Excerpts from "Gabby - Confessions of a Hockey Lifer," Part I
by J.P. on Aug 17, 2009 11:30 AM EDT
49 comments
[Every day this week at Japers' Rink, we'll be sharing a new excerpt from Bruce Boudreau's forthcoming autobiography "Gabby - Confessions of a Hockey Lifer" (co-written by Tim Leone). The book, published by the good folks over at Potomac Books, Inc., hits book store shelves in October, 2009, but you can (and should) pre-order it now via Amazon.com or BN.com.
Our first excerpt finds Boudreau arriving at the Capitals' practice facility just hours after being awoken with the news that he would be the team's new head coach. Enjoy.]
The first person I saw at Kettler was Brooks Laich, a forward I coached in Hershey. He looked at me and said, "What are you doing here?" It dawned on me that the players didn’t know. I didn’t know what to say. I just told Brooksie, as innocently as possible, I was asked to come down.
I went into the coaches office, and George McPhee was there. George said he was about to tell the players. He didn’t pull me into Glen Hanlon’s office, which I thought was a classy move. Glen’s office would be closed until he cleared out everything. George went into the locker room and told the players while I sat with Dean Evason, Jay Leach, and video coach Blaine Forsythe. They were extremely magnanimous and said they’d do anything I needed. My head swirled. George returned and took me to meet the players.
To me, this was a critical moment. I could have blown it right away by going in and not knowing what I was doing. The Caps sat at the bottom of the NHL with a 6-14-1 record, which is why Hanlon was released. I wanted this team to believe in itself. I walked around the locker room as I spoke, making sure to look each player in the eye.
"Guys, I know this is a new situation," I said. "It’s a new situation for me. But I do know one thing: I know how to coach. We’re going to go out there, and we’re going to have a forty-five-minute practice right now. Then we’re going to get on the bus to play in Philadelphia tomorrow. The one thing I do know is when I was here at training camp, I thought you guys were a pretty good hockey club. You guys are good. You just don’t know it yet. We’re going to make you know it. Let’s get out there and let’s have a real good practice. We’re going to play the way we’re all capable of playing."
I looked over and defenseman Mike Green, who played for me in Hershey, was smiling. I knew Green was happy. And centerman Dave Steckel, another of my Hershey guys, was happy. I went around and talked to everybody individually to say hello. At one point, I forgot what I was saying because I glanced over to superstar winger Alexander Ovechkin and said to myself, "Oh, my God, I’m coaching Alex Ovechkin." I had to regain my train of thought.
I knew I had to get their attention. I told the assistants that it was important to me that the players hear only my voice and that I would run the whole practice.
I hadn’t had time to write a practice plan. I initially thought I wasn’t going to change much from Hanlon’s conservative, defense-oriented systems. Then, I decided, the heck with it. I changed everything to my style, which is a high-pressure game all over the ice.
[Tomorrow: Bruce Boudreau, the player.]
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no chance we get the forward by don cherry as an excerpt?
by Natty Bumppo on Aug 17, 2009 11:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Who cares about that jingo-clown? ;-)
(Or buy the book! It’s 35%-off via Amazon up there.)
by TylerG on Aug 17, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i’ll be a paying customer, no doubt.
by Natty Bumppo on Aug 17, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Stay tuned… but my guess is folks are more interested in what Bruce has to say.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Aug 17, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
i could listen to him talk for hours. and if the entire book is written with this excerpt’s conversational tone, it will be a quick and enjoyable read. thanks for making this happen.
by Natty Bumppo on Aug 17, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I will say this – it was the best book I read cover-to-cover last Wednesday evening.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Aug 17, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They sent you an ARC? Good choice.
by CapitalCentre on Aug 17, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Last Wednesday, eh? The same night as this?
Bruce Boudreau’s book debuts at #1 (among hockey books) on Amazon.com, but I’m still wondering why the publisher hasn’t sent me a copy and excerpts to publish so that you all will go and buy it. [John Walton Hockey]
Hooray for responsiveness!
by grapejoos on Aug 17, 2009 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great work
I’ve only spoken to Boudreau once but that excerpt really catches his character perfectly.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Aug 17, 2009 11:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’ve only spoken to Boudreau once
More than most of us, I bet
by red army line on Aug 17, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You sly dog, this IS a good feature. I am happy.
Rockin' the Red in Section 412
by boutros23 on Aug 17, 2009 11:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh, yeah, this lived up to its billing.
by CapitalCentre on Aug 17, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The excerpts get better, too.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Aug 17, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah – bad ass move boys. I like it.
by vt caps fan on Aug 17, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why? WHY the foreword by Don Cherry?
Sigh. I’ll still buy this for sure.
I wonder if there’ll be any ads for it at VC!
