When I started this sports blog I mentioned my disappointment with the heavy dose of the negative in sports media coverage. I have tried my very best to lean to the positive side of sports. But today brings news that I just can't ignore, nor do I feel the media should.
Last night news came that former St. Louis Blues tough guy Todd "The Animal" Ewen had passed. There are many reasons that this news garnered my attention. Maybe the biggest is that at age 49 Ewen was still a young man and when I hear of men that are nearly the same age as myself it makes me take notice.
Most of you may not know that at one time I was as big of a fan of hockey as you would ever meet. I believe it was 1989 that I attended my first hockey game at the old Arena. It is something I will never forget as it was a legendary tilt between the Blues and Blackhawks. From the time the National Anthem started people were yelling their heads off and that place was deafening. There were three on ice fights(notice I said on ice, off ice there may have been more), the game ended in a 2-2 tie, and I was instantly hooked. As a 20 year old man as I was at the time, there was nothing more manly or rugged as old time hockey at the Barn on Oakland Avenue.
As I fell in love with the sport I developed a deep fondness and respect for the guys that were viewed as "enforcers". I could not decide if these men were out of their minds or if they were heroes. Most had limited hockey skill in regards to skating and scoring. But the one thing they could do was fight and protect the top tier players from cheap shots and recklessness of opposing players.
At the time the Blues were playing in the rough and tumble Norris division and it seemed every team had two enforcers that would keep even the most casual of fans sitting on the edge of their seats in anticipation of a fight or if you were lucky two of three, maybe even at the same time. Detroit had legendary fighters Bob Probert and Joey Kocur, the Blackhawks had Stu "the Grim Reaper" Grimson and Mike Peluso, Minnesota(now Dallas) had Basil McRae and Shane Churla, and our Blues had the likes of Ewen, Kimble, Twist and Chase. It was a magical time in hockey as it was blue-collar, rough and tumble, and to fans like myself it was a sport we connected with.
As I mentioned earlier, one of the first players I admired was Todd Ewen even though my first impression was not so good. During a training camp with the Blues Ewen was challenged by up and coming enforcer Tony Twist. Most of you of course have heard of Twister, the man had a right hand that later would break bones and strike fear in the heart of fighters league wide. If you don't believe me ask Rob Ray as evidenced here. So on with the story, Twist challenged Ewen to fight in training camp and even antagonized the veteran by flapping his arms like a chicken. It was a classic moment in Blues history. Can you imagine seeing that happen in today's hockey? Not likely with the influx of the more skilled European players.
Ewen had already endeared himself to Blues fans by landing a one punch knockout of Red Wing tough guy Bob Probert. To me these guys were the ultimate manly men. In my eyes there was John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and the hockey enforcers. Stand me beside that trio and I would suddenly feel 10 feet tall and bulletproof. I even named my one and only son after two of the most beloved Blues tough guys ever in Brendan Shanahan and Kelly Chase. Hence the name Brendan Chase.
What most fans like myself did not know that some of but not all of these men were struggling with demons we never knew of. Many struggled with drug use, pain killers, and alcoholism. There were many reasons as each had their own story. Some had grown up with tough backgrounds, some had fallen for the self medicating lifestyle, and some were struggling with what they felt was seclusion. The fact that they earned fame but not necessarily fortune for beating people up instead of putting the puck in the back of the net really ate at some. The truth of the matter is that most hockey enforcers were great guys that struggled with the thought of beating people up in front of 20,000 people every night. I went to dozens of charitable events with hockey players and from my own personal experience there was no other athlete that was as down to earth and approachable.
Which brings me back to Todd Ewen. Todd was a man I had the honor of meeting on occasion and had also heard do many radio interviews. He was a nice, kind-hearted, and approachable man. Even though he stood 6'3" and weighed 230 lbs he was a man that eased all intimidation by just being himself. He also gave back to the community by doing various charitable endeavors and what many fans may not know is that he even wrote and illustrated children's books, he was coaching director at Chesterfield, was an assistant with the Billikens, and even coached high school hockey.
I hope and pray that when the cause of death is released news comes that Todd passed in a way that while being too soon, will at least allow fans like myself to respect rather than running away from demons that maybe he could have gotten help with.
