The Berger Collection (Mostly Newspapers): Part 2

By HOWARD BERGER

TORONTO (Sep. 6) - Please enjoy the second in a series of photographs from my personal collection of publications relating to sports and world events.

NEWSPAPERS

A substantial part of my collection - perhaps too substantial, given the storage space required - is comprised of old newspapers... most of which I've kept through the years; some of which have been given to me or purchased as memorabilia. If you're a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, you'll probably enjoy the first part of this newspaper collection.

MAY 2, 1967

DAVE KEON, WINNER OF THE CONN SMYTHE TROPHY AS PLAYOFF MVP, WASHES HIS FACE WITH STANLEY CUP CHAMPAGNE (ABOVE) ON THE COVER OF THE OLD TORONTO TELEGRAM, WEDNESDAY, MAY 3rd, 1967 - THE DAY AFTER THE LEAFS WON THEIR LAST CHAMPIONSHIP. JUBILANT TORONTO PLAYERS LEAP OFF THE BENCH AT MAPLE LEAF GARDENS WHEN TIME EXPIRES (BELOW) ON FRONT SPORTS PAGE OF THE TELEGRAM, WHICH FOLDED ON OCT. 30, 1971.

A PAGE OF PHOTOS IN THE TELEGRAM (ABOVE) SHOWS VARIOUS FORMS OF CELEBRATION AMONG LEAFS PERSONNEL IN THE WAKE OF THE 1967 STANLEY CUP TRIUMPH. THAT'S TERRY SAWCHUK EMBRACING THE CUP (LEFT) WHILE GM/COACH PUNCH IMLACH AND VICE-PRESIDENT KING CLANCY ARE ESCORTED INTO THE SHOWER IN THEIR BUSINESS ATTIRE (UPPER RIGHT).

FRONT PAGE OF THE GLOBE AND MAIL (ABOVE) ON MAY 3, 1967 SHOWS LEAFS CELEBRATING A GOAL, WITH MONTREAL NETMINDER LORNE (GUMP) WORSLEY SPRAWLED ON THE ICE. INSIDE SPORTS PAGE (BELOW) SEES CAPTAIN GEORGE ARMSTRONG HANDING THE CUP TO TEAMMATE JIM PAPPIN (LEFT), AND DOROTHY IMLACH - WIFE OF THE LEAFS COACH; KNOWN AS "DODO" TO EVERYONE - DURING AN ANXIOUS MOMENT IN GAME 6 (RIGHT).

FRONT PAGE OF THE TORONTO STAR (ABOVE) THE DAY AFTER THE LEAFS WON THE '67 STANLEY CUP SHOWS TERRY SAWCHUK AND DEFENSEMAN ALLAN STANLEY (26) CONVERGING ON LOOSE PUCK. SPORTS FRONT (BELOW) SALUTES DAVE KEON FOR HIS CONN SMYTHE TROPHY PERFORMANCE.

APRIL 6, 1969

THE FIRST STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF GAME I ATTENDED WAS THE FINAL GAME IN WHICH PUNCH IMLACH COACHED THE MAPLE LEAFS. BOSTON COMPLETED A FOUR-GAME QUARTERFINAL SWEEP OF TORONTO AT MAPLE LEAF GARDENS ON SUN. APR. 6, 1969. MINUTES AFTERWARD, OWNER STAFFORD SMYTHE FIRED IMLACH IN THE LEAFS DRESSING ROOM. BRUINS HAD WON THE FIRST TWO GAMES OF THE SERIES 10-0 AND 7-0 AT BOSTON GARDEN. STORY OF IMLACH'S DEMISE RAN ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE TORONTO STAR (ABOVE) AND ON FRONT OF STAR SPORTS SECTION (BELOW). PICTURED NEXT TO AN EXASPERATED IMLACH ON SPORTS PAGE ARE THE MEN THAT TOOK CONTROL OF THE LEAFS FROM HIM: COACH JOHN McLELLAN (LEFT) AND GM JIM GREGORY.

FRONT PAGE OF THE TORONTO TELEGRAM (ABOVE) ANNOUNCING IMLACH DISMISSAL. TELEGRAM HOCKEY WRITER GEORGE GROSS SPENT MUCH OF THAT NIGHT AT IMLACH'S HOUSE, ARRIVING THERE AFTER COVERING THE FOURTH AND FINAL MATCH OF THE LEAFS-BRUINS SERIES.

JANUARY 18, 1964

I WAS TOO YOUNG TO HAVE ANY RECOLLECTION OF THE ABOVE GAME, BUT IT UNDOUBTEDLY STOOD AS THE MOST HUMILIATING HOUR FOR THE MAPLE LEAFS DURING THEIR STANLEY CUP DYNASTY OF THE 1960s. ON JAN. 18, 1964 (A SATURDAY NIGHT) - AS THE LEAFS WERE MOTORING TOWARD THEIR THIRD CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONSHIP - THE LOWLY BOSTON BRUINS CAME TO TOWN AND WALLOPED THE HOME SIDE 11-0. BOSTON WOULD FINISH DEAD-LAST IN THE SIX-TEAM NHL THAT SEASON WITH 48 POINTS, 30 FEWER THAN THIRD-PLACE TORONTO. FRONT SPORTS PAGE OF THE GLOBE AND MAIL (ABOVE) FROM JAN. 20, 1964 DETAILS THE CARNAGE AND PROVIDES A RARE PHOTO OF THE OLD SCORE-CLOCK AT THE GARDENS. GOALIE DON SIMMONS WAS THE VICTIM OF THE BRUINS' ONSLAUGHT. SIMMONS WAS NOT CHOSEN TO PLAY THE FOLLOWING NIGHT IN CHICAGO, BUT A UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT CARRYING WESTERN LEAGUE REPLACEMENT AL MILLAR COULDN'T LAND AT O'HARE AIRPORT AS A RESULT OF FOG. SIMMONS STARTED AGAIN AND BLANKED THE POWERFUL BLACKHAWKS 2-0. QUITE THE UP-AND-DOWN WEEKEND FOR THE VETERAN GOALKEEPER.

JUNE 6, 1967



THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE DOUBLED IN SIZE FOR THE 1967-68 SEASON, ADDING SIX TEAMS (CALIFORNIA SEALS, LOS ANGELES KINGS, MINNESOTA NORTH STARS, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS AND ST. LOUIS BLUES) TO FORM THE NEW WEST DIVISION. THE PRE-EXPANSION TEAMS (BOSTON BRUINS, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS, DETROIT RED WINGS, MONTREAL CANADIENS, NEW YORK RANGERS AND TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS) COMPRISED THE EAST DIVISION. ON JUNE 6, 1967 - AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOTEL IN MONTREAL - THE NHL HELD ITS FIRST EXPANSION DRAFT TO STOCK THE NEW CLUBS. THE ESTABLISHED TEAMS WERE ALLOWED TO PROTECT ONE GOALIE AND 11 SKATERS; THE OTHERS WERE ELIGIBLE TO BE SELECTED. THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS OF THE DRAFT INVOLVED GOALIES... THE REMAINDER, FORWARDS AND DEFENSEMEN. RESULTS OF THE DRAFT WERE DETAILED (ABOVE) ON FRONT SPORTS PAGE OF THE JUNE 7, 1967 TORONTO STAR. TERRY SAWCHUK, HAVING LED THE LEAFS TO A STANLEY CUP TITLE THE PREVIOUS MONTH, WAS THE FIRST PLAYER CHOSEN - BY LOS ANGELES. LEAFS DEFENSEMAN BOB BAUN WENT TO CALIFORNIA, AND HE SPOKE TO STAR SPORTS EDITOR MILT DUNNELL ABOUT SEALS COACH (AND FORMER LEAFS TEAMMATE) BERT OLMSTEAD.

NOVEMBER 22, 1963

AMONG MANY TRAGIC DAYS IN THE 20th CENTURY WAS NOV. 22, 1963, WHEN UNITED STATES PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS ASSASSINATED IN DALLAS. ABOVE, ARE THE FRONT PAGES OF BOTH DALLAS NEWSPAPERS. THE NEW YORK PAPER (BELOW) CEASED PUBLICATION IN AUGUST 1966.

