Didn't take long to hear about this. I'm near the equator.
I couldn't watch the video from his home all the way through.
Same for the recent game videos of him being honored.
It's was too much - too sad seeing him that way.
I'm so sorry he's gone but relieved his suffering is over.
I liked a number of the Leafs in the 60s. One of them was Bobby Baun ... who wore #21.
When Borje showed up and got his number, I recall some mixed feelings about that initially.
Borje put those concerns to rest very quickly and became the best dman to wear any Leafs jersey in my opinion.
In the 80s, I was in a club waiting for some friends. I saw an empty seat in the dark back corner. Asked if anyone was using it and if not, if I could sit there. Guy says sure. I sit down. Order a quart and then the light illuminates this man: it was Borje. He was waiting for friends too. Both groups kept us waiting a long time. I didn't bring up hockey - it was his night off. He asked me more questions about me than I asked him. Mostly small talk. His entourage showed up quite some time later. My group after that.
It was at a time when media were all over him. Probably his lowest point as a Leaf. but with me, he was kind, patient, well-mannered, interesting, generous (he bought me a couple of beers, I bought him one) - a class act, etc. I walked away thinking "he was even nicer than they say he is and the media don't have the whole story right ..."
It was wonderful he and his family got a final heartfelt, loud & long cheer and good media coverage.
Sad day.
I couldn't watch the video from his home all the way through.
Same for the recent game videos of him being honored.
It's was too much - too sad seeing him that way.
I'm so sorry he's gone but relieved his suffering is over.
I liked a number of the Leafs in the 60s. One of them was Bobby Baun ... who wore #21.
When Borje showed up and got his number, I recall some mixed feelings about that initially.
Borje put those concerns to rest very quickly and became the best dman to wear any Leafs jersey in my opinion.
In the 80s, I was in a club waiting for some friends. I saw an empty seat in the dark back corner. Asked if anyone was using it and if not, if I could sit there. Guy says sure. I sit down. Order a quart and then the light illuminates this man: it was Borje. He was waiting for friends too. Both groups kept us waiting a long time. I didn't bring up hockey - it was his night off. He asked me more questions about me than I asked him. Mostly small talk. His entourage showed up quite some time later. My group after that.
It was at a time when media were all over him. Probably his lowest point as a Leaf. but with me, he was kind, patient, well-mannered, interesting, generous (he bought me a couple of beers, I bought him one) - a class act, etc. I walked away thinking "he was even nicer than they say he is and the media don't have the whole story right ..."
It was wonderful he and his family got a final heartfelt, loud & long cheer and good media coverage.
Sad day.
