One thing for sure is that this was when men were still real men. No helmets, no visors and NO scruffy, shaggy beard. And Gordie is the GOAT and Bobby the GOAT of defensemen.
Every rookie knew Gordie would initiate them into the league with some kind of cheap shot. Esposito's description of his first tangle with GH is hilarious.
Orr wasnt the best defenceman of all time, Robinson, Potvin, Borgue, Lindstrom to name a few.. much better..he played offensive rather than defensive.. rather than passing the puck forward as they did in that time, he skated the puck forward..
Bobby and Gordie had the utmost respect for each other. The way Gordie tells it ( available online), he was retaliating for a cheap shot Bobby took at him earlier. Gordie says first he circled left, then he circled right, and then he went right over top of him. He said that when he flattened Orr ( Orr said he saw little birdies) the Bruin's "bully boys" came after him, but Bobby told them to back off saying, "Gentlemen, I deserved that" That really got Gordie's respect and he said ( I've heard him say it slightly different ways), "if that young man has such great brains as well as such great talent, he'll go far" He also said Orr impressed him more than anyone else with his skill, ( although he had great respect for Belivieau and called him just about perfect). For his part, Orr says Howe was the greatest player that ever lived and probably ever will live. For me, it's Orr, but when Orr, Gretzy and Mario agree it's Howe, ( three of the other modern candidates for greatest of all time), I'm in no position to argue.
I skated with both these gentlemen. Gordie when I was 7 at a Wings practice in 1952. At a Jr. A practice when Bobby was 16 & I was 19. We all said if this is our competition, better start looking for a good day job. Gordie was Bobby's hero growing up.
BUT MR HOCKEY COULD FIGHT, SCORE, & PLAYED WITH HIS 2 SON'S!!!!!!!!!!( HE DIDN'T NEED ANYONE TO PROTECT HIM LIKE THE SO- CALLED GREAT ONE DID??????????( & YES BOBBY ORR WAS THE BEST DEFENSEMAN OF ALL TIME IN MY OPINION!!!!!!!!
People who claim that Gordie was the greatest are all full of shit. He was known for getting away with cheap shots his whole career. In other words….he was a total POS๐ฉ
Butt ending is the most cowardly act you can do. Donโt know why mr hockey had to play like this or why he was so revered for being a cheap shot artist
i was a sports reporter for a number of years and born in 1950.
the reality is that it's unprovable but nice argue about it.
and opinions are like assholes…..everybody has one (or more).
for me howe is 1, orr 1A and gretzky 2. mario might be next but when i mentioned that to a NHL referee who had the longest service when he retired–who'd been quiet when i opined–he blurted out 'beliveau was better than lemieux!'.
howe finished in the top five in scoring 21 consecutive years and if you make it top 10, 22 consecutive years.
retired at 52 after scoring 15 goals and 26 assists.
orr, gretzky and phil esposito who played with orr for years all pick howe.
finally, a guy named scotty bowman winner of the most stanley cups and most regular season coaching wins picked howe as the first player he'd pick if he was starting a team.
i know a little about hockey but i'm not arrogant enough to think i know more than the legends i've mentioned above.
I remember every time the Hawks played Detroit all the cheap shots Howe would take at Hull or Mikita or whacks in the face of Esposito in the netโฆand I couldnโt wait for Magnuson to have a go at Howe! Unfortunately it seemed that not even Keith Magnuson, the Hawks enforcer) could lick Howe. Then Jerry Korab came to Chicago ๐ฎ that guy was BIG and would take anyone down just for daring to cross over the Hawks blue line! Ahhhh, those were the days! I had a small transistor radio Iโd hide in my bed and when Mom closed the door Iโd listen to the games under my pillow as I was going to sleep ๐
Howe was, for a while back in the days, reputed to be the best all around player in the NHL. I personally think he was the filthiest player to ever play the game along Mark Messier. As soon as they put their skates on, both players acted as if their stick was a weapon to be used along with skates to hit the opponent. I'm old enough to have seen both players in action. Orr was a poet on skates and as soon as he had the puck, he controlled the game. Howe and Messier were two idiots from the prairies who made up with both cows and their sisters since there was nothing else to do growing up in the inbreed county.
Google: Bobby Orr talking: โI was about 12. So while we were fishing, Gordie Howe asked me if I wanted to play hockey and I told him I wanted to make it to the NHL and he told me, โWell, if you get there, be careful, watch my elbows.โ โโ
That turned out to be good advice on the night of Oct. 19, 1966.
โEarly in the game, I got my elbow a little high on him,โโ remembered Orr. โA little later, I was watching one of my pretty passes, looking back, and next thing I knew, I was on the ice.
โIโd had my head down, and he hit me pretty good. Gordie had let me know that he was still the man. He was standing over me, glaring down at me.