JUNE 5, 1968

UNITED STATES SENATOR ROBERT F. KENNEDY - BROTHER OF THE SLAIN PRESIDENT - WAS HIMSELF ASSASSINATED EARLY IN THE MORNING OF JUNE 5, 1968. RFK WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN THE '68 ELECTION AND HAD JUST WON THE CALIFORNIA PRIMARY. AFTER MAKING A TRIUMPHANT SPEECH TO FOLLOWERS AT THE AMBASSADOR HOTEL IN LOS ANGELES, HE EXITED THROUGH THE HOTEL KITCHEN, WHEREUPON HE WAS SHOT THREE TIMES BY JORDANIAN CITIZEN SIRHAN SIRHAN. KENNEDY DIED 26 HOURS LATER WITH A BULLET FRAGMENT IN HIS BRAIN. STORY APPEARED BENEATH A BANNER HEADLINE ON FRONT OF THE TORONTO TELEGRAM LATER THAT NIGHT (ABOVE), ACCOMPANIED BY A PHOTO OF A WOUNDED KENNEDY PEERING UPWARD FROM THE KITCHEN FLOOR.

GLOBE AND MAIL ON JUNE 6, 1968 (ABOVE) UPDATES ROBERT KENNEDY'S GRIM CIRCUMSTANCE.

THE DEATH OF ROBERT FRANCIS KENNEDY IS PLASTERED ACROSS EVENING EDITIONS OF THE TORONTO TELEGRAM (ABOVE) AND TORONTO STAR (BELOW) ON JUNE 6, 1968.

JULY 20, 1969

THE GREATEST TECHNOLOGICAL ACHIEVEMENT TO THAT POINT IN HISTORY OCCURRED ON SUNDAY, JULY 20, 1969, WHEN AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS NEIL ARMSTRONG AND BUZZ ALDRIN BECAME THE FIRST HUMANS TO SET FOOT ON ANOTHER CELESTIAL BODY. THE APOLLO 11 EXPLORERS WALKED ON THE MOON FOR TWO-AND-A-HALF HOURS AS MORE THAN 70 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION WATCHED ON TV. A GIANT HEADLINE AND TELEVISION PHOTO OF THE HISTORIC OCCASION ADORNED THE FRONT OF THE TORONTO TELEGRAM (ABOVE) ON JULY 21, 1969.

IN AUGUST 1969, AFTER THE APOLLO 11 CREW RETURNED TO EARTH WITH PHOTOS TAKEN ON THE MOON, THE TORONTO STAR (ABOVE) AND TORONTO TELEGRAM (BELOW) ISSUED SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE TABLOIDS.

APRIL 21, 1985

IT WAS A SAD DAY IN TORONTO AND ACROSS CANADA WHEN THE PATRIARCH OF HOCKEY BROADCASTING, FOSTER HEWITT, PASSED AWAY ON APR. 21, 1985. HEWITT, 82 WHEN HE DIED, COINED THE PHRASE "HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES!" WHILE CALLING GAMES FROM HIS GONDOLA PERCH AT MAPLE LEAF GARDENS. HE WORKED FROM 1923 'TIL 1976 BEFORE RETIRING. FROM THE 1930s TO THE MID-'70s, HEWITT DESCRIBED THE ACTION OF ALL LEAF GAMES, HOME AND AWAY. HE FOUNDED RADIO STATION CKFH-1430 IN TORONTO, FORERUNNER TO THE FAN-590. STORY OF HEWITT'S DEATH WAS ON FRONT OF THE APR. 22, 1985 TORONTO STAR (ABOVE).

JANUARY 28, 1986

IT WAS A HORRIFYING SIGHT WHEN THE SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER EXPLODED OFF THE COAST OF CAPE CANAVERAL ON JAN. 28, 1986 CARRYING A CREW OF SEVEN, INCLUDING AMERICAN TEACHER, CHRISTA McAULIFFE. AFTER A MAMMOTH INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE RUBBER "O"-RINGS INTENDED TO SEAL THE JOINTS OF THE SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - THEREBY PREVENTING HOT GASSES AND FLAME FROM ESCAPING - FAILED AS A RESULT OF UNUSUALLY COLD WEATHER ON THE FLORIDA COAST. FLAMES BURNED THROUGH THE SEAL AND IGNITED THE GIANT EXTERNAL FUEL-TANK BETWEEN THE BOOSTERS, TOUCHING OFF A CATASTROPHIC EXPLOSION. GRIM REPORTS LATER SUGGESTED THE ASTRONAUTS MAY HAVE SURVIVED THE INITIAL BLAST AND FOUR-MINUTE PLUNGE INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, AS THE SHUTTLE'S CREW COMPARTMENT SEPARATED UPON IGNITION. DECISION MAKERS AT THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) WERE BLAMED FOR THE ACCIDENT, HAVING CHOSEN TO LAUNCH THE SHUTTLE DESPITE WARNINGS FROM ENGINEERS AT MORTON-THIACOL, MANUFACTURER OF THE "O"-RINGS, WHO FELT THEY COULD FAIL AS A RESULT OF BECOMING BRITTLE IN THE 28-DEGREE (F) TEMPERATURE. FRONT-PAGE STORIES DETAIL THE TRAGEDY IN THE NEW YORK TIMES (ABOVE); THE TORONTO STAR AND TORONTO SUN (BELOW).

MAY 24, 1988

I HAVE NEVER BEEN NEARLY AS UNCOMFORTABLE AT A HOCKEY GAME AS IN THE OLD BOSTON GARDEN ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 24, 1988. IT WAS SIX DAYS BEFORE I STARTED MY RADIO CAREER AT CJCL AM-1430 (NOW THE FAN-590) AND I ATTENDED GAMES 3 AND 4 OF THE '88 STANLEY CUP FINAL BETWEEN THE BRUINS AND EDMONTON OILERS. THAT DAY, IN BOSTON, WAS AMONG THE HOTTEST AND MUGGIEST I CAN REMEMBER. THE GARDEN WAS NOT AIR CONDITIONED AND SITTING IN THE ARENA DURING THE FOURTH GAME, SURROUNDED BY 15,000 OTHERS, WAS EXCRUCIATING - THE EQUIVALENT OF BEING IN A SAUNA WITH CLOTHES ON. WHEN SEVERAL BANKS OF TV LIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT AT 16:37 OF THE SECOND PERIOD - THE GAME TIED, 3-3 - I WAS PRAYING THEY WOULDN'T COME BACK ON, FOR IT WAS WAY TOO DARK TO CONTINUE PLAY. AFTER A 15-MINUTE WAIT, THE MATCH WAS SUSPENDED AND FANS WERE ASKED TO LEAVE THE GARDEN... AN ABSOLUTE BLESSING, NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCE. I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER WALKING DOWN A PITCH-DARK STAIRWELL WITH THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE IN FRONT OF ME CARRYING CIGARETTE LIGHTERS. THE GAME WAS REPLAYED TWO NIGHTS LATER IN EDMONTON AND THE OILERS WON THEIR FOURTH STANLEY CUP IN FIVE YEARS (AND LAST WITH WAYNE GRETZKY). ON MY WAY HOME THE NEXT DAY, AT LOGAN AIRPORT, I BOUGHT A COPY OF THE BOSTON GLOBE, WITH THE FRONT PAGE (ABOVE) AND SPORTS FRONT (BELOW) DISPLAYED HERE.

