[19], Sanderson went on to become a sports broadcaster. What current Bruins do you appreciate when you watch the games? [Vancouver Canucks forward] Bobby Lalonde was 5-foot-4. Years earlier, the hockey star had given power of attorney to the lawyer, a long-time family friend. And he's never ceased to amaze me since. "I didn't want him getting any credit," he said. We use cookies to improve your experience. Soon his bank account was running on fumes, too. He returned to the Bruins, but was traded to the Rangers in 1974. Sinden responded, "How many times have you told me you were misquoted. [6] After spending four years in the OHA, Sanderson turned pro by signing with the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League in 196566, and made his professional debut that season by playing two games with the Bruins. More Sanderson Pages. Did anyone in the NHL rival you? On behalf of the City of Boston Sanderson has counselled tens of thousands of wayward children. Eddie Westfall. Later this year, the movie "Turk" (Sanderson's nickname) is scheduled to be released. "I told him he was good to me when I was 15 and I owed him that," he said. He blew out his knee, was getting operated on. WebNarrated by Boston native, Primetime Emmy Award-nominee and star of Mad Men John Slattery, Center of Attention follows Sandersons journey from humble beginnings, to After Sanderson and the Blazers parted ways, he returned to the Bruins for two seasons but suited up for only 54 games. Really, I hated Montreal. Sindens hunch created a few grumblings on the bench but proved to be the right move. I knew his loving parents, who tried to instill the right virtues in their son. He says he made the perfect pass to Bobby Orr who went flying through the air to score the goal that won the Stanley Cup. The 21-year-old scored 24 goals and 49 points in 71 games. The drugs, including prednisone and cocaine, helped his hips but hurt his future. Sanderson bounced from team to team, never being able to stay with a team for more than two full seasons. His partying lifestyle caught up with him by the time his career ended and he was found sleeping in an inebriated state on a bench in Central Park. Remember in our day, there was only one coach. The eccentric center, the winner of the 1967 Calder Trophy as the NHL's best rookie, became one of the most beloved athletes in the city's sports lore. A welcome email is on its way. I grew up watching "The Turk" play hockey in This made Turk groggy. His popularity reached heartthrob and rock star status from the moment he arrived on the scene in 1966. The image of Orr flying though the air after whipping the puck past St. Louis goalie Glenn Hall in indelibly etched in the minds of most hockey fans, Bruin supporter or not. Personal life, health, and sportscasting career, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, "Gillespie, Caroline Hall / Sanderson, Harold A., Pte. The cold and rain made the night miserable, but I knew I just needed a place where I could close my eyes and drift away from my problems for a few hours. It was widely speculated that it had hoped to prod Sanderson to bolt the team and void his lucrative deal but his contract was bought out for $800,000 after the season.[16]. Instead, he explained basic principles such as compound interesthow the $56,000 an athletes brother wants for a new SUV could be worth $600,000 when the athlete is 65, if properly invested. include items vital to surviving the extreme weather of every season. When that last comment hit the newspapers, Sanderson was hauled into the office of Bruins coach Harry Sinden. Sanderson had pen in hand when the lawyer walked into the room and said, "I still think you're only worth $75,000. He was terrified of flying so the Bruins sent him to a psychiatrist who made two disastrous errors. He's been a member of The Ridge Club in South Sandwich, Mass., since the early 1990s. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="../../platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); All rights reserved. The two-time Stanley Cup champion set up the epic overtime goal scored by Boston Bruins teammate Bobby Orr that clinched the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals, widely considered to be the greatest goal in National Hockey League history. Wanting to make sure that other hockey players would not follow his path, Sanderson organized The Professionals Group at State Street Global Advisors, where he was Director of The Sports Group that provided professional financial advice to athletes in the 1990s. Bobby Orr arranged surgery for his hips destroyed by prednisone. The owner of the Bruins wisely cautioned him that, for someone not bred to wealth, it would ruin his life. