It’s always a pleasure and honor to to talk boxing with the Hall of Fame great Angelo Dundee. Here’s the latest observations from the one and only Angelo, read on as he talks about Sam Peter, Jones-Tarver III, Ricky Hatton, Corrales-Castillo, Tyson and much more:

August 2005

Boxinginsider.com: How did the movie turn out (Angelo was a consultant for Cinderella Man, the life story of James J. Braddock which was released earlier this summer)?

Angelo Dundee: “Oh, I had a ball. I spent a month in Australia, three months in Toronto. I had a great time. I never met such fine people in my life. Russell Crowe was a sweetheart, a family guy, a real class act. Ron Howard – I can’t say enough about. All the guys in the movies – I respect them. They work hard, they get up at 5 o’clock in the morning everyday, work all day. Kind of like the fighter’s life. They grind.”

Boxinginsider.com: Did you enjoy the film when you saw it the first time?

Angelo Dundee: “I cried. I seen it three times, cried three times. I had a great time. I really enjoyed myself working with such talent. Russell asked me one day, Want to be in the movie? I can try. That’s how I got in there.”

Boxinginsider.com: Hopkins vs. Taylor, what did you think of that fight, how it turned out?

Angelo Dundee: “I gave Taylor a real shot to win, on account of his awkwardness, his plodding jab. It was a close fight, naturally. I wasn’t surprised, it’ll be that kind of fight again, if they go. He’ll be even better next time – having that crown on your head makes you a better fighter. I’m very respectful of Hopkins. My kid David Estrada worked with him once. (Hopkins) don’t do a number on the guys he works with. My kid learned from Bernard Hopkins. He’s a very nice guy. I see him all the time when he comes down here.”

Boxinginsider.com: Very close fight, who did you think won?

Angelo Dundee: “I didn’t keep score. I’ll look at it again. Innately you don’t want to root. I knew he’d give him a good fight. Don’t know if he did enough to beat Hopkins. Wasn’t sure who won.”

Boxinginsider.com: I know you’re a big admirer of Kostya Tszyu so were you surprised about his fight with Ricky Hatton?

Angelo Dundee: “Amazed. Forget surprised, amazed [laughs]. It just shows you…Isn’t this a terrible life, that there’s always someone out there that can do a number on you? This kid Ricky Hatton just had Kostya Tszyu’s number. To me, Kostya Tszyu was pound-for-pound number one. Hatton had the strength, push and desire to offset Tszyu, because Tszyu is such a good technical fighter. He’s only a kid, that believes in himself, it was a great performance. He did everything to offset what Tszyu tried to do. I was suprised he controlled him physically. Ricky Hatton must be a very strong kid.”

Boxinginsider.com: Who can beat Hatton do you think?

Angelo Dundee: “I don’t know who’s gonna lick this kid.”

Boxinginsider.com: Floyd?

Angelo Dundee: “Oh man, Mayweather can offset so many people. He’s unbelievable. He fights to beat you.”

Boxinginsider.com: Tito Trinidad and Winky, did you see that? Winky pitched a no-hitter.

Angelo Dundee: “No hits, no errors [laughs].”

Boxinginsider.com: Were you surprised? I mean, he totally dominated a great fighter Tito Trinidad…

Angelo Dundee: “Nothing surprises me in boxing. It’s always interesting and intriguing. Each fight you learn a little more. I’m always watching fighters and trying to analyze, okay, what would I have my guy do to offset this guy.”

Boxinginsider.com: Corrales-Castillo, what a fight.

Angelo Dundee: “What an exciting fight. What a nice kid Corrales is, he came to the Hall of Fame. He looked out of it. He came back, one punch ended it, a hook.”

Boxinginsider.com: How do you see the rematch playing out?

Angelo Dundee: “Same kind of fight. Survival of the fittest. It’s that kind of fight.”

Boxinginsider.com: Should Corrales use a strategy next time that takes advantage of his four or five inch height advantage? I mean, shouldn’t he box and jab more from the outside?

Angelo Dundee: “Corrales likes to fight. It’s how he likes to fight [laughs]. It’ll be survival of the fittest, whoever gets the lucky shot in. He got it in last time. Who knows, maybe he has the style to beat Castillo ten times out of ten.”

Boxinginsider.com: Jones and Tarver will go at it for the third time…

Angelo Dundee: ‘Interesting, very interesting. I think Jones wants it. He can taste it. But maybe Jones isn’t with us anymore. We’ll find out soon enough. If he’s there he can beat Tarver. Being away maybe gave him the desire to get back. They miss it. The glow was taken away, the spotlight. They’re just another guy.”

Boxinginsider.com: What do you think of this power-punching Nigerian heavyweight prospect Samuel Peter? Did you see him?

Angelo Dundee: “I watch all the fights on TV. So I can keep up with you guys when you call [laughs]. I watch all the fights and I go to the gym twice a week. He’s looking awesome. But we’ll see. The heavyweight division is getting rejuvenated.”

Boxinginsider.com: Peter’s fighting Wladimir Klitschko, the younger brother in September in what will be a very interesting heavyweight showdown…

Angelo Dundee: “Klitschko can’t take a rap. Peter can punch like hell. He figures to hurt Klitschko. He folds real easy. Runs out of gas easy. It’s an interesting fight. Maybe it’ll show how far Peter’s going, he’s an awesome banger, steady. He feels like he’s the man, This is MY domain. He looks it too.”

Boxinginsider.com: Were you sad to see Tyson go out like he did?

Angelo Dundee: “He had a great life. He was a happy kid. He was explosive, exciting. He got people excited. He even got people excited about the last fight. They expected. But the explosion wasn’t there any more. The old movements, the old wiggle-waggle was gone.”

Boxinginsider.com: The fire was no longer there.

Angelo Dundee: “You can’t re-light it. Once it goes, it goes for good.”

