[curves2000]

Quick story for me. I was about 8 years old when Theo did his first hockey school in Calgary at the Leisure Center in the SE. I had never played organized hockey before, just outdoor rink stuff and ball hockey. I didn't really have the full gear set up, just skates, helmet, gloves, pucks etc for no reason other than it wasn't really needed.

Anyhow my mom dropped me off at the 1st day of the hockey school and Theo was actually running the school himself with a few assistants. He asked me about my gear/cup etc. I didn't know nothing. He took me upstairs to an office kinda pissed off and used the landline to call my mother. He proceeded to get fairly pissed off about how his hockey school wasn't a daycare and made a list of all the gear I needed. I could hear my mother apologizing profusely, indicating how we were Greek, my father worked in the restaurant business 14 hours a day and how my uncle, who played some minor pro hockey never helped her with any of this stuff. She got her list of stuff and we went downtown and I got all new gear and needed to learn how to wear it properly.

I became fairly close with Theo and his son Josh after that for a little while and my experience was always super positive I have always had nothing but positive personal and professional experiences with every member of the Flames.

It leads me to something I recall hearing once on Vancouver radio about a similar topic being discussed here. The TSN radio hosts were talking about how one of them had seen a marquee former player a few days ago at a downtown bar, drinking alone in a kinda sad, nobody knows who I am scenario. They didn't mention names but indicated he was a big deal in Vancouver and a first line player for a while (not Sedin twins btw) At some point a player like him would be annoyed generally at talking with fans, signing merch etc. Now that he was retired only a few years, nobody cared and gave any attention and this place was packed.

They debated on how if some players could perhaps enjoy being famous a little more because when it ends, it can end in a sad way.