SEPTEMBER 23-28, 1988

IT APPEARED TO BE THE GREATEST TRIUMPH IN CANADIAN SPORT SINCE PAUL HENDERSON'S SERIES-WINNING GOAL AGAINST THE RUSSIANS 16 YEARS EARLIER. SPRINTER BEN JOHNSON BLEW PAST AMERICAN CARL LEWIS AND THE ENTIRE FIELD IN THE 100-METER FINAL AT THE 1988 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, ESTABLISHING A NEW WORLD RECORD OF 9.79 SECONDS. OUR COUNTRY ERUPTED IN CELEBRATION OVER A FELLOW CITIZEN WINNING THE GLAMOUR EVENT OF THE SUMMER GAMES. THE RACE WAS HELD ON A FRIDAY NIGHT IN THE EASTERN TIME ZONE OF NORTH AMERICA, ALLOWING PAPERS TO FEATURE THE BIG NEWS IN THEIR SATURDAY (SEP. 24) EDITIONS - EVIDENCED BY THE GLOBE AND MAIL (ABOVE); THE TORONTO STAR AND TORONTO SUN (BELOW). LITTLE DID ANYONE REALIZE HOW ASTONISHINGLY THIS STORY WOULD CHANGE.

I REMEMBER BEING IN THE NEWSROOM OF CJCL AM-1430 LATE IN THE AFTERNOON OF MON. SEP. 26, 1988 WHEN THE ADVISORY BELL ON OUR CANADIAN PRESS NEWS-WIRE MACHINE BEGAN TO RING... AND CONTINUED TO RING FOR ALMOST 30 SECONDS. SUCH WARNINGS WERE USUALLY RESERVED FOR NEWS OF AN AIRLINE DISASTER OR THE SUDDEN DEATH OF A FAMOUS PERSON. ON THIS DAY, A BULLETIN FROM SEOUL CONTAINED THE INCREDIBLE NEWS THAT CANADIAN TRACK HERO BEN JOHNSON HAD FAILED A ROUTINE DRUG TEST AND WAS BEING STRIPPED OF HIS GOLD MEDAL BY THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE. AT FIRST, IT SEEMED LIKE SOMEONE'S IDEA OF A BAD JOKE BUT THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION SOON BECAME APPARENT - AND WAS CONFIRMED - WHEN THE IOC HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE TELEVISED LIVE ACROSS THE PLANET. JOHNSON'S POST-RACE URINE SAMPLE HAD TESTED POSITIVE FOR A STEROID-BASED SUBSTANCE (STANAZOLOL) THAT WAS BANNED BY THE OLYMPIC GOVERNING BODY. THE SPRINTER TURNED OVER HIS GOLD MEDAL AND IT WAS AWARDED TO THE SECOND-PLACE FINISHER, CARL LEWIS. JOHNSON QUICKLY LEFT SEOUL AND FLEW HOME TO TORONTO, WHERE HE WAS GREETED BY A SWARM OF MEDIA PRACTICALLY HYSTERICAL OVER THE STORY OF THE NOW-DISGRACED CANADIAN ATHLETE. NEWSPAPERS IN THIS COUNTRY FEATURED THE SAGA ON FRONT PAGES FOR THAT ENTIRE WEEK (ABOVE AND BELOW).

IN A MOVE BORNE OF PURE DESPERATION, JOHNSON'S CAMP TRIED TO SUGGEST THAT SOMEONE HAD TAMPERED WITH HIS URINE SAMPLE (ABOVE - TORONTO STAR, SEP. 27, 1988), BUT IT SOON CAME TO LIGHT THAT THE SPRINTER HAD LONG BEEN TAKING STEROID INJECTIONS, ONLY TO FLUSH THEM OUT OF HIS SYSTEM WITH DIURETICS BEFORE POST-RACE TESTING. THIS PROCESS OF CHEATING CAUGHT UP WITH JOHNSON AT THE MOST INOPPORTUNE AND HUMILIATING JUNCTURE. MORE DETAILS OF THE STEROID SCANDAL WERE UNVEILED DURING A CANADIAN INQUIRY IN THE SPRING OF 1989 HEADED BY CHARLES DUBIN - THE ASSOCIATE CHIEF JUSTICE OF ONTARIO.

DECEMBER 21, 1988



SEPTEMBER 3, 1998

DISASTER STRUCK THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY INVOLVING WIDE-BODIED PASSENGER JETS ALMOST A DECADE APART - ONE THE RESULT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM; THE OTHER, AN UNFORESEEN MECHANICAL GLITCH. JUST PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS 1988, A PAN AMERICAN AIRLINES BOEING-747 (FLIGHT 103) - ORIGINATING IN LONDON AND DESTINED FOR NEW YORK - BROKE APART AND FELL OUT OF THE NIGHT SKY ABOVE SCOTLAND: ITS MAIN FUSELAGE TORPEDOING INTO LOCKERBIE, A SMALL VILLAGE ABOUT 75 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GLASGOW (STORY ABOVE, ON FRONT OF DEC. 22, 1988 TORONTO SUN). THE MISHAP CLAIMED ALL 259 PEOPLE ABOARD THE PLANE AND 11 MORE ON THE GROUND. RECOVERED PARTS OF THE DOOMED JETLINER WERE METICULOUSLY RE-ASSEMBLED, UNVEILING A LARGE BLAST-HOLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE, FORWARD OF THE WING - THE UNMISTAKABLE SIGNATURE OF A BOMB. INVESTIGATORS ULTIMATELY NOTED THE TIMING DEVICE ON THE BOMB WAS SIMILAR TO THAT FOUND ON A LIBYAN INTELLIGENCE AGENT WHO WAS ARRESTED ALMOST A YEAR EARLIER. AS SUCH, THE DISASTER OVER LOCKERBIE WAS PINNED ON THE DICTATORIAL REGIME OF LIBYAN LEADER MOHAMMAR QADDAFI, AND CONSIDERED RETALIATION FOR THE U.S.-LED MILITARY ATTACK ON THAT COUNTRY IN APRIL 1986. NEARLY 10 YEARS LATER, ON THE EVENING OF SEP. 3, 1998, A SWISSAIR MD-11 (FLIGHT 111) CLIMBED OUT OF KENNEDY AIRPORT IN NEW YORK, BOUND FOR GENEVA. FIFTY-TWO MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, A SMOKEY ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE COCKPIT. WHEN IT RETURNED A FEW MINUTES LATER, CAPTAIN URS ZIMMERMAN DECLARED "PAN-PAN-PAN" - AIRLINE DICTION FOR THE SECOND-HIGHEST FORM OF EMERGENCY - AND BEGAN THE PROCESS OF LANDING AT THE NEAREST AIRPORT, WHICH WAS IN HALIFAX. ZIMMERMAN, OBVIOUSLY UNAWARE OF HOW QUICKLY FIRE WAS SPREADING, FOLLOWED SWISSAIR CONTROL-MANUAL PROCEDURES, EATING UP PRECIOUS TIME. FLAMES SOON ENGULFED THE FLIGHT-DECK, INCAPACITATING THE CREW. JUST TWENTY-ONE MINUTES AFTER THE ODOR WAS FIRST DETECTED, THE GIANT AIRCRAFT PLUNGED INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN SOUTHEAST OF HALIFAX (NEAR PEGGY'S COVE N.S.), CLAIMING THE LIVES OF ALL 229 PEOPLE ON BOARD (FRONT-PAGE STORY IN SEP. 4, 1998 TORONTO STAR ABOVE). IT WAS ULTIMATELY DETERMINED THAT THE BLAZE ORIGINATED WITHIN THE WIRING THAT SERVED THE PERSONAL ENTERTAINMENT UNITS IN THE FIRST-CLASS CABIN, DIRECTLY BEHIND THE COCKPIT. A TOTAL OF 499 LIVES WERE LOST IN THE TWO AIRLINE DISASTERS.

JANUARY 1, 1990

DECEMBER 31, 1999



FRONT PAGES (ABOVE) OF THE FIRST AND LAST EDITIONS OF THE TORONTO STAR IN THE DECADE OF THE 1990s.

MAY 25, 1991

LED BY FOUR OF THE GREATEST PLAYERS IN NHL HISTORY - MARIO LEMIEUX, RON FRANCIS, JAROMIR JAGR AND PAUL COFFEY - THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS WON THEIR FIRST OF CONSECUTIVE STANLEY CUP TITLES ON SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1991 AT THE METROPOLITAN SPORTS CENTER IN BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA, CRUSHING THE NORTH STARS 8-0. I WAS IN PITTSBURGH THAT WEEKEND FOR A FAMILY AFFAIR AND WAS CRUISING ON THE RIVERS SURROUNDING THE CITY WHILE THE PENGUINS WERE DISMANTLING THEIR OPPONENT. AT THE FINAL BUZZER, THOUSANDS OF JUBILANT FANS PORED ONTO THE STREETS AND MULTIPLE BRIDGES THAT CROSS THE THREE RIVERS, CELEBRATING INTO THE WEE HOURS. THE FOLLOWING DAY, I PICKED UP A COPY OF THE OLD PITTSBURGH PRESS (FRONT PAGE ABOVE; FRONT SPORTS PAGE BELOW).