April 15th, 2008 Mr. Dundee answers BoxingInsider.com readers’ questions…

Q – Angelo, pound for pound who is the best between Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, and Sugar Ray Robinson? You have trained two of them and I’m sure you’ve seen Robinson fight many times. And Angelo, if you had to fit Roy Jones into the pound for pound picture, where would you rank him?-Carl Sims

Angelo says: “Well you see, I explain it this way…You can’t connect anybody to Ali. Then you’re being unfair to people. Muhammad Ali changed the whole scenario. He was the first boxer to do all the talking in and out of the ring. Before Ali, the managers used to do the talking for the fighter. Ali changed all that. The first four years of Ali’s career, they thought I was a mute [laughs]! A lot of guys can fight in the ring but they can’t handle the stuff outside the ring. I think the newspaper guys made Ali sharp. Jimmy Cannon, Shirley Povich, all the great writers back then…they made Ali glib and sharp. He had to be…to deal with their questions. That’s why Muhammad Ali got better and better at it. He wasn’t that sharp as a kid. But he got much better as he went along.
I don’t like to do that (rate the all-time greats). It’s unfair. Each and every one of the boxers you named…they were the best of their time. The best. Hypothetically, Ray Robinson, how can you fault him? He was incredible. So was Jack Johnson.

Q – Do you think Roy Jones Jr. learned/gained heavyweight power in his fight with John Ruiz? -Robert Jackson

Angelo says: “Not really. He learned he can handle strength from a big guy. In other words, he offset him. I don’t think he looked to level him with his punches. If he tried to level him, he may have hurt his hands.

Q – Dear Mr.Dundee. I am currently preparing for my first amateur fight as a middleweight. in your opinion, what are the qualities of a successfull boxer? What does it take to become a champion? Dimitri from Greece

Angelo says: “I wish you luck in your first amateur boxing match! To be a champion, it takes so many qualities. You gotta persevere. You gotta train. You gotta abstain. You can’t be one of the bunch. You’ve got to really give it 100%. Just like in any profession. You graduate kindergarten, then grade school, then high school, you keep going up, up, up. Boxing is the same way. It’s a daily learning. When I go to the gyms now, I see some new things, some different things. It makes me feel good. The learning experience never stops.”

Q – Mr. Dundee. Suppose you had the chance to go back in time and train any great boxer of the past century (not just heavyweights) who would you choose and why? Thank you, George

Angelo says: “Willie Pep. ‘Cause I would have enjoyed myself every minute. Because he was such a great boxer. I had the fun experience of working with Eddie Machen. Sid Flaherty – his manager – asked me if I could give him a hand in his fight against Doug Jones in Miami Beach. After the 10th round, I gave him like a sermon, Let’s look good here, this round is important. And Machen says, Okay, Ang, I’ll try not to get knocked out! I enjoyed Eddie Machen. He had a great sense of humor.

Pep…oh I loved him. 1948…I had the pleasure of watching him in Madison Square Garden. The Sandy Saddler fights…such great fights. Pep had moves so smooth, such agility. Pep was like watching an artist. Like watching Fred Astaire dance. Pep was the kind of professional, he was kind to a lot of guys. He could have got them out of there. But he would go ten with a lot of guys. Those young kids would just try to knock him out and he’d absolutely frustrate them with his great boxing ability. He was beautiful to watch.”

Q – Greetings Mr. Dundee, it’s a great honor to have the chance for you to answer my question. Here it is: As a long-time boxing fan, I often wonder how Muhammad Ali would have fared against some of the other great heavyweights, particularly Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, and Larry Holmes (had the two fought when both were in their prime). With the exception of Holmes, I think Ali would have dominated them all. He would have beaten Holmes but it would have been a tough, close fight. What do you think? Thanks so much, Tim Begany, Trumansburg, NY

Angelo Says: “Scoop you’ll like how I handle this [smiles]…he would have beat that style. But I’ll never say it about a fight. Rocky Marciano won the computer fight with Ali in America but lost in England. Machines make mistakes. So what does that tell you? I think Ali could play with Tyson’s style. He could keep him in the center of the ring, keep him turning and slap that style all over the ring. I don’t like to compare person to person. But style to style…you can get away with that.

There’s talk of adding a new super heavyweight division. I don’t see it. I think this era of big guys will pass on. Because they go into different fields of endeavor. After Lennox and the two (Klitschko) brothers, I think the heavyweight division will be back to normal, with normal size heavyweights. We have a ‘big’ evolution right now.”

Q – Dear Angelo, Can you please tell me anything about your former heavyweight Lee Canalito? I saw him fight once and I was very impressed….what happened?? Could he have been a top ten? I wanted to know the answer to these questions for a long time. Also, do you have a fansite? Thank you for your time. Jerry Giovinazzo, Tampa, FL

Angelo says: “What a nice kid that was. I felt bad. I screwed up. I made him go in a movie called Paradise Alley. He was 10-0, he was a genuine talent. I had him at the point, he just fought at Madison Square Garden. Sylvester Stallone called me up, (he said) I need a nice big kid for a movie. Lee could box for a big guy. I had fun with Lee. As a matter of fact, Lee just called me this week. We talked for a while. He has his gym in Texas. I felt he could have had a career as a heavyweight. He never lost. But he got in that Hollywood scene, did Paradise Alley. They wanted him to do a Tarzan movie but he couldn’t because he was too big.

(Could he have made Top 10?) Oh yeah. He was coming along. Like I say, it’s a different time today, guys are getting better and better. That kid we have Attila Levin won my KO (Saturday night) in Tampa. He just got back from a shoulder operation for bone spurs. He’s coming along very well. He’s working really hard, training like a dog, he ready to go. He’s 27, 6-foot-5, 240 and he’s agile. He’s ready to shoot.”

(Note: Angelo does have a website, it’s www.angelodundeeinc.com.)

Q – How do you see the Toney-Jirov fight playing out? And do you think Klitschko can come back from that loss to Corrie Sanders? Can he be champion again? Yevgeny, Russia

Angelo says: “That’s a helluva fight. That’s a murderer’s fight. That Jirov is some banger. He’s a great, great body puncher. I’ve never seen a better body puncher than Jirov. Toney is fighting better than ever now. But it might be too late. He’s in great shape now. It’s going to be a sensational fight. Toney’s a great guy, he’s happy now. I saw him a lot, making the Ali movie. He was smiling for a change. He used to be a miserable guy. Now he’s much happier. I got along with him famously. We – me and Michael Olajide – choreographed him, we had to make Frazier. It was a lot of fun.