"My face is my mask."
by jakeshapiro on Aug 17, 2009 11:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh, SWEET. I know what my lunchtime reading will be this week. Nice job, guys.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Aug 17, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
“Forward” and “Don Cherry” would not appear, at first blush, to belong in the same sentence.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Aug 17, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
“Foreword,” either
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Aug 17, 2009 11:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why not? He talks enough.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Aug 17, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sounds like it would be pretty fortuitous to skip the foreword due to that foreboding prediction
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Aug 17, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was going to do that anyway, who cares about what the grape-in-a-tie has to say?
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Aug 17, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I believe Peerless means ‘forward’ as in ’forward thinking.
by CP2Devil on Aug 17, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know, but I can’t resist the jibe.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Aug 17, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Make sure to buy it and support forward-thinking publishing houses like this.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Aug 17, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No worries, I’ll be ordering this. Maybe even today. Damn that it’s more than two months away.
by gfcaps fan on Aug 17, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
More. I need more. Not tomorrow. Now.
:: checks watch ::
/Earlier I thought the Rink was a little light on news about Coach B’s book. Now we know why. Well played.
//This
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Aug 17, 2009 12:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wonder if Bruce will have a book signing table at Nats stadium on Thursday? He’s throwing out the first pitch at 6:45pm. Be there or be square. (sorry, no link. the announcement came in a National’s e-mail to STHs.)
by b.orr4 on Aug 17, 2009 12:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Link.
And the book isn’t out yet, but is available for pre-order, so he may be signing, but it won’t be his book that he’s inking.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Aug 17, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Suggestion: Bring an “Ex-Libris” book plate and have him sign that. Then, when the book is published, Presto! An instant autographed copy, suitable for framing.
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Aug 17, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s worth noting that just because the ‘release’ date is whatever it is that it will likely ship soonest to pre-order customers. “Release dates” mean nothing in publisher-world, except for Harry Potter books. If you want to read the book hot-off-the-presses, buy it now.
by TylerG on Aug 17, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually, I’ve pre-order books before. Some places may ship early, but I’ve never had Barnes & Noble ship before the release date. However, I suppose with this not be a high profile book, maybe it slips out the door early.
by gfcaps fan on Aug 17, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Amazon ships early. A lot. Some publishers even use them to send out review copies, somehow. (No idea how — I just receive ’em.)
by TylerG on Aug 17, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Some books have a strict-on-sale date, while others are simply released whenever they become available. Major vendors like B+N and Amazon are required by contract to be very careful about SOS books, and are careful not to ship them too early (though they can ship before the SOS date as long as the books will not arrive early).
I imagine BB’s book is not SOS, so if I wanted it at the earliest possible date I’d order it online (from whomever) and it will ship as soon as they get it in the warehouse.
by LSF76 on Aug 17, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Then, I decided, the heck with it. I changed everything. . .
The fateful moment! And the rest, as they say, is history.
JP, this is excellent! Bravo to you. My daily dose of Gabby = love it.
(hey pal, where are you getting this, if it’s not “published” yet? you scamp.)
by Uncle C on Aug 17, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
BTW, if anyone was wondering how much Bruce loves Flash, I think we have the answer. Check out the cover.
by b.orr4 on Aug 17, 2009 12:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If he REALLY loved him, Flash’s stick wouldn’t be blocking his face.
by LSF76 on Aug 17, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And they would Photoshop the jersey to give him the right #
Fehr is fair, but I like Laich
by amkcaps on Aug 17, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Flash used to wear 43, iirc. The picture must be from Boudreau’s first season. (Someone linked to the “extended young guns” video, and Flash was wearing 43 in it)
Fear the Rebel Polar Bears (trust me, this sig makes sense)
by crabchowdah on Aug 17, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah I know. Im saying make it current. Esp if its only coming out now
Fehr is fair, but I like Laich
by amkcaps on Aug 17, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fear the Rebel Polar Bears (trust me, this sig makes sense)
by crabchowdah on Aug 17, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The part with Mike Green smiling was definitely the most intriguing part of this excerpt, for me at least. I have to say, though, that I would have rather this been more like the scene in Lean on me when Morgan Freeman comes in the office—after being hired as the new principal—and rips everyone a new one. But still a great story, and I will be a happy customer!
by bigmac1124 on Aug 17, 2009 1:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Definitely ordering this on Amazon today! +1.
Winterion Game Studios
Visit us online at : http://winterion.com
by winterion on Aug 17, 2009 1:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This article linked at DC Sports Bog. Cheers!
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Aug 17, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They were extremely magnanimous and said they’d do anything I needed.
I’ve never thought of Gabby as the type to use the $3 words.
by Sct112 on Aug 17, 2009 3:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m presuming either link sends the requisite kickback to the Rink?
http://wewintrophies.com/ - 12 major trophies in national and international competitions. Be a part of the next one.
by Bald Pollack on Aug 17, 2009 3:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No, actually.
But I personally prefer Amazon to BN.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Aug 17, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Got me
This is great. I initially thought I wasn’t gonna buy this book. Already too much time spent with hockey, too much time not spent studying. Then I decided, the heck with it, and just pre-ordered it.
by Scaii on Aug 18, 2009 2:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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