In the MLB - P Jose Fernandez and RF Roberto Clemente both died in vehicular accidents during or just after their prime. Clemente made the Hall of Fame posthumously.
In the NFL - WR Chris Henry died in his prime after he fell out of a moving vehicle.
In the NBA - Center Jason Collier died in a prime season from the effects of a heart condition.
From a very similar personal experience, I can say just don't do it. All these years later, the memories are still tainted. We should have postponed.
It really depends on the circumstances too. If it's a grandparent and they passed a week prior it's a much different conversation.
This is just devastating, no one could have seen this coming. To die at such a young age and the night before is just way too much to deal with for all those families. How would you even pretend to be happy?
I've never put a name and number on my Flames jersey because it seemed a little silly to put the name of someone younger than me on it. (I didn't become a Flames fan until I moved here in the mid-90s and most active players were younger than me then).
After last nights tragedy so much has come out about how much Gaudreau still wished he was playing for Calgary. How he watched the Flames games whenever he could after he left. How he still constantly called friends in the media like Ryan Leslie almost every game.
Where can I find these stories about wishing he was still a Flame?
The highway that runs by my place, but it's just one lane each direction and it's 100 kph. A lot of the traffic is semis (less with the Ring Road now but still...) or other heavy vehicles and of course the rest are mostly pickups or SUVs. The shoulders are very wide and have a rumble strip. There's a ton of cyclists because it's a nice ride from Calgary to Bragg Creek. And I think it's not a matter of if, but when, some cyclist gets killed.
This highway should absolutely have a separated bike path (along with all of Calgary's surrounding communities). Bragg Creek is a beautiful destination to visit by bike.
Rocky View actually drew up plans for one years ago and there is a utility right of way that would cover most of the distance, but there has never been anyone pushing to get it built and sorting out the remaining land use issues.
Man, the whole situation is so tragic and depressing. I'm not a Flames fan or even much of a hockey fan these days, so I don't really have a hockey connection to Gaudreau other than admiring his abilities when I'd see the odd game. But the situation itself is just so heartbreaking. A family losing two sons/brothers, three young children not getting to grow up with or even know their fathers (I read Matthew was expecting his first child), Johnny and Matthew's wives losing their husbands, and all because of some drunk idiot.
The picture of Gaudreau with his two kids posted earlier is just gutting. Maybe it's because I have a kid that's a similar age to his, but the whole thing is just unimaginably tragic.
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What sticks with me the most is that both he and his brother died in this accident. It's sad to think that one won't be able to mourn the other. They seemed to really have a good relationship and cared for each other a great deal.
As a dad of a 4 year old, 2 year old, and 7 month old I can't imagine what the kids, his wife, and his family must be going through. When you're out there folks, please be mindful that the decisions you make for you do have an impact on those around you and in your vicinity. Please be safe and make sure people around you are safe.
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I met Johnny a couple times out on the town and he was always friendly, but the first time I met him was at Singapore Sam’s in the wee hours of the morning during his first or second season in Calgary.
I bumped into him in the bathroom and kind of star struck said “whoa Johnny Gaudreau, what’s up man?”
He was very polite and asked how my night was going. I leave the bathroom and head back to my table. A few minutes later Johnny walks out of the bathroom and beelines it straight to our table, throws his arms around me and my buddy and says “come on, let’s get a picture!”
I guess he could tell I was a fan haha. He had so much energy and passion on and off the ice. RIP Johnny Hockey. Calgary will never forget you.
This highway should absolutely have a separated bike path (along with all of Calgary's surrounding communities). Bragg Creek is a beautiful destination to visit by bike.
Rocky View actually drew up plans for one years ago and there is a utility right of way that would cover most of the distance, but there has never been anyone pushing to get it built and sorting out the remaining land use issues.
Also the province owns a strip of the land along the highway (for twinning that probably won't happen, at least not for decades now that the ring road is built. They took some of my property for that. Of course, bike paths aren't high on Danielle's to-do list.
Written for another fallen hockey player, but it fits here too:
I've listened to this song a few times today. Very fitting. Gord had the words to describe these things.
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A few weeks after crashing head-first into the boards (denting his helmet and being unable to move for a little while) following a hit from behind by Bob Errey, the Calgary Flames player explains:
"I was like Christ, lying on my back, with my arms outstretched, crucified"
-- Frank Musil - Early January 1994