DECEMBER 27, 2000

WHEN MARIO LEMIEUX - CONSIDERED, BY MANY, THE THIRD-BEST PLAYER IN NHL HISTORY, BEHIND ONLY WAYNE GRETZKY AND BOBBY ORR - DECIDED TO COME BACK AFTER A THREE-AND-A-HALF YEAR RETIREMENT, HE MADE HIS RETURN IN A POST-CHRISTMAS GAME AT MELLON ARENA AGAINST THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (DEC. 27, 2000 - FRONT PAGE OF PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE ABOVE). IT WAS ONE OF THE FEW NIGHTS DURING THE PAT QUINN ERA IN WHICH THE LEAFS LOOKED SCARED... LITERALLY INTIMIDATED BY AN OCCASION. AS SUCH, THEY WERE EASY 5-0 FODDER FOR THE PENGUINS; JAROMIR JAGR SCORING JUST 33 SECONDS AFTER THE OPENING FACE-OFF. MAGNIFICENT MARIO - NO RUST EVIDENT - CONTRIBUTED A GOAL AND TWO ASSISTS.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Some memories (below) relating to the lone Canadian team in major league baseball.

APR. 6, 1977

ONE DAY BEFORE PLAYING THEIR FIRST-EVER GAME - WHICH BEGAN ON A SNOW-COVERED FIELD AT EXHIBITION STADIUM AGAINST THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX - THE BLUE JAYS WERE THE SUBJECT OF A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT (ABOVE) IN THE APR. 6, 1977 TORONTO STAR. ON THE COVER, IS VETERAN PITCHER BILL SINGER, WHO STARTED THE OPENER AND THREW THE FIRST PITCH IN BLUE JAYS HISTORY TO RALPH GARR OF THE CHISOX. TORONTO WON ITS MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT, 9-5.

JUNE 13, 1983

THE BLUE JAYS DEVELOPED INTO PENNANT CONTENDERS IN THEIR SEVENTH SEASON - 1983 - UNDER MANAGER BOBBY COX AND LED BY THE AMERICAN LEAGUE'S MOST DOMINANT STARTER, DAVE STIEB (PICTURED ABOVE ON JUNE 13, 1983 COVER OF THE SPORTING NEWS). A REAL COMING-OUT FOR THE BLUE JAYS WAS THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE ON NATIONAL TV IN THE UNITED STATES: AN ABC MONDAY-NIGHT TELECAST FROM EXHIBITION STADIUM WITH KANSAS CITY IN TOWN, JULY 11, 1983. BROADCASTERS FOR THE GAME WERE AL MICHAELS, HOWARD COSELL AND EX-BALTIMORE ORIOLES MANAGER EARL WEAVER. TORONTO HAMMERED THE VISITORS AND ABC ENJOYED ONE OF ITS LARGEST PRIME TIME AUDIENCES OF THE BASEBALL SEASON - AMERICAN FANS CURIOUS ABOUT THE UPSTART TEAM NORTH OF THE BORDER.

JANUARY 17, 1985

AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE OF POLITICAL WRANGLING, PROVINCIAL AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNORS FINALLY SETTLED ON A LOCATION FOR THE MUCH-BALLYHOOED DOMED STADIUM IN TORONTO - A STORY THAT MADE FRONT-PAGE NEWS IN THE GLOBE AND MAIL (ABOVE) AND TORONTO SUN (BELOW) EARLY IN 1985. THE FACILITY WOULD OPEN FOUR-AND-A-HALF YEARS LATER.

OCTOBER 5, 1985

THE BLUE JAYS AND NEW YORK YANKEES WAGED A SPLENDID BATTLE FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST DIVISION TITLE DURING THE FINAL THREE WEEKS OF THE 1985 SEASON - TORONTO PREVAILING ON THE PENULTIMATE DAY OF THE SCHEDULE WITH A 5-1 TRIUMPH OVER THE YANKEES AT EXHIBITION STADIUM. STARTING PITCHER DOYLE ALEXANDER WENT THE DISTANCE FOR THE BLUE JAYS AND WAS CARRIED OFF THE FIELD (ABOVE, TORONTO STAR FRONT PAGE) BY JUBILANT TEAMMATES AND FANS. YANKEES CATCHER RON HASSEY FLIED OUT TO LEFT-FIELDER GEORGE BELL TO END THE GAME, PROMPTING BELL TO DROP TO HIS KNEES AND EXULT, AS SHORTSTOP TONY FERNANDEZ APPROACHED (STAR SPORTS FRONT, BELOW). THE JAYS HOOKED UP WITH KANSAS CITY IN THEIR FIRST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE AND TOOK A 3-1 LEAD IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES. BUT, THE SCORCHING BAT OF HALL-OF-FAMER GEORGE BRETT ALLOWED THE ROYALS TO WIN THREE CONSECUTIVE MATCHES - AND THE SERIES - IN GAME 7 AT THE CNE. KANSAS CITY THEN KNOCKED OFF ST. LOUIS TO WIN THE 1985 WORLD SERIES.

APRIL 16, 1989

IT TOOK MORE THAN 23 YEARS, BUT A BLUE JAYS PLAYER FINALLY HIT FOR THE CYCLE. ON SUN. APR. 16, 1989, AT EXHIBITION STADIUM, THIRD-BASEMAN KELLY GRUBER - PICTURED ABOVE ON COVER OF THE NEXT DAY'S TORONTO SUN - VICTIMIZED KANSAS CITY FOR A SINGLE, DOUBLE, TRIPLE AND HOME RUN IN A 15-8 BLASTING OF THE ROYALS. HE DROVE IN SIX RUNS ON THE AFTERNOON.

MAY 28, 1989

THE BLUE JAYS PLAYED HOME GAMES AT EXHIBITION STADIUM FROM APR. 7, 1977 TO MAY 28, 1989. THEIR FINALE AT THE CNE ENDED AS DRAMATICALLY AS POSSIBLE WHEN GEORGE BELL SMACKED A WALK-OFF HOMER TO LEFT FIELD IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 10th INNING OFF CHICAGO CLOSER BOBBY THIGPEN - SCORING KELLY GRUBER AHEAD OF HIM - IN A 7-5 VICTORY OVER THE WHITE SOX. BELL'S MOMENT AND THE BLUE JAYS SALUTE TO THE FINAL EXHIBITION STADIUM CROWD WERE FEATURED ON THE FRONT OF THE MAY 29, 1989 TORONTO SUN (ABOVE). COINCIDENTALLY, BOTH THE BLUE JAYS AND MAPLE LEAFS BEGAN AND ENDED ARENA TENURES AGAINST CLUBS FROM CHICAGO - JAYS PLAYING THE WHITE SOX; THE LEAFS FACING THE BLACKHAWKS IN THE FIRST AND LAST GAMES AT MAPLE LEAF GARDENS.

JUNE 3, 1989

IT WAS A PROUD AND EXCITING MOMENT FOR CITY FATHERS WHEN TORONTO'S NEW COVERED STADIUM - SKYDOME - OFFICIALLY OPENED WITH A GALA CEREMONY ON THE NIGHT OF SAT. JUNE 3, 1989. UNFORTUNATELY, RAIN WAS TEEMING DOWN OUTSIDE AND THE DIGNITARIES AT FIELD LEVEL GOT DRENCHED WHEN PANELS OF THE ROOF WERE RETRACTED FOR THE FIRST TIME. THAT DAY, THE TORONTO SUN ISSUED A A SUPPLEMENT (ABOVE), MARKING THE OCCASION. THE BLUE JAYS PLAYED THEIR FIRST GAME AT SKYDOME TWO NIGHTS LATER AND LOST TO THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS, WHO WERE STILL PART OF THE AMERICAN LEAGUE IN '89.