(How about can Wladimir Klitschko come back from his devastating loss to Corrie Sanders and be champion again?) “You could throw out the window most first-round knockout losses. If you go out cold, you’re not ready, it means you didn’t warm-up properly…if you get nailed in that first round, your body doesn’t react as well as if it’s warmed up. You had a guy like Emile Griffith (former Welterweight and Middleweight champion) knocked out in a round (by Ruben “Hurricane” Carter in 1963 at the age of 26). It never happened (to Griffith) again. It’s a lesson learned. It’s a tough lesson learned if you get hit on the chin like that. You know what the old axiom is: ‘Don’t take no fight cheap.’ I don’t know what actually happened there in Germany, I wasn’t there. I don’t know if he was warmed up properly. I don’t know if his mind was really on the fight, with all those anthems. I think he can comeback, yes. He didn’t get seriously hurt. He didn’t take no physical beating. He didn’t take no shellacking. He can comeback and be a wiser, smarter fighter.”

Another Interview I did with Angelo Dundee…

By Scoop Malinowski

He’s the elder statesman of boxing trainers…a living legend Hall of Famer…Angelo Dundee is always one of the most enlightening and enjoyable interviews in the sport. Here’s the exclusive latest word from one of the premier characters in boxing history:

Boxinginsider.com: you were in Australia as technical advisor for Russell Crowe in his upcoming movie “The Cinderella Man” about James J. Braddock. First time there?

Angelo Dundee: “No, I’ve been there before, with Jimmy Ellis-Frazier. I was there before that. I was there choreographing Russell. I have an assistant by the name of Wayne Gordon who does the day-to-day stuff. Wayne Gordon’s a former fighter of mine, so he’s a clone. He’s now the coach of the Olympic team. Russell Crowe is the nicest guy I ever met. The nicest. And he’s an athlete, easy to teach.”

Boxinginsider.com: Interesting that they’re making a movie about Braddock.

Angelo Dundee: “I think it’s wonderful. It’s such a great story line. I can see Russell Crowe having a ball with this one. Jim J. Braddock was a guy that was going nowhere, he was fighting for the food on the table, was on welfare, he used to work on the docks. that kind of guy. And he won the heavyweight championship. And his wife is gonna be played by Renee Zellwegger. Russell Crowe is the kind of guy – I went up to his farm, he’s got a big ranch up there, his mother and father are up there. He’s got an Olympic size pool on the property. He’s got a chapel on the property that he married his wife in. Beautiful place. we flew up there two times. I was there a month – Christmas and I was over at new Years.”

Boxinginsider.com: he must be a big fight fan?

Angelo Dundee: “yes. He’s very buddy buddy with Kostya Tszyu. And, in fact, I went to Anthony Mundine’s gym there. And I watched. First time I ever saw Kostya Tszyu train. I never saw a guy train like he trains. For two-and-a-half hours he trains…and then he spars. He’s fantastic. he works out at a clip I never saw guys do…bing, bing, bing, bing, bing, bing…jumping rope, hitting the bag…boom, boom, boom, boom. And he has a little kid beside him, hitting the bag too. He’s something. I didn’t realize what a hard worker Kostya Tszyu was. then the next thing I know was he hurt his shoulder. you know what’s ironic? you know who else hurt his shoulder? Russell Crowe. he did. he missed the punch working out with Wayne Gordon. Wayne slipped (Crowe’s punch)…I said, next time, stop slipping! he had arthroscopic surgery. Gonna be okay. He’s gonna come to Toronto on the 21st. And I’ll be there on the 21st.”

Boxinginsider.com: How do you see the Jones vs. Tarver rematch turning out?

Angelo Dundee: “Good fight. I think Jones’ll beat him better this time. he went down from heavyweight. Moving up and down in weight takes a lot out of you. Now he’ll be a light heavyweight, where he should be. Jones is a helluva fighter. my gosh, he’s got so many tools.”

Boxinginsider.com: What do you think of Emanuel Steward joining forces with the Klitschko brothers?

Angelo Dundee: “The Klitschko brothers are lucky. Emanuel Steward is a good trainer.”
Boxinginsider.com: Could he be the missing ingredient that takes them all the way? To “world domination?”

Angelo Dundee: “The guy’s been all the way already. he was on the way to become champion against Lennox Lewis. The fight shouldn’t have been stopped. But you know, that’s boxing sometimes. The cut wasn’t in a dangerous place. It wasn’t bleeding into the eye. The younger brother, in my mind, is the better fighter. He’s got so many tools. he throws straighter punches. especially that left hand. he must be a converted southpaw.”

Boxinginsider.com: Do you think, mentally, he’ll get over that KO loss to Corrie Sanders?

Angelo Dundee: “oh yeah, he’ll get over that. It was a surprise KO. But don’t forget about that guy Sanders. He’s for real. He’s always been a real good fighter. Tremendous puncher. He’s that kind of a banger. And he’s a southpaw. Southpaws do funny things.”

Boxinginsider.com: Hopkins vs. de La Hoya looks like it’s finally made for September.

Angelo Dundee: “That’s gonna be the fight. they should just on and fight each other next. Because anything can happen. you never think ahead. Something, anything could go wrong. they should just fight each other next.”

Boxinginsider.com: Golota vs. Byrd looks like it could be a very interesting battle. who do you see winning?

Angelo Dundee: “The style Golota fights is terrible for Byrd. Aggressive. Rough. He’s gonna give Byrd ulcers. He’ll take that trickiness of Byrd away with ruggedness. I don’t think Byrd hits hard enough to hold him off. It’s gonna be like he’s throwing pineapples at Golota. Gonna be interesting. Who’s training Golota now?

Boxinginsider.com: Sam Colonna of the Windy City Gym in Chicago.

Angelo Dundee: “Sam Colonna – I know him a long time. I root for Sam, he’s a good guy. that Golota, he’s a lot of fun. he likes to have fun. he used to train down here in West Palm Beach. I used to run into him.”
Boxinginsider.com: Could be Golota’s last shot at the title. He’s 36.

Angelo Dundee: “I hope he makes it. then it’s like a dream come true.”

Boxinginsider.com: last question. who was a great fighter that you saw in your career, who couldn’t miss, but did miss, for whatever reason. Like, from your memory, who is the best fighter we, the public, never got to see?

