Gotta love Mike Milbury
February 26th, 2010 by Cliffy
If you haven’t heard, he apparently made some “controversial” comments about the Russian team after they got lambasted by Canada in the quarters:
Oh - and you can click to a link of the video from 30 years ago, when he jumped into the MSG stands with his teammates… and elected to take things one step further, beating the fan who started it all with his own shoe. Just classic.
No word on whether or not Milbury had foiled up before the game.
February 26th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
I have mixed emotions on Milbury.
On the one hand, he’s a complete douchebag. I realize I’m biased beacuse Milbury got my good friend’s Dad fired from the dream job at BC that he worked his whole life to get, only to have Milbury steal it from him, show up at the Heights and send all the recruits home, and then quit to run the Islanders into the ground. But bias or no bias, he’s a douchebag.
On the other hand, he went into the stands at MSG and beat a guy with his own shoe. I mean, how does it get any better than that?
February 26th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Just watched the video again. Have to love it.
My uncle Tom actually went to camp with that ‘79-’80 team. Craig MacTavish was his linemate in college at Lowell and left early to turn pro with the Bs. Being my uncle’s buddy, he gives him some friendly advice before the intrasquad games - “try to stay out of trouble.”
During one of the games, my uncle accidentally clips Secord with an elbow, but doesn’t think it’s a big deal. Mac skates over, “I told you to stay out of trouble. Now you did it.” Then over the boards comes Wensink, you know, to show the rookie who’s likely not making the team what happens when you elbow one of the top-line centers. I’m told my uncle held his own, you know, as much as an undersized guy with no pro experience can against a 6′0, 200 lb. guy with a five-inch white man’s afro.
February 26th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
Of course the classic Wensink moment… forget the year, but I believe the North Stars were the opponent - he skates over in front of the opponent’s bench and challenges anyone/everyone to come out and fight him. Nobody hopped over the boards… heck, nobody even made any motion as if they were considering hopping over the boards.
Oh heck, we have this Internet thingie… sure enough, found the event on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-85qLSvztnQ
It was the North Stars - and if you catch the beginning of the clip, O’Reilly takes a few shots… then proceeds to completely annihilate the guy that dared square off with him. Anyhow, end of the clip - Wensink skates over, extends the invitation, and then skates off in pure disgust that nobody accepted his offer. It really doesn’t get much better than that.
February 27th, 2010 at 8:49 am
That is just so very good. I think the best part of watching that clip was that the next “suggested” clip on YouTube after I watched it was Wensink’s other famous fight against “Battleship” Bob Kelly. For the uninitiated, Battleship Bob was the *other* NHL goon of the era who sported a spectacular man-fro.
So, Wensink and Battleship get into it, and Wensink starts pulling on his fro. You have to watch it, and take in the glorious musings of the immortal Fred Cusick (RIP):
“This could be a good go.”
“And Wensink is pulling his hair and that…could be a problem. That could be an added penalty.”
“Hairpulling is not allowed.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swRyvZiI6NY
February 27th, 2010 at 8:50 am
Speaking of Battleship Bob and his fro. He played for the Blackhawks. Who play in Chicago.
Anyone know something we could do with an afro theme in Chicago???
February 27th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
First, whatever it says about me, so be it… but I cannot get enough of these clips.
Second, got back to O’Reilly and found a tribute to “Taz” (set to ACDC’s “TNT”… very nice):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilp3bdtOQ0Q&feature=related
As discussed, O’Reilly did have some hockey talent (perhaps even more than I care to remember, to be fair) - as shown in this other tribute (though my favorite part of this montage is near the middle, vs. North Stars, takes out a guy behind the net, slewfoots another guy by the faceoff circle, and then cuffs a ref… or maybe it was a linesman, but it was one of the guys in stripes… ya know, that you’re supposed to *not* hit — that’s not the Gordie Howe Hat Trick, but rather the much rarer Terry O’Reilly Hat Trick, I suppose):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v9n_qzFhss&NR=1&feature=fvwp
Third, I can’t believe this just *now* occurred to me - but was Ogie Ogilthorpe (afroed pugilist) fashioned completely after John Wensink? Or was it more an homage to both Wensink and Kelly?
