Page 59 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 119

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #119 December 2022 59

Thoughts of David Murphy

to know him when he and Dan where someone was born, Dave doing good, and being there for
Allaire sat me down before the knew! everyone, until he couldn’t.
Colts 1998-99 season and asked At times in life, we all make A few weeks before his death at
me if I wanted in as a spare for the decisions that are not so much hospice, I told Dave he would be
By Thom Racine Colts broadcasts. I had not been personal, but they are still a member of the CSHOF. I shared
on the radio since the Royals left
hurtful. I publicly supported twenty minutes with him, and as I
and only had a few guest stints Bernadette Clement over Dave in left and got to the door, I stopped,
with Fred Pletsch during the Aces’ his mayoralty bid. It blindsided “Good night, Dave,” I said. “Good
three-year run. I told them both him and things were stressful. night, Thom,” he replied. We both
hen the Greek historian that I was interested, and along To Dave, I had given him the “ knew.
WHerodotus wrote, “Whom with Shauna Mecteau, it became what for,” a phrase he used often
the gods love dies young,” he a four-year stint covering one of during skirmishes on the ice. We To his many close friends,
meant; good people die at an the most solid CCHL teams in a chatted about it several times we have our memories. To his
early age because the gods want very long time. When the Colts after the election, but it was one daughter Julia, his favourite
these people to surround them in booked their ticket to the Canadian of those things I know he was still human, I don’t have to tell you
the afterlife. The phrase, altered Championship in Fort McMurray upset about. Dave Murphy was an how proud your dad was of you.
a little and immortalized in song Alberta in the spring of 1999, ambassador, true, he flew by the And to you David Murphy,
by Billy Joel, resonates amongst there were forty seconds left in seat of his pants, could have been you left an indelible mark on our
those who feel great loss… Only the game with the Colts up by two called 11th hour Dave, but he came community - only the good die
the Good Die Young. And so it and I excitedly quipped, “Dave, through and quickly moved on young, and you were truly one of
was, that on November 13, one the Colts are going to Alberta.” to the next event, raising money, them.
of those good guys died way too His response was to repeat exactly
early and far too young. what I had said, with tears in his
It’
s Gift Card Season!
eyes. Ten odd years ago, Dave It’s Gift Card Season!
Those of us who walked,
worked, and played in Dave’s and his best pal Scott Rogers and
Make shopping easier
I drove to New York City to see
circle, know all too well how his Make shopping easier
up and down battle with cancer the Rangers for a pair of weekend
with Emards gift cards
games at MSG. One of the games with Emards gift cards
played out. Dave made sure we
knew every step of his journey was against Ottawa. Dave had
that he fought so hard to win. He secured press passes, and as we
waited by the 34th Street press
became a fighter and leader, with
a campaign to help others in our gate/players entrance, only
Dave would have spotted Jesse
community in need and battling
this horrible disease. His legacy Winchester walking up 8th Avenue
will always be about a sport with Sens goalie Alex Auld. Ready
to embarrass us, Dave took over,
minded, community-loving man,
who made it his final wish that he “He’s big, he’s tall, he’s bald, he’s
Alex Auld.” Murph was a beauty,
Use to purchase tools, lumber,
not be just another victim, but that
he tried to help while in the midst he didn’t care, he was all about Use to purchase tools, lumber,
and much more!
of his own fierce battle. the moment. For those of you who and much more!
think you are pretty well versed in
I don’t remember the first time sports trivia, Dave was the King.

I met Murph, it would have been “I used to take my hockey cards

at the radio station early to mid- to the bathroom and read the stats
nineties, he literally used his high on the back and I knew where
energy style and made it work they were from.” That was one of

and he was good at it. I really got Dave’s trivia specialties. Ask him