Angelo Dundee: “Back in 1948, 49, 50. a kid from Utah or Kansas City was 40-0. I can’t remember his name. Hank Kaplan would. he was a real 40-0. In that era it was different. he was a real 40-0. they brought him to the Garden. And he got knocked out and that was the end of him. Took a beating, got flattened. by Tony Janeiro, I think. Kid couldn’t miss. he was 40-0. he was a rough, tough, good credentials, good lookin’ kid. Rough…and he wasn’t sloppy, he was smooth. And he got flattened. never fought again. Broke his heart. The guy had never got licked before. Boxing is the toughest profession you can get in. As a fighter, you got to be so careful. It’s like living in a glass house. if they see you walkin’ down the street with a chick, you’re a womanizer. if you have a Coke in a bar, he’s a boozer! Someome said to me, your fighter was seen coming out of the Eden Rock Hotel in Miami with a girl…I said, by the way, that’s his wife! you think it ain’t tough being Mike Tyson? It must be murder! Everything goes wrong.

Boxinginsider.com: He’s actually been a real gentleman since losing to Lewis. I saw him at the Klitschko fight and in Atlantic City for Hopkins-Joppy and Tyson was a perfect gentleman both nights, taking pictures, shaking hands, time for everybody.

Angelo Dundee: “That loss to Lewis made him a human being. he doesn’t want to fight anymore.”

First Tennis Memory: “Watching the Davis Cup final in 1964 in my father’s apartment, Fred Stolle and Dennis Ralston playing their five set match. I got the bug a little for tennis then. Then the real turning point came in June 1965 when my father had moved to London. One day he said, ‘We’re going to Wimbledon.’ I watched Rafael Osuna play Ingo Buding of Germany on a cloudy day. I felt like I was immersed in that match. After that match, every day in the newspaper the first thing I looked for was the tennis agate results. From that point forward I’d go to Wimbledon and the U.S. Open each year. That day with Osuna drew me in completely. Osuna was a beautiful player, very elegant, so smooth and stylish, he made it look easier. He was the right guy to see at the time.”

Last Book Read: “Was the biography of Howard Cosell. A very compelling story.”

Favorite Movies: “I just saw the Clooney film The Descendents, which was excellent. The Apartment with Jack Lemmon. Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner. I’m leaving out a few.”

First Job: “My first job was with my father who was running a business in London. I did a lot of errands, delivering packages all over London. It was a great way to learn your way around London, taking all the subways. I was 17 or 18.”

Favorite Meal: “Either an excellent hamburger or steak. I’d say steak with baked potato with spinach. I never lost my taste for steak though I don’t eat it as much now.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Coffee. And I don’t drink coffee by the way.”

Greatest Career Moment: “It’s so hard to narrow it down. I would single out…I’d say the two Wimbledon finals of Borg and McEnroe in 1980. And Federer-Nadal in 2008. I was lucky enough to have been there to experience those. Then, I’d have to say, for a lot of reasons, the Sampras win over Agassi for his last major. Knowing what he’d been through and endured the last two years of his career. I thought that was an exhilarating moment to see him do that. So it’s a three-way tie.”

Most Painful Moment: “I think it was the 1984 U.S. Open final when Chris Evert lost to Martina Navratilova for the 13th time in a row. It looked like she was going to win, she won the first set but lost in three. I’d known her for a long time. I thought that was going to be one of her golden moments. She played some great tennis, the crowds were behind her that day. I found that painful.”

Favorite Tournament: “Is Wimbledon. Maybe because it’s the first major I’d went to. The eyes of the world are watching that tournament, even the casual sports fan.”

Funniest Player(s) Encountered: “Nastase was. He could drift from humor to anger very swiftly. He was a multi-faceted character. He was a natural comedian at times, when he was not losing his temper. Obviously, there were a lot of scenes that were not funny. He’d lose emotional control and get nasty. But there were times he was very, very amusing.”

Toughest Competitors: “I think Nadal, to me, is a standout. Without his ferocity, he’d have won maybe four or five Grand Slam tournaments, not ten. He’s shown more resilience to me than anyone else. Pancho Gonzales would lose his temper and play twice as well. He was an incredible competitor. He would impose his will on a match. It was very hard for even players like Rod Laver to play Gonzales – they knew how fearless he was. Sampras learned to dig very deep. The best example was the Corretja match at the U.S. Open. He was in just terrible shape, sick, dehydrated, yet he found a way to win. I don’t think he was given enough credit for his competitiveness, because Pete was more low key compared to Nadal and Gonzales. Chris Evert had the ability to draw on mental fortitude to win matches. She was going to be there until the very end. And she would never lose her cool. Another very tough competitor I thought was Monica Seles. There was an intensity and a fierceness to her that was intimidating to all her rivals, including Graf, at times.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “Rod Laver would be one. I was lucky enough to watch him when I was very young, in 1969, when he won the Grand Slam. Laver was so dazzling, such a shotmaker, so complete. I liked watching Arthur Ashe, he was electrifying, so adventurous, sometimes to his own detriment, especially in his younger days. In his latter days he was much more or a strategist than a flashy shotmaker. His most brilliant strategic performance was winning Wimbedon in 1975 against Connors. I liked watching Sampras, he had the most beautiful serve I’ve ever seen. Who am I leaving out? There’s just so many. I like watching Nadal and Federer, for different reasons. The grace and elegance of Federer. I loved watching Maria Bueno. She was like a ballerina on the court. Goolagong as well. I like watching Serena Williams, when she’s in the best of shape and is competing at her best and fully into it. I like the spunk and spirit she brings to it. The list could be endless.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “I think it was – in 1976 Nastase been disqualified in Palm Springs for bad behavior by Charlie Hare, a great, dignified British chair umpire. Then later in the year Hare was back refereeing a U.S. Open match with Nastase and Hans Pohmann. Again, the worst side of Nastase came out, he spit at photographers, almost got into a fist fight with Pohmann. I wondered why Charlie Hare didn’t disqualify Nastase again, like he had earlier in the year. After the match I went to see Charlie in the office and asked him about it. And he replied, in his British accent, ‘You must understand that what we saw out there today was great human drama. For me to interrupt that would have been the wrong thing to do.’ I had trouble containing my laughter, that was one of my more amusing moments.”

Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “Baseball. I enjoy a lot of games over the summer. (Mets or Yankees?) Yankees.”

