Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story (2013) - full transcript
The story of the 1973 hockey season when aging legend Gordie Howe returned to the ice at the age of 44.
[♪♪]
[ANNOUNCER]: WATCH HIM
JUST THREAD THE NEEDLE,
A LITTLE WRIST SHOT...
AND THERE, THAT SAYS IT ALL.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
THERE'S HOWE! HE SCORES!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
IT'S A GORDIE HOWE HAT TRICK--
A GOAL, AN ASSIST, AND A FIGHT!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
THE HEART AND SOUL
OF THE DETROIT FRANCHISE,
WEARING THE RED WING NUMBER 9
FOR A RECORD 25 YEARS.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
HOWE IS ON THE ICE.
THAT'S THE ROAR FROM THE CROWD.
HERE'S HOWE--
SHOOTS, SCORES!
NUMBER 9
IS UNSTOPPABLE OUT THERE.
THERE'S HOWE--
HE SCORES!
THE DETROIT RED WINGS
HAVE WON THE STANLEY CUP,
AND IN 1952,
THEY LEFT NO DOUBT
AS TO
THEIR COMPLETE SUPERIORITY.
HE MADE 22 CONSECUTIVE
ALL-STAR GAME APPEARANCES
AND RETIRES AS THE NHL'S
ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER,
WITH AN ASTOUNDING TOTAL
OF 786 GOALS.
[WILD CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU.
PARDON THE TEAR.
[APPLAUSE DIES DOWN]
I'D LIKE TO THANK MY CHILDREN
FOR STANDING BY ME TONIGHT.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
AND MOST OF ALL,
I'D LIKE TO THANK
MY DEAR WIFE, COLLEEN...
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
...THE BEST TEAM MATE
I EVER HAD.
[CROWD ROARING AND CHEERING]
I'VE BEEN A PROUD RED WING
FOR 25 YEARS...
AND I HOPE TO BE ONE
FOR 25 MORE.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
I WANT TO THANK MR. NORRIS
FOR WELCOMING ME INTO
DETROIT'S FRONT OFFICE.
WELL, BRUCE, I GUESS THIS IS IT.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU, MR. HOCKEY!
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING
YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR RED WINGS.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
NOW, BRUCE, YOU MAKE SURE
TO LOOK AFTER THAT JERSEY.
DON'T LET IT GET WRINKLED.
WHEN MY THREE SONS COME PLAY
FOR THE DETROIT RED WINGS,
ONE OF 'EM'S GONNA WEAR IT.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[CROWD CHANTING]
GORDIE! GORDIE! GORDIE!
[CROWD SCREAMING AND CHEERING]
YOU MISS IT ALREADY?
DOES IT GET
ANY EASIER TO MISS?
YOU HUNG ON
A DAMN SIGHT LONGER
THAN THE REST
OF US, GORDIE.
A FEW MORE YEARS,
YOU MIGHT'VE BEEN
PLAYING WITH YOUR BOYS.
YEAH, THAT WOULD'VE
BEEN SOMETHING, WOULDN'T IT?
[CAR HORN HONKS A GREETING]
SWEETIE, YOU KNOW WHY--
OH! OKAY, HE'S HERE.
YOU GOT YOUR TRAIN TICKETS?
HERE YOU GO, MARTY.
YEAH.
OKAY, BYE.
ALL RIGHT,
LOVE YOU, MOM. SEE YOU.
LOVE YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY.
CALL ME WHEN YOU GET THERE.
BYE. LOVE YOU.
LOVE YOU, TOO.
WE'LL CATCH YOU LATER.
BYE.
ALL RIGHT,
WHERE ARE WE?
HEY, YOU'RE NOT
LEAVING ALREADY?
YEAH, THE MARLIES
CALLED A TEAM MEETING.
WE GOTTA GET BACK
TO TORONTO.
LET ME DRIVE YOU
TO THE STATION.
BARRY'S TAKING US.
SEE YOU, DAD.
[STAMMERING]
WE'LL BE UP TO SEE YOU
IN THE MEMORIAL CUP.
[DOOR SWINGS SHUT]
ALL RIGHT, MURRAY,
I'VE GOT THE ROBINSONS
PICKING YOU UP
FOR HOCKEY TONIGHT,
AND, OH, HON', CAN YOU
TAKE CATHY TO CHEERLEADING?
I NEED TO MEET WITH
THE JUNIOR
RED WINGS SPONSOR. YUP.
I THINK I CAN
SQUEEZE IT INTO MY DAY.
[INTERCOM BEEPS]
[INTERCOM BEEPING]
[THUMPING BUTTON]
YES?
[CLICKS OTHER BUTTON]
YES?
[WOMAN, OVER INTERCOM]:
EXCUSE ME, MR. HOWE.
MR. KOFFMAN IN MARKETING
HAS A COUSIN DOWN FROM FLINT
WHO'D LIKE A PHOTO WITH YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, SIR.
THANKS FOR THIS,
MR. HOWE.
COME ON IN HERE, BOYS.
COME ON.
THERE WE GO, BIG SMILE!
THERE WE GO.
ALL RIGHT,
LET ME GIVE THE LITTLE ONE
THE HOWE HAMMER.
OH!
[FLASHBULB POPS]
[TEAM AT PRACTICE,
SHOUTING, STICKS SLAPPING]
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
WATCH IT!
HEY THERE, ELBOWS.
HEY!
HOW COME I DON'T SEE YOU
AROUND HERE MORE OFTEN?
AH, IT'S NOT REALLY
PART OF THE JOB.
WHAT THE HELL
IS THE JOB, GORDIE?
WELL, HAVEN'T YOU HEARD?
I'VE GONE INTO
THE MUSHROOM BUSINESS.
YOU KNOW, THEY KEEP ME
IN A DARK ROOM,
AND EVERY NOW AND AGAIN,
THEY OPEN THE DOOR
AND THEY THROW SOME HORSE MANURE
ON TOP OF ME.
[LAUGHS]
HEY,
YOU HEAR HOW WELL
OUR OLD PAL BILL DINEEN'S
DOING DOWN IN HOUSTON
WITH THAT NEW WHA LEAGUE?
WE WHISPER ABOUT THE WHA
AROUND HERE, GORDIE.
HMM?
THERE'S A SLAVE REVOLT
GOING ON,
AND THE MASTERS HAVE EARS.
AH...
WELL, I ALWAYS KNEW FOXY
WOULD MAKE A GOOD COACH.
HELL, HE'S EVEN GOT
OLD DOUG HARVEY
BACK ON THE WAGON AND WORKING.
IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
HEY, GORDIE!
GREAT GAME TONIGHT!
CONGRATULATIONS,
BIG FELLA.
YOUR BOYS ARE
MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS.
NOT ONLY THAT,
THEY'RE GONNA BE STUDS
IN THE NHL, TOO.
AW, THANK YOU.
WE APPRECIATE
THAT, HAROLD.
COUPLE MORE YEARS
WITH THE MARLIES,
I'LL HAVE 'EM READY
FOR THE SCOUTS.
THEY CAN'T MISS.
WHAT ABOUT THE SCOUTS
THAT WERE THERE TONIGHT?
THEY WERE LOOKING AT
THE OLDER PROSPECTS,
NOT YOUR YOUNGSTERS.
HEY, GORDIE! COLLEEN.
FOXY!
HEY!
HOW YOU DOING, HARV?
GORDIE. COLLEEN.
I OUGHTA HAVE
YOU DANG HORSE THIEVES
RUN OUT OF TOWN.
EASY THERE, HAROLD.
YOU DON'T WANT TO
HAVE A STROKE.
LISTEN, YOU TWIT.
WHEN THIS WHA FRAUD FOLDS,
YOU'LL BE COMING TO ME
BEGGING FOR A JOB.
WOW, LOOKS LIKE
THE LIVESTOCK OWNERS
ARE HAVING A RANGE WAR.
YOU KNOW THE OLD MAN
WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU STRUNG UP
FOR ALL THE LEAFS
JUMPING TO THE WHA.
MORE TO COME, TOO--
[CHILD NEARBY]: MR. HOWE!
AH, EXCUSE ME, FELLAS.
YEAH, YEAH.
COLLEEN, MARK AND MARTY
PLAYED TERRIFIC TONIGHT.
THEY BOTH SHOULD'VE WON MVP.
AH, THANKS, FOXY.
DOESN'T IT SEEM CRAZY
THAT THEY'RE STUCK IN JUNIOR
FOR TWO MORE YEARS?
GORDIE TURNED PRO AT 16.
MY BOYS CAN'T EVEN BE DRAFTED
UNTIL THEY'RE 20.
IT'S A DIFFERENT
TIME, COLLEEN.
WHY?
THEY CAN VOTE, THEY CAN DRINK,
THEY CAN SMOKE,
ABOUT THE ONLY THING
THEY CAN'T DO
IS EARN A LIVING
PLAYING HOCKEY.
LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING, FOXY,
DOES YOUR WHA LEAGUE
HAVE THE SAME AGE RESTRICTIONS
AS THE NHL?
WELL, TO BE HONEST,
I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, MAYBE
YOU SHOULD FIND OUT.
GOOD NIGHT, GENTLEMEN.
DID WE JUST GET PROPOSITIONED
BY A HOCKEY MOM?
I BELIEVE
WE DID, HARV.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
HELLO?
YES, UH, ONE MOMENT.
GORDIE?
MM-HMM?
BILL DINEEN'S
ON THE PHONE.
[QUIETLY] I THINK
YOU SHOULD TAKE IT.
[REPORTERS CLAMORING]
THERE HE IS!
BOBBY!
HEY, HARV!
[CROWD CLAMORING]
HEY, YOU SUITING UP FOR
THE AEROS THIS SEASON, HUH?
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR?
IS THAT REAL RACCOON,
MRS. HULL?
[GORDIE, OVER TELEPHONE]:
FOXY! HOW YOU DOING?
GOOD, GORDIE. GOOD.
I'M WITH HARV IN TORONTO
AT THE WHA DRAFT,
AND I JUST WANTED
TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT WE'RE GONNA TAKE MARK
WITH OUR FIRST PICK.
YOU'RE WHAT?
OUR LAWYERS SAY IT'S LEGAL,
AND WE THINK THAT HE CAN PLAY
IN HOUSTON THIS YEAR.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU
THE HEADS-UP,
BECAUSE ONCE WE CHOOSE HIM,
ALL HECK'S GONNA BREAK LOOSE.
THANK-THANK YOU, BILL.
ALL RIGHT.
TAKE CARE, GORD.
WHAT DID HE SAY?
WELL, FOXY'S GONNA TAKE MARK
WITH THEIR FIRST DRAFT PICK.
HE THINKS HE'S READY
TO TURN PRO RIGHT NOW.
[CHUCKLES]
FROM THE TORONTO MARLIES,
THE HOUSTON AEROS
SELECT MARK HOWE.
[MURMURS OF SHOCK
RIPPLE THROUGH CROWD]
[BUZZ OF WHISPERED
CONVERSATIONS]
FOXY WOULDN'T PICK YOU
IF HE WASN'T SURE
YOU COULD PLAY AGAINST MEN.
ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, YOU AND MARTY
COME HOME THIS WEEKEND,
AND WE'LL
TALK IT THROUGH.
OKAY. BYE.
SO, WHAT DID HE SAY?
IS HE EXCITED?
[SIGHING] UH...
I'M NOT SURE HE COULD
TAKE IN THE HONOR.
I THINK HE'S, UH,
HUNG OVER.
I'M SORRY?
HE ASKED ABOUT MARTY.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING
HE ASKED.
IF ANYONE'S GONNA TAKE
HIS OLDER BROTHER.
[CHUCKLES FONDLY]
AW, HE'S
SUCH A GOOD KID.
COULD YOU IMAGINE
IF THEY DID
TAKE MARTY, THOUGH?
TWO HOWE BOYS
STARTING OUT TOGETHER?
I HOPE YOU'RE NOT THINKING
ABOUT THE THIRD HOWE
IN THAT PAINTING.
THAT WAS A FOOLISH
OLD DREAM.
[ROOM ABUZZ WITH NEGOTIATIONS]
FOURTH PICK
TO THE HOUSTON AEROS.
WHAT ABOUT THE SWEDE?
INGE HAMMARSTROM--
I CAN'T PRONOUNCE
HIS NAME EITHER.
WHAT ABOUT MARTY HOWE?
ANOTHER UNDERAGE PICK?
ANOTHER HOWE?
FROM THE TORONTO MARLIES,
HOUSTON SELECTS MARTY HOWE.
[ROOM ERUPTS WITH CHUCKLES]
HEY, FOXY, WHO'S NEXT, COLLEEN?
[LAUGHTER]
IF THOSE HOWE SIGNINGS
GO THROUGH,
EVERY HOT-SHOT JUNIOR
IS GOING TO BE SHAKING ME DOWN
FOR SIX FIGURES!
WE ALREADY LOST
TO THE WHA
OVER HULL
AND THE RESERVE CLAUSE.
WE'LL LOSE THIS ONE, TOO,
IF WE TAKE IT TO THE COURTS.
DANG PLAYER SALARIES ARE
GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.
THESE CON ARTISTS
HAVE STOLEN HALF MY TEAM!
NOW I GOTTA WATCH 'EM
ROB THE CRADLE TOO?
I'LL ASK PRESIDENT CAMPBELL
TO CALL HOWE PERSONALLY.
YOU KNOW, GORDIE'S ALWAYS
BEEN VERY RESPECTFUL
WHEN IT COMES TO
THE GOOD OF THE GAME.
YEAH, YOU DO THAT.
YOU GOTTA LEAN ON
THE BIG FELLA.
IF THEY SIGN THOSE JUNIORS,
THE BUZZARDS'LL BE KICKING US
WHERE IT COUNTS.
I TALKED WITH THE GM,
AND WE'RE GONNA BRING YOU
MORE INTO HOCKEY OPERATIONS
NOW, GORDIE.
WELL, THAT'S ALL
I EVER WANTED, BRUCE.
GOOD.
GOOD, THAT'S SETTLED.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND
CLARENCE CAMPBELL CALLED YOU
ABOUT YOUR SONS?
HE SET YOU STRAIGHT
ABOUT THEM SIGNING
WITH THIS PHONY LEAGUE
THAT'S ROBBING US?
WELL, BRUCE...
NOW, WHAT KIND OF FATHER
WOULD I BE
IF I DENIED MY BOYS
THE OPPORTUNITY
TO MAKE A LIVING
DOING WHAT THEY LOVE?
AND THE AEROS ARE OFFERING THEM
$100,000 EACH
TO PLAY HOCKEY.
HELL, THAT'S
AS MUCH AS I MADE
PLAYING 25 YEARS FOR DETROIT.
IS COLLEEN BEHIND THIS?
LET'S LEAVE MY WIFE
OUT OF THIS.
I WISH I COULD.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN YOUR DREAM
TO SEE YOUR SONS FOLLOW YOU
AS A RED WING,
SO I'LL BE BLUNT.
IF THEY SIGN
WITH THE WHA,
THEY'RE THROWING AWAY
THAT DREAM,
AND JEOPARDIZING THEIR CHANCES
OF EVER PLAYING IN THE NHL
AT ALL!
WELL, I GOT OTHER DREAMS.
WE DONE, BRUCE?
ARE WE CLEAR HERE
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO WITH
YOUR BOYS, BIG FELLA?
ABSOLUTELY.
YOU'RE 45 YEARS OLD,
YOU'RE RIDDLED WITH ARTHRITIS,
YOU'VE BROKEN MORE BONES
THAN EITHER ONE OF US
CAN REMEMBER--
I KNOW.
I KNOW HOW HARD
IT'S GONNA BE TO COME BACK.
HARD?
HONEY, AT YOUR AGE,
IT'S CRAZY.
AND DANGEROUS.
WHAT ABOUT NORRIS?
HE'S GOING TO
BRAND YOU AS A TRAITOR?
AND WHAT ARE THE FANS
GOING TO SAY?
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK
IT'S WORTH THE RISK.
YOU KNOW IT'S ALWAYS
BEEN MY DREAM
TO PLAY WITH THE BOYS,
AND TO START 'EM OFF RIGHT.
I KNOW,
BUT IS IT
THEIR DREAM, TOO?
YEAH. ABSOLUTELY.
WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME,
PLAYING SHINNY,
AND PLAYING CHARITY GAMES.
WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.
YOU'RE ASKING
A LOT OF ME, TOO, YOU KNOW?
TO JUST GIVE UP EVERYTHING
I'VE BUILT HERE?
A LOT OF CATHY AND MUZZ, TOO.
I KNOW.
I KNOW I AM.
BUT...
ISN'T THIS
WHAT AN ADVENTURE IS?
ISN'T THIS WHAT YOU SAID
THAT WE HAD TO LOOK FORWARD TO?
[CHUCKLES RUEFULLY]
LORD, I DIDN'T MEAN THIS.
I'M MOVING TO TEXAS.
I'LL CALL THE KIDS
IN TO EXPLAIN.
NO, NO, NO, NO.
I WANT TO SURPRISE THEM.
[SIGHS]
HARV.
GORDIE.
FOXY.
GORDIE.
[CLEARS THROAT]
NOW, FOXY, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY...
TO THREE HOWES
COMING TO PLAY FOR YOU
IN HOUSTON THIS YEAR?
[CATHY]: WHAT?
YOU MEAN WE'RE MOVING TO TEXAS?
[SCOFFS] I DON'T
BELIEVE THIS!
DAD, IS THERE ANY MINOR HOCKEY
DOWN THERE AT ALL?
WE'LL SORT THAT OUT, SON.
WELL, WHAT DO
MY NEW TEAMMATES SAY?
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE
TO SEE THE OLD MAN
LINING UP ALONGSIDE YOU
THIS YEAR?
YEAH. YEAH. SURE, DAD.
IF YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
I DO.
MARK, WHAT ABOUT YOU?
YEAH. YEAH,
SURE, DAD.
YEAH.
WELL, THAT'S
A POSITIVE ANSWER.
IS ANYONE HERE EXCITED
ABOUT THE FIRST
FATHER-AND-SON TEAM EVER?
HELL, YEAH.
YEAH.
NICE, BILLY.
HARV.
ALL RIGHT, THEN,
LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
MARK, I'M WORRIED
ABOUT DAD PLAYING AGAIN.
I MEAN, FROM
WHAT I'VE SEEN,
THEY REALLY KNOW
HOW TO GOON IT UP IN THE WHA.
[CATHY]:
HEY, MARTY,
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA ASK FOR
IN YOUR CONTRACT?
SOME LAME-O CAR?
SHUT UP, CATHY.
YOU SHUT UP.
