Last Brind'Amour post until gametime, I promise...
Thinking back to Rod Brind'Amour's days as a Flyer and scanning through my memories of him is a very visual process. There were so many things about the way he looked that stand out. First and foremost, that jersey was almost always tucked in in the back. The Brind'Amour Wedgie, my friend used to call it. Who else rocked this every night?Next, and I mean this with no disrespect whatsoever, Rod had/has a nose only a mother and thousands upon thousands of hockey fans could love. He no doubt earned it in the line of duty, and that only makes us appreciate his look that much more.
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But he wasn't just a handsome face. Rod the Bod is probably still the best built man in the NHL. Here he is with the Cup he won after leaving Philly, plus an unfortunate sport sandal choice.
Jesus, Rod. I guess that's what it takes to set the Ironman record for a franchise like the Flyers (484 straight games played). And it's not like he shied away from the rough stuff. His dedication to fitness and weightlifting was proof of his relentless desire to get every single ounce out of his talent and ability. Sadly, this and many other images of Rod holding the Cup are also burned into my mind. Not that I don't think he deserved it; I'm certainly happy for him. It's just... damn it.
How about the nameplate alone? Growing up hockey fans, we can all appreciate that some of our favorite players had some weird-ass names. But an apostrophe in the middle like that? Anyway, here's a good bar trivia question if you're out with Flyers diehards: What's Rod's full name? Roderic Jean Brind'Amour.
Then there's the number, of paramount importance today given that it will be retired tonight in Raleigh. There is some degree of debate over whether 17 should have been retired in Philly as well, but I'd personally say it wouldn't be in line with the rare honor of having a number raised in Philadelphia. If he'd never been traded? Maybe. If he'd won a Cup here...?
But how'd he decide on 17, anyway? Oddly, given the fact that it will be retired tonight, it wasn't even something that meant much to him when he first put it on:
“When I got traded from St. Louis to Philadelphia, I think I had a choice of 10 or 17. There wasn't too many options. I came over with Dan Quinn and he wanted 10, so it kind of fell into my lap, is the best way to put it. There wasn't any main reason other than that.”
And while we're on the jersey, the 'A'... Brind'Amour was never officially a Flyers captain, always playing the alternate role with Kevin Dineen and Eric Lindros donning the C (except when Lindros was hurt). Then he was traded for the Flyers eventual next captain, Keith Primeau. In Carolina of course, he was the captain, and wore the C when they raised the Cup there.
Finally, with most iconic players, you can remember one thing about the way they played the game. Some might have a snapshot wrister. Others a toe drag. A campsite in front of whatever goalie had the misfortune of being in the opposite net. With Brind'Amour, I remember him in the faceoff circle. How could we forget? His name is still mentioned in the comments whenever the Flyers suck at the draw in a given night. Brindy was one of the best in the league at faceoffs, and when I picture him on the ice, he's in the circle, bent at the waist a few inches lower and a few seconds earlier than the guy across the dot, stick blade at ice level. Drop the goddamn puck.
Depending on the angle, the jersey tuck is never more evident.
Nothing Rod did was what you might call "pretty." But hockey fans, particularly Flyers and Hurricanes fans who got to watch him closely every night, saw tremendous beauty in his game. Much respect to a truly iconic Flyer.
What do you guys remember about the Brind'Amour look? Anything I've left off?