Excerpts from "Gabby - Confessions of a Hockey Lifer," Part III
by J.P. on Aug 19, 2009 11:30 AM EDT
52 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.]
Starting an AHL expansion franchise in Manchester, New Hampshire, in 2001–2 was exciting. But that challenge was tempered by a tragic dose of perspective on September 11, 2001.
I was supposed to be on United Airlines flight 175 out of Boston, which flew into the World Trade Center in New York. Los Angeles Kings pro scouting director Ace Bailey and scout Mark Bavis were on the flight and were killed. Ace and I became fast friends when I coached in Lowell. There wasn’t a more lovable guy in the world than Garnet "Ace" Bailey, who was like a big brother to me. Ace, who was Wayne Gretzky’s roommate during the Great One’s first season in Edmonton, possessed a geniality and charisma that made him a beloved figure throughout pro hockey.
The original itinerary called for me to be on the Tuesday flight from Boston to Los Angeles for the start of Kings training camp. But Kings head coach Andy Murray decided he wanted me and Bobby Jay, my Manchester assistant coach, there a day earlier. Thank God Andy’s a stickler for details, and thank God Kings general manager Dave Taylor listened to coaches when they wanted something. The week before, John Wolf, Taylor’s assistant, told me he changed my flight because Murray had scheduled a precamp meeting and dinner with all the coaches in the organization. I would fly to LA on Monday, September 10, instead of Tuesday, September 11. I wasn’t peeved about the switch. I was happy that Andy wanted me there early. I didn’t know he had saved my life.
The weekend before September 11, Kings player personnel director Bill O’Flaherty’s daughter got married in Lake Placid, New York. Ace Bailey picked me up in Manchester, and we drove to Lake Placid. We had to take a car ferry across Lake Champlain from Vermont to New York, and Ace chatted with fellow passengers and offered them beer. Typical, gregarious Ace. He knew everybody in hockey.
We were hungry when we arrived in Lake Placid. The lights were out when we checked into our hotel room, but we started ravenously searching for food before we turned them on. Ace pointed out a big bowl in the shadows and suggested I dig in. I started eating what I thought were peanuts. They tasted stale. Ace tried them (or at least pretended to try them) and agreed they were stale. He encouraged me to keep eating, noting they weren’t half bad given our hunger. When we turned on the lights, I discovered I’d been eating potpourri. Yum-yum. At the wedding reception, Ace made sure to tell everybody that foolish Bruce dined on potpourri, never mentioning that it originally was his idea. I was always Mutt to his Jeff.
We returned home Sunday morning. I suggested to Ace that he get his Tuesday flight changed to Monday and travel to LA with me. Ace checked with John Wolf. A flight change would cost $750. Ace didn’t want to hit the Kings with that expense and opted to stick with the Tuesday flight. He dropped me off and I shook his hand, gave him a man hug, and told him I’d see him Tuesday.
I flew to Los Angeles on Monday with Bobby Jay, and on Tuesday morning, September 11, at around 6:00 a.m. Pacific time, my wife, Crystal, phoned and told me to turn on the TV. I did and saw all the stuff happening with the terrorist attacks. I went to Bobby Jay’s room. He’s from Boston. We went to the rink to continue watching and word started to drift out that one of the planes involved was United flight 175—the flight taken by Ace Bailey and Mark Bavis.
[Tomorrow: Bruce Boudreau, the tactician.]
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Wow…that’s certainly a life changing moment
by red army line on Aug 19, 2009 11:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow
Wow. That’s some powerful stuff right there…..
by thecapsfan79 on Aug 19, 2009 11:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hey, it’s only potpourri.
http://wewintrophies.com/ - 12 major trophies in national and international competitions. Be a part of the next one.
by Bald Pollack on Aug 19, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
I had never heard this story before…unbelievable
by Feeshbate on Aug 19, 2009 11:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Whoa.
The more I read, the more I’m convinced that some universal force meant for Bruce Boudreau to be here.
Potpourri, yummy.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Aug 19, 2009 11:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It does appear the stars have aligned….
by thecapsfan79 on Aug 19, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I had no idea. Wow.
"My face is my mask."
by jakeshapiro on Aug 19, 2009 11:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think I need to buy Andy Murray a beer…
by Kewibr on Aug 19, 2009 11:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think I need to buy Andy Murray a beer brewery…
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Aug 19, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
I was supposed to be on United Airlines flight 175 out of Boston, which flew into the World Trade Center in New York.
:: boggle ::
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Aug 19, 2009 12:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Alright, it’s been a few minutes since I read this and I am still shaking.
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Aug 19, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Perfect summation of how I feel.
There's always more to learn about Hockey.
by WordsOnIce on Aug 19, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wow that is incredible. I can’t believe that story hadn’t come out before, or if it did, that more people didn’t know about it.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Aug 19, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It’s been reported before for example in the Manchester and Hershey newspapers, but obviously that is a different audience. I don’t recall whether it was reported by either of the Washington beat writers, but it may have been, although likely not in much detail.
JP, Thanks, enjoying the excerpts.
by sk84fun_dc on Aug 19, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, i’ve definitely heard that – might’ve even been a CSN thing I’m thinking of… I’m actually surprised that more people here haven’t read it before now.
by DrinkingPartner on Aug 19, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s really a bizarre thing to read. It never ceases to unsettle and amaze me when I’m confronted by another thread of the Sept. 11 story. Even at this distance in time, whenever I hear something related to that tragedy that is new to me, for a second, I’m right back there again as if it were just happening.