I'M THE ONE'S GOTTA MOVE HERE
TO TEXAS 'CAUSE OF YOU TWO.
I'M SERIOUS.
I THINK HE COULD GET
REALLY HURT.
HURT?
HE COULD GET KILLED.
HE'S 45, MARTY.
SO, WHAT DO WE DO?
I DON'T KNOW.
HE'S SO EXCITED ABOUT IT.
LISTEN TO YOU TWO.
YOU'RE AFRAID OF
PLAYING WITH HIM.
YOU KNEW
YOU'D BE COMPARED TO DAD
IF YOU WERE STUPID ENOUGH
TO PLAY HOCKEY,
WHICH APPARENTLY YOU ARE.
HEY! STOP IT!
STOP IT! STOP IT!
NO! STOP IT!
[SHRIEKING IN PROTEST]
[BROTHERS LAUGHING]
YOUR TURN, MUZZ!
NOT COOL, GUYS!
I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING!
YOU WERE
THINKING IT!
THANK YOU.
AH, THANK YOU, JIM.
YOU ARE YOUNGER THAN
MOST OF THE HOCKEY GMs
I'M USED TO DEALING WITH.
WELL, I'LL TAKE THAT
AS A COMPLIMENT, MRS. HOWE.
COLLEEN, PLEASE.
HMM.
SO...
WE HAVE A MARKETING DREAM HERE.
THE GREATEST PLAYER OF ALL TIME
COMING BACK
TO PLAY WITH HIS SONS.
I KNOW THE BOBBY HULL
SIGNING
PUT THE WHA ON THE MAP, BUT...
THIS IS BIGGER.
JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY,
HOW MUCH DID BOBBY MAKE
LAST YEAR?
HULL IS 33,
YOUR HUSBAND IS 45.
OH, I KNOW,
BUT AGE IS AN ATTITUDE, JIM.
PLUS, WE HAVE TO FACTOR IN
THE RISK TO MY HUSBAND,
GIVING UP A GUARANTEED CAREER
WITH THE RED WINGS
TO COME AND HELP YOU SUPPORT
YOUR BRAND-NEW LEAGUE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
HOW MUCH IS ALL THAT
WORTH TO YOU?
I DON'T KNOW,
COLLEEN,
BUT I HAVE A FEELING
YOU'RE GOING TO TELL ME.
I HAVE AN IDEA.
WHY DON'T WE EACH
WRITE DOWN A NUMBER,
JUST KIND OF
SEE WHERE WE'RE AT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
YOURS IS A LOT HIGHER, COLLEEN.
I CAN'T DO SPOT DUTY, FOXY.
IF I'M COMING BACK,
I'M COMING BACK TO PLAY.
UNDERSTOOD.
NOW, WHAT ABOUT
THIS HOUSTON OWNER?
CAN WE TRUST HIM?
HE'S ON HIS WAY OUT,
BUT WE GOT GOOD
LOCAL OWNERSHIP COMING IN.
OH, LORDY.
ARE THE CHECKS GONNA CASH?
YOURS WILL.
MINE? I DON'T KNOW.
I SPENT 25 YEARS
BUILDING MY REPUTATION.
I'M PUTTING ALL THAT
ON THE LINE HERE.
NOW, YOU HAD MY BACK
AS A TEAMMATE.
DO YOU STILL HAVE IT?
YOU KNOW I DO, GORDIE.
[REPORTERS CLAMORING]
OVER HERE, MR. HOWE!
[NEWS REPORT]: MR. HOCKEY
IS LEAVING DETROIT.
GORDIE HOWE IS COMING
OUT OF RETIREMENT AT AGE 45
TO STRAP ON THE BLADES...
NOT FOR HIS RED WINGS,
BUT TO LINE UP
ALONGSIDE HIS SONS,
MARTY AND MARK HOWE,
AS A HOUSTON AERO
IN THE NEW
WORLD HOCKEY ASSOCIATION--
ALL OF THEM.
TAKE THEM ALL DOWN!
[RADIO INTERVIEW]: IS THIS
SOME KIND OF PUBLICITY STUNT?
[COMMENTATOR]: IS IT A STUNT?
HONESTLY, I CAN'T SEE
GORDIE HOWE DOING THAT.
BUT HOW DESPERATE
MUST THIS NEW LEAGUE BE
TO SIGN A RETIRED
45-YEAR-OLD PLAYER
AND TWO UNDER-AGED KIDS?
[♪♪]
[FLASHBULB POPS]
[QUIET CHATTING]
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
TOSS ME THAT?
I'M MARTY HOWE.
JOHN.
I, UH...
I GOTTA SAY, IT'S AN HONOR
TO BE PLAYING WITH YOU, GORDIE.
WELL, THANK YOU, STAN,
BUT YOU'RE
PLAYING AGAINST ME
TILL I MAKE THE TEAM.
[DOOR SQUEAKS OPENS]
HEY, NEW GUYS!
[LAUGHING]
ALL RIGHT...
FRESH MEAT.
[CACKLING]
WHAT WAS YOUR NAME
AGAIN, OLD-TIMER?
HOWE.
HOWE...
HOWE. HOWE...
ANY RELATION TO SYD HOWE?
[LAUGHTER]
NOW, THERE WAS A HOWE
OF A HOCKEY PLAYER!
[LAUGHING]
PLEASURE. PLEASURE.
WHOA, BOYS!
I GOT ONE.
[TEAM EXCLAIMS] WHOA! HEY!
PRIZE COCKROACH
AT THE OLD SAM HOUSTON!
KEEP THAT CRAP
AWAY FROM ME, SCHELLA.
YOU KNOW I HATE THEM THINGS.
IT'S A BIG FELLA!
IT'S GOT AT LEAST SIX ELBOWS...
IT'S A LITTLE
LONG IN THE TOOTH, THOUGH.
CHECK IT OUT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
WE SHOULD CALL IT?
WHY DON'T YOU CALL HIM GORDIE?
[LAUGHTER]
THERE YOU GO.
SCHELLA...
WHERE'S SMOKEY?
SCHELLA! SCHELLA! SCHELLA!
THIS ONE'S FOR YOU,
SMOKEY-BOY.
SCHELLA!
[LAUGHTER]
COME ON, SMOKEY!
[TEAM CHEERING AND HECKLING]
HE'S STILL GOT THE ELBOWS.
[RICOCHETS OFF THE POST]
[WHISTLE BLASTS]
OKAY, BOYS,
BRING IT IN!
[CRICKETS CHIRPING PEACEFULLY]
[GASPS]
WOW, WELL, THIS IS NICE.
NOT MUCH TO
COMPLAIN ABOUT HERE,
IS THERE, MISSY MUFFET?
MEET THE NEIGHBORS.
[CATTLE LOWING]
[CHUCKLING]
[WHISTLE BLASTS]
ON THE LINE!
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE
THE LEGS HAVE LOST A STEP.
A STEP?
LOOKS LIKE HE'S GONNA HAVE
A DAMN HEART ATTACK.
[WHISTLE BLASTS]
YOU OKAY, DAD?
YOU LOOK AWFUL RED.
YEAH. IT'S JUST...
IT'S JUST THE HEAT.
AND IT'S GORDIE.
ON THE LINE!
LET'S GO!
[WHISTLE BLASTS]
GO!
DAD, IT'S TIME
FOR DINNER.
[MUMBLES]
DADDY?
ARE YOU OKAY?
[GROANS]
OH, LORD.
I WAS SUCKING WIND
OUT THERE TODAY, MISSY.
IT WAS NOT PRETTY.
[MARTY]: HONESTLY, MOM,
I THOUGHT HE WAS
GONNA HAVE A HEART ATTACK.
I MEAN, WE ALL DID.
WHAT'S FOR DINNER?
NOTHING.
COME ON, LET'S GO.
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
WE'RE GOING TO THE DOCTOR.
YOU NEED YOUR HEART
AND BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKED.
NO, NO, NO, NO.
I'VE ALREADY HAD
MY PHYSICAL.
DON'T BE RIDICULOUS.
HONEY.
PLEASE? FOR ME?
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
HE'S ON YOUR WING!
ON YOUR WING!
IT'S BEEN A WEEK.
HE'S NOT GETTING ANY BETTER.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN,
IT COULD BE HE'S JUST TOO OLD.
HE MAY NOT EVEN
MAKE THE TEAM.
[SNORING]
[SIGHS HEAVILY]
I THINK I'VE MADE
THE BIGGEST MISTAKE
OF MY LIFE.
SO WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO?
FOXY DOESN'T THINK
YOU'RE GONNA MAKE
THE LINE-UP.
YOU NEED
TO LET ME KNOW
WHEN IT'S TIME
TO CALL IT QUITS.
OKAY?
SO, I HEAR I'M NOT GONNA
MAKE YOUR TEAM.
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO
TWO PRACTICES A DAY.
YOU THINK YOU CAN HANDLE THAT?
OH, YEAH.
OR MAYBE I'LL JUST DIE.
YOU STILL GOT MY BACK, FOXY?
YEAH.
LAST I HEARD,
HOCKEY'S A TEAM SPORT,
THOUGH, GORDIE.
YOU'RE AN EASY ONE TO HATE.
OH!
[SMACKS HAND]
THE BANANAS
ARE FOR YOU, HONEY.
WHOA!
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
HEY, MARK!
IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU
BURIED ONE OF THOSE.
SORRY, COACH.
I GOT ANOTHER MIGRAINE.
WHAT'S UP WITH THE KID
AND THE MIGRAINES?
WELL, HE'S SENSITIVE,
LIKE HIS OLD MAN.
[CHUCKLES]
WHY DON'T YOU TRY
SHOVELING A LITTLE SUGAR
ALONG WITH THE SAND
AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS?
GEEZ, GORD, THAT WAS
A PRETTY GOOD SHIFT.
THAT'S LITTLE ENOUGH.
DON'T WORRY,
YOU MADE IT.
THE BOYS ARE
GONNA MAKE IT, TOO.
OKAY!
LET'S PLAY SOME HOCKEY!
I'M GONNA STAPLE YOU
THIS TIME, STANNY.
THANKS FOR THE TIPS,
MR. HARVEY.
HEY, ANYTIME, KID.
I'LL TEACH YOU
WHATEVER I CAN REMEMBER.
NOW, IT'S TIME FOR YOU AND I
TO GO HIT THE BAR.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE
ON THE WAGON.
I AM.
BUT I STILL LIKE
THE SMELL.
YOU GOT ANY MONEY
ON YOU, ROOK?
YEAH.
GOOD.
YOU'RE GONNA
NEED A LOT.
[CROWD CHEERING AND SHOUTING]
WHO ARE THE
LOUDMOUTHS TONIGHT?
HOCKEY PLAYERS.
OH, GOD.
I HEAR THEY'RE DUMBER
THAN RODEO COWBOYS,
AND THAT'S SOME DUMB.
WHAT'LL YOU HAVE?
I'LL HAVE 13 RYES, DOUBLES,
13 JACKS, ALSO DOUBLES,
AND 26 DRAFTS.
ARE YOU AN ALCOHOLIC?
NO, THEY'RE FOR, UH,
ME AND THE OTHER
DUMB HOCKEY PLAYERS.
WELL, PARDON
MY FOOT IN THE MOUTH.
NO NEED. IT'S TRUE.
MARY FROM HOUSTON.
MARTY FROM DETROIT.
AND YOU'RE REALLY
A HOCKEY PLAYER?
I REALLY AM, MARY FROM HOUSTON.
[SMOKEY]: PICK UP THE CHICK
ON YOUR OWN TIME, KID!
YOU'RE ON OUR DIME TONIGHT!
[LAUGHTER]
COME ON.
COME ON, ROOKIE.
SAME AGAIN, KID.
LET'S GO. LET'S GO.
SAME AGAIN, PLEASE.
CHEERS.
I KNOW IT'S ONLY
AN EXHIBITION GAME,
BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE
WE'RE PLAYING AGAINST
BOBBY HULL TONIGHT.
YOU'LL BELIEVE IT
WHEN HE DEKES YOU
OUT OF YOUR SKATES.
HULL CAN BEAT YOU
FORE AND BACKHAND,
AND HE'S TOO STRONG
TO KNOCK OFF THE PUCK.
DO YOU GUYS
ALWAYS
HAVE TO TALK
ABOUT HOCKEY?
IT'S JUST FIGURE SKATING
WITH TWIGS, YOU KNOW?
WHERE'D YOU GET
THAT CRAP FROM?
TOMMY.
WHO'S TOMMY?
A FRIEND AT SCHOOL.
HE PLAYS FOOTBALL.
I'D LIKE TO MEET
THIS TOMMY.
I'M SURE YOU WOULD, DAD.
YOU SHOULD JUST BE HAPPY
THAT SHE'S MET A FRIEND.
I'M HAPPY.
SHE CAN COMPLAIN
TO HIM NOW.
MARTY MADE A FRIEND TOO.
GOT HER PHONE NUMBER.
WHAT'S THIS?
NOTHING.
[ORGAN PLAYING]
SO, AM I GONNA HAVE TO
GO TO EVERY GAME?
EVEN THESE PHONY
EXHIBITION ONES?
YUP.
WE'RE THE FIRST FAMILY
OF HOCKEY HERE.
AND IT WOULDN'T HURT YOU
TO SMILE ONCE
IN A WHILE, TOO.
[LAUGHS SARCASTICALLY]
[WHISTLE BLASTS]
THIS IS MY LEAGUE,
OLD MAN.
[CROWD CHEERING]
[♪♪]
[GOAL HORN BLARES]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
GOAL SCORED BY NUMBER 9,
GORDIE HOWE!
ASSISTED BY NUMBER 4,
MARK HOWE,
AT 27 SECONDS
IN THE FIRST PERIOD.
THAT'S A GOOD
THING, OKAY?
OKAY.
[HULL]: REMEMBER, YOU PLAY
THAT DEEP ALL NIGHT,
HE'LL GO THERE ON YOU.
WHOSE LEAGUE
IS IT, BOBBY?
[GASPING]
DAD!
NO...
BREAK IT UP, GUYS.
[CROWD CHEERING AND BOOING]
BLUE, YOU'RE GOING
TO THE BOX.
PULL UP YOUR SKIRT, HOWE!
LITTLE BABY,
WHERE'S YOUR BOTTLE?
THEY STILL CHANGING
YOUR DIAPER, TOO, MARK?
HUH?
[TEAM MURMURING ENCOURAGEMENTS]
[RADIO PLAYS]
HEY, LISTEN, GORDIE.
YOU CAN'T-- YOU CAN'T BE
FIGHTING OUR BATTLES FOR US.
IT'S EMBARRASSING.
I'M GORDIE
WHEN THEY PLAY IT STRAIGHT,
AND I'M YOUR DAD
WHEN THEY PLAY IT DIRTY.
PULL UP
YOUR PANTS, LADIES!
DRINKS ARE ON ME
TONIGHT, HOUSTON.
[TEAM CHEERING]
THIS GUY. LOOK AT THIS GUY!
WELL, ME
AND MY WHA PAYCHECK, THAT IS.
[LAUGHTER]
CAN YOU AFFORD IT, BOBBY?
MIGHT HAVE TO SELL
A COUPLE STICK SHELVES, YEAH.
WHAT ABOUT YOU, ELBOWS, YOU IN?
HUH? YOU CAN EVEN
BRING THE KIDS.
UH, NO THANK YOU, BOBBY,
COLLEEN'S GOT
SPECIAL PLANS
FOR US TONIGHT.
WHAT COULD BE
SO SPECIAL, GORDIE?
COME ON...
YOUR LOSS, ELBOWS,
BUT I'LL TELL YOU
WHAT'S REAL SPECIAL,
A NICE JUICY STEAK
AND A BLONDE.
[PLAYERS CHEERING]
HURRY UP, BOYS, LET'S GO!
[CHEERING AND SHOUTING]
FOLLOW THE COAT.
[LAUGHTER]
ANOTHER TIME.
NO PLAYER WORE
A LADY'S FUR COAT
WHEN I WAS COMING UP.
WELL, MAYBE THEY DID,
BUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
LOOK, YOU CAN'T BE
THEIR TEAMMATE
AND THEIR CHAPERONE TOO.
I KNOW.
I KNOW, I'M JUST TRYING
TO FIND THE RIGHT LINE,
YOU KNOW?
I HAD NOTHING GROWING UP,
AND NOW THESE BOYS
ARE GETTING PAID
THESE HUGE SALARIES
AT 18, 19?
I JUST, I WORRY
THAT IT'S TOO MUCH,
YOU KNOW,
TOO SOON FOR THEM.
AH, GIVE THEM
SOME CREDIT.
HELL, GIVE ME SOME CREDIT, TOO.
WE RAISED THEM RIGHT.
TRUST THEM.
YEAH.
YOU'RE RIGHT,
AS PER USUAL.
[CHUCKLES]
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE A...
PRETTY BEAUTIFUL WOMAN,
COLLEEN HOWE.
STOP...
I WAS PRETTY LUCKY
THE DAY I MET YOU.
I WILL NOT STOP.
THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID.
YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA HAVE
A LITTLE NAP BEFORE PRACTICE.
MAYBE YOU'D CARE TO JOIN ME.
WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO YOU?
A MIDDLE-AGED BLOOM?
[♪♪]
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO, BOYS.
GORDIE, YOU READY TO GO, BUDDY?
SADDLE UP!
COME ON!
[PLAYERS SHOUTING]
- WHOA, WAIT A MINUTE.
- HMM?
[LAUGHING] DAD, THEY
MESSED UP YOUR JERSEY.
THEY SPELLED YOUR NAME
"GORIDE HOWE."
WHAT?
YEAH, IT SAYS
"GORIDE HOWE."
[LAUGHS]
FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE,
HELP ME GET TAKE
THIS THING OFF.
[LAUGHING]
HANDS UP.
GORIDE HOWE...
[CROWD CHEERING]
COME ON, GUYS!
[HORN BLARES]
[ANNOUNCER]: THE FINAL SCORE
IS CLEVELAND 2, HOUSTON 0,
AS THE AEROS BEGIN
THEIR NEW HOWESTON SEASON.
[COMMENTATOR]: I THOUGHT
THE HOWE BOYS LOOKED GOOD.
MARK IS A HELL OF A PLAYER.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THAT KID.
HEY... COME ON.
SAVE IT FOR NEXT GAME.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERS]
WHY ARE THEY CHEERING?
THEY KNOW
WE LOST, RIGHT?
I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE THEY SAW
SOMETHING THEY LIKED.
[CHEERING]
HEY, HON'.
IF THE HOUSE
EVER CAUGHT ON FIRE,
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOTHER
WOULD GRAB FIRST?