โA bunch of my teammates skated to my defense and there was a little scrum, but I didnโt want that. I told my guys, โItโs OK, I asked for that. Iโll take care of it myself.โ โโ
Howe was a dirty player known for his cheap shots at opponents. Not sure that the fact that he was an incredibly talented player who had no need to behave that way to succeed in the NHL makes him worse or not than a typical dirty player who had to play that way just to make it into the NHL but regardless it's pretty bad.
Orr is even worse in that not only does he support the horrific Trump cult that poses the biggest danger to the United States in its history but he also went to the trouble to take out a full page ad to say that he supports Trump just in case anyone wasn't sure of that.
Too many sports fans idealize horrible people simply because they are talented at sports. Don't do that.
Bobby Orr wrote the forward to Gordie Howe's memoir 'Mr. Hockey.' In the forward, Bobby recalls this incident, and, a discussion about it with Gordie sometime later. Bobby says that during that conversation Gordie said it had to do with what he felt were liberties Bobby had taken with the stick earlier in the game. "But why flatten me like that?," asked Bobby. Gordie's reply, "Well, I am a very religious player. I feel it is better to give than receive."
48 Comments
Sorry bud. Wwas expecting a video of what happened not Cheesy music and stills.
One thing for sure is that this was when men were still real men. No helmets, no visors and NO scruffy, shaggy beard. And Gordie is the GOAT and Bobby the GOAT of defensemen.
Every rookie knew Gordie would initiate them into the league with some kind of cheap shot. Esposito's description of his first tangle with GH is hilarious.
Orr wasnt the best defenceman of all time, Robinson, Potvin, Borgue, Lindstrom to name a few.. much better..he played offensive rather than defensive.. rather than passing the puck forward as they did in that time, he skated the puck forward..
๐๐
howe the dirtiest hockey player ever
I don't think Sinden was Bruins' coach at this time
THAT'S hockey. I hope the B's never let up on paying him back. Both were GREAT players
Howe ahouldve been suspended
As 26-year-old who did security work for him? Nice guy I meet
I have lost all respect for Howe over the years.
Two of the greatest players to ever strap on a pair of skates. I had the utmost respect for both of them and Iโm a Diehard Blackhawks fan.
gordie howe was a great player but could also be a real brute, and built like a brick,watch out for that elbow. bobby orr was the best too.
Bobby is the greatest and most exciting hockey player ever top put on skates not Gordie!
Bobby and Gordie had the utmost respect for each other. The way Gordie tells it ( available online), he was retaliating for a cheap shot Bobby took at him earlier. Gordie says first he circled left, then he circled right, and then he went right over top of him. He said that when he flattened Orr ( Orr said he saw little birdies) the Bruin's "bully boys" came after him, but Bobby told them to back off saying, "Gentlemen, I deserved that" That really got Gordie's respect and he said ( I've heard him say it slightly different ways), "if that young man has such great brains as well as such great talent, he'll go far" He also said Orr impressed him more than anyone else with his skill, ( although he had great respect for Belivieau and called him just about perfect).
For his part, Orr says Howe was the greatest player that ever lived and probably ever will live. For me, it's Orr, but when Orr, Gretzy and Mario agree it's Howe, ( three of the other modern candidates for greatest of all time), I'm in no position to argue.
I skated with both these gentlemen. Gordie when I was 7 at a Wings practice in 1952. At a Jr. A practice when Bobby was 16 & I was 19. We all said if this is our competition, better start looking for a good day job. Gordie was Bobby's hero growing up.
Both greats on my list 1 Orr 2 Howe 3 lemeux Richard 5 the young lady miss gretsky
Old time hockey!!
Greatest sports term ever the Gordie Howe hat trick!
No penalty called, hah. NHL refs have always been one step away from roller derby and wrestling.
Gordie tested all the young hot shots, wanted to see if they were actually going to stick around …
this was also Jaromir Jagr's rookie season
BUT MR HOCKEY COULD FIGHT, SCORE, & PLAYED WITH HIS 2 SON'S!!!!!!!!!!( HE DIDN'T NEED ANYONE TO PROTECT HIM LIKE THE SO- CALLED GREAT ONE DID??????????( & YES BOBBY ORR WAS THE BEST DEFENSEMAN OF ALL TIME IN MY OPINION!!!!!!!!
