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Now it's popular these days to bash Mark. He's not as good as he once was and there are some who think he's now more of a problem than anything else. I'm not going to argue that point here. What I am going to do is honor him for what he has done over the last 24 NHL seasons.
Six Stanley Cups. I know, there are players with more.....but two of the Cups came as he took his team on his back and carried them all the way to the championship. His last one in Edmonton and of course, 1994 here in NY. Wayne has only four Cups....and he shared them with Messier.
Mark was a complete hockey player. He scored, assisted, hit, fought, intimidated and in a word, he won. Playing in pain, he led by example making the players around him better. In my eyes he may just be the best hockey player I have ever seen play live. He had speed and hands to go along with his rugged style of play, a rare combination. His leadership is one of legendary status.
No Ranger fan will ever forget the famous '94 game six pregame statement, "We Will Win". The empty net goal, late in the third period capped a hat trick in perhaps one of the all-time great single game performances in hockey. It wasn't just the goals, it was everything that happened before the game...the fact that it was an elimination game and everything that occurred during the game as if you don't remember, the Devils had a lead going into the third period.
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Today you can read on just about any hockey message board how Messier is a mere shadow of his former self. The Messiah has now become the Obligation. In the last ten years, the captain has led no one....anywhere. His teams have missed the playoffs over the last six seasons and many a fan will tell you that he has been paid well enough for the Cups won in the past. I can not argue these points as they are in fact true. But today....I choose to look back in admiration. Mark Messier will have his jersey retired here in NY as well as in Edmonton.....in honor of all his great accomplishments. And all the fans who benefited from his ability to deliver when it was needed most will salute him. I just wanted to do it first. And I wanted to remind all of you that this same man, who you will write nasty things about is also the man who made you shed tears on June 14, 1994.
I don't claim that Mark doesn't deserve the criticism that he has received in the past few years.....and I can't say he won't deserve it when he signs here and takes the ice in his 25th and last NHL season.....but I ask that you now begin to remember him for what he was. Bring your kids to see him play so that one day they can tell their kids....."Messier, yeah, I saw him play live. He was great". Because he was. Perhaps one of the greatest ever.
----}- Bird
Posted by Bird at August 23, 2003 11:21 AMeMail this entry!
I don't know why you always downplay your writing abilities ;)
This is one of the best Messier pieces I have read in a very long time.
Thank you for that, and for this website :)
Thanks Bird.
What great timing, too. Just as we find out that Moose has welcomed his second son into the world. I saw Mark play his first game as an Oiler at MSG against the Rangers and I hope to see his last game as a Ranger when he retires.
His number should be retired by the league and he should be inducted into HOF immediately.
Gretzky may have most of the records but there is only one Messiah.
Mark Messier - Forever Young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
when the winds of change shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay FOREVER YOUNG
-Bob Dylan
Posted by: mhurley on August 23, 2003 10:13 PMrephrase this please:
I saw Messier play his first game against the Rangers as an Oiler.(the first time the Oilers played the Rangers after entering the NHL)
Posted by: mhurley on August 23, 2003 10:30 PMI have been a Ranger fan since the mid 60's. Mess is as good as any we ever had. It's a disgrace what some of the so called "fans" write about him. Yes it's true, he might be a year or two beyond is effectiveness to produce, and that he got way too much ice time last year, but nobody told Rocket Richard to sit down, nobody told Gordie Howe to go away. When you deliver, something the fans in New York were waiting 54 years for, you give the man all the time he wants.
Posted by: Steve on August 24, 2003 11:47 AMAWESOME ARTICLE! I to have read all the postings on fan sights killing Messier I for one have defended this man to the hilt, and will always do so. I have been saying the same thing for 6 long playoff less seasons, I will say it again. " I would rather have a team full of ageing Mark Messiers that come to play every night give 110% night in & night out and lose with a team like that, than watching the Eric Lindros & the Pavel Bures of the NHL.
Mark gives every thing he has. Last season a reporter asked Kevein Lowe how much longer he felt Mes could play in thsi leauge, his response was: he could most likely play another 5 to 7 years with the phyiscal shape he keeps him self in.
Thsi year we heard all sorts of rumors of the captain returning to Edmonton. That should say it all.
In my opnion Messier is the greatest of all time.