Favorite Tennis Books: “Handful of Summers by Gordon Forbes was a beauty. I loved the Fireside Book Of Tennis. It culled all the great articles from newspapers by Allison Danzig, the British writers, Bud Collins, it covers the spectrum, from the 1920′s to the 70′s. That was a treasure. I still love to go back to it. Joel Drucker’s Jimmy Connors Saved My Life was a great book. And I thought Steve Tignor’s book High Strung (Bjorn Borg-John McEnroe and the Untold Story of Tennis’s Fiercest Rivalry) was beautifully done and the best written tennis book I have ever read. I thought it was excellent.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Dignity. Composure. Earnestness. True to yourself, no pretenses. Decency. Integrity. Humor. Compassion.”

Education: Stetson University

Career Accomplishments: Inducted into the Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame in 2010; Former Editor World Tennis Magazine; Contributing Editor Tennis Week magazine; Author of “The Greatest Tennis Matches Of The Twentieth Century” and “The Greatest Tennis Matches Of All Time” which will be published in June 2012.

DOB: December 16, 1950  In: St. Augustin, PQ

First Racing Memory:  ”Started to drive when I was 12 years old. In the fair track, no pari-mutual. In north of Canada, a small place called Lantier.”

Harness Racing Inspirations:  ”My brother (Gilles). I have  a brother that’s in the Hall of Fame in Canada. I think we are the only two brothers in the Hall of Fame, living brother. So I follow him. The driver I follow when I got in my 20’s was a guy by the name of Keith Waples. One of the best ever in harness racing. So that was my idol.”

Nickname:  ”Everybody calls me Iron Mike [smiles].”

Favorite Movies:  ”It’s Godfather, by far.”

Last Book Read:  ”Biography of Guy Lafleur, the hockey player.”

Favorite Meal:  ”Swordfish.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:  ”Just plain, plain vanilla.”

Current Car:  ”Chrysler 300 (gray). All my life I had either a Cadillac or a Lincoln. And about five years ago I bought a Chrysler and I love it so much I bought another one so I’ve got two Chryslers. And I’m really happy with them.”

Greatest Career Moment:  ”The greatest moment of my career…I have a lot of great moments. But I would say winning the Prix d’Ete in Montreal in front of my parents and my family. And I first did it in 1988. (Horse?) Matts Scooter.”

Most Painful Moment:  ”When I got suspended in 1987 in New York, I was suspended. I didn’t drive for five months.”

Funny Career Memory:  ”The funniest thing that happened to me in harness racing was right here at the Meadowlands. A guy came by the fence and he told me, he says, ‘Lachance, you are the worst driver I’ve seen in my life!’ I said, ‘I know but they’ve been paying me four-five hundred thousand a year to do that.’  Said, ‘What do you want me to do?’ The guy, he never forgot about that. Three years after he was still coming and telling me about that [smiles].”

Embarrassing Career Memory:  ”Not really.”

Strangest Race:  ”When I won North American Cup, for a million dollar race. And I was sitting last at the top of the stretch. I got a horse at the last minute to drive. And I came all the way on the outside. And I was hoping that I got a check – and I won the race – for a million dollars [smiles]. (Remember the horse?) I even forget the name of the horse. He was trained by Bill Robinson.”

Most Emotional Victory:  ”Winning the Hambo here with Self Possessed.”

Favorite Horse:  ”Was a horse called Docs Fella. (Why?) Because he was little and he had a heart as big as he was. And he was so good to me. At the time of my life that I came. He wasn’t the most powerful horse, by far, that I’ve driven but that’s the horse that I admire most.”

Pre-Race Feeling:  ”I’m not the kind of guy that spends a lot of time reading the program. Especially in the big race because I usually know every horse. And I make up my mind behind the gate most of the time.”

Favorite Racetrack:  ”I would say, right now, it’s Meadowlands.”

Favorite Sport Outside Harness Racing:  ”I prefer hockey.”

People Qualities Most Admired:  ”I hate people that are hypocrite, two-faced. That talk behind your back. I can’t stand that.”

Career Accomplishments: His horses have earned over $176 million – only John Campbell has earned more ($253 million); Won Hambletonian four times; Amassed 770 race victories in 1986 – 133 more than the Herve Filion old standard; Won The Little Brown Jug five times and North American Cup three times; Also won Prix d’Ete, Confederation Cup, Yonkers Cup, Cane Pace, Woodrow Wilson, Mistletoe Shalee, The Adios and Meadowlands Pace; Inducted to Hall of Fame in 1993.

Ht: 6-foot Wt: 180 pounds

DOB: August 28, 1932 In: Winnipeg

Hockey Inspirations: “Well, there was no TV back then, I really liked a fella who played for Boston – Bill Cowley. And Syl Apps. They were described as great playmakers. I thought that’s what I would like to be. I liked how they described them on the radio, how they were playing. I never saw them play really.”

First Hockey Memory: “I remember in Winnipeg, we played all our games outdoors (age 9-17). If you got to the championship game, it was the only game you played indoors all year. They would play the championship game for all the age groups and would fill it up with 4,000-5,000 people. To play indoors was quite a thrill. You remember playing outside with the wind – sometimes you could go like hell with the wind behind you. But then you couldn’t go the other way!”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Mainly, I’ve been in golf longer than I’ve been in hockey. Fishing on the coast. My father-in-law was a great fisherman. Been in the golf business since I was 20 – the driving range business (Bathgate Golf Center in Mississauga). Enjoyed that. Played fairly well.”

Nicknames: “They used to call me ‘Buzz’ as a kid. ‘Tubby’ in New York. I wasn’t fat, but Bathgate, bathtub.”

Favorite Movies: “I’m not a movie-goer. I like ones with a real story behind it. Gary Cooper was one. I went in New York a lot.”

Last Book Read: “Not a book reader. Most of the time I’m involved with work. May pick one up in the winter.”

Favorite TV Shows: “Mostly sports. I try to keep up on sports. Wheel of Fortune. I got a couple of horses. If I can’t get out to the track, watch my horses on TV.”

First Job: “A garbage man, picking up garbage in the neighborhood. Actually it was probably caddying at the golf course. And hunting golf balls.”

Current Car: “Lexus (blue).”

