This week I visited the New York Rangers training camp in Greenburgh, N.Y. and had the good luck to Biofile the former Broadway Blueshirt star Ron Duguay who stated that his favorite sports outside of hockey were golf and tennis.
When asked to name some athletes he enjoys to watch from tennis, Duguay, who played center and right wing in the NHL with New York, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles from 1977-1989, responded, “I became friends with John McEnroe, so I always enjoyed watching John, not just for his skills but for his personality.”
Wait a minute, that’s right. In the classic 1979 hockey book “Thin Ice” by author Larry “Ratso” Sloman, there was a photo of Duguay and McEnroe together.
I asked “Doogie” if he has kept in contact with his pal “Johnny Mac”? “Yes I do. He’s a big Ranger fan.”
Did the 1982 NHL All-Star Game player and former teammate of Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux ever hit some tennis balls with the former world #1, U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion? “I did a long time ago. And he encourages me to call to hit now, but I don’t want to embarrass myself.”
“I could rally with him but not try to win a game off him. I could rally with him and keep the ball in play. I’ve played tennis a long time. I’m gonna take him up on that.”
When asked for a McEnroe story, the now 53-year-old Duguay who looks fit enough to still play in the NHL, offered this gem: “A couple times back in the late 70′s/early 80′s when I was pretty good friends with him, we’d hang out together. Every once in a while, if I’d be on the injured reserve list, the team would go on the road, him and I would go to the practice rink and we’d go out on the ice. Him and I would put all the Ranger gear on and go out and skate. He loves to play. He’s not just a fan, he loves to play. So I’d sneak him over with a couple of buddies and we’d go to the practice rink at (Rye) Playland. I’d get him on the ice, fully suited up.”
Does Johnny Mac have some decent hockey skills? “Well, like everyone, skating is very difficult. He was just an average skater.”
Note: The Rangers will open their 2010-2011 NHL season on Saturday October 9 in Buffalo. The Rangers first home game is on Friday October 15 against Toronto. John McEnroe is a frequent Garden attendee of Rangers matches and Ron Duguay works for MSG Network as an analyst.
Topics: Favorite Sports, Game Player, Good Friends, Greenburgh, Hockey Book, Injured Reserve, John Mcenroe, Johnny Mac, Mario Lemieux, New York Rangers, Nhl All Star Game, Ranger Fan, Ratso, Ron Duguay, Rye Playland, Tennis Balls, Thin Ice, Wayne Gretzky, Wimbledon Champion, York Ranger
John McEnroe, New York Ranger? | 