In keeping with the playoff season, I wanted to delve into some of the history of the NHL. Over the past two years I have found myself wrapped up, following the Bruins and beginning to accept the NHL as the fifth major sport again (NASCAR is one of the top 3).
This season the Bruins were on pace at times to set the all time team scoring record held by the 1976-77 Montreal Canadians. The Canadians of that time were in the midst of a dynasty and in 76-77 they recorded 132 points going 60-8-12. The second highest point total that season was the Bruins with 106 points.
In comparison to that Canadians team, the Bruins led the league in defense this year allowing fewer than 200 goals. The Bruins were second in the league in scoring but it was the Canadians team scoring in '76-77 that set them apart from everyone as they scored 200 more goals than they allowed. All that in large part to one Hall of Famer, Guy LaFleur.
Guy LaFleur led the league in scoring that year with 136 points. He was a nemesis of most teams throughout his illustrious career, a career which included a retirement in 1984 and a Hall of Fame Induction, followed by a return to the NHL in 1988 until 1991.
What most don't know about Guy LaFleur is possibly his recording career. He may have spun the careers of some of the stars in the NHL today but he may have also had an impact on the likes of Allen Iverson, Ron Artest, Roy Jones Jr., Chris Webber, Tony Parker, Deion Sanders, Kobe Bryant, and Shaq amongst others. What do all these men have in common? They all have released a music album.
Guy LaFleur's album varies from all of the others though because his was a disco album. That is correct; an athlete releasing a disco album.
I don' t have any exciting facts about Guy LaFleur nor will I predict who will win the Stanley Cup based on historical models, but I just wanted to note that Guy LaFleur was as talented on the ice as he was off. The self labeled album, "LaFleur" with Disco Delivery is a rare find these days. Since the album was released in 1979 the Canadians have won 2 titles while making it to the Finals 3 times. If I were the Habs, I'd be rocking out to "LaFleur" before every game.
And Now You Know! (And Knowing is Half the Battle!)
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4 comments:
And where else could you launch a disco hockey album, but at Regine's? Reportedly the pinnacle of disco society.Melvin McCloud, closet disco maniac.
Wow, there are so many great quotes in that clip.
This may be just the beginning for...disco sports.I'm pretty sure the end of disco sports happened that same year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpQfCcsqQ0E
I'm not even going to touch the "when he gets down and scores it will have a different meaning" quote.
So he just gives hockey advice over disco music? Color me disappointed.
I can't find the album on Amazon.com, which is amazing. I wonder if any of today's sports/lyricists use LaFleur's music as inspiration?
Wow, there are so many great quotes in that clip.
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