Wendel And Me
When I arrived in Toronto, I knew the one place that I wanted to see more than any other. Ironically, even to my roommate, it was not Church and Wellesley. It was Maple Leaf Gardens. Why you may ask would I want to see a building now shut down and obviously somewhere that I could have seen on Hockey Night In Canada so often in the past?
When I was growing up, I loved watching the Leafs play as much as anyone who loved hockey. I was never blessed with the ability to actually stop on a pair of skates, so I figured the best way to be Canadian was to actually watch the game. I?m not sure if the whole rock?em, sock?em approach to the game impressed me too much, but one certain player did. Wendel Clark.
Now some may say it was a gay man's fantasy, but I never dreamed of Wendel.  I just watched him on TV.  What impressed me about Wendel wasn't his looks (thought he is attractive), but the way he played the game of hockey.  He wasn't the best player on the ice by any means, but what he did on a pair of skates was give people hope.
Whether it was the beginning of the game or the last few seconds, he was always giving every last ounce of strength into getting the puck from one end to the other.  Whether that meant passing to a better shooter and checking someone or taking the puck himself, he did what he had to do.  You always knew that when you finished watching a game, there was nothing more he could have done to change the outcome or make a more impressive effort.
Wendel wasn't a hero though.  He didn't save any lives playing the game of hockey (in fact he may have lessened a few of his own), but he was someone to aspire to, someone to have pride in.  That's why I liked to watch him play.  I once saw him play live in Winnipeg many years ago and it was magic.  I remember when they did a poll in Saskatchewan where he was the second most respected athlete (just behind Gretzsky).  This man had a lot of admiration from a lot of people.
Now I know I can't see him play again, but I'd sure like to say thanks for doing what he did.  Maybe I'll get to meet him someday, but I've got some time for that.  Instead, I'll just be glad to see that hockey rink once in a while when I pass it.  In someway, I know that a little part of him will always be there.  It's that type of respect that one can feel when they pass Maple Leaf Gardens.  Not many players can give that feeling.  Glad to know Wendel's one of them.