OCTOBER 14, 1992

IT TOOK THE BLUE JAYS FOUR TRIES TO MAKE IT PAST THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES BUT THEY FINALLY WON THE PENNANT ON OCT. 14, 1992, KNOCKING OFF THE OAKLAND A'S IN SIX GAMES TO ADVANCE TO THE WORLD SERIES. LEFT-FIELDER CANDY MALDONADO SETTLED UNDER THE FINAL OUT, TOUCHING OFF AN EXPLOSION OF NOISE AT SKYDOME, WHERE JOE CARTER AND ROBERTO ALOMAR WERE PICTURED EMBRACING ON THE COVER OF THE NEXT DAY'S TORONTO SUN (ABOVE). FIRST TWO PAGES OF SUN SPORTS SECTION ARE SHOWN BELOW. TORONTO DEFEATED ATLANTA IN SIX GAMES TO BECOME THE BASEBALL CHAMPIONS OF '92.

OCTOBER 25, 1992

THE GAME STARTED SATURDAY NIGHT AND ENDED EARLY SUNDAY MORNING BUT THE EXTRA WORK PAID OFF AS THE BLUE JAYS DEFEATED THE BRAVES AT ATLANTA FULTON-COUNTY STADIUM ON OCT. 25, 1992, TO WIN THEIR FIRST WORLD SERIES (FRONT COVER OF THE SUNDAY TORONTO STAR, ABOVE, AND TORONTO SUN, BELOW). VETERAN DAVE WINFIELD'S TWO-RUN DOUBLE DOWN THE LEFT-FIELD LINE IN THE TOP OF THE 11th INNING PROVED THE DIFFERENCE IN A TENSE, BACK-AND-FORTH GAME; THE VISITORS PREVAILING, 4-3. THE TYING RUN WAS ON THIRD BASE FOR ATLANTA IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 11th WHEN OTIS NIXON ATTEMPTED A DRAG-BUNT. THE BALL WAS SCOOPED UP BY PITCHER MIKE TIMLIN WHO TOSSED TO JOE CARTER AT FIRST BASE FOR THE FINAL OUT, PROMPTING CARTER TO LEAP UP AND DOWN LIKE A KANGAROO.

OCTOBER 12, 1993

BLUE JAYS RETURNED TO THE WORLD SERIES IN 1993, ELIMINATING CHICAGO IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A 6-3 VICTORY AT COMISKEY PARK (NOW U.S. CELLULAR FIELD). THIRD-BASEMAN ED SPRAGUE AND HIS TEAMMATES CELEBRATE THE WIN ON FRONT OF THE OCT. 13, 1993 TORONTO STAR (ABOVE). DURING GAME 1 OF THAT ALCS, ALSO IN CHICAGO, WORD BROKE THAT BULLS SUPERSTAR MICHAEL JORDAN WAS RETIRING FROM BASKETBALL TO PURSUE A BASEBALL CAREER. I WAS AMONG SEVERAL HUNDRED REPORTERS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THE FOLLOWING DAY IN WHICH JORDAN MADE THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. I RETURNED TO COMISKEY PARK JUST IN TIME TO BROADCAST A PRE-GAME SHOW WITH COLLEAGUE SCOTT FERGUSON FROM THE VISITING RADIO BOOTH. IT WAS QUITE THE HECTIC DAY. BLUE JAYS WENT ON TO BEAT PHILADELPHIA IN THE '93 WORLD SERIES ON JOE CARTER'S NOW-LEGENDARY HOME RUN AT SKYDOME.

JUNE 9-14, 1994

WITH THE RANGERS LEADING VANCOUVER 3-1 IN THE 1994 STANLEY CUP FINAL, THE NEW YORK POST WAS CONVINCED THE CLUB WOULD END ITS 54-YEAR CHAMPIONSHIP DROUGHT IN GAME 5 AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN. FRONT PAGE OF THE JUNE 9, 1994 POST (ABOVE) CLAIMED THE SERIES WOULD END THAT NIGHT, WHILE THE BACK PAGE (BELOW) HAD "RANGERS" SUPERIMPOSED ON THE BASE OF THE SILVER MUG. WHEN THE VANCOUVER CONTINGENT SAW THIS, THE DESIRE TO EXTEND THE SERIES INTENSIFIED. AND WHAT A WILD GAME 5 IT WAS. VANCOUVER JUMPED OUT TO A 3-0 LEAD WHICH THE RANGERS QUICKLY ERASED IN THE SECOND PERIOD. WITH THE GARDEN AUDIENCE STILL ON ITS FEET IN WILD CELEBRATION, DEFENSEMAN DAVID BABYCH SCORED TO PUT THE CANUCKS BACK IN FRONT. IT IS DIFFICULT - TO THIS DAY - TO DESCRIBE THE SOUND OF 18,000 RUMPS FALLING BACK INTO THEIR SEATS AT THE SAME TIME. THE VISITORS ADDED TWO MORE GOALS AND WON THE GAME, 6-3 - SENDING THE FINAL BACK TO VANCOUVER FOR GAME 6.

THE FRONT AND BACK PAGES OF THE JUNE 10, 1994 NEW YORK POST (ABOVE AND BELOW) HAD A BIT OF A DIFFERENT TONE AFTER THE VANCOUVER TRIUMPH IN GAME 5.

BUT, THE STORY HAD A HAPPY ENDING FOR THE RANGERS (AND THE POST). AFTER VANCOUVER TIED THE SERIES WITH A 4-1 ROMP AT PACIFIC COLISEUM ON SAT. JUNE 11, A TWO-DAY BREAK ENSUED BEFORE THE DECIDING MATCH AT THE GARDEN. DURING THAT TIME, WORD LEAKED THAT RANGERS COACH MIKE KEENAN HAD BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH EITHER DETROIT OR ST. LOUIS TO ASSUME ITS BENCH DUTIES FOR THE FOLLOWING SEASON - SPECULATION KEENAN NATURALLY DENIED AT A PACKED NEWS CONFERENCE IN THE CLUB'S PRACTICE FACILITY. THOUGH IT CREATED AN UNWANTED DISTRACTION, THE RANGERS IGNORED IT WELL ENOUGH TO HANG ON AND BEAT THE CANUCKS, 4-3, FOR THEIR FIRST STANLEY CUP TITLE SINCE 1940. THE JUNE 15, 1994 NEW YORK POST WAS BURSTING WITH RANGER PRIDE ON ITS FRONT AND BACK PAGES (ABOVE AND BELOW). ALMOST COMPLETELY OVERLOOKED WAS A SMALL HEADLINE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT PAGE THAT WOULD DEVELOP INTO THE LEAD NEWS ITEM FOR DAYS ON END. OH YEAH, KEENAN SOON LEFT THE TEAM TO BECOME HEAD COACH OF THE BLUES FOR 1994-95.

THE NEW YORK TIMES (ABOVE) AND NEW YORK DAILY NEWS (FRONT AND BACK PAGES BELOW) THE MORNING AFTER THE RANGERS ENDED THEIR 54-YEAR STANLEY CUP DROUGHT.

