RIP Bobby Hull

[cyclingwriter2]

One of the all-time greats. Helped give the WHA legitimacy, which ultimately made for a better brand of hockey.

 

[jr/shotglass]

The patriarch of one of hockey's first families. RIP.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

Met him when Brett was on the Red Wings
One of the true greats

 

[Starman]

His slap shot was the NHL equivalent of Nolan Ryan.

 

[mateen]

Great player. Also, a legitimately awful person who repeatedly beat the daylights out of his wives.

 

[JC]

Great player. Also, a legitimately awful person who repeatedly beat the daylights out of his wives.

He sure did.

 

[Tighthead]

Great player. Also, a legitimately awful person who repeatedly beat the daylights out of his wives.

Also a “Hitler had some good ideas, he took them too far” guy.

 

[Smallpotatoes]

Also a “Hitler had some good ideas, he took them too far” guy.

I remember him getting The Daily Show’s Bud Light MVP of the Week for that one.

 

[maumann]

Wore No. 9 to honor Gordie Howe.

Along with Butkis and Banks, on the Mount Rushmore of that era of Chicago sports legends. Who would you add from the Bulls and White Sox?

 

[da man]

Wore No. 9 to honor Gordie Howe.

Along with Butkis and Banks, on the Mount Rushmore of that era of Chicago sports legends. Who would you add from the Bulls and White Sox?

You have to ask about the Bulls?

 

[The Big Ragu]

Also a “Hitler had some good ideas, he took them too far” guy.

He denied he ever said that. It was reported by a Russian newspaper. The other half of it, FWIW, was him allegedly saying that the black population in the U.S. was growing too quickly.

I have no memory of Bobby Hull as a player, sadly. He was still active when I was a kid, but the WHA wasn't on my radar screen at all, even after I was really getting into hockey.

 

[The Big Ragu]

There's a lot I didn't know. I just pulled up Hull's stats. I had no idea he was a part of that Hartford Whalers 79-80 team with Gordie Howe and his sons. It was only 9 games, apparently.

 

[mpcincal]

You have to ask about the Bulls?

I think "of that era" is the key phrase you missed in his post.

 

[garrow]

 

[UPChip]

I'm sure he was disappointed not to make it to 88. /crossthread

 

[MTM]

I never saw Hull with the Blackhawks, but saw him with the Winnipeg Jets vs. the LA Sharks at the LA Sports Arena in 1974. My best friend was from Chicago and his dad took us because he was a fan of the Blackhawks.
Also saw Gordie Howe and Houston vs. the Sharks.
My memory of Brett Hull is seeing him outside Staples Center, beer in hand, asking for directions to the team hotel.

 

[mateen]

Regardless of his character off the ice, he was a hell of a player. 117 points as a 38-year-old in the WHA in 1978. Interesting to consider how the 1972 Summit Series might have been different if his contract and Bobby Orr's knees had allowed them to play for Canada.

 

[cyclingwriter2]

There's a lot I didn't know. I just pulled up Hull's stats. I had no idea he was a part of that Hartford Whalers 79-80 team with Gordie Howe and his sons. It was only 9 games, apparently.

Dave Keon was on that team as well. Hull, Howe and Keon first skated together in the 1967 all-star game. Combined age of 131 in 1979-80.

 

[maumann]

You have to ask about the Bulls?

I was referring to the pre Jordan era. Sixties and seventies players.

 

[Starman]

Wore No. 9 to honor Gordie Howe.

Along with Butkis and Banks, on the Mount Rushmore of that era of Chicago sports legends. Who would you add from the Bulls and White Sox?

Norm Van Lier, Chet Walker and Bob Love for the Bulls. They had a pretty good team going for a few years in the 70s under **** Motta, but they got roadblocked behind the Kareem-Oscar Bucks.
For the White Sox of that era, start with ****
Allen and Wilbur Wood.

The Pistons and Bulls played a memorable 7-game series in 1974, essentially the only competitive Pistons team before the Bad Boys era.