The Greatest Sporting Event in History

**PullTogether73** · 09-07-2016, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by Argoknot

Whoa, totally disagree with the above, Clarke was very effective, he centred Canada's best line in camp and during the series. It was basically the only line that stayed intact. It wasn't just speed why Henderson got those goals, he had room to maneuver courtesy of Clarke. Clarke had six points in eight games on the supposed "checking line"

The reason why guys didn't play was because they weren't useful to the overall effort. Parise and Cashman played because we had to play along the boards because we weren't yet in shape to play the Soviets straight up. That wasn't Berenson's or Perrault's game. Had there been no other options they might have played, unlike Park who had to play even though he wasn't very good until the last game.

I think it's also a myth about matching up with speed to beat the Soviets, sure it helps, but Esposito dominated them and in 74, 46 year old Gordie Howe was also very good against them. Howe was a good skater but he wasn't the fastest guy out there.

I'm still confused about how this team was chosen actually.
I know about the WHL players being banned by Clarence Campbell.
But how do Bobby Clarke and Ron Ellis (as examples) get chosen over Dave Keon?

It worked out very well for Canada actually, as the Clarke/Henderson/Ellis line was, as you mention, the only one that was kept intact throughout the tournament. And yes, Clarke created space for Henderson while Ellis shut down Kharlamov as the tournament progressed, until Clarke permanently shut him down.

But how does Dave Keon not make this team?

**Argoknot** · 09-07-2016, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by GreyDragon

I'm still confused about how this team was chosen actually. I know about the WHL players being banned by Clarence Campbell. But how do Bobby Clarke and Ron Ellis (as examples) get chosen over Dave Keon?

It worked out very well for Canada actually, as the Clarke/Henderson/Ellis line was, as you mention, the only one that was kept intact throughout the tournament. And yes, Clarke created space for Henderson while Ellis shut down Kharlamov as the tournament progressed, until Clarke permanently shut him down.

But how does Dave Keon not make this team?

AFAIK, Keon was the last player cut or not chosen, ironically he was beaten out by Clarke. Each coach, Sinden and Ferguson picked their 35 players (way too much by today's standards) but they wanted enough for two scrimmaging teams. The first 17 or so players were unanimous and they haggled over the rest.

Dallas Smith and Jacques Laperriere refused invites, Smith was on the farm and Laperriere was either rehabbing an injury or his wife was having a baby (haven't cleared that one up yet) Laperriere would have been a good addition. Ed Giacomin had a serious knee injury IIRC which raises a point you don't hear much. Aside from Ed Johnston who didn't play during the Soviet part of the series, Esposito and Dryden weren't all that experienced only a few years apiece.

I'm reading about some of the choices being "Eagle's Boys" but for the most part as it was the first time they didn't really know how to put a team together like this. They picked who they thought were the best players and weren't really thinking about very specific role players. It was only after the first game that Ellis was assigned to Kharlamov.

Michel "Bunny" Larocque, John Van Boxmeer and Billy Harris (not the coach) were invited to the camp to fill out numbers.

**Argoknot** · 09-07-2016, 11:40 PM

This may not make "The Greatest" list but cool and a great achievement nonetheless

**Argo57** · 09-18-2016, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by Argoknot

This may not make "The Greatest" list but cool and a great achievement nonetheless

Loved watching Brian Budd sticking it to all those high profile American Pro Athletes!!

**ArgoGabe22** · 09-07-2016, 05:07 PM

Greatest (Canadian) individual performance? Donovan Bailey, Chuvalo going the distance against vs. Ali, Mike Weir winning the Masters? Pardon me if I've forgotten something.

**Argoknot** · 09-07-2016, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by ArgoGabe22

Greatest (Canadian) individual performance? Donovan Bailey, Chuvalo going the distance against vs. Ali, Mike Weir winning the Masters? Pardon me if I've forgotten something.

Have to say I enjoyed this. Esmie, Esmie, Esmie!

Start vid at 35 seconds

**OV Argo** · 01-09-2018, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by ArgoGabe22

Greatest (Canadian) individual performance? Donovan Bailey, Chuvalo going the distance against vs. Ali, Mike Weir winning the Masters? Pardon me if I've forgotten something.

Single game/event you mean?

Ronnie Stewart set the all-time pro football single game rushing record (287 yards) vs. the Als (at the Autostade i think?) in the 60s.

Darryl Sittler with a 10 point game for the Leafs.