Pre-game Feeling: “Well, the goaltender was the main thing in our era. You could beat certain goalies low, had to get certain goalies up. At that time, our sticks were almost straight. I hooked the stick, tried to keep it relatively straight. Gotta pick the spots. Everything related back to your hockey stick. It didn’t matter how big or strong you were; if you couldn’t handle your stick, you’re only going to be an average player. ”

Favorite Meal: “Tonight I’m having ribs. My wife makes very good ribs. I don’t really like anything fancy or gourmet, just basic meat and potatoes. Fish, too.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “I guess – I’ve been very lucky. Been on four championship teams – three pro teams. I won a Memorial Cup in junior. Got a Stanley Cup in Toronto. Playing with Cleveland in the American League. Vancouver in the WHL. I scored a goal in New York that put us in the playoffs, eliminated Detroit. It was a thrill to score it. I deked the fella, had an open net. If I had missed it we would have missed the playoffs. In Toronto I got the winning goal in the seventh game of the playoffs. I had been traded to the Leafs in February for Dick Duff and Bob Nevin, a five for two trade. We ended up winning the Stanley Cup – my only Stanley Cup (1964).”

Most Painful Moment: “I guess…I was very lucky, I didn’t have very many injuries. I scored that winning goal against Detroit playing with the Leafs in the playoffs. I got the goal early in the game when Gordie Howe dropped the puck back to the point. I was just going out to check him and just touched the puck, which went over his stick. Got the breakaway and scored. The next season, Junior Langlois and Gordie Howe got even with me. They were by me when I tipped the puck. They took a run at me. My momentum broke the glass, the glass flew out and I hit the partition. Put my hands up and broke my thumb, broke it really bad. Thought I finished my career. I guess that was the lowest. I was sent to the minors three times.”

Closest Hockey Friends: “Harry Howell is still a close friend. Larry Popein – I visit him every year. Louie Fontinato – I’ve known him for over 50 years. He’s a cattle farmer. Dean Prentice.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “Larry Cahan would be. Gump Worsley had a dry wit. Sometimes you didn’t know how he meant it. We didn’t have many winning teams. It’s all easier when you’re winning.”

Toughest Competitors: “I think almost every team had a tough fella you had to be careful of. Not necessarily for fighting, but for bodychecking. Pierre Pilote. Fernie Flaman. Leo Boivin. Bobby Baun. Doug Harvey in Montreal. You had to watch John Ferguson. He didn’t bother me much, I had one fight with him, he didn’t bother me too much after that. Gordie Howe – you had to watch his elbows all the time, he had his stick. Ted Lindsay was always aggressive, when he was in Detroit and Chicago.”

Funny Hockey Memory: “Oh well, it all depends, you gotta sort of be part of it. The players do things. That’s sort of left in the locker room. In New York it was tough, most of the guys came from small towns and go to the Big Apple, New York City. Some of the players couldn’t cope with it. Larry Cahan played defense in New York. He was sort of our comedian. He was a comical man just the way he spoke. He kept our attention off the game. A big, strong man, died very young, unfortunately.”

Embarrassing Hockey Memory: “I didn’t have too many fights. I could look after myself, but I didn’t play that way. I had it in my head to score goals. The odd time you get upset, you gotta handle it, get it over with in a hurry. My father was a boxer and he said if you get in a fight make sure you get it over with fast. And make sure you get in the first punch. Certain times, certain players keep coming after you. I just tried to play hockey. We didn’t have a lot of big players in New York, compared to some of the other teams. We would try to move the puck around.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “So many of them. They handle the puck well. The shooters are fine, they shoot from 40-feet out sometimes, but I like the playmakers. I like Joe Sakic. He had a terrific wrist shot. I liked Jaromir Jagr, but some nights he’d go to sleep on you. He could have dominated the game with his size and skill if he put it all together. I heard from Glen Sather recently he was 240 pounds. He had the talent. Young Crosby now is very exciting. He goes all out all the time. It’s hard to play full speed like he does because there’s a lot of big, physical players hitting him. Ovechkin is dynamic around the net. There’s a lot of talent. And their personalities are good for the game. They conduct themselves very well.”

Most Memorable Goal: “I guess the one against Detroit (with Rangers). And the one with Toronto. Although, I had a chance to win the scoring title (1961-62). Bobby Hull got it that year (Hull had 50 goals, 34 assists for 84 points, Andy had 28-56-84). Hull got it because he had more goals. We played Chicago in the last game. But I didn’t have a stick for the last seven minutes. It was 1-1 then we scored three goals. But I didn’t have a stick. I was either wrestled to the ice or held. When we scored I had no stick. Soon as the whistle blew they’d jump me, they’d call the penalty, play would go on until the whistle blew. I wrestled and tried to get away from their guys, tried to circle around the net a few times to get a cheap assist, but we didn’t know how to cope with it. They protected the scoring title for Bobby. I had no stick I could handle. I didn’t get a chance for the goal. It was a disappointment. ”

Strangest Game: “I guess one – Jacques Plante tripped me one night in New York. Jacques Plante used to come out of the net, he was the first one to stop the puck behind the net and circle the net. We had sort of a verbal talk on the ice. One time playing the puck, he sort of showboated, ‘Like picking cherries, Bathgate.’ Then later I said, ‘Oh, you played great tonight, you had five shots.’ I had to remind him he didn’t have much to worry about. Later he came back behind the net and he tripped me. I hit the end boards pretty hard, luckily I didn’t hurt myself or break my neck, I hit it hard. Just cut my ear, got it stitched up and came back out. He tried to hurt me. There’s other ways I can get you back. You want to play that way, I can play that way, too. Later he had his stick out and I gave him a shot right on his cheek, it wasn’t a slapshot. He went off and came back on with the mask on. We thought it was a joke. But he revolutionized the game. I’m not taking credit, but it changed the game for sure.”

Personality Qualities Most Admired: “Jean Beliveau, to me, was the classic player. He was big, very, very strong; he came to play. And anyone who played with him for any length of time seemed like they were in the Hall of Fame. ‘Boom Boom’ Geoffrion. Yvan Cournoyer, Bert Olmstead. He played like a majestic game, like it was supposed to be played. If he hit you illegally, he’d say, ‘I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.’ If you clipped him, you’d apologize to him the same way.”

Status: NHL center/right wing from 1952-1971 with Rangers, Toronto, Detroit and Pittsburgh. Scored 349 goals and 973 points in 1069 NHL games. Played in eight NHL All-Star Games. Hart Trophy winner in 1959. Inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame in 1978. Rangers No. 4 all-time leading scorer.

