Two handsome, strapping lads greeted B in a Montreal kitchen in 1949. Gordie was 21 and Ted 25. Friends of friends, both had popped in for a visit and B, although a dedicated Leaf's fan, was nonetheless awed. Can you imagine those guys dropping by for a chin-wag?!
Gordie, "Mr. Hockey", is now 86 and Ted Lindsay 89. Lindsay was born in "The Frew", as those of us from The Valley know it. Renfrew produced its fair share of well-known athletes, as did many other towns in that region -- like The Prior, for example. Gordie hailed from Saskatchewan.
They don't make 'em like that anymore. Gordie has a new biography out, going to read it. Two years ago I went to a charity event here in Calgary, organized by Mr. Hockey himself. Even got my picture taken with Lord Stanley's Cup, in honour of the two NHL players I dated back-in-the-day. (Everything you've ever heard about dating NHL hockey players is true, by the way.) Blogged the event, have a read.
"Hey, would you like to play drums for our last set?" said a very young musician to B in Liverpool in 1961. And so he did. The drummer, Pete Best, was "over-refreshed" and George Harrison invited B to have a go. This brush with fame happened in the Cavern Club and the group was 'The Quarrymen' -- soon to become 'The Beatles'. Yep, all true. B actually played drums with The Beatles. Think I have blogged this before (??), but can't remember. The other "players" he partied with that year in London were Christine Keeler, Mandy Rice-Davies and Stephen Ward. If you don't know who these characters were, you should. Google them.
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