ME, YOU, OR THE DANG CHART?
THE CHART.
CHART.
OF COURSE.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN KEEP
THIS FAMILY IN CHECK.
YOU CALL THAT GIRL YET?
NO, NOT YET.
PATHETIC.
[LAUGHING]
[SIGHS]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[FANS SHOUTING]:
GORDIE! GORDIE, SIGN THIS!
HERE'S A COUPLE OF YOUNG STARS.
YOU'RE GOING TO WANT
THEIR AUTOGRAPHS TOO!
[CROWD SCREAMING]
[SHOUTING AND BOOING]
LET HIM UP.
LET HIM UP.
OKAY-- OKAY!
ALL RIGHT,
THAT'S IT, THAT'S IT.
OH, COME ON.
BREAK IT UP,
BREAK IT UP.
GO TO THE BOX.
COOL IT, 15.
ALL RIGHT.
GORDIE, I THOUGHT
WE HAD A DEAL.
YOU CAN'T BE FIGHTING
OUR BATTLES FOR US!
I DIDN'T SIGN NO CONTRACT.
[PLAYER TAUNTING]
SHUT UP!
FIGHT SOMEONE
YOUR OWN AGE!
IT'S A BUSINESS DECISION.
OTHER TEAMS SEE WHAT WE DID,
THEY'LL GIVE US
MORE ROOM OUT THERE.
YOU NEED TO START
THINKING LIKE A PRO.
PLAY HOCKEY RELIGIOUSLY.
IT'S BETTER TO GIVE
THAN TO RECEIVE.
TWO TEAMS!
[CALL RINGING]
HELLO?
[SLAMS PHONE DOWN]
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?
SMOKEY.
[LAUGHS]
ALL RIGHT, SO,
A TEAM CAN BE PUT OFFSIDE
IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS.
ONE, THE PLAYER CROSSES
THE OPPOSING TEAM'S BLUE LINE
BEFORE THE PUCK DOES.
OR TWO,
THE PUCK CROSSES
FROM INSIDE THE BLUE LINE
AND OUT OVER
THE CENTER RED LINE.
CLEAR AS MUD?
ANY QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE MOVE ON
TO ICING RULES? YEAH?
I LOOKED IT UP IN THE RECORDS,
AND GORDIE'S NEVER GONE
EIGHT GAMES
WITHOUT SCORING A GOAL BEFORE.
WHEN DO YOU THINK
THIS DROUGHT WILL END?
WELL, YOU KNOW A LOT ABOUT
DROUGHTS HERE IN TEXAS, RIGHT?
THEY PASS.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK
ABOUT ICING, SHALL WE?
[LOUD PARTY MUSIC BLARES]
[♪♪]
HEY, MARTY!
GAME'S ON CHANNEL 12!
HEY! HEY!
IT'S TINY TIM.
TURN IT UP.
I THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD.
HEY, GORDIE!
DIDN'T I HEAR HE WAS
A BIG FAN OF YOURS?
YEAH, I THINK HE SAID
ON THE CARSON SHOW
I'D BE HIS FAVORITE PERSON
TO WAKE UP NEXT TO
IN A HOSPITAL BED.
[CHUCKLING]
BUT DID YOU PICK HIM
AS YOURS, GORDIE?
OH, NO, SMOKEY,
I PICKED YOU.
[LAUGHTER]
GOOD NIGHT, ALL.
[EVERYONE GROANS]: AW!
COME ON, GORD.
HAVE FUN.
HEY, GORDIE,
GORDIE.
YOU'RE GOING GOOD.
THE GOALS...
THE GOALS ARE GONNA COME.
THANK YOU, TED.
GOOD NIGHT, ALL.
NIGHT, GORDIE.
NIGHT, GORD.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[ANNOUNCER]: BEEN A TOUGH
START TO THE SEASON
FOR MR. HOCKEY,
GOING GOAL-LESS THUS FAR.
MAYBE HE CAN PICK UP
HIS FIRST AS AN AERO TONIGHT.
GO, HOWE!
[GIGGLES]
OKAY.
IS THAT HER?
YEAH.
[GOAL HORN BLARES]
[CROWD ERUPTS WITH CHEERS]
[ANNOUNCER]:
AND GORDIE HOWE SCORES
A BEAUTIFUL
AMBIDEXTROUS GOAL!
[CHEERING]
THAT'S IT, GORDIE!
YOU GOT IT, BIG FELLA.
FINALLY,
THE SCORING SLUMP IS OVER.
[TEAM CHEERING]
HEY, COLLEEN!
PARTY AT THE HOWES' TONIGHT!
[EVERYONE CHEERING]
GREAT.
MARTY, YOU PICK UP
THE KEGS.
HEY.
HEY.
MARTY FROM DETROIT.
YEAH. BUT, UH...
I WAS GONNA...
CALL YOU EARLIER, BUT--
UH-HUH.
WHERE DID YOUR GIRLFRIEND GO?
SHE'S GOT
A MID-TERM TOMORROW.
DO YOU WANT TO
GO GRAB A COFFEE?
UM, YEAH--
OH, ACTUALLY,
I HAVE A BETTER IDEA.
THERE'S A TEAM THING
GOING ON.
SO YOU PLAY WITH YOUR
BROTHER AND YOUR DAD?
[♪♪]
OH, HELLO!
HI!
COLLEEN HOWE.
MARTY'S MOM.
MARY JAMES,
PLEASED TO MEET YOU.
COME ON IN.
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME,
AND THEN COME HELP ME
FEED AND WATER THESE BOYS
WHEN YOU CAN, OKAY?
OKAY.
CATHY, COME HELP ME
IN THE KITCHEN!
[CATHY]: YEAH,
I'LL BE RIGHT THERE!
ALL RIGHT,
YOU ALL KNOW THIS SONG,
SO GATHER 'ROUND AND SING ALONG.
[GUITARIST STARTS STRUMMING]
[♪♪]
[ALL SINGING TOGETHER]
♪ TIPTOE THROUGH THE WINDOW ♪
TINY TIM?
♪ BY THE WINDOW
THAT'S WHERE I'LL BE... ♪
HE DOESN'T
LOOK SCARY AT ALL.
HE LOOKS REAL SWEET.
[COMMENTATOR] MY GUEST
IS ASSISTANT COACH DOUG HARVEY,
AND, DOUG, THE FIGHTING SAINTS
ARE REALLY EARNING
THEIR NICKNAME TONIGHT.
YEAH, THEY SURE ARE.
BUT MINNESOTA
CAN PLAY IT SLICK, TOO.
THEY'RE ONLY SITTING
FOUR POINTS BEHIND US.
AND HOW ABOUT THAT
GORDIE HOWE?
MR. HOCKEY
HAS BEEN ON FIRE
SINCE HE SCORED THAT FIRST
GOAL AGAINST NEW ENGLAND.
I CALL GORDIE
"THE AGELESS WONDER."
IF HE KEEPS THIS UP,
HE'LL BE CHARGING RIGHT AT
THE SCORING CHAMPIONSHIP.
OF COURSE, HE IS ONLY 45.
[CHUCKLING]
[CROWD BOOING AND JEERING]
YOU'RE A DIRTY OLD MAN, HOWE!
I'LL TAKE YOU ON!
I'LL TAKE YOU ALL ON!
I THOUGHT MINNESOTA
WAS THE FRIENDLY
SWEDISH STATE.
BOYS, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU HAD A HAIRCUT?
IT'S ABOUT TIME
FOR A TRIM, ISN'T IT?
DON'T LOOK AT ME.
YOU TWO DON'T WANT
MY PROTECTION.
[♪♪]
[RADIO SHOW CALLER]:
I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW WELL
THE OLD GUY'S
PLAYING OUT THERE.
I'M TELLING YOU,
GORDIE'S PLAYING
BETTER THAN HE DID
WITH THE RED WINGS
BACK IN THE MID-'60s.
HE'S DOMINATING THE ICE!
[RADIO HOST]: I'VE GOT TO
AGREE WITH YOU, FRIEND.
[CALLER]:
AND WHAT AMAZES ME
IS THAT HOWE'S DOING IT
WITH THESE KIDS.
I MEAN, DOES THE YOUNG ONE
EVEN SHAVE YET?
[HOST]:
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING,
THOSE KIDS CAN REALLY PLAY.
MARK MAY NOT SHAVE YET,
BUT I THINK HE'S A SHOE-IN
FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR.
NEXT CALLER.
LOOKIN' GOOD.
WHO THE HECK
GAVE YOU PERMISSION
TO TALK TO
THE WHA OWNERS?
THEY WERE MERELY
INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS,
NOTHING MORE.
ABOUT A MERGER
WITH THE NHL?
THAT WAS PART OF IT, YES--
OVER MY DEAD BODY.
MERGER...
OUR REVENUES ARE DOWN,
AND THE WHA IS TURNING INTO
A SERIOUS DRAW, BRUCE!
IT'S A LEAGUE OF HAS-BEENS
AND NEVER-GONNA-BE'S!
IF YOU WANNA KEEP YOUR JOB HERE,
I'D SHUT UP NOW!
YOU DON'T NEED TO WRITE
THAT LAST SENTENCE DOWN.
PRESIDENT CAMPBELL
WILL GET THE GIST.
THE LIGHTS ARE OUT.
[TEAMMATES LAUGHING]
[BOYS SHOUTING IN ALARM]
WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON?
[SMOKEY]: HEY,
WE GOT YOU, JUNIOR.
[CACKLING]
RELAX, ROOKIE.
TODAY, YOU BECOME A MAN,
OR AT LEAST
A HOUSTON AERO!
[LAUGHTER]
MARK GOT ANOTHER
MIGRAINE?
YEAH.
I CLOSED THE BLINDS
SO HE COULD SLEEP.
HE'S TICKED AT HIS TEAMMATES,
ISN'T HE?
I AM.
HOW COULD YOU LET THAT HAPPEN?
WAIT A SECOND,
YOU'RE THE ONE TELLING ME
I SHOULDN'T BE
THE BOYS' CHAPERONE.
IT IS BARBARIC.
YEAH.
YEAH, IT'S OLD-SCHOOL STUPID,
IT'S EVEN OLDER-SCHOOL THAN ME,
BUT IT MEANS SOMETHING.
THEIR TEAMMATES WANT TO KNOW
IF THEY CAN TRUST THE BOYS.
TRUST THEM?
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.
THERE IS TWO TYPES
OF HOCKEY PLAYER, COLLEEN,
THERE IS THE THIN-SKINNED
AND THE THICK-SKINNED,
THE ONES WHO TURTLE,
AND THE ONES
WHO FIGHT BACK.
[SIGHS IN FRUSTRATION]
AND THEY'RE ASKING
WHICH ONE THE BOYS ARE.
WELL, I STILL DON'T APPROVE,
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE THERE
WHEN MY BOYS
GIVE THEM THEIR ANSWER.
[LAUGHTER]
[MOCK SOBBING] AW, COACH,
DON'T MAKE ME SKATE!
AW, IT HURTS!
IT HURTS SO BAD!
[LAUGHS]
[CACKLING]
HOLY-- [YELPS IN ALARM]
[LAUGHTER]
GET 'EM OFF!
GET 'EM OFF!
[LAUGHTER]
DOES IT HURT, SMOKEY?
DOES IT HURT SO... BAD?
[LAUGHTER]
GOOD ONE, KID,
GOOD ONE.
NOW I GOTTA
BURN THE BAG.
[CHRISTMAS CAROLS PLAY]
[YOUNG MAN]:...YEAH,
I WOULD LOVE THAT.
[CATHY]: TONIGHT
WAS REALLY FUN.
YEAH, THANKS
FOR HAVING ME.
OH, ANY TIME.
[SLAMS DOOR]
[GASPING]
HI, DAD!
THIS MUST BE TOMMY.
YES.
I HEAR YOU DON'T
THINK TOO MUCH OF HOCKEY.
WELL, I-I NEVER
SEEN IT, SIR.
WELL, INVITE HIM
TO A GAME
SOME TIME, CATHY.
AND, UM, BE INSIDE
IN FIVE MINUTES,
OR THE YOUNG MAN
GETS A DATE WITH THE ELBOWS.
SO EMBARRASSING.
[WHISPERING] WOW...
WELL, YOUR DAD'S LIKE
CLINT EASTWOOD OR SOMETHING.
[LAUGHING]
OKAY, NOW,
SQUEEZE TOGETHER.
I'M BEING
SERIOUS, ACTUALLY.
ALL RIGHT.
SMILE, Y'ALL.
[SHUTTER CLICKS]
ALL RIGHT,
LET'S EAT, Y'ALL.
PASS... PASS THE BIG BIRD
DOWN HERE,
AND WE'LL CARVE HIM UP
REALLY GOOD.
[♪♪]
WE WILL SAY GRACE.
I THINK I'M GOING TO GET
A HEAD START ON CARVING THIS.
[♪♪]
HERE WE GO!
HI, LITTLE FELLA.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
[SPORTSCASTER]:
WHAT A COMEBACK SEASON
MR. HOCKEY IS HAVING.
TURNING 46, AND NOW
LEADING THE LEAGUE IN SCORING.
I SAY GO, AEROS, GO!
GO, HOWES!
LET'S GET BEHIND THEM, Y'ALL.
NEXT CALLER.
[CALLER]: I DON'T THINK
THERE'S BEEN A FATHER-SON
TEAMMATE COMBO
IN ANY PROFESSIONAL SPORT,
HAS THERE?
WELL, WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
DON'T LET IT GO TO
YOUR HEAD, OKAY, HONEY?
IT DOES NOT SAY
"GORIDE" HOWE.
YOU'RE UP THERE,
TOO, MISSUS.
[MARTY]:
UH-OH. HERE COMES TROUBLE.
CATHY AND HER NEW FRIEND.
[CATHY]: WHOO-HOO!
TEXAS FOREVER! WHOO!
SHE LOOKS
PRETTY HAPPY HERE.
YEAH.
I COULD SEE
MAKING HOUSTON MY HOME.
[CHUCKLES]
MARTY?
I NEED TO SPEAK WITH YOU
FOR A MOMENT.
WHAT'S UP?
FOXY JUST CALLED.
HE NEEDS YOU
TO FIND DOUG HARVEY
AND BRING HIM
TO THE SAM HOUSTON.
HE'S BEEN DRINKING.
WHAT?
I GUESS HE'S FALLEN
OFF THE WAGON.
FOXY'S BEEN COVERING IT UP,
GETTING HIM SOBERED UP
FOR GAMES.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE
MARY OUT FOR SUPPER BEFORE--
WELL, I'M SORRY,
IT CAN'T BE HELPED, OKAY?
I GOTTA...
IT'S A TEAM THING.
I UNDERSTAND.
I'LL MAKE IT UP
TO YOU, OKAY?
I PROMISE.
LET'S GO.
[COLLEEN]: SORRY, MARY.
COMES WITH DATING
A HOCKEY PLAYER.
MR. HARVEY?
HEY, KID, SIT DOWN.
JJ, A BEER FOR
MY YOUNG PROTEGE HERE.
MR. HARVEY, WE GOTTA
GET YOU TO THE SAM HOUSTON.
IT'S ALMOST GAME TIME.
WHY? I'M NOT PLAYING.
HARV, FOXY SENT ME.
WE GOTTA GET YOU
SOBERED UP.
DON'T LECTURE ME
ABOUT SOBER,
YOU LITTLE SNOT!
PLEASE, HARV, JUST...
JUST COME WITH ME, OKAY?
[SIGHS]
I'LL BE IN THE CAR.
YOU SEEM PRETTY
PLEASED WITH YOURSELF.
I'M READING HERE, PLEASE.
[SMACKS TABLE ANGRILY]
GORDIE?
[MARK STRUMMING GUITAR]
WHAT THE HECK IS THIS?
"I KNEW MY DAD
WAS AN OLD MAN,
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW
HE WAS A DIRTY OLD MAN TOO."
DAD, WHAT'S WRONG?
IT WAS A JOKE.
A JOKE?
WHAT THE HECK KIND OF THING
IS THAT TO SAY
ABOUT YOUR FATHER?
I WAS JUST TRYING TO EXPLAIN
TO THE REPORTER
HOW YOU PLAY WITH AN EDGE, AND--
I PLAY DIRTY?
IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK?
LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING ABOUT HOW I PLAY.
I'M A GOSH-DANG POLICEMAN
OUT THERE!
DAD, COME ON, YOU KNOW
YOU CROSS THE LINE SOMETIMES.
I CROSS THE LINE?
THERE IS NO LINE!
IF YOU LET THEM
THROW DIRT AT YOU,
THEY WILL KEEP DOING IT!
NOW, YOU APOLOGIZE.
RIGHT NOW.
HOW ABOUT ALL THE STUFF
THAT YOU AND MOM
TRY TO TEACH ME?
LIKE, "BE HUMBLE, KID,"
"THE MEEK INHERIT
THE EARTH, SON."
DO I JUST THROW
ALL THAT DIRT OUT NOW?
THE MEEK
MIGHT INHERIT THE EARTH.
I AM TALKING ABOUT THE ICE!
YOU NEED TO APOLOGIZE
TO YOUR FATHER.
NOW.
I DON'T KNOW, MOM,
IF I LET PEOPLE THROW DIRT,
THEY'LL JUST KEEP THROWING IT.
NOW.
THAT WAS A GREAT
COVER STORY, GORDIE.
WAS IT?
I DIDN'T FINISH IT.
YEAH, WELL,
I DON'T KNOW WHY
HE'S GOTTA RUN US DOWN.
HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT
HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
[GORDIE]: WHAT'S TEDDY
GOT TO SAY NOW?
SOME B.S. ABOUT HOW WE CAN'T
BE MUCH OF A HOCKEY LEAGUE
IF WE'VE GOT A 45-YEAR-OLD
AS OUR LEADING SCORER.
[SMOKEY CACKLING]
MARKY, GREAT QUOTE
IN THE SPORTS MAG, BUDDY!
FREAKIN' HILARIOUS!
WHAT DID
HE SAY, SMOKEY?
I JUST READ IT IN THE CAN.
HE SAID, "I ALWAYS KNEW
MY DAD WAS AN OLD MAN,
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS
A DIRTY OLD MAN."
[LAUGHTER]
DIRTY OLD MAN...
[CROWD CHEERING]
IT'S LIKE FOOTBALL
WITH SPEARS!
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
COME ON, GORDIE.
TO THE BOX, GORD!
TO THE BOX,
TO THE BOX!
IN THE BOX, IN THE BOX.
YEAH, NOW THE REFS
ARE PROTECTING YOU,
HUH, GORD?
CHEAP SHOT, MAN.
NOT A WORD.
