Inwestomierz

Hero worship is unbecoming for a man of 56 years. But until December 2, 2014, Jean Beliveau was my idol. The last icon from a childhood in Montreal. Now he is gone and so is a connection to 1950s and 1960s Quebec, where Beliveau ruled hockey with a dignity and elegance never before seen and never seen since. It wasnt that he seemed larger than life. He was. Monsieur Beliveau - that is what he was called, never by the familiar Jean, by those in the Canadiens family - was without flaw. He was Le Gros Bill, a man of mythical stature. Of course, he could not have been perfect but we believed he was. As The Hockey News wrote: Regal on the ice, humble and diplomatic away from the rink, Beliveau made red, white and blue the colours of hockey royalty. At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Beliveau was among the first magnificent big men in the game during an 18-season NHL career. He was an unparalleled puckhandler, blasted bullets with his Victoriaville and had few peers as a playmaker. Beliveau placed among the top 10 in scoring nine times in a 10-season span, earned two Hart Trophies, won the first Conn Smythe Trophy and was a 10-time NHL all-star. Wayne Gretzky is the only centre to have more first or second all-star berths. And, of course, one of hockeys all-time team-first players won 10 Stanley Cups, the last in 1971 when he raised the Cup above his head … retired and took his place in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Beliveau was voted the seventh best player in NHL history when The Hockey News conducted a poll of 50 hockey experts in 1997. Beliveau, like all his contemporaries, has been surpassed statistically. His numbers have been dwarfed. He stands No. 39 in all-time goals (507), No. 49 in assists (712) and No. 39 in points (1,219). But it is worth remembering Beliveau ranked second (only to Gordie Howe) in all-time scoring when he retired. Even more significant to remember is that he ranks No. 1 to this day in another category. It is not hyperbole to call gentlemanly Jean the most respected player in the history of the game. He was the consummate captain, a natural leader of five Cup championship teams. But when his country came calling in 1994, offering the honorific Governor Generals position, family concerns kept Beliveau from accepting. It was the ultimate act of leadership. When I was 11 and living in Toronto, Beliveau made a promotional appearance at a local car dealership. My best friend and I took the bus across town to meet him. He signed all my hockey cards and answered all my questions. Before we left, another fan asked a question of Beliveau that tested his memory. When Beliveau hesitated, I provided the answer. Beliveau turned to me and said, You know more about me than I do. Beliveau was the yin to the legendary Rocket Richards yang on the only team to win five consecutive Cups. They were Gretzky and Messier. The Canadiens (and Beliveau) of the 1950s were so good the NHL had to change the rules of the game. At the time, penalties were served in their entirety - regardless of how many goals were scored with the man advantage. In a November, 1955, game vs. Boston, Beliveau scored three power play goals in a record 44 seconds. The following season, a player serving a minor penalty was allowed to leave the box when a goal was scored. Beliveau, himself, was no stranger to the penalty box. He collected 341 penalty minutes (with purpose) over a three-season period in the mid-1950s to carve out his own space during an era when stars were expected to stand up for themselves. Eventually, the Canadiens groomed John Ferguson to provide protection for their most precious asset. Beliveaus No. 4 was not immortalized in literature like Richards No. 9, but it had a power and magic all its own. Guy Lafleur, Beliveaus successor in the pantheon of Canadiens legends, wore 4 for the Quebec Remparts in the Quebec Colisee, dubbed The House that Beliveau Built, so great was Beliveaus popularity there in the early 1950s. Vincent Lecavalier, wearing No. 4, channeled Beliveau in style with Tampa Bay - and on celluloid when he portrayed Beliveau in the Rocket Richard film. But Beliveaus influence extends far beyond the best hockey league in the world. To this day, doubtlessly like hundreds of others of my vintage, I instinctively reach for No. 4 when the sweaters are hung at seasons start on my team. I will do it again next year. Romelu Lukaku Jersey . They have homered once every 27.3 at bats, which just happens to be the third best mark in the American League, albeit just 10 games into the season. Mousa Dembele Belgium Jersey . - Tom Brady was upset that his New England Patriots hardly looked like a division champion in the first half. http://www.belgiumsoccerpro.com/Dries-M ... um-Jersey/. Anderson shook off some unusually poor shooting and hit two clutch 3-pointers in overtime that carried the New Orleans Pelicans to a 111-106 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. Marouane Fellaini Jersey . The 49ers announced the deal Thursday. San Francisco selected Kilgore in the fifth round of the 2011 draft out of Appalachian State. He has played in 33 regular-season games, plus all six playoff games the last two seasons. Thibaut Courtois Belgium Jersey .com) - Mikko Korhonen carded a 5-under 67 on Thursday to claim medalist honors at the European Tours Final Qualifying Stage tournament.PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks say reliever David Hernandez has a damaged ligament in his right elbow, an injury that could result in season-ending surgery. The team said an MRI on Thursday showed a damaged ulnar collateral ligament and that Hernandez will get a second opinion. The right-hander is an important part of the Arizona reliever corps, usually in the setup role.dddddddddddd. He had an off year last season, going 5-6 in 62 appearances with a 4.48 ERA and two saves in eight tries. In 2012, Hernandez was 2-3 with a 2.50 ERA in 72 appearances. The Diamondbacks already lost All-Star Patrick Corbin for the season. He underwent surgery to repair a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '