Post by brumflyer on May 19, 2013 21:17:03 GMT
I have just finished reading "Derek Sanderson, Crossing the Line - the outrageous story of a hockey original" about the former NHL center who won the Stanley Cup in Bobby Orr's Bruins of 1970 &1972 and who was nominally the worlds highest paid sportstar in 1972.
Anyway, as I read the book I was suddenly taken aback, only a few pages in, to somewhat surprisingly get a bit of Fife local history - "Dysart had at one time been a coal harbour but with no employment had been forced to merge with Kirkcaldy in 1930."
During WW2, Sanderson's father had been a soldier wounded while serving with a Canadian highland regiment and had been sent to Kirkcaldy to recuperate. There he met a Dysart cinema usherette called Caroline Gillespie and before long the couple married. By the end of the war the couple had a baby girl and Derek Sanderson was on the way as the family left Fife to return to Canada.
Derek Sanderson proved himself a useful hockey player and worked his way into the Bruins of the late 1960s and being awarded the NHL rookie of the year in 67-68, before being part of the 1970 & 72 Stanley Cup winning Bruins.
Generally a niche third or fourth liner, despite this his ability to give the press good quotes and a flamboyant lifestyle as a bar owning, fashion loving, playboy bunny dating, chat show regular meant he had a very high public profile.
This profile and a massive pay offer saw him being signed to play for the Phildelphia Blazers (featuring Ron Plumb) of the rival WHL but a mix of injury and poor crowds unable to justify the playing costs saw him being released and rejoining the Bruins (including another future Flyer, Al Sims).
By this stage his partying was taking its toll and the injuries were piling up. He played for the New York Rangers, St Louis Blues and the Pittsburgh Penguins before his playing career ended in 1977-78. He ended up broke, an alcoholic.
Eventually, after repeated rehab attempts, many covered by his old mate Orr, and spells living on park benches, he got himself straight, became the colour for TV hockey commentaries and set himself up as a financial adviser for sports stars. Despite difficulties with his hips as a result of 10 hip ops, he has put his problems behind him and has moved on. As well as the book a movie of his life is being put together.
So an interesting Fife connection and a decent autobiography. Doubt he gets back to visit his Fife family but if he does might be nice to see him at a Flyers game.
Anyway, as I read the book I was suddenly taken aback, only a few pages in, to somewhat surprisingly get a bit of Fife local history - "Dysart had at one time been a coal harbour but with no employment had been forced to merge with Kirkcaldy in 1930."
During WW2, Sanderson's father had been a soldier wounded while serving with a Canadian highland regiment and had been sent to Kirkcaldy to recuperate. There he met a Dysart cinema usherette called Caroline Gillespie and before long the couple married. By the end of the war the couple had a baby girl and Derek Sanderson was on the way as the family left Fife to return to Canada.
Derek Sanderson proved himself a useful hockey player and worked his way into the Bruins of the late 1960s and being awarded the NHL rookie of the year in 67-68, before being part of the 1970 & 72 Stanley Cup winning Bruins.
Generally a niche third or fourth liner, despite this his ability to give the press good quotes and a flamboyant lifestyle as a bar owning, fashion loving, playboy bunny dating, chat show regular meant he had a very high public profile.
This profile and a massive pay offer saw him being signed to play for the Phildelphia Blazers (featuring Ron Plumb) of the rival WHL but a mix of injury and poor crowds unable to justify the playing costs saw him being released and rejoining the Bruins (including another future Flyer, Al Sims).
By this stage his partying was taking its toll and the injuries were piling up. He played for the New York Rangers, St Louis Blues and the Pittsburgh Penguins before his playing career ended in 1977-78. He ended up broke, an alcoholic.
Eventually, after repeated rehab attempts, many covered by his old mate Orr, and spells living on park benches, he got himself straight, became the colour for TV hockey commentaries and set himself up as a financial adviser for sports stars. Despite difficulties with his hips as a result of 10 hip ops, he has put his problems behind him and has moved on. As well as the book a movie of his life is being put together.
So an interesting Fife connection and a decent autobiography. Doubt he gets back to visit his Fife family but if he does might be nice to see him at a Flyers game.