YOU GUYS SEEN HARV TONIGHT?
NO.
ANYONE?
[COLLEEN CLEARS HER THROAT]
[LOUDER] AHEM.
[SHARP KICK]
WHAT I MEANT TO SAY WAS
MY FATHER HAS A GREAT SENSE
OF JUSTICE ON THE ICE.
HE'S A POLICEMAN
OUT THERE,
LIKE... DIRTY HARRY.
[MUFFLED LAUGHTER]
IS THAT YOUR VERSION
OF AN APOLOGY?
YEAH.
ACCEPTED.
[COLLEEN SIGHS]
CAN I GET ANY MORE EGGS
FOR ANYONE?
- YEAH, SURE, MOM.
- OKAY. GREAT.
[♪♪]
[STATIC CRACKLES
AS SHE TUNES THE DIAL]
[SPORTS STATION
BROADCASTS HOCKEY GAME]
...TRIPPING CALL ON THE AEROS
WITH LESS THAN TWO MINUTES
TO PLAY,
AND THE GAME OUT REACH FOR
THE HOST NEW ENGLAND WHALERS...
CAN I LISTEN TO
SOME MUSIC NOW?
[SCOFFS]
...HOWE AND LUND COME OUT
TO KILL THE PENALTY...
YOU THINK YOU CAN
INFLUENCE THE GAME
JUST BY LISTENING
TO IT, DON'T YOU?
DON'T BE RIDICULOUS.
...WHAT A DREAM SEASON
GORDIE HOWE HAS HAD.
100 POINTS.
THE LEAGUE-LEADING SCORER,
AND HIS FIRST-PLACE AEROS
ARE HEADING TO A PLAYOFF ROUND
AGAINST THE JETS
IN JUST TWO WEEKS...
[BREATHING HARD]
YOU SO DO.
[STICKS SLAPPING]
FACEOFF WON BY THE WHALERS.
GOES BACK TO SELLWOOD
AT THE POINT.
SELLWOOD LOOKING FOR
A SHOT ON NET,
THIS GUY CAN REALLY BOOM IT.
HOWE GOES DOWN
TO BLOCK THE SHOT!
OOH, THAT'S GOTTA HURT!
[WHISTLE BLASTS]
GORDIE HOWE IS DOWN ON THE ICE
AND GRIMACING WITH PAIN.
THE TRAINER BOBBY BROWN
COMES OFF THE BENCH
TO HELP HIM--
ALL RIGHT, THANKS, BOB.
HE SAYS YOU GOT
A HAIRLINE FRACTURE.
YOU NEED TO KEEP WEIGHT OFF IT
FOR 10 DAYS,
AND YOU'LL NEED A CAST.
NOT BAD.
WELL, I'VE PLAYED WITH
A HAIRLINE FRACTURE BEFORE.
IT'S NOTHING, FOXY.
YEAH, BUT THERE'S NO POINT.
WE NEED YOU READY
FOR THE PLAYOFFS.
WHAT ABOUT
THE SCORING CHAMPIONSHIP?
WHAT ABOUT IT?
THERE'S EIGHT GAMES LEFT.
I'M ONLY SEVEN POINTS
AHEAD OF WALTON.
TELL SOMEONE WHO CARES, GORDIE.
YOU KNOW I HATE TO LOSE.
SO DO I.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE NOT
IN MY LINE-UP TILL THE PLAYOFFS.
OH, YOU'RE EASY ONE TO HA--
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH,
I'M AN EASY ONE TO HATE.
I KNOW!
YEAH, GOOD SKATE TODAY, GUYS.
LOOKING GOOD.
[PLAYERS ALL CHATTING]
HEY, HARV!
WHERE YOU BEEN?
YEAH...
JUST STOPPED BY
TO SAY "SO LONG,"
AND, UH, GOOD LUCK
IN THE PLAYOFFS, FELLAS.
YOU'RE LEAVING US, HARV?
YEAH,
THE CIRCUS IS MOVING ON.
I'LL SEE ALL YOU BOYS
DOWN THE ROAD.
[GENTLY]
SEE YA, HARV.
GOOD LUCK, HARV.
SEE YA, HARV.
MR. HARVEY!
MR. HARVEY...
I DON'T--
HOW COULD FOXY JUST FIRE YOU?
DON'T BE SORE
AT FOXY, KID.
MAYBE YOU NOTICED I, UH,
I GOT A LITTLE PROBLEM.
JEEZ, WELL...
SO WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO NOW?
I DON'T KNOW,
MAYBE SCOUT A LITTLE?
LOOK, IT CAN GO
JUST LIKE THAT, KID.
THAT'S WHY THIS TIME
WITH YOU AND MARK
IS SO SPECIAL
FOR YOUR DAD.
HE KNOWS HOW FAST IT CAN GO.
GIVE ME A SHOUT
WHEN YOU WIN
THE BEST DEFENCEMAN AWARD, OKAY?
[GAME PLAYS ON TELEVISION]
...THE SAINTS
ARE ON THE POWER PLAY
WITH HUGHES IN THE BOX.
MIKE WALTON ENTERS
THE FACE-OFF CIRCLE...
NOW, OFF THE FACE-OFF,
WALTON GETS IT TO SMITH.
SMITH MOVES IN ACROSS,
GETS IT TO GALLANT.
GALLANT MOVES OVER--
BACK TO WALTON!
HE SCORES!
POINT #101 FOR MIKE WALTON,
WHO PASSES THE INJURED
GORDIE HOWE IN SCORING.
NOT A GREAT BIRTHDAY PRESENT
FOR MR. HOCKEY,
WHO TURNED 46 TODAY.
CATHY HAS
YOUR CAKE READY.
[SIGHS]
SO, DO I LIGHT
THE CANDLES OR NOT?
SURE, ALL 146 OF THEM.
YOUR DAUGHTER'S WAITING
TO CELEBRATE
YOUR BIRTHDAY WITH YOU.
I'M NOT IN THE MOOD.
OH, COME ON, GORDIE.
BLOW OUT THE CANDLES.
WISH FOR A NEW LEG.
IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME
TO WIN IT, COLLEEN.
TO PROVE ALL
THE NAYSAYERS WRONG.
YOU KNOW,
I CAME TO HOUSTON
TO WATCH YOU PLAY HOCKEY
WITH OUR SONS,
TO TEACH THEM.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
THIS IS GOING TO TEACH THEM?
YOU WON YOUR LAST STANLEY CUP
IN 1955.
[CHUCKLES RUEFULLY]
WHAT DO YOU THINK
ALL THE NAYSAYERS
ARE GOING TO THINK?
THEY PROBABLY THINK
YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE
TO DO IT AGAIN.
YOU HAVE WORKED SO HARD.
NOW YOU HAVE A CHANCE
TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP
WITH YOUR SONS.
DO YOU EVER GET TIRED
OF BEING RIGHT?
[CHUCKLES]
SO YOU WANT TO EAT THE CAKE,
OR SHOULD I GIVE IT
TO THE LAST TWO COWS?
DO YOU THINK DAD
SAW THE GAME TONIGHT?
OBVIOUSLY.
HE'S GONNA BE PEEVED.
IT'S MR. NORRIS.
WHAT DO WE DO?
MR. NORRIS,
HOW YOU DOING?
BOYS.
YOU MADE A BIG, BIG MISTAKE,
YOU KNOW THAT?
YOU'RE NEVER
GOING TO PLAY IN THE NHL NOW.
YOU CAN THANK YOUR FATHER
FOR THAT.
WELL, I HOPE
YOU'RE WRONG, MR. NORRIS,
BUT IT WAS WORTH IT.
WE GOT TO PLAY
WITH THE GREATEST
DETROIT RED WING EVER.
IT WAS NICE SEEING Y'ALL.
THAT WAS AWKWARD.
YEAH, I KNOW.
LATE FLIGHT?
NO, WE GOT IN ON TIME.
THE BOYS HAD
A PARTY AT GRIFF'S.
LAST CHANCE
BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN
WATCHING YOU SIGN THOSE THINGS
ALL MY LIFE,
AND I STILL DON'T GET IT.
I MEAN, WHY SIGN THEM
AHEAD OF TIME?
WELL...
PEOPLE THAT WANT 'EM,
IF YOU GET 'EM RIGHT
AND READY FOR 'EM,
IT GIVES YOU MORE TIME
TO TALK TO THEM.
THAT'S YOU, DAD.
YOU KNOW, WE RAN INTO MR. NORRIS
AT THE MINNESOTA AIRPORT TODAY.
YEAH?
DID HE TALK TO YOU?
OH, YEAH.
HE SAID WE'D NEVER PLAY
IN THE NHL.
YOU DON'T LISTEN
TO THAT CRAP, SON. OKAY?
MARTY SAID IT WAS WORTH IT
'CAUSE WE GOT TO PLAY
WITH OUR OLD MAN.
MARTY SAID THAT?
YEAH.
I LET HIM SAY IT,
'CAUSE, UH,
HE'S OLDER THAN ME, BUT...
YEAH.
[PATS SHOULDER]
NIGHT, OLD MAN.
NIGHT, YOUNG MAN.
[♪♪]
[ROAR OF CROWD]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[ANNOUNCER]: IT'S A SWEEP!
THE HOUSTON AEROS
DEFEAT THE JETS
IN FOUR STRAIGHT,
SO NOW THEY'LL MOVE ON
TO MINNESOTA,
IN WHAT'S EXPECTED TO BE
A MUCH ROUGHER PLAY-OFF SERIES,
BECAUSE THEY ARE
THE FIGHTING SAINTS.
- ELBOWS.
- BOBBY.
TELL YOU WHAT,
NEXT YEAR, WE'LL CALL IT
"OUR LEAGUE," HUH?
WELL, THANK YOU.
YOU'LL GET US NEXT YEAR,
IF I RETIRE AGAIN.
[CHUCKLING]
GOOD WORK...
LOOKS LIKE YOU GOT
THE HALL TONIGHT, STANNY.
WINNIPEG'S BEEN
LUCKY FOR ME.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
WELL, GO ON,
LET THE GAL IN
ON YOUR WAY OUT.
HEY, MRS. HOWE.
GREAT GAME, JACK.
SORRY TO KICK YOU OUT.
IT'S NUMBER 4. WALTON.
MIKE!
MIKE, FOR TELEVISION,
IS IT GONNA BE
A ROUGH ONE, MIKE?
WE CAN PLAY IT
ANY WAY THEY LIKE.
ANY SPECIAL PLANS
FOR THE HOWE LINE?
STOP 'EM.
WE KNOW GORDIE'S ON A MISSION,
BUT, HEY, SO ARE WE.
HOWE'S GONNA WISH
HE STAYED RETIRED.
[CACKLES]
WHO'S THAT?
IT'S A MINOR LEAGUE
CALL-UP.
ALL RIGHT,
THAT'S IT, FELLAS,
WE GOT A GAME
TO GET READY FOR.
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
[CROWD CHEERING]
YOU READY TO GO,
OLD MAN?
OH, LOOK, AN OGRE
FELL OUT OF THE UGLY BEANSTALK.
[SMASHING STICK]
I'M GONNA BURY YOU
AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY
IN THE DESERT--
RELAX.
SON, WHO CUTS
YOUR HAIR?
[CROWD SHOUTING AND CHEERING]
HEY!
[SCHELLA TAUNTING
WITH MONKEY HOOTS]
[CROWD SHOUTING AND BOOING]
THAT'S IT! 18!
[RAGING INCOHERENTLY]
GET HIM OUT OF HERE.
[SCREAMING THREATS]
[SMOKEY LAUGHING]
HAVE FUN BACK IN
THE MINORS, COLD SORE!
[LAUGHING]
[ANNOUNCER]:
WE'RE NEAR THE END
OF THE SECOND OVERTIME PERIOD
IN THE LONGEST PLAYOFF GAME
HOUSTON HAS EVER WITNESSED.
[WHISTLE BLOWING]
STANFIELD, TAYLOR.
[CROWD CHANTING AND CHEERING]
GO, AEROS, GO! GO, AEROS, GO!
[♪♪]
[GOAL HORN BLARES]
[CROWD ROARING]
[CROWD BOOING]
WE'RE BETTER THAN THEM.
THERE'S NO WAY
WE SHOULD BE LOSING.
WELL, WE ARE.
I'LL CALL A TEAM MEETING
WHEN WE GET TO
THE ST. PAUL'S HOTEL.
OH, HERE COMES TROUBLE.
WELL, WELL.
HOWDY, COWBOYS.
SWEEP, SWEEP, SWEEP!
THE GAME'S
IN OUR BARN NOW, HOWE.
WHOO-WEE!
[TEAM CACKLES]
♪ THE OLD GRAY MARE ♪
♪ JUST AIN'T
WHAT HE USED TO BE ♪
♪ AIN'T WHAT HE USED TO BE ♪
♪ AIN'T WHAT HE USED TO BE ♪
♪ THE OLD GRAY MARE
JUST AIN'T WHAT HE USED TO BE ♪
♪ TIME TO PUT HIM DOWN... ♪
WELL, HE CAN'T SKATE,
AND HE SINGS LIKE THAT.
THE LORD PLAYS
SOME CRUEL TRICKS.
[ANNOUNCER]: THE AEROS NEED
TO TURN THINGS AROUND QUICKLY
IF THEY HOPE TO ADVANCE
TO THE NEXT ROUND.
IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME
GORDIE HOWE'S
BEEN IN THIS SITUATION.
HIS LEADERSHIP AND EXPERIENCE
IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS TEAM NEEDS
RIGHT NOW.
[CROWD CHEERING]
[CHEERING AND LAUGHTER]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[BUZZER BLARES]
[BLOWS WHISTLE]
I'M GONNA CARVE YOU!
I'M GONNA
CUT OUT YOUR EYES
AND FEED 'EM TO YOUR BRATS!
OH, GREAT.
I THINK WE JUST WOKE HIM UP.
YEAH.
[ANNOUNCER]: THE AEROS
ARE REALLY CONTROLLING
THIS THIRD PERIOD.
HE SCORES!
GORDIE HOWE,
SPLITTING THE BEAM
TO FINISH A BEAUTIFUL,
THREE-WAY PASSING PLAY,
AND THE AEROS ARE SENDING
THE SERIES BACK TO HOUSTON.
THE AEROS HOLD A 3-2 LEAD
OVER THE SAINTS,
WITH WHAT COULD BE
THE DECIDING GAME TONIGHT.
HI.
CAN YOU FEEL IT, HOWESTON?
CAN YOU FEEL IT?
[CHEERING]
GO DEEP, MARTY!
WAY OUT, WAY OUT!
[CROWD CHEERING AND SCREAMING]
[ANNOUNCER]: MARK HOWE...
SCORES!
...MARK HOWE FROM GORDIE HOWE
AND MARTY HOWE.
HOWE TO HOWE TO HOWE,
AND IT LOOKS LIKE HOUSTON'S
GOING TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
[TEAM CHEERING AND SHOUTING]
JUST FOUR MORE, YOU HEAR?
FOUR MORE!
[CHEERING IN TRIUMPH]
YEAH!
YOU BOYS HAVING FUN YET?
[LAUGHING AND CHEERING]
[CROWD SCREAMING AND CHEERING]
[SPORTSCASTER]: HOUSTON'S
PARTYING EARLY TONIGHT
WITH THE AEROS HOLDING
A 3-0 LEAD OVER CHICAGO
IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES.
DARE WE USE THE WORD "SWEEP?"
[COMMENTATOR]:
WELL, THE FANS ARE,
AND THEY JUST MIGHT BE RIGHT.
[SPORTSCASTER]:
WHAT DO YOU HEAR
ABOUT A MERGER WITH THE NHL?
THERE WERE A LOT OF RUMORS
AROUND IT EARLIER IN THE YEAR.
[COMMENTATOR]: I THINK
THE OLD-GUARD OWNERS NIXED IT.
NOT THAT THE FANS
AT THE SAM HOUSTON
GIVE A HOOT.
THIS CITY HAS TAKEN
THE GAME, THE TEAM,
AND THE HOWE FAMILY TO HEART.
HEY, FELLAS?
UM...
NOW, YOU KNOW
I DON'T LIKE TO MAKE
DRESSING ROOM SPEECHES,
MOSTLY 'CAUSE
I'M PRETTY BAD AT THEM.
THERE'S A FEW WORDS
I'D LIKE TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU.
UM, WHEN I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD,
GROWING UP IN SASKATCHEWAN,
I HAD A SCHOOLTEACHER,
THE VERY FIRST HOCKEY COACH
I EVER HAD.
HER NAME WAS MRS. CRAWFORD.
WAS SHE HOT?
[CACKLES]
UH, I WOULD SAY NOT, SMOKEY,
BUT, UH, BUT SHE WAS
REAL GOOD TO ME,
AND SHE TAUGHT ME
THE VERY FIRST RULE OF HOCKEY.
SHE SAID, UH, "GORDIE,
IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE
A GOOD TIME OUT THERE,
THERE'S NO POINT
IN PLAYING THE HOCKEY."
A GOOD TIME.
I HAD A REAL GOOD TIME
PLAYING HOCKEY
WITH YOU FELLAS THIS YEAR.
THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST FUN
I'VE EVER HAD PLAYING THE GAME.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.
THIS YEAR WAS SPECIAL.
NOW, TO MAKE SURE
I DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN,
LET'S GO WIN A CUP.
[TEAM CHEERING IN EXCITEMENT]
HERE WE GO, GUYS!
[CHEERING
AND SHOUTING ENCOURAGEMENTS]
[ANNOUNCER]: IT'S A SWEEP.
THE FANS ARE COUNTING DOWN
THE FINAL FEW SECONDS.
[FANS]: FIVE, FOUR, THREE...
[ANNOUNCER]: HOUSTON HAS WON
THE WHA CHAMPIONSHIP!
[CHEERING IN TRIUMPH]
[CROWD CHEERING AND SCREAMING]
BOYS...
UNREAL.
YOU TIRED?
I WOULDN'T TRADE THIS
FOR ANYTHING.
I'M GONNA MISS
HAVING YOU AROUND
NEXT YEAR, OLD MAN.
WHY? ARE YOU PLANNING
ON RETIRING SOON? HUH?
I'M GONNA GO
SKATE WITH THE BOYS.
ALL RIGHT.
GO KISS YOUR MOM.
THANK YOU.
FOR THIS.
MY PLEASURE.
YOU'RE MY BEST TEAMMATE EVER,
YOU KNOW THAT?
I'VE HEARD YOU SAY THAT BEFORE.
WELL, I MEANT IT THEN,
AND I MEAN IT
EVEN MORE NOW.
I'M GONNA START CALLING YOU
"MRS. HOCKEY."