Fourth, I miss Fred Cusick. Now part of that is that his was the voice I heard for the first 20+ years that I watched the Bruins on TV… but as Jakes notes, he just had a matter-of-fact way about him that was out-standing. I first recall him teaming with Johnny Pierson, and they were a good team… but in my opinion, Cusick and Derek Sanderson (80s into the early 90s) were the Best… with a capital “B”. They both knew their stuff - but they’d argue at least once per game… which staged or not (and I tend to believe “not”), was very entertaining. Fred would tend to be more subtle about it, while Turk would curtly explain, “You’re wrong, Fred.”. Turk himself was terrific in that matter-of-fact way, often concluding while two guys fought, “Well… boys will be boys.” But he wasn’t a homer (and Cusick was a bit… which was the main impetus for most of their disagreements) - and I can recall on more than occasion, as they looked at a replay of a Bruin penalty, Turk again matter-of-factly explaining, “Oh… yup, okay… Neely got his elbow up a little bit on that one… okay, he deserved to go.” The video would show Neely absolutely cold-cocking an unsuspecting opponent (for those unaware, Neely had a delicious mean streak that endeared him not only to the Bruins fans but also to the Bruins alums, like O’Reilly, Wensink, et al), and Cusick would try subsequently try to defend the action… leading to the patented Turk response, “No - you’re wrong, Fred.”. Those two were terrific calling games together. I truly miss those days.
March 1st, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Btw, to Jakes question regarding ‘Fros in Chicago…. I suppose we could plan a mid-winter gathering to go along with our mid-summer gathering… perhaps a weekend in Chicago, with Blackhawks T-Shirts with “Kelly” on the back, and the aforementioned ‘Fros.
Then again, I wonder how many people would even get it. And actually, as I think it through further, Jakes and I would almost have to have our own separate “Wensink” shirts (or hockey jerseys, depending on the economy) made up… in order to represent… cuz, ya know, we’re Masshole and it’s… well, it’s like their law.
Course, still others could score some “Chiefs” hockey jerseys with “Ogilthorpe” on the back. Actually, following this stream of conscience… I’d be torn whether to go with Wensink or Ogilthorpe - so perhaps we’d have to relocate the mid-winter gathering to Johnstown, PA (home of the Johnstown Chiefs, I believe the inspirations for the Charlstown Chiefs of “Slapshot” fame) and all done Oligthorpe ‘Fros replete with Syracuse Bulldogs jerseys. We can get ‘em right here:
http://www.slap-shot.com/
Scroll further down the site… there was not only a “Slap Shot 2″, but also a “Slap Shot 3″. My guess is that I’m happy I wasn’t aware of that, or else I might’ve invested several hours watching them - only to find them to be the cinematic equivalents of “Caddyshack 2″ (instead of, say, “Ghostbusters 2″ - which I’ve always considered to be the best comedic sequel in the history of American cinema).
March 1st, 2010 at 11:05 pm
That merchandise is awesome. They sell some of it at the Hockey Hall of Fame, which is where I got my Syracuse Bulldogs tee. I think the best is the Hanrahan with the old yellow Vancouver halloween costume style, but I couldn’t bring myself to drop two bills on it.
Oh, and I’m SO in for a roadie to Johnstown if anyone’s up for it.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:47 am
Road trip to Johnstown does seem like a must-do. Now it seems silly to suggest it be an annual thing… while there’s much to do in Chicago in summertime, and just in the Wrigley Bleachers in summertime, winter in Johnstown for a Chiefs game seems more of a one-time venture. Not quite to level of Clark Griswold and family getting to the Grand Canyon, craning neck for a couple seconds, then turning around and leaving… but more like the trip to Wallyworld I guess. We’ll get there, and regardless of whether we’re the only ones or not… we will go in and enjoy a full day - but likely little more than that.
I reserve the right to change my mind… but at this time, if we do it, I think I’d have to invest in the Bulldogs jersey replete with “Swamptower” on the back (I’d have to look up the number, my memory’s not that good)… well, either him or the “Poodle”. I have such great respect for what Clarence “Screaming Buffalo” Swamptower and Andre “The Poodle” Pudelucier brought to the ice… so tough to choose. Course, Gilmont Tuttle *was* the leader in penalty minutes for the Federal League for the years 1960 to 68… inclusive - and as we all know, as done very well in his post-playing days, currently operating a donut shop out at Mile 40, Saskatchewan.
It may come down to which guy has the best number. I’m leaning towards Swamptower… better name than Pudelucier or Tuttle - but I could be swayed by the number. I can’t go Chiefs, though I’d love to - cuz (a) really, which Hanson am I supposed to pick? and (b) everyone will have Chiefs jerseys, and I’m generally loathe to just be “part of the crowd”.
So is this a Winter/Christmas break (between Xmas and New Year’s) type of gathering - or is that too often family time? When’s a good time to go? And perhaps as important, is there anything to do in Johnstown in winter besides a Chiefs game? I suppose as long as they have a bar that serves beer and offers TV, and at least one of darts, pool, or foosball… then we’ll be okay. I’m gonna go out on a limb and suggest the female scenery in Johnstown in Winter will not be… um, like Wrigley bleachers in Summer. I’m not sayin’… I’m just sayin’…