R.I.P. Todd "The Animal" Ewen, heaven just got a bouncer with a huge heart.
Last night news came that former St. Louis Blues tough guy Todd "The Animal" Ewen had passed. There are many reasons that this news garnered my attention. Maybe the biggest is that at age 49 Ewen was still a young man and when I hear of men that are nearly the same age as myself it makes me take notice.
Most of you may not know that at one time I was as big of a fan of hockey as you would ever meet. I believe it was 1989 that I attended my first hockey game at the old Arena. It is something I will never forget as it was a legendary tilt between the Blues and Blackhawks. From the time the National Anthem started people were yelling their heads off and that place was deafening. There were three on ice fights(notice I said on ice, off ice there may have been more), the game ended in a 2-2 tie, and I was instantly hooked. As a 20 year old man as I was at the time, there was nothing more manly or rugged as old time hockey at the Barn on Oakland Avenue.
As I fell in love with the sport I developed a deep fondness and respect for the guys that were viewed as "enforcers". I could not decide if these men were out of their minds or if they were heroes. Most had limited hockey skill in regards to skating and scoring. But the one thing they could do was fight and protect the top tier players from cheap shots and recklessness of opposing players.
At the time the Blues were playing in the rough and tumble Norris division and it seemed every team had two enforcers that would keep even the most casual of fans sitting on the edge of their seats in anticipation of a fight or if you were lucky two of three, maybe even at the same time. Detroit had legendary fighters Bob Probert and Joey Kocur, the Blackhawks had Stu "the Grim Reaper" Grimson and Mike Peluso, Minnesota(now Dallas) had Basil McRae and Shane Churla, and our Blues had the likes of Ewen, Kimble, Twist and Chase. It was a magical time in hockey as it was blue-collar, rough and tumble, and to fans like myself it was a sport we connected with.
As I mentioned earlier, one of the first players I admired was Todd Ewen even though my first impression was not so good. During a training camp with the Blues Ewen was challenged by up and coming enforcer Tony Twist. Most of you of course have heard of Twister, the man had a right hand that later would break bones and strike fear in the heart of fighters league wide. If you don't believe me ask Rob Ray as evidenced here. So on with the story, Twist challenged Ewen to fight in training camp and even antagonized the veteran by flapping his arms like a chicken. It was a classic moment in Blues history. Can you imagine seeing that happen in today's hockey? Not likely with the influx of the more skilled European players.
Ewen had already endeared himself to Blues fans by landing a one punch knockout of Red Wing tough guy Bob Probert. To me these guys were the ultimate manly men. In my eyes there was John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and the hockey enforcers. Stand me beside that trio and I would suddenly feel 10 feet tall and bulletproof. I even named my one and only son after two of the most beloved Blues tough guys ever in Brendan Shanahan and Kelly Chase. Hence the name Brendan Chase.
What most fans like myself did not know that some of but not all of these men were struggling with demons we never knew of. Many struggled with drug use, pain killers, and alcoholism. There were many reasons as each had their own story. Some had grown up with tough backgrounds, some had fallen for the self medicating lifestyle, and some were struggling with what they felt was seclusion. The fact that they earned fame but not necessarily fortune for beating people up instead of putting the puck in the back of the net really ate at some. The truth of the matter is that most hockey enforcers were great guys that struggled with the thought of beating people up in front of 20,000 people every night. I went to dozens of charitable events with hockey players and from my own personal experience there was no other athlete that was as down to earth and approachable.
Which brings me back to Todd Ewen. Todd was a man I had the honor of meeting on occasion and had also heard do many radio interviews. He was a nice, kind-hearted, and approachable man. Even though he stood 6'3" and weighed 230 lbs he was a man that eased all intimidation by just being himself. He also gave back to the community by doing various charitable endeavors and what many fans may not know is that he even wrote and illustrated children's books, he was coaching director at Chesterfield, was an assistant with the Billikens, and even coached high school hockey.
I hope and pray that when the cause of death is released news comes that Todd passed in a way that while being too soon, will at least allow fans like myself to respect rather than running away from demons that maybe he could have gotten help with.
R.I.P. Todd "The Animal" Ewen, heaven just got a bouncer with a huge heart.