[CHUCKLES]
GO ON. GO SKATE.
HEY, GORDIE, COME ON!
[CHEERING]
[CROWD CHEERING AND SCREAMING]
[♪♪]
[REPORTERS CLAMOR]
MR. NORRIS, MR. NORRIS!
CAN WE GET A COMMENT
ON GORDIE HOWE WINNING
THE WHA CHAMPIONSHIP?
NO.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
HIM WINNING THE MVP AWARD
AND HIS SON, MARK,
WINNING
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR?
IT'S A BUSH LEAGUE.
WHY WOULD I DIGNIFY IT
WITH A COMMENT?
WELL, HE DID PLAY HERE
FOR 25 YEARS,
SO IS THERE ANY TRUTH
TO THE TALK OF A MERGER
WITH THE WHA?
NEVER.
NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.
YOU THINK I'D LET
THOSE BUMS IN MY BARN?
[CLICKS OFF TAPE RECORDER]
[ANNOUNCER]: WELCOME TO
THE 1980 ALL-STAR GAME,
COMING TO YOU
FROM THE BEAUTIFUL
NEW JOE LOUIS ARENA
IN DOWNTOWN DETROIT.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
AND NUMBER 99,
CENTER WAYNE GRETZKY.
THIS IS
THE FIRST ALL-STAR GAME
SINCE THE MERGER
WITH THE FORMER WHA CLUBS.
IT'S NICE TO SEE
THE JOE LOUIS CROWD
GIVING THE YOUNG OILERS STAR,
GRETZKY, SUCH A WARM WELCOME.
[COMMENTATOR]: IT IS,
BUT I THINK THERE'S
A BIGGER APPLAUSE TO COME.
[ANNOUNCER]: DEFENCEMAN,
NUMBER 28, REED LARSON.
AND FROM THE HARTFORD WHALERS,
REPRESENTING ALL OF HOCKEY
WITH GREAT DISTINCTION
FOR FIVE DECADES,
NUMBER 9!
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
[CROWD CHANTING]
GORDIE! GORDIE! GORDIE!
[CHANTING AND SCREAMING]
[ANNOUNCER]: GORDIE HOWE,
AN NHL ALL-STAR AT AGE 52.
UNBELIEVABLE.
THIS CROWD JUST WON'T STOP!
[COMMENTATOR]: NO, AND
I DON'T THINK THEY EVER WILL.
I THINK MR. HOCKEY
JUST CAME HOME FOR GOOD.
[♪♪]
[ANNOUNCER]: WATCH HIM
JUST THREAD THE NEEDLE,
A LITTLE WRIST SHOT...
AND THERE, THAT SAYS IT ALL.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
THERE'S HOWE! HE SCORES!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
IT'S A GORDIE HOWE HAT TRICK--
A GOAL, AN ASSIST, AND A FIGHT!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
THE HEART AND SOUL
OF THE DETROIT FRANCHISE,
WEARING THE RED WING NUMBER 9
FOR A RECORD 25 YEARS.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
HOWE IS ON THE ICE.
THAT'S THE ROAR FROM THE CROWD.
HERE'S HOWE--
SHOOTS, SCORES!
NUMBER 9
IS UNSTOPPABLE OUT THERE.
THERE'S HOWE--
HE SCORES!
THE DETROIT RED WINGS
HAVE WON THE STANLEY CUP,
AND IN 1952,
THEY LEFT NO DOUBT
AS TO
THEIR COMPLETE SUPERIORITY.
HE MADE 22 CONSECUTIVE
ALL-STAR GAME APPEARANCES
AND RETIRES AS THE NHL'S
ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER,
WITH AN ASTOUNDING TOTAL
OF 786 GOALS.
[WILD CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU.
PARDON THE TEAR.
[APPLAUSE DIES DOWN]
I'D LIKE TO THANK MY CHILDREN
FOR STANDING BY ME TONIGHT.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
AND MOST OF ALL,
I'D LIKE TO THANK
MY DEAR WIFE, COLLEEN...
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
...THE BEST TEAM MATE
I EVER HAD.
[CROWD ROARING AND CHEERING]
I'VE BEEN A PROUD RED WING
FOR 25 YEARS...
AND I HOPE TO BE ONE
FOR 25 MORE.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
I WANT TO THANK MR. NORRIS
FOR WELCOMING ME INTO
DETROIT'S FRONT OFFICE.
WELL, BRUCE, I GUESS THIS IS IT.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU, MR. HOCKEY!
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING
YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR RED WINGS.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
NOW, BRUCE, YOU MAKE SURE
TO LOOK AFTER THAT JERSEY.
DON'T LET IT GET WRINKLED.
WHEN MY THREE SONS COME PLAY
FOR THE DETROIT RED WINGS,
ONE OF 'EM'S GONNA WEAR IT.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[CROWD CHANTING]
GORDIE! GORDIE! GORDIE!
[CROWD SCREAMING AND CHEERING]
YOU MISS IT ALREADY?
DOES IT GET
ANY EASIER TO MISS?
YOU HUNG ON
A DAMN SIGHT LONGER
THAN THE REST
OF US, GORDIE.
A FEW MORE YEARS,
YOU MIGHT'VE BEEN
PLAYING WITH YOUR BOYS.
YEAH, THAT WOULD'VE
BEEN SOMETHING, WOULDN'T IT?
[CAR HORN HONKS A GREETING]
SWEETIE, YOU KNOW WHY--
OH! OKAY, HE'S HERE.
YOU GOT YOUR TRAIN TICKETS?
HERE YOU GO, MARTY.
YEAH.
OKAY, BYE.
ALL RIGHT,
LOVE YOU, MOM. SEE YOU.
LOVE YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY.
CALL ME WHEN YOU GET THERE.
BYE. LOVE YOU.
LOVE YOU, TOO.
WE'LL CATCH YOU LATER.
BYE.
ALL RIGHT,
WHERE ARE WE?
HEY, YOU'RE NOT
LEAVING ALREADY?
YEAH, THE MARLIES
CALLED A TEAM MEETING.
WE GOTTA GET BACK
TO TORONTO.
LET ME DRIVE YOU
TO THE STATION.
BARRY'S TAKING US.
SEE YOU, DAD.
[STAMMERING]
WE'LL BE UP TO SEE YOU
IN THE MEMORIAL CUP.
[DOOR SWINGS SHUT]
ALL RIGHT, MURRAY,
I'VE GOT THE ROBINSONS
PICKING YOU UP
FOR HOCKEY TONIGHT,
AND, OH, HON', CAN YOU
TAKE CATHY TO CHEERLEADING?
I NEED TO MEET WITH
THE JUNIOR
RED WINGS SPONSOR. YUP.
I THINK I CAN
SQUEEZE IT INTO MY DAY.
[INTERCOM BEEPS]
[INTERCOM BEEPING]
[THUMPING BUTTON]
YES?
[CLICKS OTHER BUTTON]
YES?
[WOMAN, OVER INTERCOM]:
EXCUSE ME, MR. HOWE.
MR. KOFFMAN IN MARKETING
HAS A COUSIN DOWN FROM FLINT
WHO'D LIKE A PHOTO WITH YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, SIR.
THANKS FOR THIS,
MR. HOWE.
COME ON IN HERE, BOYS.
COME ON.
THERE WE GO, BIG SMILE!
THERE WE GO.
ALL RIGHT,
LET ME GIVE THE LITTLE ONE
THE HOWE HAMMER.
OH!
[FLASHBULB POPS]
[TEAM AT PRACTICE,
SHOUTING, STICKS SLAPPING]
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
WATCH IT!
HEY THERE, ELBOWS.
HEY!
HOW COME I DON'T SEE YOU
AROUND HERE MORE OFTEN?
AH, IT'S NOT REALLY
PART OF THE JOB.
WHAT THE HELL
IS THE JOB, GORDIE?
WELL, HAVEN'T YOU HEARD?
I'VE GONE INTO
THE MUSHROOM BUSINESS.
YOU KNOW, THEY KEEP ME
IN A DARK ROOM,
AND EVERY NOW AND AGAIN,
THEY OPEN THE DOOR
AND THEY THROW SOME HORSE MANURE
ON TOP OF ME.
[LAUGHS]
HEY,
YOU HEAR HOW WELL
OUR OLD PAL BILL DINEEN'S
DOING DOWN IN HOUSTON
WITH THAT NEW WHA LEAGUE?
WE WHISPER ABOUT THE WHA
AROUND HERE, GORDIE.
HMM?
THERE'S A SLAVE REVOLT
GOING ON,
AND THE MASTERS HAVE EARS.
AH...
WELL, I ALWAYS KNEW FOXY
WOULD MAKE A GOOD COACH.
HELL, HE'S EVEN GOT
OLD DOUG HARVEY
BACK ON THE WAGON AND WORKING.
IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
HEY, GORDIE!
GREAT GAME TONIGHT!
CONGRATULATIONS,
BIG FELLA.
YOUR BOYS ARE
MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS.
NOT ONLY THAT,
THEY'RE GONNA BE STUDS
IN THE NHL, TOO.
AW, THANK YOU.
WE APPRECIATE
THAT, HAROLD.
COUPLE MORE YEARS
WITH THE MARLIES,
I'LL HAVE 'EM READY
FOR THE SCOUTS.
THEY CAN'T MISS.
WHAT ABOUT THE SCOUTS
THAT WERE THERE TONIGHT?
THEY WERE LOOKING AT
THE OLDER PROSPECTS,
NOT YOUR YOUNGSTERS.
HEY, GORDIE! COLLEEN.
FOXY!
HEY!
HOW YOU DOING, HARV?
GORDIE. COLLEEN.
I OUGHTA HAVE
YOU DANG HORSE THIEVES
RUN OUT OF TOWN.
EASY THERE, HAROLD.
YOU DON'T WANT TO
HAVE A STROKE.
LISTEN, YOU TWIT.
WHEN THIS WHA FRAUD FOLDS,
YOU'LL BE COMING TO ME
BEGGING FOR A JOB.
WOW, LOOKS LIKE
THE LIVESTOCK OWNERS
ARE HAVING A RANGE WAR.
YOU KNOW THE OLD MAN
WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU STRUNG UP
FOR ALL THE LEAFS
JUMPING TO THE WHA.
MORE TO COME, TOO--
[CHILD NEARBY]: MR. HOWE!
AH, EXCUSE ME, FELLAS.
YEAH, YEAH.
COLLEEN, MARK AND MARTY
PLAYED TERRIFIC TONIGHT.
THEY BOTH SHOULD'VE WON MVP.
AH, THANKS, FOXY.
DOESN'T IT SEEM CRAZY
THAT THEY'RE STUCK IN JUNIOR
FOR TWO MORE YEARS?
GORDIE TURNED PRO AT 16.
MY BOYS CAN'T EVEN BE DRAFTED
UNTIL THEY'RE 20.
IT'S A DIFFERENT
TIME, COLLEEN.
WHY?
THEY CAN VOTE, THEY CAN DRINK,
THEY CAN SMOKE,
ABOUT THE ONLY THING
THEY CAN'T DO
IS EARN A LIVING
PLAYING HOCKEY.
LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING, FOXY,
DOES YOUR WHA LEAGUE
HAVE THE SAME AGE RESTRICTIONS
AS THE NHL?
WELL, TO BE HONEST,
I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, MAYBE
YOU SHOULD FIND OUT.
GOOD NIGHT, GENTLEMEN.
DID WE JUST GET PROPOSITIONED
BY A HOCKEY MOM?
I BELIEVE
WE DID, HARV.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
HELLO?
YES, UH, ONE MOMENT.
GORDIE?
MM-HMM?
BILL DINEEN'S
ON THE PHONE.
[QUIETLY] I THINK
YOU SHOULD TAKE IT.
[REPORTERS CLAMORING]
THERE HE IS!
BOBBY!
HEY, HARV!
[CROWD CLAMORING]
HEY, YOU SUITING UP FOR
THE AEROS THIS SEASON, HUH?
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR?
IS THAT REAL RACCOON,
MRS. HULL?
[GORDIE, OVER TELEPHONE]:
FOXY! HOW YOU DOING?
GOOD, GORDIE. GOOD.
I'M WITH HARV IN TORONTO
AT THE WHA DRAFT,
AND I JUST WANTED
TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT WE'RE GONNA TAKE MARK
WITH OUR FIRST PICK.
YOU'RE WHAT?
OUR LAWYERS SAY IT'S LEGAL,
AND WE THINK THAT HE CAN PLAY
IN HOUSTON THIS YEAR.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU
THE HEADS-UP,
BECAUSE ONCE WE CHOOSE HIM,
ALL HECK'S GONNA BREAK LOOSE.
THANK-THANK YOU, BILL.
ALL RIGHT.
TAKE CARE, GORD.
WHAT DID HE SAY?
WELL, FOXY'S GONNA TAKE MARK
WITH THEIR FIRST DRAFT PICK.
HE THINKS HE'S READY
TO TURN PRO RIGHT NOW.
[CHUCKLES]
FROM THE TORONTO MARLIES,
THE HOUSTON AEROS
SELECT MARK HOWE.
[MURMURS OF SHOCK
RIPPLE THROUGH CROWD]
[BUZZ OF WHISPERED
CONVERSATIONS]
FOXY WOULDN'T PICK YOU
IF HE WASN'T SURE
YOU COULD PLAY AGAINST MEN.
ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, YOU AND MARTY
COME HOME THIS WEEKEND,
AND WE'LL
TALK IT THROUGH.
OKAY. BYE.
SO, WHAT DID HE SAY?
IS HE EXCITED?
[SIGHING] UH...
I'M NOT SURE HE COULD
TAKE IN THE HONOR.
I THINK HE'S, UH,
HUNG OVER.
I'M SORRY?
HE ASKED ABOUT MARTY.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING
HE ASKED.
IF ANYONE'S GONNA TAKE
HIS OLDER BROTHER.
[CHUCKLES FONDLY]
AW, HE'S
SUCH A GOOD KID.
COULD YOU IMAGINE
IF THEY DID
TAKE MARTY, THOUGH?
TWO HOWE BOYS
STARTING OUT TOGETHER?
I HOPE YOU'RE NOT THINKING
ABOUT THE THIRD HOWE
IN THAT PAINTING.
THAT WAS A FOOLISH
OLD DREAM.
[ROOM ABUZZ WITH NEGOTIATIONS]
FOURTH PICK
TO THE HOUSTON AEROS.
WHAT ABOUT THE SWEDE?
INGE HAMMARSTROM--
I CAN'T PRONOUNCE
HIS NAME EITHER.
WHAT ABOUT MARTY HOWE?
ANOTHER UNDERAGE PICK?
ANOTHER HOWE?
FROM THE TORONTO MARLIES,
HOUSTON SELECTS MARTY HOWE.
[ROOM ERUPTS WITH CHUCKLES]
HEY, FOXY, WHO'S NEXT, COLLEEN?
[LAUGHTER]
IF THOSE HOWE SIGNINGS
GO THROUGH,
EVERY HOT-SHOT JUNIOR
IS GOING TO BE SHAKING ME DOWN
FOR SIX FIGURES!
WE ALREADY LOST
TO THE WHA
OVER HULL
AND THE RESERVE CLAUSE.
WE'LL LOSE THIS ONE, TOO,
IF WE TAKE IT TO THE COURTS.
DANG PLAYER SALARIES ARE
GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.
THESE CON ARTISTS
HAVE STOLEN HALF MY TEAM!
NOW I GOTTA WATCH 'EM
ROB THE CRADLE TOO?
I'LL ASK PRESIDENT CAMPBELL
TO CALL HOWE PERSONALLY.
YOU KNOW, GORDIE'S ALWAYS
BEEN VERY RESPECTFUL
WHEN IT COMES TO
THE GOOD OF THE GAME.
YEAH, YOU DO THAT.
YOU GOTTA LEAN ON
THE BIG FELLA.
IF THEY SIGN THOSE JUNIORS,
THE BUZZARDS'LL BE KICKING US
WHERE IT COUNTS.
I TALKED WITH THE GM,
AND WE'RE GONNA BRING YOU
MORE INTO HOCKEY OPERATIONS
NOW, GORDIE.
WELL, THAT'S ALL
I EVER WANTED, BRUCE.
GOOD.
GOOD, THAT'S SETTLED.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND
CLARENCE CAMPBELL CALLED YOU
ABOUT YOUR SONS?
HE SET YOU STRAIGHT
ABOUT THEM SIGNING
WITH THIS PHONY LEAGUE
THAT'S ROBBING US?
WELL, BRUCE...
NOW, WHAT KIND OF FATHER
WOULD I BE
IF I DENIED MY BOYS
THE OPPORTUNITY
TO MAKE A LIVING
DOING WHAT THEY LOVE?
AND THE AEROS ARE OFFERING THEM
$100,000 EACH
TO PLAY HOCKEY.
HELL, THAT'S
AS MUCH AS I MADE
PLAYING 25 YEARS FOR DETROIT.
IS COLLEEN BEHIND THIS?
LET'S LEAVE MY WIFE
OUT OF THIS.
I WISH I COULD.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN YOUR DREAM
TO SEE YOUR SONS FOLLOW YOU
AS A RED WING,
SO I'LL BE BLUNT.
IF THEY SIGN
WITH THE WHA,
THEY'RE THROWING AWAY
THAT DREAM,
AND JEOPARDIZING THEIR CHANCES
OF EVER PLAYING IN THE NHL
AT ALL!
WELL, I GOT OTHER DREAMS.
WE DONE, BRUCE?
ARE WE CLEAR HERE
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO WITH
YOUR BOYS, BIG FELLA?
ABSOLUTELY.
YOU'RE 45 YEARS OLD,
YOU'RE RIDDLED WITH ARTHRITIS,
YOU'VE BROKEN MORE BONES
THAN EITHER ONE OF US
CAN REMEMBER--
I KNOW.
I KNOW HOW HARD
IT'S GONNA BE TO COME BACK.
HARD?
HONEY, AT YOUR AGE,
IT'S CRAZY.
AND DANGEROUS.
WHAT ABOUT NORRIS?
HE'S GOING TO
BRAND YOU AS A TRAITOR?
AND WHAT ARE THE FANS
GOING TO SAY?
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK
IT'S WORTH THE RISK.
YOU KNOW IT'S ALWAYS
BEEN MY DREAM
TO PLAY WITH THE BOYS,
AND TO START 'EM OFF RIGHT.
I KNOW,
BUT IS IT
THEIR DREAM, TOO?
YEAH. ABSOLUTELY.
WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME,
PLAYING SHINNY,
AND PLAYING CHARITY GAMES.
WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.
YOU'RE ASKING
A LOT OF ME, TOO, YOU KNOW?
TO JUST GIVE UP EVERYTHING
I'VE BUILT HERE?
A LOT OF CATHY AND MUZZ, TOO.
I KNOW.
I KNOW I AM.
BUT...
ISN'T THIS
WHAT AN ADVENTURE IS?
ISN'T THIS WHAT YOU SAID
THAT WE HAD TO LOOK FORWARD TO?
[CHUCKLES RUEFULLY]
LORD, I DIDN'T MEAN THIS.
I'M MOVING TO TEXAS.
I'LL CALL THE KIDS
IN TO EXPLAIN.
NO, NO, NO, NO.
I WANT TO SURPRISE THEM.
[SIGHS]
HARV.
GORDIE.
FOXY.
GORDIE.
[CLEARS THROAT]
NOW, FOXY, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY...
TO THREE HOWES
COMING TO PLAY FOR YOU
IN HOUSTON THIS YEAR?
[CATHY]: WHAT?
YOU MEAN WE'RE MOVING TO TEXAS?
[SCOFFS] I DON'T
BELIEVE THIS!
DAD, IS THERE ANY MINOR HOCKEY
DOWN THERE AT ALL?
WE'LL SORT THAT OUT, SON.
WELL, WHAT DO
MY NEW TEAMMATES SAY?
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE
TO SEE THE OLD MAN
LINING UP ALONGSIDE YOU
THIS YEAR?
YEAH. YEAH. SURE, DAD.
IF YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
I DO.
MARK, WHAT ABOUT YOU?
YEAH. YEAH,
SURE, DAD.
YEAH.
WELL, THAT'S
A POSITIVE ANSWER.
IS ANYONE HERE EXCITED
ABOUT THE FIRST
FATHER-AND-SON TEAM EVER?
HELL, YEAH.
YEAH.
NICE, BILLY.
HARV.
ALL RIGHT, THEN,
LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
MARK, I'M WORRIED
ABOUT DAD PLAYING AGAIN.
I MEAN, FROM
WHAT I'VE SEEN,
THEY REALLY KNOW
HOW TO GOON IT UP IN THE WHA.
[CATHY]:
HEY, MARTY,
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA ASK FOR
IN YOUR CONTRACT?
SOME LAME-O CAR?
SHUT UP, CATHY.
YOU SHUT UP.
I'M THE ONE'S GOTTA MOVE HERE
TO TEXAS 'CAUSE OF YOU TWO.
I'M SERIOUS.
I THINK HE COULD GET
REALLY HURT.
HURT?
HE COULD GET KILLED.
HE'S 45, MARTY.
SO, WHAT DO WE DO?
I DON'T KNOW.
HE'S SO EXCITED ABOUT IT.
LISTEN TO YOU TWO.
YOU'RE AFRAID OF
PLAYING WITH HIM.
YOU KNEW
YOU'D BE COMPARED TO DAD
IF YOU WERE STUPID ENOUGH
TO PLAY HOCKEY,
WHICH APPARENTLY YOU ARE.
HEY! STOP IT!
STOP IT! STOP IT!
NO! STOP IT!
[SHRIEKING IN PROTEST]
[BROTHERS LAUGHING]
YOUR TURN, MUZZ!
NOT COOL, GUYS!
I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING!
YOU WERE
THINKING IT!
THANK YOU.
AH, THANK YOU, JIM.
YOU ARE YOUNGER THAN
MOST OF THE HOCKEY GMs
I'M USED TO DEALING WITH.
WELL, I'LL TAKE THAT
AS A COMPLIMENT, MRS. HOWE.
COLLEEN, PLEASE.
HMM.
SO...
WE HAVE A MARKETING DREAM HERE.
THE GREATEST PLAYER OF ALL TIME
COMING BACK
TO PLAY WITH HIS SONS.
I KNOW THE BOBBY HULL
SIGNING
PUT THE WHA ON THE MAP, BUT...
THIS IS BIGGER.
JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY,
HOW MUCH DID BOBBY MAKE
LAST YEAR?
HULL IS 33,
YOUR HUSBAND IS 45.
OH, I KNOW,
BUT AGE IS AN ATTITUDE, JIM.
PLUS, WE HAVE TO FACTOR IN
THE RISK TO MY HUSBAND,
GIVING UP A GUARANTEED CAREER
WITH THE RED WINGS
TO COME AND HELP YOU SUPPORT
YOUR BRAND-NEW LEAGUE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
HOW MUCH IS ALL THAT
WORTH TO YOU?
I DON'T KNOW,
COLLEEN,
BUT I HAVE A FEELING
YOU'RE GOING TO TELL ME.
I HAVE AN IDEA.
WHY DON'T WE EACH
WRITE DOWN A NUMBER,
JUST KIND OF
SEE WHERE WE'RE AT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
YOURS IS A LOT HIGHER, COLLEEN.
I CAN'T DO SPOT DUTY, FOXY.
IF I'M COMING BACK,
I'M COMING BACK TO PLAY.
UNDERSTOOD.
NOW, WHAT ABOUT
THIS HOUSTON OWNER?
CAN WE TRUST HIM?
HE'S ON HIS WAY OUT,
BUT WE GOT GOOD
LOCAL OWNERSHIP COMING IN.
OH, LORDY.
ARE THE CHECKS GONNA CASH?
YOURS WILL.
MINE? I DON'T KNOW.
I SPENT 25 YEARS
BUILDING MY REPUTATION.
I'M PUTTING ALL THAT
ON THE LINE HERE.
NOW, YOU HAD MY BACK
AS A TEAMMATE.
DO YOU STILL HAVE IT?
YOU KNOW I DO, GORDIE.
[REPORTERS CLAMORING]
OVER HERE, MR. HOWE!
[NEWS REPORT]: MR. HOCKEY
IS LEAVING DETROIT.
GORDIE HOWE IS COMING
OUT OF RETIREMENT AT AGE 45
TO STRAP ON THE BLADES...
NOT FOR HIS RED WINGS,
BUT TO LINE UP
ALONGSIDE HIS SONS,
MARTY AND MARK HOWE,
AS A HOUSTON AERO
IN THE NEW
WORLD HOCKEY ASSOCIATION--
ALL OF THEM.
TAKE THEM ALL DOWN!
[RADIO INTERVIEW]: IS THIS
SOME KIND OF PUBLICITY STUNT?
[COMMENTATOR]: IS IT A STUNT?
HONESTLY, I CAN'T SEE
GORDIE HOWE DOING THAT.
BUT HOW DESPERATE
MUST THIS NEW LEAGUE BE
TO SIGN A RETIRED
45-YEAR-OLD PLAYER
AND TWO UNDER-AGED KIDS?
[♪♪]
[FLASHBULB POPS]
[QUIET CHATTING]
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
TOSS ME THAT?
I'M MARTY HOWE.
JOHN.
I, UH...
I GOTTA SAY, IT'S AN HONOR
TO BE PLAYING WITH YOU, GORDIE.
WELL, THANK YOU, STAN,
BUT YOU'RE
PLAYING AGAINST ME
TILL I MAKE THE TEAM.
[DOOR SQUEAKS OPENS]
HEY, NEW GUYS!
[LAUGHING]
ALL RIGHT...
FRESH MEAT.
[CACKLING]
WHAT WAS YOUR NAME
AGAIN, OLD-TIMER?
HOWE.
HOWE...
HOWE. HOWE...
ANY RELATION TO SYD HOWE?
[LAUGHTER]
NOW, THERE WAS A HOWE
OF A HOCKEY PLAYER!
[LAUGHING]
PLEASURE. PLEASURE.
WHOA, BOYS!
I GOT ONE.
[TEAM EXCLAIMS] WHOA! HEY!
PRIZE COCKROACH
AT THE OLD SAM HOUSTON!
KEEP THAT CRAP
AWAY FROM ME, SCHELLA.
YOU KNOW I HATE THEM THINGS.
IT'S A BIG FELLA!
IT'S GOT AT LEAST SIX ELBOWS...
IT'S A LITTLE
LONG IN THE TOOTH, THOUGH.
CHECK IT OUT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
WE SHOULD CALL IT?
WHY DON'T YOU CALL HIM GORDIE?
[LAUGHTER]
THERE YOU GO.
SCHELLA...
WHERE'S SMOKEY?
SCHELLA! SCHELLA! SCHELLA!
THIS ONE'S FOR YOU,
SMOKEY-BOY.
SCHELLA!
[LAUGHTER]
COME ON, SMOKEY!
[TEAM CHEERING AND HECKLING]
HE'S STILL GOT THE ELBOWS.
[RICOCHETS OFF THE POST]
[WHISTLE BLASTS]
OKAY, BOYS,
BRING IT IN!
[CRICKETS CHIRPING PEACEFULLY]
[GASPS]
WOW, WELL, THIS IS NICE.
NOT MUCH TO
COMPLAIN ABOUT HERE,
IS THERE, MISSY MUFFET?
MEET THE NEIGHBORS.
[CATTLE LOWING]
[CHUCKLING]
[WHISTLE BLASTS]
ON THE LINE!
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE
THE LEGS HAVE LOST A STEP.
A STEP?
LOOKS LIKE HE'S GONNA HAVE
A DAMN HEART ATTACK.
[WHISTLE BLASTS]
YOU OKAY, DAD?
YOU LOOK AWFUL RED.
YEAH. IT'S JUST...
IT'S JUST THE HEAT.
AND IT'S GORDIE.
ON THE LINE!
LET'S GO!
[WHISTLE BLASTS]
GO!
DAD, IT'S TIME
FOR DINNER.
[MUMBLES]
DADDY?
ARE YOU OKAY?
[GROANS]
OH, LORD.
I WAS SUCKING WIND
OUT THERE TODAY, MISSY.
IT WAS NOT PRETTY.
[MARTY]: HONESTLY, MOM,
I THOUGHT HE WAS
GONNA HAVE A HEART ATTACK.
I MEAN, WE ALL DID.
WHAT'S FOR DINNER?
NOTHING.
COME ON, LET'S GO.
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
WE'RE GOING TO THE DOCTOR.
YOU NEED YOUR HEART
AND BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKED.
NO, NO, NO, NO.
I'VE ALREADY HAD
MY PHYSICAL.
DON'T BE RIDICULOUS.
HONEY.
PLEASE? FOR ME?
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
HE'S ON YOUR WING!
ON YOUR WING!
IT'S BEEN A WEEK.
HE'S NOT GETTING ANY BETTER.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN,
IT COULD BE HE'S JUST TOO OLD.
HE MAY NOT EVEN
MAKE THE TEAM.
[SNORING]
[SIGHS HEAVILY]
I THINK I'VE MADE
THE BIGGEST MISTAKE
OF MY LIFE.
SO WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO?
FOXY DOESN'T THINK
YOU'RE GONNA MAKE
THE LINE-UP.
YOU NEED
TO LET ME KNOW
WHEN IT'S TIME
TO CALL IT QUITS.
OKAY?
SO, I HEAR I'M NOT GONNA
MAKE YOUR TEAM.
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO
TWO PRACTICES A DAY.
YOU THINK YOU CAN HANDLE THAT?
OH, YEAH.
OR MAYBE I'LL JUST DIE.
YOU STILL GOT MY BACK, FOXY?
YEAH.
LAST I HEARD,
HOCKEY'S A TEAM SPORT,
THOUGH, GORDIE.
YOU'RE AN EASY ONE TO HATE.
OH!
[SMACKS HAND]
THE BANANAS
ARE FOR YOU, HONEY.
WHOA!
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
HEY, MARK!
IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU
BURIED ONE OF THOSE.
SORRY, COACH.
I GOT ANOTHER MIGRAINE.
WHAT'S UP WITH THE KID
AND THE MIGRAINES?
WELL, HE'S SENSITIVE,
LIKE HIS OLD MAN.
[CHUCKLES]
WHY DON'T YOU TRY
SHOVELING A LITTLE SUGAR
ALONG WITH THE SAND
AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS?
GEEZ, GORD, THAT WAS
A PRETTY GOOD SHIFT.
THAT'S LITTLE ENOUGH.
DON'T WORRY,
YOU MADE IT.
THE BOYS ARE
GONNA MAKE IT, TOO.
OKAY!
LET'S PLAY SOME HOCKEY!
I'M GONNA STAPLE YOU
THIS TIME, STANNY.
THANKS FOR THE TIPS,
MR. HARVEY.
HEY, ANYTIME, KID.
I'LL TEACH YOU
WHATEVER I CAN REMEMBER.
NOW, IT'S TIME FOR YOU AND I
TO GO HIT THE BAR.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE
ON THE WAGON.
I AM.
BUT I STILL LIKE
THE SMELL.
YOU GOT ANY MONEY
ON YOU, ROOK?
YEAH.
GOOD.
YOU'RE GONNA
NEED A LOT.
[CROWD CHEERING AND SHOUTING]
WHO ARE THE
LOUDMOUTHS TONIGHT?
HOCKEY PLAYERS.
OH, GOD.
I HEAR THEY'RE DUMBER
THAN RODEO COWBOYS,
AND THAT'S SOME DUMB.
WHAT'LL YOU HAVE?
I'LL HAVE 13 RYES, DOUBLES,
13 JACKS, ALSO DOUBLES,
AND 26 DRAFTS.
ARE YOU AN ALCOHOLIC?
NO, THEY'RE FOR, UH,
ME AND THE OTHER
DUMB HOCKEY PLAYERS.
WELL, PARDON
MY FOOT IN THE MOUTH.
NO NEED. IT'S TRUE.
MARY FROM HOUSTON.
MARTY FROM DETROIT.
AND YOU'RE REALLY
A HOCKEY PLAYER?
I REALLY AM, MARY FROM HOUSTON.
[SMOKEY]: PICK UP THE CHICK
ON YOUR OWN TIME, KID!
YOU'RE ON OUR DIME TONIGHT!
[LAUGHTER]
COME ON.
COME ON, ROOKIE.
SAME AGAIN, KID.
LET'S GO. LET'S GO.
SAME AGAIN, PLEASE.
CHEERS.
I KNOW IT'S ONLY
AN EXHIBITION GAME,
BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE
WE'RE PLAYING AGAINST
BOBBY HULL TONIGHT.
YOU'LL BELIEVE IT
WHEN HE DEKES YOU
OUT OF YOUR SKATES.
HULL CAN BEAT YOU
FORE AND BACKHAND,
AND HE'S TOO STRONG
TO KNOCK OFF THE PUCK.
DO YOU GUYS
ALWAYS
HAVE TO TALK
ABOUT HOCKEY?
IT'S JUST FIGURE SKATING
WITH TWIGS, YOU KNOW?
WHERE'D YOU GET
THAT CRAP FROM?
TOMMY.
WHO'S TOMMY?
A FRIEND AT SCHOOL.
HE PLAYS FOOTBALL.
I'D LIKE TO MEET
THIS TOMMY.
I'M SURE YOU WOULD, DAD.
YOU SHOULD JUST BE HAPPY
THAT SHE'S MET A FRIEND.
I'M HAPPY.
SHE CAN COMPLAIN
TO HIM NOW.
MARTY MADE A FRIEND TOO.
GOT HER PHONE NUMBER.
WHAT'S THIS?
NOTHING.
[ORGAN PLAYING]
SO, AM I GONNA HAVE TO
GO TO EVERY GAME?
EVEN THESE PHONY
EXHIBITION ONES?
YUP.
WE'RE THE FIRST FAMILY
OF HOCKEY HERE.
AND IT WOULDN'T HURT YOU
TO SMILE ONCE
IN A WHILE, TOO.
[LAUGHS SARCASTICALLY]
[WHISTLE BLASTS]
THIS IS MY LEAGUE,
OLD MAN.
[CROWD CHEERING]
[♪♪]
[GOAL HORN BLARES]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
GOAL SCORED BY NUMBER 9,
GORDIE HOWE!
ASSISTED BY NUMBER 4,
MARK HOWE,
AT 27 SECONDS
IN THE FIRST PERIOD.
THAT'S A GOOD
THING, OKAY?
OKAY.
[HULL]: REMEMBER, YOU PLAY
THAT DEEP ALL NIGHT,
HE'LL GO THERE ON YOU.
WHOSE LEAGUE
IS IT, BOBBY?
[GASPING]
DAD!
NO...
BREAK IT UP, GUYS.
[CROWD CHEERING AND BOOING]
BLUE, YOU'RE GOING
TO THE BOX.
PULL UP YOUR SKIRT, HOWE!
LITTLE BABY,
WHERE'S YOUR BOTTLE?
THEY STILL CHANGING
YOUR DIAPER, TOO, MARK?
HUH?
[TEAM MURMURING ENCOURAGEMENTS]
[RADIO PLAYS]
HEY, LISTEN, GORDIE.
YOU CAN'T-- YOU CAN'T BE
FIGHTING OUR BATTLES FOR US.
IT'S EMBARRASSING.
I'M GORDIE
WHEN THEY PLAY IT STRAIGHT,
AND I'M YOUR DAD
WHEN THEY PLAY IT DIRTY.
PULL UP
YOUR PANTS, LADIES!
DRINKS ARE ON ME
TONIGHT, HOUSTON.
[TEAM CHEERING]
THIS GUY. LOOK AT THIS GUY!
WELL, ME
AND MY WHA PAYCHECK, THAT IS.
[LAUGHTER]
CAN YOU AFFORD IT, BOBBY?
MIGHT HAVE TO SELL
A COUPLE STICK SHELVES, YEAH.
WHAT ABOUT YOU, ELBOWS, YOU IN?
HUH? YOU CAN EVEN
BRING THE KIDS.
UH, NO THANK YOU, BOBBY,
COLLEEN'S GOT
SPECIAL PLANS
FOR US TONIGHT.
WHAT COULD BE
SO SPECIAL, GORDIE?
COME ON...
YOUR LOSS, ELBOWS,
BUT I'LL TELL YOU
WHAT'S REAL SPECIAL,
A NICE JUICY STEAK
AND A BLONDE.
[PLAYERS CHEERING]
HURRY UP, BOYS, LET'S GO!
[CHEERING AND SHOUTING]
FOLLOW THE COAT.
[LAUGHTER]
ANOTHER TIME.
NO PLAYER WORE
A LADY'S FUR COAT
WHEN I WAS COMING UP.
WELL, MAYBE THEY DID,
BUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
LOOK, YOU CAN'T BE
THEIR TEAMMATE
AND THEIR CHAPERONE TOO.
I KNOW.
I KNOW, I'M JUST TRYING
TO FIND THE RIGHT LINE,
YOU KNOW?
I HAD NOTHING GROWING UP,
AND NOW THESE BOYS
ARE GETTING PAID
THESE HUGE SALARIES
AT 18, 19?