**ArgoGabe22** · 01-09-2018, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by OV Argo

Single game/event you mean?

Ronnie Stewart set the all-time pro football single game rushing record (287 yards) vs. the Als (at the Autostade i think?) in the 60s.

Darryl Sittler with a 10 point game for the Leafs.

Individual, as in on their own - no team.

**OV Argo** · 01-09-2018, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by ArgoGabe22

Individual, as in on their own - no team.

Ok then; and Chuvalo going the distance vs. Ali was a great accomplishment, but Lennox Lewis winning the World Heavyweight Championship (and defending it numerous times) I think could easily be considered a much greater feat - but Lewis was a Jamaican born Canadian, so maybe does not count or gets an asterisk here ? Figure skating golds or World Championships (by male or female) should be ranked up there too IMO.

**ArgoRavi** · 01-08-2023, 03:00 AM

Originally Posted by OV Argo

Ok then; and Chuvalo going the distance vs. Ali was a great accomplishment, but Lennox Lewis winning the World Heavyweight Championship (and defending it numerous times) I think could easily be considered a much greater feat - but Lewis was a Jamaican born Canadian, so maybe does not count or gets an asterisk here ? Figure skating golds or World Championships (by male or female) should be ranked up there too IMO.

Lennox Lewis became a Brit by the time he won the World Heavyweight Championship. Complete with accent and all!

**Argoknot** · 09-08-2016, 12:01 AM

Again, maybe not "The Greatest" but a pretty damn good moment that people remember fondly

**Ron** · 09-08-2016, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by Argoknot

Again, maybe not "The Greatest" but a pretty damn good moment that people remember fondly

Ah, the days of blatant corruption. Manley got so obviously ripped off the gold medal that Olympics.

**Argoknot** · 09-09-2016, 10:51 AM

Another "Great Canadian Moment"

Cliff Thorburn (whom I've had the pleasure to meet) is a household name in the UK (and around the snooker world) because of this. He also was one of the great snooker players and a world champion. This is the snooker equivalent of Don Larson's World Series' perfect game.

If you want to skip some of this forward to 14:40 when the fun really starts to begin. Just a little backstory, fellow Canadian and beloved character Bill Werbeniuk was playing on the adjacent table.

"Ooh, what a moment this is, it is truly electric here" And later, commentator Jack Karnehm utters the greatest line in snooker history "Aww, good luck, mate"

**Argoknot** · 09-08-2016, 12:10 AM

Berdusco, Berdusco! Brazil caught dreaming!

**ArgoRavi** · 09-08-2016, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by Argoknot

Berdusco, Berdusco! Brazil caught dreaming!

LOL! Playing teams heading to the World Cup in the U.S. in 1994 is as close to the World Cup that Canada has gotten since they last made it in 1986. I recall at least one pre-tournament game being played at old Varsity Stadium which may have been the last big event held there.

**Argoknot** · 09-08-2016, 12:19 AM

The YouTube poster calls it "The Best Boxing Fight Ever", I don't have a problem with that.

**Argoknot** · 09-12-2016, 07:11 PM

A not often seen Canadian sporting moment

People tend to forget the WHA vs USSR series in 1974 (mainly because of the lack of availability of the video). Thankfully, you can see most of it on Youtube.

The tables were turned this time and people expected the Soviets to run over the old timers and never have beens of the WHA. The series was much closer than expected even though the Soviets won 4 lost 1 and tied 3. I often thought that to play the Soviets, pure speed was of the essence, but surprisingly the 46 year old Gordie Howe's game was tailor made for the Russians. Gord's pins were still pretty good.

Superseries 1974 CANADA vs USSR - Game 4 Here are the Canadian goals from one of the best periods a Canadian team would play against the Soviets (1974 Game 4 Vancouver 1st Period)

Gordie Howe scores at (22:55 on Youtube clip) nice
Bobby Hull at 38:40
Bobby Hull at 40:50 nice
Frank Mahovlich at 44:40 nice play by Houle
Bobby Hull at 47:10

On that second Hull goal Tretiak was probably seeing the old Hull trick of rifling one at your head and a few seconds later putting one in the net while you were still distracted by being happy to be alive.

"No wonder, people are telling legends about him. He's got some slap shot! Sometimes, I wasn't even able to see the puck!" Vladislav Tretiak on Bobby Hull

**Argoknot** · 09-18-2016, 05:21 AM

72 Summit Series documentary, September 1972. There was another doc that was once available on YouTube that is not available now, I'll have another look around.