Only for a second, but it’s cold water to the face that affects me for minutes to hours in my day, depending on the type of story it is. This bit will have me thinking for a while.
There's always more to learn about Hockey.
by WordsOnIce on Aug 19, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder how many people pre-ordered after reading that excerpt.. I know I just did
by shaiba8 on Aug 19, 2009 12:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
(patch the Kings wore to honor Ace and Mark)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Aug 19, 2009 1:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
And the links to the foundations set up by the families of Ace Bailey and Mark Bavis.
by sk84fun_dc on Aug 19, 2009 1:14 PM EDT reply actions 5 recs
Good thought, thanks.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Aug 19, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That sent chills down my spine. Think about it, a small, seemingly meaningless decision about what day to fly not only saved Bruce’s life but it has impacted, in a much smaller way, the lives of tens of thousands of people in Manchester, Hershey and here in DC. Not to pull out a Lost reference, but it does make you wonder about destiny vs free will. Heavy stuff.
by b.orr4 on Aug 19, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Live together, die alone.
"My face is my mask."
by jakeshapiro on Aug 19, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
let’s look death in the face and say “whatever, man”
sorry, couldn’t resist :)
by kellobellow on Aug 19, 2009 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Slightly related, but Real Sports on HBO landed an interview with Nick Schuyler, who tells his story of surviving in the Gulf Coast waters earlier this year while watching his three friends perish in the ordeal. Moving and compelling, and definitely worth watching.
http://wewintrophies.com/ - 12 major trophies in national and international competitions. Be a part of the next one.
by Bald Pollack on Aug 19, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Every day I find something new to love about the Rink Rats.
"My face is my mask."
by jakeshapiro on Aug 19, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not to pull out a Lost reference, but it does make you wonder about destiny vs free will.
So is Flash Paulo or Nikki?
http://wewintrophies.com/ - 12 major trophies in national and international competitions. Be a part of the next one.
by Bald Pollack on Aug 19, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Are you implying he should be buried alive?
by b.orr4 on Aug 19, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whoa. You know how the Island moves through time differently than the rest of the world, and for a while last season it was skipping back and forth and circling through time periods?
I think we’ve found an explanation for Nylandering.
Lost + Caps = two great tastes that taste great together.
"My face is my mask."
by jakeshapiro on Aug 19, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So if Nyls could skate at 88 miles per hour, it would look like this?
Winterion Game Studios
Visit us online at : http://winterion.com
by winterion on Aug 19, 2009 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Are you implying he should be buried alive?
Nah, just in the “you’re gonna love ’em, trust me!” vein when everything was new. All that’s left is the public mea culpa.
http://wewintrophies.com/ - 12 major trophies in national and international competitions. Be a part of the next one.
by Bald Pollack on Aug 19, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting story, but that is crap writing of the highest order.
Stick to hockey, Bruce.
by fat_daddyo on Aug 19, 2009 2:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I guarantee you it isn’t. It’s clean, spare, sounds like how Gabby talks irl and delivers a sucker punch of holy shit that was close. That is good writing.
There's always more to learn about Hockey.
by WordsOnIce on Aug 19, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It doesn’t have to be “good writing”. It sounds like Bruce just jabbering, and that’s fine by me.
by gfcaps fan on Aug 19, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tim Leone is on Caps Report right now. There’s a streaking incident somewhere in the book. I’m hoping it’s from the 70’s. (He did say it was in Toronto).
by gfcaps fan on Aug 19, 2009 2:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yep.
Out of curiousity, any mention of where one might be able to find excerpts from the book if one so desired to read some?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Aug 19, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You mean did they mention the Rink? Yes.
by gfcaps fan on Aug 19, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thx. Those guys are berry berry good to me.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Aug 19, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is anyone else appalled that he snacked on potpourri? Potpourri? Must have been pretty tanked after that ferry ride.
by bigmac1124 on Aug 19, 2009 4:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well, I’ll tell you this. If he hadn’t told this story in context with Sept. 11, I think he could have expected bags of potpourri as gag gifts. He may still.
There's always more to learn about Hockey.
by WordsOnIce on Aug 19, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that part was strange. Drunk or not, who the hell barges into their hotel room and immediately starts looking for food?
by Cluster on Aug 19, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
…
Winterion Game Studios
Visit us online at : http://winterion.com
by winterion on Aug 19, 2009 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seth McFarlane, the “brains” behind Family Guy was supposed to be on one of the Boston 9/11 flights as well, but was running late and missed it.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Aug 19, 2009 5:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’ll admit I’m not the most religious person in the world, by any stretch of the imagination but God had plans for Boudreau in this life time that were to take place after Sept 11, 2001.
by CapsFan1975 on Aug 19, 2009 5:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes, god wanted thousands of people to die and then a multi-billion dollar war to start so Bruce could coach the Capitals to victory.
by zephyr on Aug 20, 2009 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
War is one way to curb population growth without a one-child policy
by red army line on Aug 20, 2009 2:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe disease. Not really “war” on the scale it’s happening at now.
by zephyr on Aug 20, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Congo. Sudan.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Aug 20, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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Washington
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