A VIEW FROM SLATS
Once again, we at Hockeenight have the distinct pleasure and honor of featuring the one and only Slats Radke as a contributor. As you may recall, Slats covered professional hockey for the Chicago American throughout the 1960s and early 70s. He has agreed to offer his unique insight upon occasion. So, with no further ado, Slats Radke:
I get a call last week from one of the Meatheads asking me if I want to write about the Olympics. Now what do I care about this? In my day, the Canadians were all the players who weren't god enough to make the jump to the NHL, and Americans were a bunch of college kids who would never amount to anything, and the Communists sent their Army teams, some of whom could have played in the NHL.
Now they have all the boys from the NHL teams playing there, and some of the boys from the European leagues too. The NHL is taking a two week breather so the boys can all go play for their countries. What sense does it make for these goys to take two weeks off in the middle of the spring to go play hockey someplace else when they could all be playing for their teams in the NHL?
Can you imagine back in my day, seeing Gordie and Bobby lace 'em up and skate for Canada for a couple weeks the day after trying to rip each other's heads off at the Olympia a couple nights before? And how about if old Stosh decided to skate for Czechoslovakia? Would Bobby run him into the boards?
The Hawks get a couple weeks off, which isn't the worst thing in the world for them since neither of their goalies are playing, on account of France not having a team and Finland having as many goaltenders as Carter's has pills, and some of the other players who have aches and pains can rest up, like those boys on defense who have been blocking all those shots, the one with the long hair that needs a trim and a wash, and the kid who is always in the furniture store on my television, and some of the forwards have been showing a little hitch in their giddyup too, so the rest will help because the Hawks get a couple weeks off, which isn't the worst thing in the world for them.
I don't know if old Slats will watch any of these games, since they all come on television a little late, on account of them being on the West Coast, only in Canada, and I like to go out to Baker's Square early for my dinner, because they make a nice dinner that doesn't cost a lot and you get pie when you're done, and who doesn't like pie? Then, by the time I get home and have a couple Rock & Ryes, it's time for me to call it a night, which I've been doing early ever since Johnny Carson stopped being on the Carson Show.
So you boys (and girls, since there's girls reading this now, which goes to show you because the only girls I ever used to see around hockey were the waitresses at the Millionaire's Club back when some of the boys would go loosen up the elbows after a game) enjoy your Olympics. I'll enjoy my pie.
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I get a call last week from one of the Meatheads asking me if I want to write about the Olympics. Now what do I care about this? In my day, the Canadians were all the players who weren't god enough to make the jump to the NHL, and Americans were a bunch of college kids who would never amount to anything, and the Communists sent their Army teams, some of whom could have played in the NHL.
Now they have all the boys from the NHL teams playing there, and some of the boys from the European leagues too. The NHL is taking a two week breather so the boys can all go play for their countries. What sense does it make for these goys to take two weeks off in the middle of the spring to go play hockey someplace else when they could all be playing for their teams in the NHL?
Can you imagine back in my day, seeing Gordie and Bobby lace 'em up and skate for Canada for a couple weeks the day after trying to rip each other's heads off at the Olympia a couple nights before? And how about if old Stosh decided to skate for Czechoslovakia? Would Bobby run him into the boards?
The Hawks get a couple weeks off, which isn't the worst thing in the world for them since neither of their goalies are playing, on account of France not having a team and Finland having as many goaltenders as Carter's has pills, and some of the other players who have aches and pains can rest up, like those boys on defense who have been blocking all those shots, the one with the long hair that needs a trim and a wash, and the kid who is always in the furniture store on my television, and some of the forwards have been showing a little hitch in their giddyup too, so the rest will help because the Hawks get a couple weeks off, which isn't the worst thing in the world for them.
I don't know if old Slats will watch any of these games, since they all come on television a little late, on account of them being on the West Coast, only in Canada, and I like to go out to Baker's Square early for my dinner, because they make a nice dinner that doesn't cost a lot and you get pie when you're done, and who doesn't like pie? Then, by the time I get home and have a couple Rock & Ryes, it's time for me to call it a night, which I've been doing early ever since Johnny Carson stopped being on the Carson Show.
So you boys (and girls, since there's girls reading this now, which goes to show you because the only girls I ever used to see around hockey were the waitresses at the Millionaire's Club back when some of the boys would go loosen up the elbows after a game) enjoy your Olympics. I'll enjoy my pie.
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