Post by petergross on Feb 3, 2009 6:58:43 GMT -5
I had a lot of fun Sunday at Woodbine. My guest for lunch was hockey legend thingy Duff. A regular feature of Down The Stretch (Canada's most entertaining and informative racing newspaper) is inviting a celebrity to the track, handing over a $50 voucher and hoping he/she can turn a profit for a worthwhile charity.
Duff is one of the few hockey players on the planet who has a Stanley Cup ring from both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. He won two in Toronto (62/63) and four more between 1966 and 1970 with Montreal.
He's incredibly fascinating to listen to when he talks about the way hockey was in the 50s and 60s. Duff was a great skater, playmaker and sniper, but the style of hockey back then discouraged flashiness and offence. Players were often little more than product for coaches and gms to abuse or trade simply to make a point to the other players. According to Duff, it was that kind of thinking in 1964, that shipped him and Bob Nevin to the Canadiens in mid-season, denying Duff a third straight Stanley Cup when the Maple Leafs knocked off the Red Wings in seven in the final.
If Duff was a thinking man's player, a skilful thoughtful playmaker who could clearly see everything that was happening on the ice, it's apparent, he's not quite so brilliant at the track. He told me an hilarious story about attempting to bet $20 to win on a 3-1 shot in the 50s ridden by Avelino Gomez. He ended up with the wrong ticket, but the horse at 45-1 and he cashed over $900.
"I just play for flukes," Duff admitted to me, using that anecdote as proof that some days the races are indicipherable.
We had a delightful afternoon at the track. He did hit one exactor that returned $30, but with races from Aqueduct, Golden Gate, Gulfstream, Santa Anita and the live harness races from Woodbine, the $50 voucher was soon parlayed into nothing.
.........................
Just want to say thank you to a guy name Nick who threw a great Superbowl party up in North York last night..Nick is Christine Payne's boss and she invited me. Christine is a one-time 680 sports reporter who has fallen on better times, but I hadn't seen her in close to 15 years. Anyway, Nick had a full spread, a theatre-type seating layout in front of a giant plasma screen in his spacious den and, apparently, an all you can drink for no charge policy at his bar. His tv was hooked up to a satellite so we got to enjoy all the US commercials as well.
I didn't get into the betting, but some guy with a computer and piles of entry forms was keeping track of all the props and the room ( he had close to 40 people) exploded each time the Cardinals scored.
I was also the oldest guy in the room. Couldn't help noticing that there were at least 8-10 little kids and babies - a whole new generation of football fans.
Great game, by the way..and thanks to both Christine and Nick. Hope I get invited back next year. Hope he schedules it on Saturday night when it won't quite compromise the sleep I need to wake up at 2:15 am!
Duff is one of the few hockey players on the planet who has a Stanley Cup ring from both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. He won two in Toronto (62/63) and four more between 1966 and 1970 with Montreal.
He's incredibly fascinating to listen to when he talks about the way hockey was in the 50s and 60s. Duff was a great skater, playmaker and sniper, but the style of hockey back then discouraged flashiness and offence. Players were often little more than product for coaches and gms to abuse or trade simply to make a point to the other players. According to Duff, it was that kind of thinking in 1964, that shipped him and Bob Nevin to the Canadiens in mid-season, denying Duff a third straight Stanley Cup when the Maple Leafs knocked off the Red Wings in seven in the final.
If Duff was a thinking man's player, a skilful thoughtful playmaker who could clearly see everything that was happening on the ice, it's apparent, he's not quite so brilliant at the track. He told me an hilarious story about attempting to bet $20 to win on a 3-1 shot in the 50s ridden by Avelino Gomez. He ended up with the wrong ticket, but the horse at 45-1 and he cashed over $900.
"I just play for flukes," Duff admitted to me, using that anecdote as proof that some days the races are indicipherable.
We had a delightful afternoon at the track. He did hit one exactor that returned $30, but with races from Aqueduct, Golden Gate, Gulfstream, Santa Anita and the live harness races from Woodbine, the $50 voucher was soon parlayed into nothing.
.........................
Just want to say thank you to a guy name Nick who threw a great Superbowl party up in North York last night..Nick is Christine Payne's boss and she invited me. Christine is a one-time 680 sports reporter who has fallen on better times, but I hadn't seen her in close to 15 years. Anyway, Nick had a full spread, a theatre-type seating layout in front of a giant plasma screen in his spacious den and, apparently, an all you can drink for no charge policy at his bar. His tv was hooked up to a satellite so we got to enjoy all the US commercials as well.
I didn't get into the betting, but some guy with a computer and piles of entry forms was keeping track of all the props and the room ( he had close to 40 people) exploded each time the Cardinals scored.
I was also the oldest guy in the room. Couldn't help noticing that there were at least 8-10 little kids and babies - a whole new generation of football fans.
Great game, by the way..and thanks to both Christine and Nick. Hope I get invited back next year. Hope he schedules it on Saturday night when it won't quite compromise the sleep I need to wake up at 2:15 am!