I JUST, I WORRY
THAT IT'S TOO MUCH,
YOU KNOW,
TOO SOON FOR THEM.
AH, GIVE THEM
SOME CREDIT.
HELL, GIVE ME SOME CREDIT, TOO.
WE RAISED THEM RIGHT.
TRUST THEM.
YEAH.
YOU'RE RIGHT,
AS PER USUAL.
[CHUCKLES]
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE A...
PRETTY BEAUTIFUL WOMAN,
COLLEEN HOWE.
STOP...
I WAS PRETTY LUCKY
THE DAY I MET YOU.
I WILL NOT STOP.
THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID.
YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA HAVE
A LITTLE NAP BEFORE PRACTICE.
MAYBE YOU'D CARE TO JOIN ME.
WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO YOU?
A MIDDLE-AGED BLOOM?
[♪♪]
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO, BOYS.
GORDIE, YOU READY TO GO, BUDDY?
SADDLE UP!
COME ON!
[PLAYERS SHOUTING]
- WHOA, WAIT A MINUTE.
- HMM?
[LAUGHING] DAD, THEY
MESSED UP YOUR JERSEY.
THEY SPELLED YOUR NAME
"GORIDE HOWE."
WHAT?
YEAH, IT SAYS
"GORIDE HOWE."
[LAUGHS]
FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE,
HELP ME GET TAKE
THIS THING OFF.
[LAUGHING]
HANDS UP.
GORIDE HOWE...
[CROWD CHEERING]
COME ON, GUYS!
[HORN BLARES]
[ANNOUNCER]: THE FINAL SCORE
IS CLEVELAND 2, HOUSTON 0,
AS THE AEROS BEGIN
THEIR NEW HOWESTON SEASON.
[COMMENTATOR]: I THOUGHT
THE HOWE BOYS LOOKED GOOD.
MARK IS A HELL OF A PLAYER.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THAT KID.
HEY... COME ON.
SAVE IT FOR NEXT GAME.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERS]
WHY ARE THEY CHEERING?
THEY KNOW
WE LOST, RIGHT?
I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE THEY SAW
SOMETHING THEY LIKED.
[CHEERING]
HEY, HON'.
IF THE HOUSE
EVER CAUGHT ON FIRE,
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOTHER
WOULD GRAB FIRST?
ME, YOU, OR THE DANG CHART?
THE CHART.
CHART.
OF COURSE.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN KEEP
THIS FAMILY IN CHECK.
YOU CALL THAT GIRL YET?
NO, NOT YET.
PATHETIC.
[LAUGHING]
[SIGHS]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[FANS SHOUTING]:
GORDIE! GORDIE, SIGN THIS!
HERE'S A COUPLE OF YOUNG STARS.
YOU'RE GOING TO WANT
THEIR AUTOGRAPHS TOO!
[CROWD SCREAMING]
[SHOUTING AND BOOING]
LET HIM UP.
LET HIM UP.
OKAY-- OKAY!
ALL RIGHT,
THAT'S IT, THAT'S IT.
OH, COME ON.
BREAK IT UP,
BREAK IT UP.
GO TO THE BOX.
COOL IT, 15.
ALL RIGHT.
GORDIE, I THOUGHT
WE HAD A DEAL.
YOU CAN'T BE FIGHTING
OUR BATTLES FOR US!
I DIDN'T SIGN NO CONTRACT.
[PLAYER TAUNTING]
SHUT UP!
FIGHT SOMEONE
YOUR OWN AGE!
IT'S A BUSINESS DECISION.
OTHER TEAMS SEE WHAT WE DID,
THEY'LL GIVE US
MORE ROOM OUT THERE.
YOU NEED TO START
THINKING LIKE A PRO.
PLAY HOCKEY RELIGIOUSLY.
IT'S BETTER TO GIVE
THAN TO RECEIVE.
TWO TEAMS!
[CALL RINGING]
HELLO?
[SLAMS PHONE DOWN]
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?
SMOKEY.
[LAUGHS]
ALL RIGHT, SO,
A TEAM CAN BE PUT OFFSIDE
IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS.
ONE, THE PLAYER CROSSES
THE OPPOSING TEAM'S BLUE LINE
BEFORE THE PUCK DOES.
OR TWO,
THE PUCK CROSSES
FROM INSIDE THE BLUE LINE
AND OUT OVER
THE CENTER RED LINE.
CLEAR AS MUD?
ANY QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE MOVE ON
TO ICING RULES? YEAH?
I LOOKED IT UP IN THE RECORDS,
AND GORDIE'S NEVER GONE
EIGHT GAMES
WITHOUT SCORING A GOAL BEFORE.
WHEN DO YOU THINK
THIS DROUGHT WILL END?
WELL, YOU KNOW A LOT ABOUT
DROUGHTS HERE IN TEXAS, RIGHT?
THEY PASS.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK
ABOUT ICING, SHALL WE?
[LOUD PARTY MUSIC BLARES]
[♪♪]
HEY, MARTY!
GAME'S ON CHANNEL 12!
HEY! HEY!
IT'S TINY TIM.
TURN IT UP.
I THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD.
HEY, GORDIE!
DIDN'T I HEAR HE WAS
A BIG FAN OF YOURS?
YEAH, I THINK HE SAID
ON THE CARSON SHOW
I'D BE HIS FAVORITE PERSON
TO WAKE UP NEXT TO
IN A HOSPITAL BED.
[CHUCKLING]
BUT DID YOU PICK HIM
AS YOURS, GORDIE?
OH, NO, SMOKEY,
I PICKED YOU.
[LAUGHTER]
GOOD NIGHT, ALL.
[EVERYONE GROANS]: AW!
COME ON, GORD.
HAVE FUN.
HEY, GORDIE,
GORDIE.
YOU'RE GOING GOOD.
THE GOALS...
THE GOALS ARE GONNA COME.
THANK YOU, TED.
GOOD NIGHT, ALL.
NIGHT, GORDIE.
NIGHT, GORD.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[ANNOUNCER]: BEEN A TOUGH
START TO THE SEASON
FOR MR. HOCKEY,
GOING GOAL-LESS THUS FAR.
MAYBE HE CAN PICK UP
HIS FIRST AS AN AERO TONIGHT.
GO, HOWE!
[GIGGLES]
OKAY.
IS THAT HER?
YEAH.
[GOAL HORN BLARES]
[CROWD ERUPTS WITH CHEERS]
[ANNOUNCER]:
AND GORDIE HOWE SCORES
A BEAUTIFUL
AMBIDEXTROUS GOAL!
[CHEERING]
THAT'S IT, GORDIE!
YOU GOT IT, BIG FELLA.
FINALLY,
THE SCORING SLUMP IS OVER.
[TEAM CHEERING]
HEY, COLLEEN!
PARTY AT THE HOWES' TONIGHT!
[EVERYONE CHEERING]
GREAT.
MARTY, YOU PICK UP
THE KEGS.
HEY.
HEY.
MARTY FROM DETROIT.
YEAH. BUT, UH...
I WAS GONNA...
CALL YOU EARLIER, BUT--
UH-HUH.
WHERE DID YOUR GIRLFRIEND GO?
SHE'S GOT
A MID-TERM TOMORROW.
DO YOU WANT TO
GO GRAB A COFFEE?
UM, YEAH--
OH, ACTUALLY,
I HAVE A BETTER IDEA.
THERE'S A TEAM THING
GOING ON.
SO YOU PLAY WITH YOUR
BROTHER AND YOUR DAD?
[♪♪]
OH, HELLO!
HI!
COLLEEN HOWE.
MARTY'S MOM.
MARY JAMES,
PLEASED TO MEET YOU.
COME ON IN.
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME,
AND THEN COME HELP ME
FEED AND WATER THESE BOYS
WHEN YOU CAN, OKAY?
OKAY.
CATHY, COME HELP ME
IN THE KITCHEN!
[CATHY]: YEAH,
I'LL BE RIGHT THERE!
ALL RIGHT,
YOU ALL KNOW THIS SONG,
SO GATHER 'ROUND AND SING ALONG.
[GUITARIST STARTS STRUMMING]
[♪♪]
[ALL SINGING TOGETHER]
♪ TIPTOE THROUGH THE WINDOW ♪
TINY TIM?
♪ BY THE WINDOW
THAT'S WHERE I'LL BE... ♪
HE DOESN'T
LOOK SCARY AT ALL.
HE LOOKS REAL SWEET.
[COMMENTATOR] MY GUEST
IS ASSISTANT COACH DOUG HARVEY,
AND, DOUG, THE FIGHTING SAINTS
ARE REALLY EARNING
THEIR NICKNAME TONIGHT.
YEAH, THEY SURE ARE.
BUT MINNESOTA
CAN PLAY IT SLICK, TOO.
THEY'RE ONLY SITTING
FOUR POINTS BEHIND US.
AND HOW ABOUT THAT
GORDIE HOWE?
MR. HOCKEY
HAS BEEN ON FIRE
SINCE HE SCORED THAT FIRST
GOAL AGAINST NEW ENGLAND.
I CALL GORDIE
"THE AGELESS WONDER."
IF HE KEEPS THIS UP,
HE'LL BE CHARGING RIGHT AT
THE SCORING CHAMPIONSHIP.
OF COURSE, HE IS ONLY 45.
[CHUCKLING]
[CROWD BOOING AND JEERING]
YOU'RE A DIRTY OLD MAN, HOWE!
I'LL TAKE YOU ON!
I'LL TAKE YOU ALL ON!
I THOUGHT MINNESOTA
WAS THE FRIENDLY
SWEDISH STATE.
BOYS, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU HAD A HAIRCUT?
IT'S ABOUT TIME
FOR A TRIM, ISN'T IT?
DON'T LOOK AT ME.
YOU TWO DON'T WANT
MY PROTECTION.
[♪♪]
[RADIO SHOW CALLER]:
I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW WELL
THE OLD GUY'S
PLAYING OUT THERE.
I'M TELLING YOU,
GORDIE'S PLAYING
BETTER THAN HE DID
WITH THE RED WINGS
BACK IN THE MID-'60s.
HE'S DOMINATING THE ICE!
[RADIO HOST]: I'VE GOT TO
AGREE WITH YOU, FRIEND.
[CALLER]:
AND WHAT AMAZES ME
IS THAT HOWE'S DOING IT
WITH THESE KIDS.
I MEAN, DOES THE YOUNG ONE
EVEN SHAVE YET?
[HOST]:
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING,
THOSE KIDS CAN REALLY PLAY.
MARK MAY NOT SHAVE YET,
BUT I THINK HE'S A SHOE-IN
FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR.
NEXT CALLER.
LOOKIN' GOOD.
WHO THE HECK
GAVE YOU PERMISSION
TO TALK TO
THE WHA OWNERS?
THEY WERE MERELY
INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS,
NOTHING MORE.
ABOUT A MERGER
WITH THE NHL?
THAT WAS PART OF IT, YES--
OVER MY DEAD BODY.
MERGER...
OUR REVENUES ARE DOWN,
AND THE WHA IS TURNING INTO
A SERIOUS DRAW, BRUCE!
IT'S A LEAGUE OF HAS-BEENS
AND NEVER-GONNA-BE'S!
IF YOU WANNA KEEP YOUR JOB HERE,
I'D SHUT UP NOW!
YOU DON'T NEED TO WRITE
THAT LAST SENTENCE DOWN.
PRESIDENT CAMPBELL
WILL GET THE GIST.
THE LIGHTS ARE OUT.
[TEAMMATES LAUGHING]
[BOYS SHOUTING IN ALARM]
WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON?
[SMOKEY]: HEY,
WE GOT YOU, JUNIOR.
[CACKLING]
RELAX, ROOKIE.
TODAY, YOU BECOME A MAN,
OR AT LEAST
A HOUSTON AERO!
[LAUGHTER]
MARK GOT ANOTHER
MIGRAINE?
YEAH.
I CLOSED THE BLINDS
SO HE COULD SLEEP.
HE'S TICKED AT HIS TEAMMATES,
ISN'T HE?
I AM.
HOW COULD YOU LET THAT HAPPEN?
WAIT A SECOND,
YOU'RE THE ONE TELLING ME
I SHOULDN'T BE
THE BOYS' CHAPERONE.
IT IS BARBARIC.
YEAH.
YEAH, IT'S OLD-SCHOOL STUPID,
IT'S EVEN OLDER-SCHOOL THAN ME,
BUT IT MEANS SOMETHING.
THEIR TEAMMATES WANT TO KNOW
IF THEY CAN TRUST THE BOYS.
TRUST THEM?
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.
THERE IS TWO TYPES
OF HOCKEY PLAYER, COLLEEN,
THERE IS THE THIN-SKINNED
AND THE THICK-SKINNED,
THE ONES WHO TURTLE,
AND THE ONES
WHO FIGHT BACK.
[SIGHS IN FRUSTRATION]
AND THEY'RE ASKING
WHICH ONE THE BOYS ARE.
WELL, I STILL DON'T APPROVE,
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE THERE
WHEN MY BOYS
GIVE THEM THEIR ANSWER.
[LAUGHTER]
[MOCK SOBBING] AW, COACH,
DON'T MAKE ME SKATE!
AW, IT HURTS!
IT HURTS SO BAD!
[LAUGHS]
[CACKLING]
HOLY-- [YELPS IN ALARM]
[LAUGHTER]
GET 'EM OFF!
GET 'EM OFF!
[LAUGHTER]
DOES IT HURT, SMOKEY?
DOES IT HURT SO... BAD?
[LAUGHTER]
GOOD ONE, KID,
GOOD ONE.
NOW I GOTTA
BURN THE BAG.
[CHRISTMAS CAROLS PLAY]
[YOUNG MAN]:...YEAH,
I WOULD LOVE THAT.
[CATHY]: TONIGHT
WAS REALLY FUN.
YEAH, THANKS
FOR HAVING ME.
OH, ANY TIME.
[SLAMS DOOR]
[GASPING]
HI, DAD!
THIS MUST BE TOMMY.
YES.
I HEAR YOU DON'T
THINK TOO MUCH OF HOCKEY.
WELL, I-I NEVER
SEEN IT, SIR.
WELL, INVITE HIM
TO A GAME
SOME TIME, CATHY.
AND, UM, BE INSIDE
IN FIVE MINUTES,
OR THE YOUNG MAN
GETS A DATE WITH THE ELBOWS.
SO EMBARRASSING.
[WHISPERING] WOW...
WELL, YOUR DAD'S LIKE
CLINT EASTWOOD OR SOMETHING.
[LAUGHING]
OKAY, NOW,
SQUEEZE TOGETHER.
I'M BEING
SERIOUS, ACTUALLY.
ALL RIGHT.
SMILE, Y'ALL.
[SHUTTER CLICKS]
ALL RIGHT,
LET'S EAT, Y'ALL.
PASS... PASS THE BIG BIRD
DOWN HERE,
AND WE'LL CARVE HIM UP
REALLY GOOD.
[♪♪]
WE WILL SAY GRACE.
I THINK I'M GOING TO GET
A HEAD START ON CARVING THIS.
[♪♪]
HERE WE GO!
HI, LITTLE FELLA.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
[SPORTSCASTER]:
WHAT A COMEBACK SEASON
MR. HOCKEY IS HAVING.
TURNING 46, AND NOW
LEADING THE LEAGUE IN SCORING.
I SAY GO, AEROS, GO!
GO, HOWES!
LET'S GET BEHIND THEM, Y'ALL.
NEXT CALLER.
[CALLER]: I DON'T THINK
THERE'S BEEN A FATHER-SON
TEAMMATE COMBO
IN ANY PROFESSIONAL SPORT,
HAS THERE?
WELL, WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
DON'T LET IT GO TO
YOUR HEAD, OKAY, HONEY?
IT DOES NOT SAY
"GORIDE" HOWE.
YOU'RE UP THERE,
TOO, MISSUS.
[MARTY]:
UH-OH. HERE COMES TROUBLE.
CATHY AND HER NEW FRIEND.
[CATHY]: WHOO-HOO!
TEXAS FOREVER! WHOO!
SHE LOOKS
PRETTY HAPPY HERE.
YEAH.
I COULD SEE
MAKING HOUSTON MY HOME.
[CHUCKLES]
MARTY?
I NEED TO SPEAK WITH YOU
FOR A MOMENT.
WHAT'S UP?
FOXY JUST CALLED.
HE NEEDS YOU
TO FIND DOUG HARVEY
AND BRING HIM
TO THE SAM HOUSTON.
HE'S BEEN DRINKING.
WHAT?
I GUESS HE'S FALLEN
OFF THE WAGON.
FOXY'S BEEN COVERING IT UP,
GETTING HIM SOBERED UP
FOR GAMES.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE
MARY OUT FOR SUPPER BEFORE--
WELL, I'M SORRY,
IT CAN'T BE HELPED, OKAY?
I GOTTA...
IT'S A TEAM THING.
I UNDERSTAND.
I'LL MAKE IT UP
TO YOU, OKAY?
I PROMISE.
LET'S GO.
[COLLEEN]: SORRY, MARY.
COMES WITH DATING
A HOCKEY PLAYER.
MR. HARVEY?
HEY, KID, SIT DOWN.
JJ, A BEER FOR
MY YOUNG PROTEGE HERE.
MR. HARVEY, WE GOTTA
GET YOU TO THE SAM HOUSTON.
IT'S ALMOST GAME TIME.
WHY? I'M NOT PLAYING.
HARV, FOXY SENT ME.
WE GOTTA GET YOU
SOBERED UP.
DON'T LECTURE ME
ABOUT SOBER,
YOU LITTLE SNOT!
PLEASE, HARV, JUST...
JUST COME WITH ME, OKAY?
[SIGHS]
I'LL BE IN THE CAR.
YOU SEEM PRETTY
PLEASED WITH YOURSELF.
I'M READING HERE, PLEASE.
[SMACKS TABLE ANGRILY]
GORDIE?
[MARK STRUMMING GUITAR]
WHAT THE HECK IS THIS?
"I KNEW MY DAD
WAS AN OLD MAN,
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW
HE WAS A DIRTY OLD MAN TOO."
DAD, WHAT'S WRONG?
IT WAS A JOKE.
A JOKE?
WHAT THE HECK KIND OF THING
IS THAT TO SAY
ABOUT YOUR FATHER?
I WAS JUST TRYING TO EXPLAIN
TO THE REPORTER
HOW YOU PLAY WITH AN EDGE, AND--
I PLAY DIRTY?
IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK?
LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING ABOUT HOW I PLAY.
I'M A GOSH-DANG POLICEMAN
OUT THERE!
