Page 27 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 19

sportsenergynews.com 27

What is Greatness in Sport?

By Tom Fagan true champion he was. For a horse to win the In the three races of the Triple
Triple Crown of thoroughbred Crown, Alydar lost by less than
Although Wayne Gretzky
ho could have imagined racing, which is the Kentucky two lengths.
Wthat Babe Ruth would was not the biggest or strongest Derby, The Preakness and The
bring millions of Fans to the player in the national hockey Belmont Stakes, is practically The only horse that ever

baseball parks throughout league, the many records he impossible. These races are beat Affirmed was Alydar, and
broke speak for themselves, a practically the ever horse that
America? He did this at a held in Kentucky, Maryland and
champion he was.

time when baseball needed New York. The Triple Crown ever beat Alydar was Affirmed.
respectability and revival. His Who could forget Jacques has only been won eleven times Alydar’s tremendous effort in
tremendous home run power Plante? His wandering from since 1919. his Triple Crown defeats showed
and batting average made him his goaltending position, his what it takes to be a champion.
The last Triple Crown
far and away, the most popular handling of the puck and the His effort inspired an English
winner was the great champion
athlete in America. Babe Ruth fi rst goaltender to wear a mask, novelist to write the following:

was born an orphan. made him unique. Most of “Affirmed” in 1978. Although
“Alydar” was the betting “One of the world’s greatest
Who could forget Jackie the goaltenders who played in favorite, he came second to sins is to convince oneself that

Robinson? He went from later years copied his style of Affirmed in the Kentucky Derby. second best is anything but

play. Even so, not all at first
Montreal to the Brooklyn In the second leg of the Triple second best”
believed in his style. He was a
Dodgers. He was the first Crown, the Preakness, Affirmed Alydar proved he was a

African American to play champion. won again with Alydar coming champion even though he was
baseball in the major leagues, Doug Harvey, a defenseman a close second. At the Belmont beaten each time in the Triple
other than the Walker brothers with the Canadians, could
Stakes, the third and final race Crown. We might all learn

who played in the 1880’s. It is change the pace of a hockey for the Triple Crown, Affirmed

sad to say that his teammates game single handedly. He was won again. In the last half-mile something from him.
signed a petition of protest a great talent. He probably of the five and one half mile If you have heart, desire and the

against him playing. This was did not receive the credit he race, Affirmed and Alydar ran will to win, in life and in sport,

done in spring training. During deserved for his tremendous no matter what the outcome is,
head to head. Alydar lost again
the year, some of his teammates athletic abilities. by the slimmest of margins. you are a champion.
refused to sit beside him during Arthur Ash is remembered as
the games. Imagine, in spite the first African American to CORNWALL MOBILE

of all this pressure, he hit .297, win Wimbledon in England, and
scored 125 runs and led the
the U.S. Open in tennis. He was SMALL ENGINE REPAIR
league in stolen bases. He

also the first African American to
was voted rookie of the year in be ranked number one in world
1947. He was an unbelievable tennis, and that record still holds
champion.
today. Arthur Ash contracted
Although Rocket Richard aids from a blood transfusion
never won the scoring during a bypass heart operation
championship, his fifty goals in in 1983. He died at the young

fifty games was a first in modern age of 49 in 1993. He was a

day hockey. His tremendous true gentleman and a champion. TUNE-UPS
output in goals during the He is remembered by millions
regular season and the playoffs of people.
made him a true champion. He SERVICE AT HOME
My article is not only about
was all heart and drive. In spite champions, but it is about Call 613-361-0017
of these accomplishments, it who brought greatness to

took some time for him to earn sport. Although it may seem Sales & Service Certified Technician
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unlikely to many, I have picked
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thoroughbred horse racing as plus HST plus HST
Bobby Orr, who could do it my comparison.
all on a hockey rink and was the I will give you an account
only defenseman ever to win the of very likely, the greatest TCS533EB16 TBC-240PF

scoring championship. Bobby Triple Crown ever won and its View at D-Tech
Orr had injured knees from the
profound outcome. 7 South Branch Road
earliest days of his career. A