Ht: 6-foot Wt: 180 pounds

DOB: August 28, 1932 In: Winnipeg

Hockey Inspirations: “Well, there was no TV back then, I really liked a fella who played for Boston – Bill Cowley. And Syl Apps. They were described as great playmakers. I thought that’s what I would like to be. I liked how they described them on the radio, how they were playing. I never saw them play really.”

First Hockey Memory: “I remember in Winnipeg, we played all our games outdoors (age 9-17). If you got to the championship game, it was the only game you played indoors all year. They would play the championship game for all the age groups and would fill it up with 4,000-5,000 people. To play indoors was quite a thrill. You remember playing outside with the wind – sometimes you could go like hell with the wind behind you. But then you couldn’t go the other way!”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Mainly, I’ve been in golf longer than I’ve been in hockey. Fishing on the coast. My father-in-law was a great fisherman. Been in the golf business since I was 20 – the driving range business (Bathgate Golf Center in Mississauga). Enjoyed that. Played fairly well.”

Nicknames: “They used to call me ‘Buzz’ as a kid. ‘Tubby’ in New York. I wasn’t fat, but Bathgate, bathtub.”

Favorite Movies: “I’m not a movie-goer. I like ones with a real story behind it. Gary Cooper was one. I went in New York a lot.”

Last Book Read: “Not a book reader. Most of the time I’m involved with work. May pick one up in the winter.”

Favorite TV Shows: “Mostly sports. I try to keep up on sports. Wheel of Fortune. I got a couple of horses. If I can’t get out to the track, watch my horses on TV.”

First Job: “A garbage man, picking up garbage in the neighborhood. Actually it was probably caddying at the golf course. And hunting golf balls.”

Current Car: “Lexus (blue).”

Pre-game Feeling: “Well, the goaltender was the main thing in our era. You could beat certain goalies low, had to get certain goalies up. At that time, our sticks were almost straight. I hooked the stick, tried to keep it relatively straight. Gotta pick the spots. Everything related back to your hockey stick. It didn’t matter how big or strong you were; if you couldn’t handle your stick, you’re only going to be an average player. ”

Favorite Meal: “Tonight I’m having ribs. My wife makes very good ribs. I don’t really like anything fancy or gourmet, just basic meat and potatoes. Fish, too.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “I guess – I’ve been very lucky. Been on four championship teams – three pro teams. I won a Memorial Cup in junior. Got a Stanley Cup in Toronto. Playing with Cleveland in the American League. Vancouver in the WHL. I scored a goal in New York that put us in the playoffs, eliminated Detroit. It was a thrill to score it. I deked the fella, had an open net. If I had missed it we would have missed the playoffs. In Toronto I got the winning goal in the seventh game of the playoffs. I had been traded to the Leafs in February for Dick Duff and Bob Nevin, a five for two trade. We ended up winning the Stanley Cup – my only Stanley Cup (1964).”

Most Painful Moment: “I guess…I was very lucky, I didn’t have very many injuries. I scored that winning goal against Detroit playing with the Leafs in the playoffs. I got the goal early in the game when Gordie Howe dropped the puck back to the point. I was just going out to check him and just touched the puck, which went over his stick. Got the breakaway and scored. The next season, Junior Langlois and Gordie Howe got even with me. They were by me when I tipped the puck. They took a run at me. My momentum broke the glass, the glass flew out and I hit the partition. Put my hands up and broke my thumb, broke it really bad. Thought I finished my career. I guess that was the lowest. I was sent to the minors three times.”

Closest Hockey Friends: “Harry Howell is still a close friend. Larry Popein – I visit him every year. Louie Fontinato – I’ve known him for over 50 years. He’s a cattle farmer. Dean Prentice.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “Larry Cahan would be. Gump Worsley had a dry wit. Sometimes you didn’t know how he meant it. We didn’t have many winning teams. It’s all easier when you’re winning.”

Toughest Competitors: “I think almost every team had a tough fella you had to be careful of. Not necessarily for fighting, but for bodychecking. Pierre Pilote. Fernie Flaman. Leo Boivin. Bobby Baun. Doug Harvey in Montreal. You had to watch John Ferguson. He didn’t bother me much, I had one fight with him, he didn’t bother me too much after that. Gordie Howe – you had to watch his elbows all the time, he had his stick. Ted Lindsay was always aggressive, when he was in Detroit and Chicago.”

Funny Hockey Memory: “Oh well, it all depends, you gotta sort of be part of it. The players do things. That’s sort of left in the locker room. In New York it was tough, most of the guys came from small towns and go to the Big Apple, New York City. Some of the players couldn’t cope with it. Larry Cahan played defense in New York. He was sort of our comedian. He was a comical man just the way he spoke. He kept our attention off the game. A big, strong man, died very young, unfortunately.”

Embarrassing Hockey Memory: “I didn’t have too many fights. I could look after myself, but I didn’t play that way. I had it in my head to score goals. The odd time you get upset, you gotta handle it, get it over with in a hurry. My father was a boxer and he said if you get in a fight make sure you get it over with fast. And make sure you get in the first punch. Certain times, certain players keep coming after you. I just tried to play hockey. We didn’t have a lot of big players in New York, compared to some of the other teams. We would try to move the puck around.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “So many of them. They handle the puck well. The shooters are fine, they shoot from 40-feet out sometimes, but I like the playmakers. I like Joe Sakic. He had a terrific wrist shot. I liked Jaromir Jagr, but some nights he’d go to sleep on you. He could have dominated the game with his size and skill if he put it all together. I heard from Glen Sather recently he was 240 pounds. He had the talent. Young Crosby now is very exciting. He goes all out all the time. It’s hard to play full speed like he does because there’s a lot of big, physical players hitting him. Ovechkin is dynamic around the net. There’s a lot of talent. And their personalities are good for the game. They conduct themselves very well.”

