F is for Flaman
And Fernie and fighter,
One of the reasons
The Bruins are brighter.
G is for Godfrey
A blue line bruiser,
Built on the lines
Of a heavy cruiser.
H is for Howe.
Need we say more?
His efforts so often
Determine the score.
I is for Irvin.
A man we remember,
Whose teams would be twenty
Points up in December.
J is for Johnson.
The unknown man.
He holds them together
If anyone can.
K is for Kelly.
A wizard on skates.
Who keeps Red Wing boosters
Revolving the gates.
L is for Lindsay,
A man of no mystery.
His scoring has made him
Left-winger of history.
M is for Moore.
A high-scoring rage.
Whose fabulous shot
Stuffs the puck in the cage.
N is for Norris,
A recognised name.
The clan owns
50% of the game.
O is for Olmstead.
Who set up the line
Who poured all the rubber
Right into the twine.
P is for Plante,
The wandering man,
Who comes up with antics
Nobody else can.
Q is for quality,
This over all
Is the thing you will notice
Of classy Glenn Hall.
R is for Rocket,
A fast-moving missile,
The Habs now have two
Who will make your hair bristle.
S is for Sawchuk,
The man in a crouch,
Which never can be
Misconstrued as a slouch.
T is for Topper,
Boston's durable vet.
A good man to have
In front of the net.
U is for Ullman,
A maker of plays.
But scoring would win him
A lot more praise.
V is for Vasko.
A mountainous guy.
You'll never go through him,
And seldom get by.
W is for Watson,
A coach full of fire,
Who is pushing the Blueshirts
Higher and higher.
X is for danger,
The dramatists say.
(A tip) Stay out of
Jean Belliveau's way.
Y is for youth.
Which the Leafs have got.
And time will tell
If the team can get hot.
Z is for Zing,
And Zoom as well.
These words sum up
The NHL.
— November 1958
§¦:-•:*""*:•-:¦§
Z is also for Zowie,
I am sure you will agree.
Thank you, Jean & GB,
For granting this gift to we.
§¦:-•:*""*:•-:¦§
NOTABLE QUOTABLE: "Baseball happens to be a game of cumulative tension but football, basketball and hockey are played with hand grenades and machine guns." — John Leonard
(Hat tips, Jean Baird, David Morris, Laura Wong and Joe McDonald.)
(Photograph of George Bowering © 2010 Goddess Jean Baird. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved. Bowering's baseball card, created by Talon Books to celebrate the publication of Baseball Love [2006], tells the rest of the story.)