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. Then, 'OK, what are you guys doing?' I was intimidated by it. Then to find yourself broke, alcoholic, drug addicted and sleeping under bridges? The film's director Doug Atchison last directed Akeelah and the Bee and Class Act. He was eventually able to get sober in the mid-1980s. He cares that much about his players, he never called us by our nicknames. The Calder trophy wasnt the crowning jewel in Sandersons trophy room though. I grabbed a discarded New York Times and stretched out on a damp bench, pulling the newspaper over me like a blanket to keep dry and as warm as possible.". By the late 70s, Sanderson found himself on what he would call a three-year binge that took him to Rangers territory. "I help athletes live within their means. Those early years in Boston were the apex of his life. For him to get that goal, Bobby, I was so happy. One of the good stories is Esposito in the [hospital] bed and I wasn't a part of that. I like the Bruins. Derek The Turk Sanderson, One of the Great Characters in Sports, Talks Openly about His Glory Days with Stanley Cup Winning Bruins, Life as a Bachelor in the Swinging Sixties and Seventies, His 13 Trips to Rehab, and Life in General. In the pre-season, he was involved in a brawl at a local strip club that left him in a hospital, where tests showed an extremely high level of alcohol as well as evidence of cocaine, sleeping pills, Seconal and Valium in his system. It was the beginning of the end. The scouts and the fans took note. Do you have pictures of Gracie Thompson from the movie Gracie's choice. Forty seconds into the extra period, Sanderson controlled the puck behind the Blues goal line, at which point defenseman Bobby Orr broke in from near the blue line. What has Harry Sinden meant to the Bruins organization over the years? He drove a silver Rolls Royce, owned a nightclub, Bachelors Three, in New York and Boston in partnership with Joe Namath and could make quite an entrance with his full-length mink coat and a new blonde on his arm every night. "I didn't want to leave Boston. WebHe was terrified of flying so the Bruins sent him to a psychiatrist who made two disastrous errors. WebTurk Becomes a Blazer by Frank Bertucci The Hockey Spectator August 1972 It was this city's biggest signing since 1776. Derek Sanderson vs. Tim Horton, October 26, 1968 - Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Wow does this one go way back--Turk Sanderson versus Mr. Donut. And surprisingly [the lesser known players] are really playing really well. - Details", "Sanderson, Karen / parents Carol (nee Gillespie) & Pte. Sanderson didnt listen. It was cheap then, Sanderson says. It was a team that, there was no one there that you didn't like. "The more I had, the more temptations there were, and the less I turned them down. One coach and a trainer. The first thing he did was purchase a burgundy Rolls Royce car and fox-fur coat. WebBest Answer Copy I believe because he looked like the macho male model who always got the girl and who portrayed a charactor called "The Turk" from the old Camels Cigarettes They were the key to the enthusiasm. The game-winning play was a give-and-go pass from Sanderson to Orr in the slot and Blues Hall of Fame goalie Glenn Hall never had a chance. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Bobby Orr had a Cinderella year. His third autobiography came out in October, and it's the first that tells the entire story. As captain of the Blazers, Derek felt a responsibility to explain the situation to the fans. It's kind of like in the NFL, you're waiting for a penalty flag, 'Is everything OK?' His new deal, which the Bruins would not match, made him the highest-paid athlete in the world at that time. Sherman will produce the film through his Fort Point Media banner along with writing/producing partner Dave Wedge and Black Mass producer Michael Bassick. There was a few good guys, smaller people. He helps professional athletes invest their money as vice president of Baystate Wealth Management in Boston. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. WebDerek Sanderson was a product of his times with a nickname to match. Brad Marchand is the player to me who is gritty and in your face and hes got a great pair of hands, said Sanderson. Is Brooke shields related to willow shields? Video: Sanderson Answers B's STH Questions. On Thursday, August 3, Derek Sanderson That puck had to land flat, but he never held it, he just redirected it, really. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! Sanderson made a bad first impression with Canucks management before a regular-season game had been played. In his book, 'Crossing the Line: The Outrageous Story of a Hockey Original, Derek Sanderson, who played for five NHL teams throughout his career including the Bruins and the Blues shares his hockey highs and lows and moments that would eventually see him homeless and living on the street. Photo: Hockey Players Relaxing in Dressing Room, By Bettmann. Tweet How hard was your famous sweep check and could it be taught today? I got blamed for it, but I never did it. Harold decided his son would become a hockey star, so Derek began skating at the age of 8 and received an expensive pair of skates at 12 with the promise that he would give his dad a Stanley Cup ring someday. "And I signed with the Blazers." WebDEREK SANDERSON DOCUMENTARY TO DEBUT ON NBC SPORTS ON JUNE 8TH. But Harry came to me at the end of the game (regulation) and said, Listen, usually these things end quickly and the only chance theyve got is if it ends quickly., I sat beside Phil and he goes, I cant believe that. I said, What are you going to do? . I wanted to make sure they know what they own, why they own it and what they paid for it.. I was always a fan of Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, and Derek Sanderson. A year later the two budding superstars were teammates on the Bruins. Fortunately, hes hasnt lost his sense of humour. Despite his attack on the "franchise," Sanderson actually gained a lot of respect from fans and management for his style of play that game. That crowd was the best anywherewe kind of matured together. [20] His second autobiography, Crossing the Line: The Outrageous Story of a Hockey Original, written with Kevin Shea, was released in October 2012. Get us past the opening and I can double you back and make it a defensive battle and eventually you're gonna win because we were that much better. Eventually, he would fly hammered and would have to be, in his words, "poured off the plane on the other end. That was the start of Derek Sanderson's drinking problem, something that teammate, Bobby Orr, spoke with him about on a few occasions. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. Sanderson scored 16 points in 16 games with the club before he was sent to the minors because of disciplinary reasons. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. After his broadcasting career, he went to work as a financial adviser to young hockey players who might experience the same dilemmas he did when the too much, too soon syndrome hit. He just loves the game. After signing his contract with the Blazers, Sanderson covered a month-long excursion to Hawaii for seven people on his American Express gold card a bill of close to $47,000. Derek Sanderson last played in 1978. I wanted to protect athletes from themselves, he says. Through the 2021-22 campaign, his 24 short-handed tallies in the regular season ranked third behind Brad Marchand and Rick Middleton in club history. Sanderson did know how to grab a headline. WebIn his book, 'Crossing the Line: The Outrageous Story of a Hockey Original, Derek Sanderson, who played for five NHL teams throughout his career including the Bruins Do you have a favorite off-ice story from the Big, Bad Bruins era? Turk' as they called him, was known for being a top scorer in juniors with his hometown Niagara Fall Flyers, but he became known as a penalty killer and tough guy in the NHL. That made no sense to me," he says. The drug mellowed him before a flight, but it made him, groggy and irritable and interfered with his performance. Doctors diagnosed him with chronic ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease that isnt helped by excessive alcohol consumption. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks as well as all other proprietary materials depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective NHL teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. Slowly, he lost the magic and for several years after he left hockey, he struggled with those addictions. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. In the 1975-76 season, Sanderson scored his 32nd career short-handed goal to surpass Toronto Maple Leafs center Dave Keon as the all-time league leader. "With your personality you will rue the day you took this money," Adams warned him. This is a problem for anyone who has to travel for work. His time with the Flyers saw him being named to the Second All-Star Team in 196566, to the First All-Star Team in 196667 and winning the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the top scorer in the OHA also in 196667. I said, 'Well, what are you gonna do?'. BostonBruins.com is the official website of the Boston Bruins. He was demoted to the Boston Braves of the American Hockey League for three games then traded to the rival New York Rangers. This made Turk groggy. I thought that was a great moveCash wheeled him out of there. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. [14]. Those were some of his milder quotes. "I needed an answer to what was going on. Well, that might be tough. From alcohol, Sanderson turned to barbiturates to deal with another challenge facing athletes; pain. I saw it hit the back of the net and I said, 'Well, that's it, I think.' Derek Sanderson was living the life of a sports playboy until he hit rock bottom- but he came back ready to make a difference in other athletes' lives. WebDerek Michael Sanderson (born June 16, 1946), nicknamed "Turk", is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and two-time Stanley Cup champion who helped transform the culture of the professional athlete in the 1970s era. He is from Canada and was the highest-paid athlete in the world for a short time. Then, while in a drunken stupor, he nearly froze to death sleeping in the snow. Turk became a fan favorite and to many the most exciting player on the ice; with him on the ice you never knew what would happen next. Video: 1970: Bobby Orr's iconic OT goal wins Cup for Bruins. Former Bruin Derek Sanderson on his demons. [Blues defenseman] Jean-Guy Talbot should never have come to meif you're the defenseman, you're not gonna go behind the net. The next disaster occurred when Sanderson, along with Joe Namath, the football star, opened a bar in Boston, compounding his temptation. "Bobby and I talked for a while, and then when I went to leave I walked straight into the wall. A 7-handicap who once played to a 1, Sanderson plays nearly every day during the summer, despite walking with a limp after 10 hip surgeries. WebWhy is Derek Sanderson called Turk? I used to watch the Big Bad Bruins on my grandparents television set in Hyannis growing up, Sherman said. [10], He also received publicity for his numerous female companions and lavish ways, which included a Rolls-Royce car and circular bed. [4] At season's end, Sanderson was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the Rookie of the Year, an honor that his teammate Orr had claimed the previous year. His long-time teammate and friend, Bobby Orr, checked him into rehab. Contents copyright 2016 Orbit Enterprises, Inc. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. "Crossing the Lines: The Outrageous Story of a Hockey Original," chronicles the riches-to-rags journey of the former Boston Bruins center. Enter your email address to get a new one. We had great fans, the same type of fans today. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an commission. When he reached that was it. " Experience Rogers Hometown Hockey. Do Eric benet and Lisa bonet have a child together? If we got in a fight, the closest Bruin would fight the other guy. [1] His older sister Karen was born in 1944 while their father was serving in France. The image I projected was that I was this crazy playboy, and I believed my own hype, but the truth was that I was just an insecure kid from Niagara Falls, Ontario.. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. Montreal. I believe because he looked like the macho male model who always " His lifestyle eventually left him penniless. (The Blazers also gave his father a five-year, $250,000 deal as a scout.) [9] If the Frank J. Selke Trophy had been given to the top defensive forward during his Bruins stint -- the award made its debut in the 1977-78 season -- it's not unrealistic to think that Sanderson would have been the recipient more than once. How much is a biblical shekel of silver worth in us dollars? Please try again. Eventually, his off-ice lifestyle, playboy image, booze, women, and drugs became the Frankenstein monster that destroyed his hockey career. A look at the Turk behind-the-scenes crew and production team. I had a friend tell me once, 'Derek, hanging out with you is like being in a movie. At the time, Sanderson was in denial. ", "Falling Down: The greatest downfalls in Canadian sports history", "20 Questions: Ex-NHLer Derek Sanderson on running the town and sleeping on its benches", "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Derek Sanderson", "The Ever Elusive, Always Inscrutable And Still Incomparable Bobby Orr", "Boston Sports Museum's 12th annual 'The Tradition', "A movie about a Bruins legend is in the works", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Derek_Sanderson&oldid=1150859446, Oklahoma City Blazers (19651977) players, Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Retired as the NHL career leader in shorthanded goals (currently 11th all time), Selected to the OHA-Jr. First All-Star Team.
why was derek sanderson called turk