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Since I've already posted an article on what Mike has meant to us as fans I see no reason to repeat what's already been said. I will add that as a goalkeeper myself, one who also had to stop playing.....I feel for him. To no longer be able to do what you love is just a killer.
I can relate a quick story though. When Mike first became a free agent, Neil Smith gambled on being able to resign Mike but talk about him going to Philly seemed very real. I was running 1-800-Sleepys at the time and when one of my sales guys interrupted my sleep...er, work to tell me to take a call from a possible customer I wasn't too pleased. It was Mike. He wanted to get his Mom some great quality beds and I was all too happy to help. We spoke for over 45 minutes and he was happy to talk about the art of goalkeeping with me. I tried hard not to sound like a fan....and he treated me as a peer.
After I assured him that we'd take care of getting his Mom some great beds he asked if there was something he could do for me. I kinda blanked at first....but then it hit me. I said, "Mike, I know you have to do whatever is best for your family but please don't wear Orange and Black." He laughed and replied, "Don't worry, I'm a Ranger....and this will get worked out." I had a special truck make the trip to PA and I remember the driver telling me he got some tix to a game as several days later it was announced that Mike had signed. What a great guy.
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MSG has the press conference to view in two formats.
Stan Fischler - In the depths of our despond, my wife, Shirley, myself and Simon were cheered on a Saturday morning when, Richter – along with Mike Keenan – showed up in the 14-year-old kid’s room. We can never be sure precisely what the visit meant to Simon’s health. But we do know that early that August, he did get his new heart.
Sam Rosen - People may have heard, read or spoken about it, but I don't know if one could totally appreciate how hard Mike Richter worked in his preparation. Physically and mentally, he was as hard a working player I have ever been around.
ESPN - It wasn't his fault that most of the U.S. media ignored the '96 World Cup, but he stole Game 3 from the Canadians -- and thus a title.
NY Times - And on Feb. 4, before a game at the Garden against the Minnesota Wild, Richter will have his number retired. It will join those belonging to goalie Ed Giacomin (No. 1) and forward Rod Gilbert (No. 7).
Daily News - "I've been less concerned about the implications for Mike's playing career than for him as a person. If he didn't get better, he wouldn't be himself. And that's very frightening. "But he's been more himself in recent weeks than before. I believe he'll make a full recovery. I don't know if I always (thought that)."
NY Post - The Rangers did it up as best they could, but there was no cloaking the sadness that permeated Mike Richter's retirement press conference at the Garden yesterday.
Journal News - Richter's NHL career started in bizarre fashion. Phil Esposito, who had fired coach Michel Bergeron with two games left in the 1988-89 season, then lost the first three games of the first-round playoff series against Pittsburgh, called up Richter to start Game 4. He was just about the only Ranger who wanted to even play that game, and he lost only 4-3.
North Jersey.com - "You have to go back to the very early days of the Rangers, back to Dave Kerr (1934-1941) to get somebody that you might be able to put ahead of him in terms of Rangers' history," former Rangers' general manager Neil Smith said. "As good as others were that played for the Rangers, they weren't able to accomplish winning a Stanley Cup and that has to put him above the rest."
Outsidethegarden.com - It is a day that Mike Richter has done everything to avoid, but this was one injury that even he couldn't overcome.
Elster from RFC - When one thinks of Mike Richter, their first image should be that of him splitting out the right leg and stopping Pavel Bure on a penalty shot in the 1994 Stanley Cup finals. Probably one of the best saves in NHL history and the signature save of his career.
----}- Bird
Posted by Bird at September 05, 2003 01:09 AMeMail this entry!
Thanks for that story Bird. Richter was always a class act and dozens of stories will bear that out. I met him once during a charity dinner and there was no false pretense to him whatsoever - he didn't treat you as a fan but as a person and not many in his shoes could say the same. I'll leave you all with this picture I took from my seat at an event you'll all recognize:
http://tikk.net/images/bure_richter.jpg
i am a 42 yr old man who played hockey for 20yrs. ive had many concussions in my days and recently was hit in the head at work. i have many differrent cognitive problems that has changed my life and my families life.i would like to know more about mike and what problems he is having. is their a web sight somewhere that would tell me this info. thanks bill
Posted by: bill on September 10, 2003 10:07 AMhe's really good
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