- Jan 2019
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www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com
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Boogaard thought his hockey career was over. His parents were divorcing. Len Boogaard was reassigned to Regina, the provincial capital. Joanne Boogaard, a Regina native, moved from Melfort, too. Derek Boogaard was failing classes at his new high school. The family worried about the people he hung around.
The author makes it obvious in this part of the text that as Boogaard's hockey career is falling apart, his life is also falling apart. Some of these problems, like Boogaard's parents divorcing, have nothing to do with hockey. However, all of Boogaard's problems seem to escalate with his belief that his hockey career is over.
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www.si.com www.si.com
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How do you replace tight end Keith Glascoe, who was so good onlya bum shoulder kept him off the New York Jets' roster in theearly '90s? Or big lineman Bronko Pearsall, who insisted onsinging Wild Rover after every game, win or lose? Who's going to kick now that Billy Johnston is gone? Everybodycalled him Liam because he looked so bloody Irish. He wasautomatic on extra points, which was a luxury.
The little things about each of these men made them more memorable and a greater asset to the team. This passage shows how each player's unique personality brought something special to the game that can't be replaced and no one else can bring. However, the team has to still keep going on.
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Even if you can replace the players who were lost, how do youreplace all the other guys who made the team so damn much fun?
This reminded me of another value of sports: perseverance, or endurance. Despite all of the players that were lost, the team has to move on and keep playing. Also, it connects to the value of having fun because some players are missed because they added to the game by making it fun and joyful.
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Came the first team meeting, and the club didn't get anywherenear its usual 60 guys. It got 120. All the lineup holes werepatched. Guys who had retired signed up again. Guys who'd beenasked 10 times said yes on the 11th. You cry together at enoughfunerals, you figure you can bleed together on a football field,too. One thing about firemen, they don't let each other fightbattles alone.
This portion of the text reminded me of the one of the values of sports that we talked about in class: teamwork. I found this passage very moving. These team members have made bonds that supposedly go on beyond football. All of the people on the team have bonded together through their losses, making them even stronger.
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