JULY 17, 1996

HAVING ARRIVED IN ATLANTA ON JULY 17, 1996 TO COVER THE SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES, I WENT FOR DINNER AT A SHOPPING MALL IN BUCKHEAD AND RETURNED TO MY HOTEL EXPECTING TO WATCH A ROUTINE EDITION OF LARRY KING LIVE. UPON SWITCHING TO CNN, HOWEVER, I NOTICED A BANNER HEADLINE ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN WHICH SAID "BREAKING NEWS" AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE A LARGE FOREST FIRE ABOVE THE BANNER. BUT, IT QUICKLY CAME TO LIGHT THAT I WAS VIEWING THE FLAMING WRECKAGE OF TWA FLIGHT 800, WHICH HAD BROKEN APART AND PLUMMETED INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN OFF THE COAST OF LONG ISLAND IN THE PREVIOUS HOUR, ROUGHLY 45 MINUTES AFTER TAKING OFF FROM KENNEDY AIRPORT, BOUND FOR PARIS. WITH THE OLYMPICS STARTING THE NEXT DAY, IMMEDIATE SPECULATION CENTERED ON SOME FORM OF ISLAMIC TERROR PLOT DESIGNED TO SPARK FEAR AMONG THOSE HEADING TO ATLANTA. THIS WAS PATENTLY UNFAIR TO THOSE OF MUSLIM HERITAGE AND WAS QUICKLY FOUND TO BE INACCURATE. A LONG INVESTIGATION DETERMINED - OFFICIALLY - THAT WORN INSULATION COVERING WIRES IN THE CENTER FUEL-TANK OF THE BOEING-747 SPARKED AN EXPLOSION THAT BROKE THE AIRCRAFT INTO THREE PIECES AND SENT IT CRASHING INTO THE OCEAN, KILLING EVERYONE ON-BOARD. SUSPICION REMAINS, TO THIS DAY, HOWEVER ABOUT A GOVERNMENT COVER-UP, AS THE UNITED STATES NAVY WAS CONDUCTING A TRAINING EXERCISE IN THE AREA THAT NIGHT. A NUMBER OF WITNESSES ON SHORE CLAIMED THEY SAW A PROJECTILE STREAKING TOWARD THE TWA JET BEFORE IT EXPLODED... SUGGESTING FRIENDLY FIRE HAD ACCIDENTALLY BROUGHT DOWN THE PLANE. MORE THAN A DAY AFTER THE DISASTER, THE JULY 19, 1996 NEW YORK TIMES (ABOVE) WAS LOOKING FOR ANSWERS.

JULY 19 - AUG. 5, 1996

ATLANTA '96 WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WORKING THE OLYMPICS, AND MY ONLY ONE - TO DATE - INVOLVING THE SUMMER GAMES. ATTENDING THE OPENING CEREMONY WAS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY CAREER (JULY 20 FRONT PAGE OF ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, ABOVE; TORONTO STAR, TORONTO SUN, BELOW). EVERYONE IN THE PACKED STADIUM GOT CHILLS WHEN MUHAMMAD ALI - HIS ARM SHAKING INVOLUNTARILY FROM PARKINSON'S SYNDROME - RAISED THE TORCH AND LIT THE OLYMPIC FLAME. THE UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS IN THAT STADIUM WOULD BE APLENTY FOR CANADIAN SPORTS FANS.

THERE WAS ABUNDANT TALK ABOUT THE MASSIVE SECURITY DETAIL AT THE OLYMPICS, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A BREACH. LOCAL OFFICIALS (POLICE, POLITICIANS) BOASTED ABOUT THE '96 GAMES BEING THE "SAFEST" EVER... TO THE POINT WHERE IT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE A DARE. PERHAPS THAT IS WHY I HAD A SOMEWHAT NONCHALANT REACTION WHEN INFORMED OF THE BOMB THAT EXPLODED AT THE EDGE OF CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK NEAR MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY, JULY 26 (FRONT PAGE OF ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, ABOVE; USA TODAY, NEW YORK TIMES BELOW). I HAD JUST GONE TO BED - KNOWING SATURDAY WOULD BE A PARTICULARLY LONG WORK DAY - WHEN I RECEIVED A FRANTIC CALL FROM THE RADIO STATION BACK IN TORONTO. TO THIS DAY, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT MY RESPONSE WAS "IT FIGURES", BUT THERE HAD BEEN SO MUCH CHATTER ABOUT AN INCIDENT THAT IT CAME AS LESS-THAN A SURPRISE. ON SATURDAY MORNING, I WENT TO A WINDOW OF THE CAFETERIA IN THE MAIN PRESS CENTER THAT OVERLOOKED CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK. DOWN BELOW, I COULD CLEARLY SEE BLOOD STAINS FROM THOSE THAT WERE KILLED AND INJURED IN THE BLAST THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. IT WAS, BY FAR, THE MOST SOMBER REPORT I EVER SENT TO THE RADIO STATION.

WITH THE '96 SUMMER GAMES STILL REELING FROM THE PARK BOMB LESS THAN 24 HOURS EARLIER, ONE OF THE GREATEST MOMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF CANADIAN SPORT OCCURRED AT OLYMPIC STADIUM. DONOVAN BAILEY ESTABLISHED A NEW WORLD RECORD OF 9.84 SECONDS TO WIN THE GLAMOUR EVENT OF THE GAMES - THE 100-METER FINAL (FRONT PAGE AND FRONT SPORTS PAGE OF JULY 28 TORONTO SUN ABOVE AND BELOW). I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE IN A TREMENDOUS MEDIA LOCATION FOR THE EVENT: UPPER DECK OF THE STADIUM AROUND THE 80-METER MARK... BAILEY SPRINTED PAST ME DOWN BELOW FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. GIVEN THE EVENTS OF SEOUL EIGHT YEARS EARLIER, MANY CANADIAN SPORTS FANS LIKELY HELD THEIR BREATH WHILE BAILEY UNDERWENT POST-RACE DRUG SCREENING. HE WAS "CLEAN" AND OUR COUNTRY HAD A TRUE SPORTS HERO.

TORONTO STAR OF JULY 28, 1996 (FRONT PAGE ABOVE; SPORTS FRONT BELOW), THE DAY AFTER DONOVAN BAILEY'S OLYMPIC TRIUMPH.

IN ITS MONDAY, JULY 29 EDITION, THE GLOBE AND MAIL RAN THE OFFICIAL WIRE-PHOTO FROM THE 100-METER FINAL (ABOVE), SHOWING BAILEY CROSSING THE FINISH LINE AHEAD OF HIS RIVALS.

THOUGH HE WAS NEVER FORMALLY ARRESTED, THE LIFE OF ATLANTA SECURITY GUARD RICHARD JEWELL WAS TURNED UPSIDE-DOWN WHEN INITIALLY ACCUSED OF PLANTING THE CENTENNIAL PARK BOMB (JULY 30, 1996 ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION ABOVE). JEWELL DISCOVERED THE DEVICE AND MOVED AS MANY PEOPLE AS HE COULD TO SAFETY BEFORE IT DETONATED. INITIALLY, HE WAS HAILED A HERO BUT HE SOON BECAME THE LEAD SUSPECT; INVESTIGATORS SURMISING HE HAD PLANTED THE BOMB AND THEN MOVED PEOPLE AWAY TO BE SEEN AS A HERO. IN THE MIDST OF A MEDIA FIRESTORM THAT VIRTUALLY CONVICTED JEWELL, THE SECURITY GUARD'S HOUSE WAS RANSACKED BY POLICE AND HE ENDURED SEVERAL WEEKS OF IMPLICATION AND HARASSMENT. ULTIMATELY, JEWELL WAS EXONERATED, AS NO PHYSICAL OR CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE COULD BE PINNED ON HIM. THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUED INTO EARLY-1997 WHEN A DISSIDENT FROM ATLANTA - ERIC ROBERT RUDOPLH - WAS DETAINED BY POLICE AND ULTIMATELY ADMITTED TO THE CRIME ON THE BASIS OF HIS POLITICAL BELIEF.

THE FINAL WEEKEND OF THE 1996 SUMMER OLYMPICS PROVIDED CANADIAN SPORTS FANS WITH YET ANOTHER THRILL - THIS ONE EVEN MORE SATISFYING THAN BAILEY'S ACHIEVENENT SEVEN NIGHTS EARLIER. THE TEAM OF ROBERT ESMIE, GLENROY GILBERT, BRUNY SURIN AND BAILEY SOARED PAST THE FAVORED AMERICANS TO WIN GOLD IN THE 4x100-METER RELAY. PRIOR TO THE EVENT, ALL THE CHATTER SURROUNDED VETERAN CARL LEWIS AND WHETHER HE'D BE PART OF THE U.S. FORESOME; THE NOTION OF THE AMERICANS FINISHING SECOND WASN'T EVEN CONSIDERED. THE CANADIAN TRIUMPH WAS RECOGNIZED ON THE FRONT PAGE, AND FRONT SPORTS PAGES, OF THE TORONTO SUN AND TORONTO STAR (ABOVE AND BELOW) ON SUN. AUG. 4, 1996.

