The battery recharger for Nate Greenberg's cell phone has undergone a workout lately, comparable to the legendary training sessions that former Boston Bruins defenceman Raymond Bourque would put his body through in the summer time.
Greenberg, the popular Bruins executive who became a former Bruins executive during the Stanley Cup final, has been busy fielding good-luck and best-wishes calls from the likes of Bobby Orr, Don Cherry, John Muckler, Jim Devellano, Tom McVie and others. There also have been many emails for the popular Greenberg to respond to.
The phone calls, emails, tributes in the Boston newspapers in the last 10 days demonstrate the wonderful reputation that the 58-year-old Greenberg had built up in the hockey community. He worked for the Bruins since Aug. 1973 and his seat in the TD Banknorth Garden press box was a must-visit location for reporters to drop in on. Greenberg always had some news, an interesting stat, a smile, a story and a cigar for most of us.
To illustrate his popularity, six days after his retirement was announced two friends organized a surprise party to celebrate Greenberg with a roast at a local restaurant in his neighbourhood. A whopping 90 people showed up.
"It was a good run," Greenberg told me today. "I've had a wonderful 34 years. But I'm looking ahead, not back."