Bio file: Gordie Howe

Hockey Digest, March, 2003 by Scoop Malinowski

Born: March 31, 1928 in Floral Saskatchewan

Childhood Heroes: "My brother Bernie was a tough defenseman. Also, All Pike, who played for New York. Ab Welsh is another one. I asked him for an autograph at the old City of Saskatchewan rink. I must have said the right thing--he took me in the locker room and all the players signed my program. He said, `Do you play?' I said, `Yes, sir.' Then he went to the back room. He gave me his stick--an old three-piece stick. I had never seen one before. I slept with the stick."

Nicknames: "Mr. Hockey," "Jack Adams called me `Power.'"

Early hockey memory: "When I was 13, I went to Regina, Saskatchewan. It was the first time I had ever been on the road. I scored three goals against Regina. And the memory of getting the goals was nice, but when I read my name in the paper as `future NHL star,' that was a very fond memory. Those are the days that maybe got me thinking it was within reach. The little things in life are what really set you up. That one write-up in the paper ... what the media can do for you. That got me thinking. I went out and practiced. I shot all summer long and all winter long. I think that one motivational write-up was one of the things that gave me the idea that I could play in the game. No, I didn't save it"

Favorite movies: Westerns

Favorite meal: Fish

Favorite breakfast cereal: "I like them all. I like oatmeal. I ate oatmeal so much I had hives. And I didn't realize that it was the best thing I ever did for myself."

First Job: "That's a damn good question. Oh yeah, it was delivering papers for the grocery store, in sub-zero weather, for 35 cents a day, when I was nine."

Greatest sports moment: "Lacing the skates on with my sons, Marty and Mark, in 1973 with the Houston Aeros of the WHA. There's no doubt in my mind. It was something I had given up on when I retired in 1971--it was in my mind in the years in Detroit tn the back of my mind, I had given up any hopes. I knew the kids had enough talent to make it But could I hang on long enough? Obviously I couldn't. But I had a couple of years rest Things got a little stronger. The wrist got stronger. They got a lot better, too. Once I learned I could play with my kids ... that's a highlight. You can always say the Stanley Cup and different things. To play with my sons was something I really wanted: And when it came my way--it was supposed to be one year--but it turned out to last for seven years."

Most painful moment: "When I retired the first time. My mother had just died. So that was very much in my mind, too. So you want a totally painful moment, when I retired I was giving up something I love and I had already lost somebody I loved. That was a tough one."

Funny hockey memory: "We had trainers who were good friends. One time I got hit on the big toe. I knew it was sore because it was bleeding under the skate. The trainer said, `What's the matter?' I said, `I think the toe's broken, as a matter of fact.' The guy said, `How far is it from your heart?' I basically said, `It's about as close as my fist is from your nose il you don't start cutting!'"

Favorite athletes to watch: "All of them: Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Al Kaline, Mike Schmidt, Chris Evert (she was so pretty, I always admired her), George Foreman, Eric Lindros."

Toughest competitors: "Tim Horton was stronger than a damn bull. He'd lock you up and you're done for. And Bobby Hull could kill you. I think Bobby Orr could kill you. I think Wayne Gretzky could kill you with his goals and workmanship. That's a different kind of toughness. An all-around strong guy and very aggressive, but I never had to tussle with him. The best man I saw was John Ferguson with Montreal."

Qualities admired in others: "Honesty. If nothing else, respect honesty. I've tried to live by it."