GIVEN THE DEATHS THAT RESULTED FROM THE PARK BOMBING NINE NIGHTS EARLIER, THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE ATLANTA OLYMPICS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SOMBRE. THE PREVAILING MOOD WAS REFLECTED ON THE FRONT PAGE (ABOVE) OF THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION THE FOLLOWING DAY - MON. AUG. 5, 1996.

WAYNE GRETZKY

Considered by many the greatest hockey player of all time, Wayne Gretzky made colossal news when he a) got married; b) was traded from Edmonton to Los Angeles, and c) announced he was retiring and played his final NHL game... events that are depicted below.

JULY 16, 1988

HOCKEY'S BIGGEST NAME... THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE CANADIAN ON EARTH, TIED THE KNOT IN A LAVISH EDMONTON CEREMONY ON SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1988. WAYNE GRETZKY, 27, MARRIED ACTRESS JANET JONES (FRONT PAGE OF TORONTO SUN ABOVE; STORIES, PHOTOS BELOW).

AUG. 9, 1988

IN SOME WAYS, IT IS STILL DIFFICULT - MORE THAN 23 YEARS LATER - TO BELIEVE THE EDMONTON OILERS ACTUALLY TRADED WAYNE GRETZKY. PERHAPS YOU HAVE TO BE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER GRETZKY IN HIS PRIME WITH THE DYNAMIC OILER TEAMS OF THE MID-'80s TO FULLY COMPREHEND HOW ASTONISHING IT WAS WHEN OWNER PETER POCKLINGTON DEALT HIM TO THE LOS ANGELES KINGS ON AUG. 9, 1988... A TRANSACTION SPURRED BY THE $15 MILLION POCKLINGTON RECEIVED TO HELP BOOST HIS DORMANT FINANCIAL EMPIRE. THE EDMONTON JOURNAL AND EDMONTON SUN (ABOVE AND BELOW) REACTED ACCORDINGLY TO THE NEWS THE FOLLOWING DAY.

FRONT PAGE (ABOVE) AND FRONT SPORTS PAGE (BELOW) OF THE TORONTO STAR ON AUG. 10, 1988 - THE DAY AFTER THE OILERS TRADED WAYNE GRETZKY. LEGENDARY COLUMNIST JIM PROUDFOOT WROTE THE LEAD OPINION PIECE IN THE SPORTS SECTION.

APRIL 15 - 18, 1999

IN THE FINAL WEEK OF THE 1998-99 NHL SEASON, NEW YORK RANGERS BROADCASTER JOHN DAVIDSON (CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE ST. LOUIS BLUES) BROKE THE NEWS THAT WAYNE GRETZKY WAS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING RETIREMENT. WITH GRETZKY AND THE RANGERS IN OTTAWA FOR A GAME AGAINST THE SENATORS, THE STORY GAINED ABUNDANT STEAM AND NO. 99 ADDED CREDENCE TO THE RETIREMENT SPECULATION BY RE-EMERGING FROM THE VISITORS' DRESSING ROOM AT SCOTIABANK PLACE AFTER THE GAME TO ADDRESS A STANDING OVATION FROM THE CROWD, WHICH WOULDN'T LEAVE UNTIL HE TOOK A BOW IN HIS FINAL GAME ON HOME SOIL. AT A PACKED NEWS CONFERENCE AFTERWARD, GRETZKY ADMITTED HE WAS LEANING TOWARD HANGING UP HIS SKATES BUT HAD NOT MADE A FIRM DECISION. FRONT PAGE OF THE TORONTO STAR ON FRI. APR. 16, 1999 (ABOVE) FEATURED THE BIGGEST HOCKEY STORY OF THE SEASON.

AT A FOLLOW-UP NEWS CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK ON FRIDAY - TELEVISED LIVE FROM COAST-TO-COAST IN CANADA - GRETZKY MADE IT OFFICIAL: HE WOULD INDEED RETIRE FROM THE NHL AFTER THE RANGERS SEASON FINALE TWO DAYS LATER AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN AGAINST THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (FRONT PAGES OF THE OTTAWA SUN, ABOVE, AND TORONTO SUN, BELOW). JUST FOR FUN, IN THE ENSUING NEWSPAPER PHOTOS LEADING UP TO - AND INCLUDING - GRETZKY'S LAST GAME, COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES YOU SEE THE WORD "GREAT" IN HEADLINES AND SUB-TITLES.

EDMONTON SUN COLUMNIST TERRY JONES COVERED ALL OF GRETZKY'S MAGICAL MOMENTS WITH THE OILERS OF THE 1980s. JONES WRITES ABOUT NO. 99's RETIREMENT (ABOVE).

NEWSPAPER COVERS (ABOVE) THE DAY AFTER GRETZKY'S RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE NEW YORK POST; NEW YORK TIMES; GLOBE AND MAIL; NATIONAL POST AND OTTAWA CITIZEN.

GAME-DAY EDITION (ABOVE AND BELOW) OF THE NEW YORK POST TALKS ABOUT GRETZKY'S BIG MOMENT LATER IN THE AFTERNOON OF APR. 18, 1999.

THE ABOVE POSTER OF WAYNE GRETZKY SALUTING THE CROWD AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN AFTER HIS FINAL NHL GAME WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE COVER OF THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ON MON. APR. 19, 1999. THE OTHER NEW YORK PAPERS, AND THOSE IN TORONTO (ALL BELOW), RAN HARD WITH PHOTOS AND STORIES FROM THE HISTORIC OCCASION, ONE THAT I WAS PRIVILEGED TO ATTEND.

MORE MEDIA GUIDES
A further selection of NHL media guide covers (below) from my stash of roughly 1,100 such items.

THE LAST TIME, TO DATE, THAT THE COVER OF A MAPLE LEAFS MEDIA GUIDE FEATURED THE WORDS "STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS" - EDITION OF 1967-68 (ABOVE).

THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF MAPLE LEAF GARDENS PROMPTED THE DESIGN OF A SUPERB COVER FOR THE LEAFS 1981-82 MEDIA GUIDE (ABOVE) - A COLLAGE OF SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE THAT HAD VISITED OR PERFORMED IN THE BUILDING, INCLUDING THE BEATLES; FRANK SINATRA; MICK JAGGER; MUHAMMAD ALI (FOUGHT GEORGE CHUVALO AT MLG ON MAR. 29, 1966); QUEEN ELIZABETH, AND FORMER PRIME MINISTERS JOHN DIEFENBAKER AND PIERRE ELLIOTT TRUDEAU.

THE BRUINS 1968-69 MEDIA GUIDE (ABOVE) SHOWS KEN HODGE SCORING ON MONTREAL'S GUMP WORSLEY, BUT - IN THE BACKGROUND - THERE'S A SHOT OF THE SPLENDID BOSTON GARDEN PRESS BOX THAT HUNG FROM THE FACING OF THE UPPER DECK. NO PRESS LOCATION ANYWHERE BROUGHT REPORTERS SO CLOSE TO THE ACTION.

THE BRUINS MEDIA GUIDE (ABOVE) IN THE FINAL YEAR OF THE BOSTON GARDEN: 1994-95. ONLY 48 GAMES WERE ON THE SCHEDULE THAT SEASON AFTER AN OWNERS' LOCKOUT POSTPONED PLAY UNTIL THE THIRD WEEK OF JANUARY IN '95. THE GREAT BOBBY ORR, AND HIS LEGENDARY STANLEY CUP OVERTIME GOAL, ARE FEATURED IN THE COVER ART WORK.

THE NEW YORK RANGERS MEDIA GUIDE FROM 1964-65 (ABOVE) FEATURED A NIFTY SHOT FROM THE OLD MADISON SQUARE GARDEN AT 8th AVE. AND 49th ST. - ABANDONED IN FEBRUARY 1968 WHEN THE CURRENT GARDEN OPENED. PHOTO SHOWS ROD GILBERT DEKING MONTREAL GOALIE CHARLIE HODGE WITH DEFENSEMAN TERRY HARPER LOOKING ON.

