today will never allow the crowd to give a home-ice advantage like the old building.
I was there that night. Got the stub to prove it. I teared up when Raymond Bourque came out with Normand Leveille. A bright prospect who's career was cut short. Kinda like Bobby's. But this was a truly iconic night in Boston. Never to be forgotten. As I drove past the shell of the ok'd barn in later days, you could see into the building during it's tearing down. A local sports writer (I think it was Dan shaunessey of the globe) referred to it as peering into the soul of a dead body. You could feel the ghosts and the leprechauns of the greatest sorts venue of all time. Rivalled only by possibly the old Chicago stadium. I'll throw the Forum in for honorable mention.
Thanks for pointing this out to us. Yes, you are correct, it was a very classy gesture on Bourque's part. Lucky for us Hockey Fans our sport has a lot of classy yet humble Players, both past and present.
Profiles in Hockey said it best; "Some players aspire to greatness but Bobby Orr was born great." As Bobby Hull said to his teamates who asked how to stop Bobby Orr, "just give Orr his own puck and we'll take ours and play at the other end" Orr was a threat to score from anywhere on the ice at any time. Orest Kindrachuk of Philadelphia Flyers said to me "Fred Shero" told us to hit his (Bobby's) knees". We felt bad about it later, but we had to do it to have a chance of winning the cup".
Bobby Orr was a very talented hockey player. Many people were expecting to see him in the 1972 in the NHL-USSR tournament. Unfortunately it didn't happen. A lot of injuries didn't let him to do it. He is such a handsome. I think it's Good blessed day 🙏 in this video.
IMAGINE, JUST TRY TO IMAGINE ... Gretzky playing on a bad knee. Playing defense. Fighting. Not having goons protect him. Blocking shots. And trying to move the puck the whole length of the ice ... --->>> WITH A BAD KNEE ! End of story... NOW LET'S IMAGINE BOBBY ORR WITH 2 PERFECT KNEES... playing offense. Hanging at the blue line. Not back checking. Playing 20 years. Do you think he would own the scoring title? Ya think?
I own the exact away jersey for Bobby Orr without the name on the back. A while back, I had a "serious" hockey fan say to me "Wow, that Bruin jersey is retro, whose number is that?" I asked how hold he was, and he told me "28." Sorry, a "serious" hockey fan does not get a pass on that one!
Jacobs asked him if it was okay to trade him to a team that had a great chance at winning a Cup. Jacobs knew it was time for a rebuild. Bourque said he would approve the trade and that's why he won the Cup. Jacobs had Bourques best interest in his heart.
Gretzky says Orr is the GOAT, even saying he was the fastest skater ever. Orr is the only player ever to do every skill at top speed. The GOAT, and it’s not even close.
ITA others were amazing, BUT Orr revolutionized an entire sport! (And to this day, no one has been able to do it as well as he did). PS this is from a die-hard Pats fan
Ellen W Now I know and can impress my nephew (15) who tells me to catch up, heck I already know LOL, BBL, TTYL. As for your Pat's if not for the cloud hanging Tom would go down as the greatest QB. Although as a kid Joe Montana was amazing.
Glad to help. As for TB12, anyone with half a brain already KNOWS he is the greatest QB to ever play the game PERIOD. Even if you believe that deflated nonsense, the fact is he scored the bulk of the points AFTER the balls were replaced. Then factor in that the opposing teams balls were also deflated (due to weather), 2 gauges that varied used, and many more factors & I am certain at some point, when jealousy ends, history will support his earned greatness!
Regardless of what Tom Brady ever did here or any one else before of after No one will ever come to Bobby Orr means to this tow. SIMPLY THE BEST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well maybe he should have, would have had a longer career. Gretzky had a few fights early in he's career got he's butt whipped so Glen Sather got two guys to protect him and that got the Oilers 4 cups not bad what did the Bruins get 2! With Orr. Now imagine if Orr played with the Canadiens in the 1970's wow that would have him at least 6 maybe 10 cups easy.
