Thursday, January 17, 2008

Triumph and Tragedy

Yesterday couldn't have made for different circumstances in two arenas in New Brunswick. In one a community gathered to mourn an unthinkable tragedy and in the other a community gathered to honour a sporting hero. The tragedy of lives cut short and the triumph of a life well lived.

Here is Freddy last night the city officialy unveiled its new arena with a celebration to honour its namesake Willie O'ree. As I mentioned a few weeks ago Willie is the Fredericton raised (Charlotte St at that!) hockey player that broke the NHL colour barrier 50 years ago tomorrow. I met Willie a few years ago and saw him speak at the city council meeting on Monday (on TV). I was struck by his humility even in the face of a week's worth of adulation. He tried to deflect his accomplishments from 50 years ago, instead focussing on the opportunity his current work is giving to a new crop of hockey players in his role as an NHL Youth Development Director. This Arena should be as much a result of his continuing work as it was for his barrier breaking first game with the Bruins. Here is the best story I have found on Willie. My favourite quote - "Growing up in Fredericton, O'Ree says he had no idea what prejudice was before he ventured into professional sports. There were only two black families on his block, but "no one treated us any differently than the white kids.""

Meanwhile in Bathurt 6000 people packed into the KC Irving Arena to attend the funerals of 7 high schools basketball players that died in a crash that I'm sure everyone has heard about. Nothing I can say can add to what has already been said but no story has affected me quite as deeply as this one in quite some time. I can't see a picture of those kids without getting a lump in my throat.

Rest in Peace Boys.

SP

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posted by Vitamin S @ 5:56 p.m.

1 Comments:

At Monday, January 21, 2008, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Simon, I too was struck by the ironic coincidence of these two monumental events and what they say about us as New Brunswickers.
On the one hand, the communal triumph of Willie's return to Freddy as the prodigal son and his well-deserved, well-earned honours. On the other, the utter catastrophic tragedy of the accidental death of those eight in the van and the sense of loss and unfulfilled promise. Indeed, a week of extreme mixed emotions - tears of joy and tears of despair.
Well said my son! thanks, Peter

 

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