Tommy
Posted by: TOMMY on August 29, 2003 04:00 PMWhile none of what Bird so eloquently puts can ever be argued, one wishes that Mess would have put himself down two years ago, while he could still leave the ice with a shred of dignity, like the Great One did. Just as he knew where players were going to be on the ice before THEY knew, Gretz knew long before anyone else the tank was empty. He didnt let pride mess with that. Mess has let his ego beat him, and it has cost him dearly in the reverenve department. As great as he was, everytime he steps on the ice in present day the memory of him running over Scott Stevens in game two of the Semis in 94 then turning around and scoring the goal in his opening shift after a heartbreaker of a loss in game one drifts away and gets smaller and smaller in my rear view mirror.
That, along with his sinle handed retardation of this teams growth is a shame. A damn shame.
Posted by: Dmil on August 31, 2003 10:13 PMThanks for the kind words.
Now that Mess is signed you have a choice, you may choose to boo him and he may deserve it. But you could alsom choose to watch, hope for the best and applaud him if he does well.
I sure hope he limits his ice time and performs at a high level when he does play. It would be nice to have a successful season for him to go out with.
----}-
Posted by: Bird on September 6, 2003 10:01 AMBird:
I have never, in all my years, been as touched by an article on Messier as I am by yours. You have succeeded in encapsulating the reasons we should still embrace Messier as a member and captain of the NY Rangers. I will go as far as to say that reading this article was just as exhilarating, exciting, and profound as watching Messier hoist the Cup on June 14, 1994. You are a master of your craft.
Am I forgiven? Was that sincere enough?
Posted by: Jen Burns on September 16, 2003 02:39 PMI just want to say that this is the best Messier article I have read in long time. I am so sick of reading about how old he is and he he should've retired years ago. I guess everyone has forgotten about a incredible 24 year run. Let him play as long as he wants, I mean after all if the Rangers can't make it into the playoffs with him what are they going to do without him? Once again thanks for the article and all true Messier fans everywhere thank you for it!
Posted by: Katie on October 31, 2003 11:41 AMThere never will be another player like Mark Messier. The league should retire his number 11 just as they retired Gretsky's and we should all be grateful that Messier has given us so many great memories. He is the greatest of all times.
Posted by: Geovanni on November 1, 2003 02:43 PMI love Mess. Bringing the Cup to NY was probably my greatest thrill in all sports.(Lake Placid 1980, 1a)It just pains me to watch him now and remember him when. But you are right, honor the man for what he has done for NYR and for all of hockey worldwide. Thanks for the great article.
Posted by: nrf83 on November 5, 2003 03:58 PMSorry to burst your bubble, folks, but I think that Mark Messier is perhaps the most over-rated player in recent memory. Why? Take a look....
-most of his many points were gathered while in Edmonton, as a part of one of the greatest collection of offensive power that the league may ever have seen on one team (and no, I'm not an Oiler fan). Middle of the road players looked outstanding on that team.
-by the same token, most of his many points were gathered while in the wide-open offensive era of the late 80's and early 90's
-he was a strong leader in Edmonton and considered the "saviour" in NY, but NY had a high-priced "stocked" team in 94, which got lucky in the playoffs and barely beat the low-budget Vancouver Canucks for the cup. And what did this "saviour" do with a similar line-up the next few years in NY? Diddly squat!
-have you considered Messier's contribution (or lack thereof) after he was brought in by Mike Keenan to be the "saviour" in Vancouver? What a bust! He showed no class in "bumping" the much-loved Trevor Linden from the captaincy, followed- by a "Messier and Mike" gong show which lasted several years, where the two collaborated to dismantle a highly-talented squad, destroyed team morale and drove away fans by the thousands. Vancouver fans celebrated Messier's departure, and coach Mike was a candidate for a public lynching, had he stayed on longer.
All things considered, Messier does belong in a discussion of the top 25-50 of all time, but should not be mentioned in the same conversation as Gretzky, Orr and Howe, or with Richard, Belliveau, etc.
You (cup-starved) Ranger fans need to look at the big picture. He's been a dominant leader in his own dressing room and a fine player, but don't hold your breath waiting for the league to retire his number!
Posted by: Bruce on November 9, 2003 01:34 PMone of my biggest dreams is to get a "real" autograph from Messier - himself. I am only 7 and live in NC, the players here are so much more out in the public... I do go to NY to see the games but I don't know how to see hime live.
He is the greatest... I play hockey and I always pick his number.
i think he should go into the hall of fame dont you i mean he is the best hockey player i know of and i love hockey i wish it was an all year sport, so i can watch it more...new york rangers
RED WHITE AND BLUE
TRUE THREW AND THREW
MESSMAN
Posted by: MESSMAN on September 10, 2004 08:38 AM
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