One of thr greatest things about Bobby Orr beside being a fantastic defenseman with incredible skills I believe ke skated in bare feet. Hockey stick had on small piece of tape on the blade. Unbeliwvable skater. play maker etc etc.
VERY true, on all points. I'm from Boston, and years ago while in college I was working the 4-12 shift at a condo complex front desk, and an older guy started working there. Turns out he was also a BIG hockey fan, and we started talking about the "Big Bad Bruins" team that Orr had led. I have a framed "Flying Bobby" photo, and I said to the guy how cool it would be if Bobby Orr could sign it (never thinking that would happen), and the guy then told me he was friends with Bobby, and he could get him to sign it. I was a bit cynical, but sure enough, about a week after I brought in the photo, the guy I worked with brought it back with Orr's signature, addressed to me. But Bobby has always been EXTREMELY generous and charitable. That's just who he was/is. As great a hockey player as he was, he's even a greater person. One of the nicest, most humble human beings God ever put on this planet.
I had the great fortune of being able to see most of Orr's games live and numerous practices at the old Garden.There will never be another Robert Gordon Orr.
Always happy, always smiling and laughing. Is THE Greatest hockey player Ever. Changed the game more than Gretzky, owned Both ends of the ice and would throw punches and deliver some awesome hits, too. The reason I wore #4 through college and still do in beer league hockey. Damn, he was good. And yes, Anthony, I'm jealous of his hair! Thanks for posting this.
The HAIR!?! If you follow hockey you should notice that almost ALL the old guys from every era have full heads of hair and look 20 years younger at 70 80 or more! They are the best all round team sport athletes in the world...BY FAR!
I own a copy of "Orr: My Story". A good read and served to re-enforce all the respect and admiration I hold for Bobby Orr. I too wish he'd played a full length career. Imagine! Too bad he did have the great medical technology available to him that we do now. I have a replacement hip and knee and they perform just like natural joints. What a shame, the technology come too late to extend his career but it has certainly keep him from being a cripple in his post hockey years. Good luck to you Bobby. You're the best. A great man and a hockey great.
Thanks Bobby for everything, what an experience to see you play at the garden and to have you represent our team. You were like family for so many of us.
You should have seen the crowds that showed up to watch Bobby Orr & the Bruins practice. You could have sold tickets & made a great $ living. How good was he ? in one single season he won the scoring title, best defenseman title, League MVP, Stanley Cup MVP, Plus / Minus Leader & to put a cherry on top of that Sundae- he scored the OT goal to win the Cup. All in one year. Oh- his scoring title in 1970, he was the only NHL Player with over 100 points. You simply had to be there.
The greatest defense with 279 goals in only a ten year period. That was just a flash of his youth. I sure would like to know more about Bobby Orr and what he did after the age of 30. Johnny, Montréal, Canada!
Been watching some of his tubeclips lately, and i think Bobby is a class act, through, and through. Maybe there is a reason he is considered one of the greats.
Agree. And after watching, oh, about six clips from Bobby, all from his Orr: My Life book tour, it's also obvious: only Jian Gomeshi was able to take the interview deeper than just the obvious, book-jacket fodder; only Jian was able to get Bobby off the standard answers to explore the man beneath.
I can tell you being from Boston, with arguably the most greatest-of-the-greats of any sports city in the world, no one combined being THE greatest player AND human being like Bobby Orr. Not Ted Williams, Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Tom Brady, etc. Bobby's still revered in a God-like way among Boston-area residents, and it's hard to believe he's 70. I mentioned his age because while I hope he lives to an old (and relatively healthy) age, the day Bobby passes on, there will be a LOT of Bruins fans crying that day...and for days after. He is still that special in The Hub.
He was lucky to have guys like Derek and Phil to run screens for him with the media. That's the mark of a good team and good teammates. His teams were great, great teams. They had more firepower than the US Navy.
It was a fantastic interview that captures the true humility of Bobby Orr. Jian was brilliant as a conversational interviewer it goes without saying the scandal that ended Jian Ghomeshi career was a loss for everyone touched by the events.
The greatest of all time. Too bad Leaf management over looked him when he was a 13 years old playing with 17 and 18 year old's. Wren Blair found him for the Bruins and thus revived Bruin hockey in the mid 60's to mid 70's. Saw him play at Maple Leaf Gardens and there was no one who could skate with him.
Sometimes I think what if Orr, (and the likes of Hull, Howe, Lafluer, ect) had the type of equipment they have today then??? Also the surgical techniques. And who are the 4 IDIOTS who gave this a thumbs down??
The best that ever played the game and I am a Montreal Canadiens fan. In the 1972 series against the Soviets, Bobby did not play due to an injured knee. I truly believe that had he played , we would have lost only the first game in Montreal (7-3) , and he would have made us win the last seven games. He was the fastest hockey skater in the world, you can ask Yvon Cournayer , who the soviets nicknamed "THE TRAIN" ... and he would confirm this. The puck was his, once he got it , nobody could take it from him without being penalized . In this 8 game Soviet series, he would have played 35 minutes a game and would have made a huge difference on the Moscow ice surface ( 205 feet by 100 feet wide ). He had a sixth sense and six gears. The best player on the ice ever. Jean Beliveau the best hockey leader ever. Go habs Go.
1111pyramids1111 hull was the faster skater The soviets thought the footage of hull was sped up and were amazed to find out it was not. But yes Orr has no peer
You and I have the same sentiment about 72 . I believe Orr was the best and I get a lot of flack from alot of people when I say Beliveau was 2nd ahead of grezty,Howe and Mario, I feel vintigated to see someone who saw the game as I did By the way I'm a leaf fan old enough to remember the Leafs George Armstrong hoisting'er up in 67
Best ever. Saw him Play. It was like he was playing with children. .. plus 3 Norris trophies. . And. 22 years old. .. took on. All the goons. .. and there is a longlist . Of . Goons. . . The book is great.i have it. . He also. Saved Derek Sanderson. . .
YES TO ALL POINTS! Bobby had no problem dishing it out with anyone! He wasn't the pretty boy who let his teammates fight for him..tho they all would in a second!
Jian is a loathsome individual, with the way he mistreated women; however, by contrast, Bobby Orr is a superb human being. There are very few people like Orr (amazing hockey skills aside); and I'm fortunate enough to be able to call someone like that my best friend.
The books a great read and most of what Orr says about the kids is true but I feel it will fall on deaf ears. Many parents go overboard if their kid show any aptitude in a sport. Too much pressure on a youngster and drive the love of the game right out of them. The game has gotten too fast and taking away the 2 line pass rule (it use to be called off-sides) and punching the blue lines towards center ice has taken a lot of the skill-game out of hockey.
We warned you that smoking all that weed it would fry your brain. You would turn into a useless blob in mommy's basement yelling for munchies. Did you listen ? You did not.