UNDOUBTEDLY THE MOST COVETED RANGERS MEDIA GUIDE OF THE PAST HALF-CENTURY IS THE 1994-95 EDITION (ABOVE), WITH A BEAMING MARK MESSIER HOLDING THE '94 STANLEY CUP, WHICH BUSTED A 54-YEAR DROUGHT FOR THE BLUESHIRTS. INCREDIBLY, THE MAPLE LEAFS ARE STILL A DECADE REMOVED FROM SUCH A FAMINE.

THE SECOND, AND FINAL, EDITION OF THE KANSAS CITY SCOUTS MEDIA GUIDE (ABOVE) DISPLAYS A RARE MOMENT: THE HORRID TEAM CELEBRATING A GOAL IN ITS HOME RINK, KEMPER ARENA (EDDIE GILBERT [24] HUGS WILF PAIEMENT). KANSAS CITY WAS A GHASTLY 12-56-12 DURING THE 1975-76 SEASON BEFORE PULLING STAKES AND MOVING TO DENVER AS THE COLORADO ROCKIES.

THERE WAS ONLY A SLIGHT INDICATION (ABOVE) THAT THE ROCKIES WANTED TO PROMOTE THEIR NEW HEAD COACH - DONALD S. CHERRY - ON THE COVER OF THE CLUB'S 1979-80 MEDIA GUIDE.

A YEAR LATER - IN 1980-81 - THE ROCKIES FEATURED ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREATEST MAPLE LEAFS ON THEIR MEDIA GUIDE COVER: LANNY McDONALD AND HIS UNMISTAKABLE MOUSTACHE WERE TRADED TO DENVER IN DECEMBER 1979 AND THE LEAFS DIDN'T RECOVER FROM THE DISASTROUS MOVE FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, UNTIL DOUG GILMOUR WAS SIMILARLY PILFERED FROM CALGARY.

A MAPLE LEAF-TO-BE WAS SEEN ON THE COVER OF THE 1991-92 QUEBEC NORDIQUES MEDIA GUIDE (ABOVE). THAT'S THE BIG SWEDE - MATS SUNDIN - LEAPING INTO THE ARMS OF TEAMMATE JOE SAKIC. POOR MATS CAME TO TORONTO IN JUNE 1994. IN JUNE 1996, HIS FORMER TEAM - THEN PLAYING AS THE COLORADO AVALANCHE - WON THE STANLEY CUP.

A WONDERFUL COVER ON THE HARTFORD WHALERS MEDIA GUIDE OF 1990-91 (ABOVE) SHOWS FUTURE HALL OF FAMER RON FRANCIS IN VARIOUS POSE. FRANCIS RETIRED AFTER THE 2003-04 SEASON FOURTH ON THE ALL-TIME NHL POINTS LIST (WHERE HE REMAINS), BEHIND ONLY WAYNE GRETZKY, MARK MESSIER AND GORDIE HOWE. HE FINISHED HIS CAREER PLAYING 12 GAMES FOR THE MAPLE LEAFS AFTER BEING ACQUIRED BY GM JOHN FERGUSON AT THE 2004 TRADE DEADLINE.

A FORMER LEAFS PLAYER AND FUTURE LEAFS COACH ADORNED THE COVER OF THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 1970-71 MEDIA GUIDE (ABOVE). RED KELLY LED THE PENS TO SECOND PLACE IN THE WEST DIVISION IN '69-70, FOR WHICH HE WAS NAMED THE SPORTING NEWS COACH-OF-THE-YEAR. PITTSBURGH SWEPT OAKLAND IN THE PLAYOFFS BEFORE LOSING TO DIVISION CHAMPION ST. LOUIS. KELLY - A MEMBER OF ALL FOUR LEAF STANLEY CUP TEAMS IN THE '60s - WOULD COACH THE BLUE & WHITE FROM 1973-74 TO 1976-77.

TWO FORMER LEAFS ARE PICTURED ON THE COVER OF PITTSBURGH'S 1979-80 MEDIA GUIDE (ABOVE): CENTER GEORGE FERGUSON (LEFT) AND DEFENSEMAN RANDY CARLYLE, NOW COACH OF THE ANAHEIM DUCKS. CARLYLE WOULD WIN THE 1981 NORRIS TROPHY AFTER AN 83-POINT SEASON WITH THE PENGUINS.

THE BLUE-NOTE LOGO ON THE COVER OF ST. LOUIS' 1969-70 MEDIA GUIDE (ABOVE) EMBRACES THE VEZINA TROPHY (LEFT) AND THE CLARENCE CAMPBELL BOWL. THE GOALTENDING TANDEM OF GLENN HALL AND JACQUES PLANTE WON THE VEZINA IN '68-69 WHILE THE BLUES WERE REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPIONS OF THE WEST DIVISION, FOR WHICH THE CAMPBELL BOWL WAS ORIGINALLY AWARDED.

THE PLAGER BROTHERS - BOB (IN REAR) AND BARCLAY - ARE FEATURED ON THE COVER OF THE BLUES 1973-74 MEDIA GUIDE (ABOVE). BOB REMAINS AFFILIATED WITH THE CLUB IN COMMUNITY RELATIONS WHILE BARCLAY DIED OF BRAIN CANCER ON FEB. 6, 1988 AT 46 YEARS OF AGE.

IT'S DOUBTFUL THE COVER OF THE BLACKHAWKS 1970-71 MEDIA GUIDE (ABOVE) WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED IN TODAY'S ERA OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS. IN FACT, IT MAY HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED DOWNRIGHT RACIST. MY 14-YEAR-OLD SON, SHANE, LOOKED AT THIS COVER AND EXCLAIMED, "OH MY GOD, DAD, THAT'S AWFUL!"

THE MINNESOTA NORTH STARS HAD A MUTT-AND-JEFF GOALTENDING DUO IN THE EARLY-'70s. THAT'S LORNE (GUMP) WORSLEY (5-FOOT-7 AND CHUBBY) IN FRONT OF CESARE MANIAGO (6-FOOT-2 AND LANKY) ON THE COVER OF THE TEAM'S 1972-73 MEDIA GUIDE (ABOVE).

THE NORTH STARS DEPARTED FROM THE USUAL WHITE BACKGROUND FOR THEIR 1973-74 MEDIA GUIDE (ABOVE) - DESIGNING A GREEN CARICATURE OF FORWARD DENNIS HEXTALL ON A PREDOMINENTLY-GOLD COVER.

AN ACTION SHOT OF VETERAN ROGER CROZIER ADORNED THE COVER OF BUFFALO'S MEDIA GUIDE IN ITS THIRD NHL SEASON (ABOVE). THE SABRES MADE THE PLAYOFFS THAT YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME BY DEFEATING ST. LOUIS ON THE FINAL NIGHT OF THE SCHEDULE AT MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM. THE UPSTART TEAM EXTENDED EVENTUAL-CHAMPION MONTREAL TO SIX GAMES IN THE OPENING ROUND OF THE STANLEY CUP TOURNAMENT. CROZIER DIED OF CANCER ON JAN. 11, 1996. HE WAS 53.

YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT GOALTENDER RON LOW WASN'T OVERLY THRILLED TO APPEAR ON THE COVER OF THE SECOND WASHINGTON CAPITALS MEDIA GUIDE (ABOVE), AFTER THE EXPANSION CLUB SET LEAGUE MARKS FOR FEWEST WINS IN A MINIMUM 70-GAME SCHEDULE (8) AND MOST GOALS ALLOWED IN ANY SEASON (446).

IT WAS EXTREMELY RARE FOR NHL CLUBS TO USE BLACK-AND-WHITE PHOTOS ON THE FRONT OF THEIR MEDIA GUIDES BUT THE ATLANTA FLAMES OF 1975-76 PROBABLY WEREN'T ROLLING IN BLACK INK WHEN THEY DESIGNED THIS COVER (ABOVE).