01/13/2004: 
Stuff That Doesn't Suck/Urban Archaeology?
The Great 8
Last night, Cam Neely had his number retired by the Boston Bruins, becoming only the 10th player in the 80-year history of the club to receive such an honor. Neely was the last great power forward to play the game, the classic image of a hockey player feared both for his scoring ability as well as his fighting and bodychecking prowess. Neely's play personified Boston Bruins hockey for a decade, and his retirement in 1996 would eventually become a turning point in play in the National Hockey League, where the open-ice game of fast play and big hits would yield to the infamous neutral-zone trap and the "clutch and grab" which the League has recently vowed to crack down against.
John Buccigross, ESPN.com NHL writer, has a great writeup of the end of the era and why, despite Neely's injury-shortened career, he should be in the Hall of Fame, and how his absence and the loss of the Gaahden has been an altering experience not just for the league, but the city of Boston's "indoor sports" as well. Peep here.
Other writers have good writeups here and here
8 Annotations Submitted
Tuesday the 13th of January, red auerbach noted:
only the 10th player to have his number retired? hell, I just retired the number of ther freakin clubhouse attendant.
Tuesday the 13th of January, jeremy jacobs noted:
we have 10!! did i pay for this?
Tuesday the 13th of January, delaware north noted:
all your pucks are belong to us
Tuesday the 13th of January, prof_booty noted:
peep the retro nordiques jersey
Tuesday the 13th of January, santo26 noted:
Ulf Sammuelsson MUST DIE!!!
Wednesday the 14th of January, red auerbach's cigar noted:
They moved my retirement flag over for Cam...goddamn it
Wednesday the 14th of January, rafuzo noted:
I will give $5 to anyone who can identify the player in the Nordiques jersey.
Wednesday the 14th of January, prof_booty noted:
that will go unclaimed like the x-prize