Most Memorable Goal: “I guess the one against Detroit (with Rangers). And the one with Toronto. Although, I had a chance to win the scoring title (1961-62). Bobby Hull got it that year (Hull had 50 goals, 34 assists for 84 points, Andy had 28-56-84). Hull got it because he had more goals. We played Chicago in the last game. But I didn’t have a stick for the last seven minutes. It was 1-1 then we scored three goals. But I didn’t have a stick. I was either wrestled to the ice or held. When we scored I had no stick. Soon as the whistle blew they’d jump me, they’d call the penalty, play would go on until the whistle blew. I wrestled and tried to get away from their guys, tried to circle around the net a few times to get a cheap assist, but we didn’t know how to cope with it. They protected the scoring title for Bobby. I had no stick I could handle. I didn’t get a chance for the goal. It was a disappointment. ”

Strangest Game: “I guess one – Jacques Plante tripped me one night in New York. Jacques Plante used to come out of the net, he was the first one to stop the puck behind the net and circle the net. We had sort of a verbal talk on the ice. One time playing the puck, he sort of showboated, ‘Like picking cherries, Bathgate.’ Then later I said, ‘Oh, you played great tonight, you had five shots.’ I had to remind him he didn’t have much to worry about. Later he came back behind the net and he tripped me. I hit the end boards pretty hard, luckily I didn’t hurt myself or break my neck, I hit it hard. Just cut my ear, got it stitched up and came back out. He tried to hurt me. There’s other ways I can get you back. You want to play that way, I can play that way, too. Later he had his stick out and I gave him a shot right on his cheek, it wasn’t a slapshot. He went off and came back on with the mask on. We thought it was a joke. But he revolutionized the game. I’m not taking credit, but it changed the game for sure.”

Personality Qualities Most Admired: “Jean Beliveau, to me, was the classic player. He was big, very, very strong; he came to play. And anyone who played with him for any length of time seemed like they were in the Hall of Fame. ‘Boom Boom’ Geoffrion. Yvan Cournoyer, Bert Olmstead. He played like a majestic game, like it was supposed to be played. If he hit you illegally, he’d say, ‘I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.’ If you clipped him, you’d apologize to him the same way.”

HT: 5-foot-11 WT: 195 pounds

DOB: July 17, 1956 In: Val Marie, Sask.

Hockey Inspirations: “Jean Beliveau, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, my father Buzz. He taught me a lot of skills and also strategy, mind games – that kind of thing.”

Nicknames: “I’ve only been called Trottier or Trots. One of the two.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Play music as a kid, play guitar.”

Musical Tastes: “Country, ‘50s and ‘60s, Blues, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard. I love live entertainers. It could be the worst kind of music and I’m still impressed at how they can get in front of an audience and entertain. I loved to go to the kids school plays.”

Favorite Movies: “Too many. Braveheart – passionate movie. Lots of comedies.”

First Hockey Memory: “Driving in a blizzard and not even caring because we were going to a hockey game. I remember vividly, in one game, my dad saying, ‘You’re playing defense.’ And I scored two goals and I couldn’t stay back there. The puck was in the corner and I’d be in the corner. The puck was in front of the net and I’d be in front of the net. My dad was yelling something at me, ‘Bryan! You’re playing defense!’ I could always hear his voice over all the other voices.”

Favorite Meal: “Pasta – could eat it every day and not get tired of it. Salad. Lots of vegetables. Spinach – not because I like it, but because it’s good for me.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Rice Krispies.”

Pre-Game Feeling: “Think about very little. Concentrate very little on the opponent. I knew the other team was preparing hard for me. So that got me pumped up. But I didn’t dwell on it.”

Childhood Dream: “Believe it or not, I thought, at some particular point that I’d be a professional hockey player. That was a dream, fantasy, one day…to play in the NHL. My dad always said, ‘Just go out and have fun.’ I think he did a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff, like talking to coaches about scholarships and to general managers. But we never went into that.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “When Bobby Nystrom scored the overtime goal against Philadelphia (to clinch the Stanley Cup in 1980). When I became a champion for the first time. I was on the bench…watched the whole play develop. All I remember is hopping over the boards and falling flat on my face. I was so tired…drained…relieved. Kenny Morrow picked me up. I just held on to him for like five minutes. You didn’t realize how tense it was, how much pressure there was until it was over. Gave it everything I had. Felt so tired, relieved. Then we realized the jubilation, the ecstasy.”

Most Painful Moment: “Never really had a physical pain during the game. Emotionally – it was when we lost the Cup to Edmonton in 1984. That was as painful an experience as you can get. Getting that close to lose (in five games) – I’d rather have lost in the first round. In hindsight, that’s how it felt. It took about two days to get over. I thought the Islanders fans wouldn’t love us anymore. I remember I went downtown and someone yelled, ‘Get ‘em next year Trots!’ That was cool. My kids still called me dad the next day. That was cool.”

Worst Injury: “Never had any bad ones. I lucked out. Knee, shoulder – I never missed more than a week here or there. Had a broken jaw once at the end of the year. Didn’t miss any games. Puck on the jaw when Denis (Potvin) shot a pass across the ice. Healed quick. Had all summer.”

Closest NHL Friend: “Mike Bossy.”

Funniest Player(s) Encountered: “Mike Bossy. He could tell me the same story 10 times and I’d laugh at it every time. Good friend, funny guy, great athlete.”

Toughest Competitors: “Larry Robinson. So big and strong, gentle and tough at the same time. The worst kind of guy to play against. He’d beat you up in more ways than one – physically and with his talent. Darryl Sittler. He played like he hated to lose. Played both ends. Real strong all around game. Just when you thought he was down, he’d come back.”

Funny Hockey Memory: “There were so many of those. One time Al Arbour called us dogs after a game on the road. To make his point he put a plate of dog biscuits on the buffet table at our next pre-game meal. Then Stefan Persson bit into one, thinking it was a cookie.”

Favorite Athletes To Watch: “Cal Ripken. Nolan Ryan – people who have maintained excellence for a long time. I have great respect for that. The way they projected themselves, the things they say – very positive. Very self-demanding individuals, all within the realm of teamwork. Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe. There’s a higher level of concentration in individual sports. I paid a lot of attention to them.”

Career Accomplishments: Won six Stanley Cups – four with the New York Islanders (1979-80 – 1982-83) and two with the Pittsburgh Penguins (1990-91 and 1991-92); NHL plus-minus leader 1979; NHL scoring leader in 1979 (47 goals, 87 assists, 134 points); Played in NHL All-Star Game 1976, ‘78, ‘80, ‘82, ‘83, ‘85, ’86 and ‘92; NHL playoffs scoring leader in 1980 and ‘82; Scored 524 NHL goals with 901 assists for 1,425 points in 1,279 regular season games; NHL career spanned from 1975-1994; Inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997.