People who claim that Gordie was the greatest are all full of shit. He was known for getting away with cheap shots his whole career. In other words….he was a total POS๐ฉ
Nice if you had the video
Butt ending is the most cowardly act you can do. Donโt know why mr hockey had to play like this or why he was so revered for being a cheap shot artist
Old time hockey!
i was a sports reporter for a number of years and born in 1950.
the reality is that it's unprovable but nice argue about it.
and opinions are like assholes…..everybody has one (or more).
for me howe is 1, orr 1A and gretzky 2. mario might be next but when i mentioned that to a NHL referee who had the longest service when he retired–who'd been quiet when i opined–he blurted out 'beliveau was better than lemieux!'.
howe finished in the top five in scoring 21 consecutive years and if you make it top 10, 22 consecutive years.
retired at 52 after scoring 15 goals and 26 assists.
orr, gretzky and phil esposito who played with orr for years all pick howe.
finally, a guy named scotty bowman winner of the most stanley cups and most regular season coaching wins picked howe as the first player he'd pick if he was starting a team.
i know a little about hockey but i'm not arrogant enough to think i know more than the legends i've mentioned above.
Howe welcomed Brad Park into the NHL, also.
saw GH play during W.H.A Game Against the Toros. Would usually come out in the third for a few shifts…
So show us the Replay Idiots !!!
I remember every time the Hawks played Detroit all the cheap shots Howe would take at Hull or Mikita or whacks in the face of Esposito in the netโฆand I couldnโt wait for Magnuson to have a go at Howe! Unfortunately it seemed that not even Keith Magnuson, the Hawks enforcer) could lick Howe. Then Jerry Korab came to Chicago ๐ฎ that guy was BIG and would take anyone down just for daring to cross over the Hawks blue line! Ahhhh, those were the days! I had a small transistor radio Iโd hide in my bed and when Mom closed the door Iโd listen to the games under my pillow as I was going to sleep ๐
Howe was a dirty player.
I have no idea why people treat him with respect.
I hear these stories about Gordy- he was a cheap shot artist, not a tough guy.
As Bobby would state later on in his career about this incident, "It was the Man!"
Both fierce competitors and both honourable as hell!
Old time hockey eh.
Bobby thought it was a butt end but in reality it was Gordies elbow!
โExchanged unprintablesโ. ๐
Howe was, for a while back in the days, reputed to be the best all around player in the NHL. I personally think he was the filthiest player to ever play the game along Mark Messier. As soon as they put their skates on, both players acted as if their stick was a weapon to be used along with skates to hit the opponent. I'm old enough to have seen both players in action. Orr was a poet on skates and as soon as he had the puck, he controlled the game. Howe and Messier were two idiots from the prairies who made up with both cows and their sisters since there was nothing else to do growing up in the inbreed county.
Google:
Bobby Orr talking: โI was about 12. So while we were fishing, Gordie Howe asked me if I wanted to play hockey and I told him I wanted to make it to the NHL and he told me, โWell, if you get there, be careful, watch my elbows.โ โโ
That turned out to be good advice on the night of Oct. 19, 1966.
โEarly in the game, I got my elbow a little high on him,โโ remembered Orr. โA little later, I was watching one of my pretty passes, looking back, and next thing I knew, I was on the ice.
โIโd had my head down, and he hit me pretty good. Gordie had let me know that he was still the man. He was standing over me, glaring down at me.
โA bunch of my teammates skated to my defense and there was a little scrum, but I didnโt want that. I told my guys, โItโs OK, I asked for that. Iโll take care of it myself.โ โโ
Let's not pretend these were nice guys.
Howe was a dirty player known for his cheap shots at opponents.
Not sure that the fact that he was an incredibly talented player
who had no need to behave that way to succeed in the NHL
makes him worse or not than a typical dirty player
who had to play that way just to make it into the NHL
but regardless it's pretty bad.
Orr is even worse in that not only does he support the horrific
Trump cult that poses the biggest danger to the United States in its history
but he also went to the trouble to take out a full page ad to say
that he supports Trump just in case anyone wasn't sure of that.
Too many sports fans idealize horrible people simply because they
are talented at sports.
Don't do that.
Bobby Orr was in a class of his own. By far the greatest talent I have ever seen. He could go through the opposing team any time he felt like it.
The day Robert Gordon Orr came to Boston from Parry Sound ~ was the best day in my hockey life! We love you, Bobby! ๐
Howe was an azzhole , orr became one
Bobby Orr wrote the forward to Gordie Howe's memoir 'Mr. Hockey.' In the forward, Bobby recalls this incident, and, a discussion about it with Gordie sometime later. Bobby says that during that conversation Gordie said it had to do with what he felt were liberties Bobby had taken with the stick earlier in the game. "But why flatten me like that?," asked Bobby. Gordie's reply, "Well, I am a very religious player. I feel it is better to give than receive."
Just gotta say the music is horribleโฆ but thanks for the awesome story!
It's all about RESPECT , no hit goes away without a come back. These two had crazy respect for each other….
What you're doing is VERY interesting if not VALUABLE. Showing paper clips. First time I see that but i's a heck of an idea! WOW! Keep it up!