DAD, COME ON, YOU KNOW
YOU CROSS THE LINE SOMETIMES.
I CROSS THE LINE?
THERE IS NO LINE!
IF YOU LET THEM
THROW DIRT AT YOU,
THEY WILL KEEP DOING IT!
NOW, YOU APOLOGIZE.
RIGHT NOW.
HOW ABOUT ALL THE STUFF
THAT YOU AND MOM
TRY TO TEACH ME?
LIKE, "BE HUMBLE, KID,"
"THE MEEK INHERIT
THE EARTH, SON."
DO I JUST THROW
ALL THAT DIRT OUT NOW?
THE MEEK
MIGHT INHERIT THE EARTH.
I AM TALKING ABOUT THE ICE!
YOU NEED TO APOLOGIZE
TO YOUR FATHER.
NOW.
I DON'T KNOW, MOM,
IF I LET PEOPLE THROW DIRT,
THEY'LL JUST KEEP THROWING IT.
NOW.
THAT WAS A GREAT
COVER STORY, GORDIE.
WAS IT?
I DIDN'T FINISH IT.
YEAH, WELL,
I DON'T KNOW WHY
HE'S GOTTA RUN US DOWN.
HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT
HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
[GORDIE]: WHAT'S TEDDY
GOT TO SAY NOW?
SOME B.S. ABOUT HOW WE CAN'T
BE MUCH OF A HOCKEY LEAGUE
IF WE'VE GOT A 45-YEAR-OLD
AS OUR LEADING SCORER.
[SMOKEY CACKLING]
MARKY, GREAT QUOTE
IN THE SPORTS MAG, BUDDY!
FREAKIN' HILARIOUS!
WHAT DID
HE SAY, SMOKEY?
I JUST READ IT IN THE CAN.
HE SAID, "I ALWAYS KNEW
MY DAD WAS AN OLD MAN,
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS
A DIRTY OLD MAN."
[LAUGHTER]
DIRTY OLD MAN...
[CROWD CHEERING]
IT'S LIKE FOOTBALL
WITH SPEARS!
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
COME ON, GORDIE.
TO THE BOX, GORD!
TO THE BOX,
TO THE BOX!
IN THE BOX, IN THE BOX.
YEAH, NOW THE REFS
ARE PROTECTING YOU,
HUH, GORD?
CHEAP SHOT, MAN.
NOT A WORD.
YOU GUYS SEEN HARV TONIGHT?
NO.
ANYONE?
[COLLEEN CLEARS HER THROAT]
[LOUDER] AHEM.
[SHARP KICK]
WHAT I MEANT TO SAY WAS
MY FATHER HAS A GREAT SENSE
OF JUSTICE ON THE ICE.
HE'S A POLICEMAN
OUT THERE,
LIKE... DIRTY HARRY.
[MUFFLED LAUGHTER]
IS THAT YOUR VERSION
OF AN APOLOGY?
YEAH.
ACCEPTED.
[COLLEEN SIGHS]
CAN I GET ANY MORE EGGS
FOR ANYONE?
- YEAH, SURE, MOM.
- OKAY. GREAT.
[♪♪]
[STATIC CRACKLES
AS SHE TUNES THE DIAL]
[SPORTS STATION
BROADCASTS HOCKEY GAME]
...TRIPPING CALL ON THE AEROS
WITH LESS THAN TWO MINUTES
TO PLAY,
AND THE GAME OUT REACH FOR
THE HOST NEW ENGLAND WHALERS...
CAN I LISTEN TO
SOME MUSIC NOW?
[SCOFFS]
...HOWE AND LUND COME OUT
TO KILL THE PENALTY...
YOU THINK YOU CAN
INFLUENCE THE GAME
JUST BY LISTENING
TO IT, DON'T YOU?
DON'T BE RIDICULOUS.
...WHAT A DREAM SEASON
GORDIE HOWE HAS HAD.
100 POINTS.
THE LEAGUE-LEADING SCORER,
AND HIS FIRST-PLACE AEROS
ARE HEADING TO A PLAYOFF ROUND
AGAINST THE JETS
IN JUST TWO WEEKS...
[BREATHING HARD]
YOU SO DO.
[STICKS SLAPPING]
FACEOFF WON BY THE WHALERS.
GOES BACK TO SELLWOOD
AT THE POINT.
SELLWOOD LOOKING FOR
A SHOT ON NET,
THIS GUY CAN REALLY BOOM IT.
HOWE GOES DOWN
TO BLOCK THE SHOT!
OOH, THAT'S GOTTA HURT!
[WHISTLE BLASTS]
GORDIE HOWE IS DOWN ON THE ICE
AND GRIMACING WITH PAIN.
THE TRAINER BOBBY BROWN
COMES OFF THE BENCH
TO HELP HIM--
ALL RIGHT, THANKS, BOB.
HE SAYS YOU GOT
A HAIRLINE FRACTURE.
YOU NEED TO KEEP WEIGHT OFF IT
FOR 10 DAYS,
AND YOU'LL NEED A CAST.
NOT BAD.
WELL, I'VE PLAYED WITH
A HAIRLINE FRACTURE BEFORE.
IT'S NOTHING, FOXY.
YEAH, BUT THERE'S NO POINT.
WE NEED YOU READY
FOR THE PLAYOFFS.
WHAT ABOUT
THE SCORING CHAMPIONSHIP?
WHAT ABOUT IT?
THERE'S EIGHT GAMES LEFT.
I'M ONLY SEVEN POINTS
AHEAD OF WALTON.
TELL SOMEONE WHO CARES, GORDIE.
YOU KNOW I HATE TO LOSE.
SO DO I.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE NOT
IN MY LINE-UP TILL THE PLAYOFFS.
OH, YOU'RE EASY ONE TO HA--
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH,
I'M AN EASY ONE TO HATE.
I KNOW!
YEAH, GOOD SKATE TODAY, GUYS.
LOOKING GOOD.
[PLAYERS ALL CHATTING]
HEY, HARV!
WHERE YOU BEEN?
YEAH...
JUST STOPPED BY
TO SAY "SO LONG,"
AND, UH, GOOD LUCK
IN THE PLAYOFFS, FELLAS.
YOU'RE LEAVING US, HARV?
YEAH,
THE CIRCUS IS MOVING ON.
I'LL SEE ALL YOU BOYS
DOWN THE ROAD.
[GENTLY]
SEE YA, HARV.
GOOD LUCK, HARV.
SEE YA, HARV.
MR. HARVEY!
MR. HARVEY...
I DON'T--
HOW COULD FOXY JUST FIRE YOU?
DON'T BE SORE
AT FOXY, KID.
MAYBE YOU NOTICED I, UH,
I GOT A LITTLE PROBLEM.
JEEZ, WELL...
SO WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO NOW?
I DON'T KNOW,
MAYBE SCOUT A LITTLE?
LOOK, IT CAN GO
JUST LIKE THAT, KID.
THAT'S WHY THIS TIME
WITH YOU AND MARK
IS SO SPECIAL
FOR YOUR DAD.
HE KNOWS HOW FAST IT CAN GO.
GIVE ME A SHOUT
WHEN YOU WIN
THE BEST DEFENCEMAN AWARD, OKAY?
[GAME PLAYS ON TELEVISION]
...THE SAINTS
ARE ON THE POWER PLAY
WITH HUGHES IN THE BOX.
MIKE WALTON ENTERS
THE FACE-OFF CIRCLE...
NOW, OFF THE FACE-OFF,
WALTON GETS IT TO SMITH.
SMITH MOVES IN ACROSS,
GETS IT TO GALLANT.
GALLANT MOVES OVER--
BACK TO WALTON!
HE SCORES!
POINT #101 FOR MIKE WALTON,
WHO PASSES THE INJURED
GORDIE HOWE IN SCORING.
NOT A GREAT BIRTHDAY PRESENT
FOR MR. HOCKEY,
WHO TURNED 46 TODAY.
CATHY HAS
YOUR CAKE READY.
[SIGHS]
SO, DO I LIGHT
THE CANDLES OR NOT?
SURE, ALL 146 OF THEM.
YOUR DAUGHTER'S WAITING
TO CELEBRATE
YOUR BIRTHDAY WITH YOU.
I'M NOT IN THE MOOD.
OH, COME ON, GORDIE.
BLOW OUT THE CANDLES.
WISH FOR A NEW LEG.
IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME
TO WIN IT, COLLEEN.
TO PROVE ALL
THE NAYSAYERS WRONG.
YOU KNOW,
I CAME TO HOUSTON
TO WATCH YOU PLAY HOCKEY
WITH OUR SONS,
TO TEACH THEM.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
THIS IS GOING TO TEACH THEM?
YOU WON YOUR LAST STANLEY CUP
IN 1955.
[CHUCKLES RUEFULLY]
WHAT DO YOU THINK
ALL THE NAYSAYERS
ARE GOING TO THINK?
THEY PROBABLY THINK
YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE
TO DO IT AGAIN.
YOU HAVE WORKED SO HARD.
NOW YOU HAVE A CHANCE
TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP
WITH YOUR SONS.
DO YOU EVER GET TIRED
OF BEING RIGHT?
[CHUCKLES]
SO YOU WANT TO EAT THE CAKE,
OR SHOULD I GIVE IT
TO THE LAST TWO COWS?
DO YOU THINK DAD
SAW THE GAME TONIGHT?
OBVIOUSLY.
HE'S GONNA BE PEEVED.
IT'S MR. NORRIS.
WHAT DO WE DO?
MR. NORRIS,
HOW YOU DOING?
BOYS.
YOU MADE A BIG, BIG MISTAKE,
YOU KNOW THAT?
YOU'RE NEVER
GOING TO PLAY IN THE NHL NOW.
YOU CAN THANK YOUR FATHER
FOR THAT.
WELL, I HOPE
YOU'RE WRONG, MR. NORRIS,
BUT IT WAS WORTH IT.
WE GOT TO PLAY
WITH THE GREATEST
DETROIT RED WING EVER.
IT WAS NICE SEEING Y'ALL.
THAT WAS AWKWARD.
YEAH, I KNOW.
LATE FLIGHT?
NO, WE GOT IN ON TIME.
THE BOYS HAD
A PARTY AT GRIFF'S.
LAST CHANCE
BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN
WATCHING YOU SIGN THOSE THINGS
ALL MY LIFE,
AND I STILL DON'T GET IT.
I MEAN, WHY SIGN THEM
AHEAD OF TIME?
WELL...
PEOPLE THAT WANT 'EM,
IF YOU GET 'EM RIGHT
AND READY FOR 'EM,
IT GIVES YOU MORE TIME
TO TALK TO THEM.
THAT'S YOU, DAD.
YOU KNOW, WE RAN INTO MR. NORRIS
AT THE MINNESOTA AIRPORT TODAY.
YEAH?
DID HE TALK TO YOU?
OH, YEAH.
HE SAID WE'D NEVER PLAY
IN THE NHL.
YOU DON'T LISTEN
TO THAT CRAP, SON. OKAY?
MARTY SAID IT WAS WORTH IT
'CAUSE WE GOT TO PLAY
WITH OUR OLD MAN.
MARTY SAID THAT?
YEAH.
I LET HIM SAY IT,
'CAUSE, UH,
HE'S OLDER THAN ME, BUT...
YEAH.
[PATS SHOULDER]
NIGHT, OLD MAN.
NIGHT, YOUNG MAN.
[♪♪]
[ROAR OF CROWD]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[ANNOUNCER]: IT'S A SWEEP!
THE HOUSTON AEROS
DEFEAT THE JETS
IN FOUR STRAIGHT,
SO NOW THEY'LL MOVE ON
TO MINNESOTA,
IN WHAT'S EXPECTED TO BE
A MUCH ROUGHER PLAY-OFF SERIES,
BECAUSE THEY ARE
THE FIGHTING SAINTS.
- ELBOWS.
- BOBBY.
TELL YOU WHAT,
NEXT YEAR, WE'LL CALL IT
"OUR LEAGUE," HUH?
WELL, THANK YOU.
YOU'LL GET US NEXT YEAR,
IF I RETIRE AGAIN.
[CHUCKLING]
GOOD WORK...
LOOKS LIKE YOU GOT
THE HALL TONIGHT, STANNY.
WINNIPEG'S BEEN
LUCKY FOR ME.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
WELL, GO ON,
LET THE GAL IN
ON YOUR WAY OUT.
HEY, MRS. HOWE.
GREAT GAME, JACK.
SORRY TO KICK YOU OUT.
IT'S NUMBER 4. WALTON.
MIKE!
MIKE, FOR TELEVISION,
IS IT GONNA BE
A ROUGH ONE, MIKE?
WE CAN PLAY IT
ANY WAY THEY LIKE.
ANY SPECIAL PLANS
FOR THE HOWE LINE?
STOP 'EM.
WE KNOW GORDIE'S ON A MISSION,
BUT, HEY, SO ARE WE.
HOWE'S GONNA WISH
HE STAYED RETIRED.
[CACKLES]
WHO'S THAT?
IT'S A MINOR LEAGUE
CALL-UP.
ALL RIGHT,
THAT'S IT, FELLAS,
WE GOT A GAME
TO GET READY FOR.
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
[CROWD CHEERING]
YOU READY TO GO,
OLD MAN?
OH, LOOK, AN OGRE
FELL OUT OF THE UGLY BEANSTALK.
[SMASHING STICK]
I'M GONNA BURY YOU
AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY
IN THE DESERT--
RELAX.
SON, WHO CUTS
YOUR HAIR?
[CROWD SHOUTING AND CHEERING]
HEY!
[SCHELLA TAUNTING
WITH MONKEY HOOTS]
[CROWD SHOUTING AND BOOING]
THAT'S IT! 18!
[RAGING INCOHERENTLY]
GET HIM OUT OF HERE.
[SCREAMING THREATS]
[SMOKEY LAUGHING]
HAVE FUN BACK IN
THE MINORS, COLD SORE!
[LAUGHING]
[ANNOUNCER]:
WE'RE NEAR THE END
OF THE SECOND OVERTIME PERIOD
IN THE LONGEST PLAYOFF GAME
HOUSTON HAS EVER WITNESSED.
[WHISTLE BLOWING]
STANFIELD, TAYLOR.
[CROWD CHANTING AND CHEERING]
GO, AEROS, GO! GO, AEROS, GO!
[♪♪]
[GOAL HORN BLARES]
[CROWD ROARING]
[CROWD BOOING]
WE'RE BETTER THAN THEM.
THERE'S NO WAY
WE SHOULD BE LOSING.
WELL, WE ARE.
I'LL CALL A TEAM MEETING
WHEN WE GET TO
THE ST. PAUL'S HOTEL.
OH, HERE COMES TROUBLE.
WELL, WELL.
HOWDY, COWBOYS.
SWEEP, SWEEP, SWEEP!
THE GAME'S
IN OUR BARN NOW, HOWE.
WHOO-WEE!
[TEAM CACKLES]
♪ THE OLD GRAY MARE ♪
♪ JUST AIN'T
WHAT HE USED TO BE ♪
♪ AIN'T WHAT HE USED TO BE ♪
♪ AIN'T WHAT HE USED TO BE ♪
♪ THE OLD GRAY MARE
JUST AIN'T WHAT HE USED TO BE ♪
♪ TIME TO PUT HIM DOWN... ♪
WELL, HE CAN'T SKATE,
AND HE SINGS LIKE THAT.
THE LORD PLAYS
SOME CRUEL TRICKS.
[ANNOUNCER]: THE AEROS NEED
TO TURN THINGS AROUND QUICKLY
IF THEY HOPE TO ADVANCE
TO THE NEXT ROUND.
IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME
GORDIE HOWE'S
BEEN IN THIS SITUATION.
HIS LEADERSHIP AND EXPERIENCE
IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS TEAM NEEDS
RIGHT NOW.
[CROWD CHEERING]
[CHEERING AND LAUGHTER]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
[BUZZER BLARES]
[BLOWS WHISTLE]
I'M GONNA CARVE YOU!
I'M GONNA
CUT OUT YOUR EYES
AND FEED 'EM TO YOUR BRATS!
OH, GREAT.
I THINK WE JUST WOKE HIM UP.
YEAH.
[ANNOUNCER]: THE AEROS
ARE REALLY CONTROLLING
THIS THIRD PERIOD.
HE SCORES!
GORDIE HOWE,
SPLITTING THE BEAM
TO FINISH A BEAUTIFUL,
THREE-WAY PASSING PLAY,
AND THE AEROS ARE SENDING
THE SERIES BACK TO HOUSTON.
THE AEROS HOLD A 3-2 LEAD
OVER THE SAINTS,
WITH WHAT COULD BE
THE DECIDING GAME TONIGHT.
HI.
CAN YOU FEEL IT, HOWESTON?
CAN YOU FEEL IT?
[CHEERING]
GO DEEP, MARTY!
WAY OUT, WAY OUT!
[CROWD CHEERING AND SCREAMING]
[ANNOUNCER]: MARK HOWE...
SCORES!
...MARK HOWE FROM GORDIE HOWE
AND MARTY HOWE.
HOWE TO HOWE TO HOWE,
AND IT LOOKS LIKE HOUSTON'S
GOING TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
[TEAM CHEERING AND SHOUTING]
JUST FOUR MORE, YOU HEAR?
FOUR MORE!
[CHEERING IN TRIUMPH]
YEAH!
YOU BOYS HAVING FUN YET?
[LAUGHING AND CHEERING]
[CROWD SCREAMING AND CHEERING]
[SPORTSCASTER]: HOUSTON'S
PARTYING EARLY TONIGHT
WITH THE AEROS HOLDING
A 3-0 LEAD OVER CHICAGO
IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES.
DARE WE USE THE WORD "SWEEP?"
[COMMENTATOR]:
WELL, THE FANS ARE,
AND THEY JUST MIGHT BE RIGHT.
[SPORTSCASTER]:
WHAT DO YOU HEAR
ABOUT A MERGER WITH THE NHL?
THERE WERE A LOT OF RUMORS
AROUND IT EARLIER IN THE YEAR.
[COMMENTATOR]: I THINK
THE OLD-GUARD OWNERS NIXED IT.
NOT THAT THE FANS
AT THE SAM HOUSTON
GIVE A HOOT.
THIS CITY HAS TAKEN
THE GAME, THE TEAM,
AND THE HOWE FAMILY TO HEART.
HEY, FELLAS?
UM...
NOW, YOU KNOW
I DON'T LIKE TO MAKE
DRESSING ROOM SPEECHES,
MOSTLY 'CAUSE
I'M PRETTY BAD AT THEM.
THERE'S A FEW WORDS
I'D LIKE TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU.
UM, WHEN I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD,
GROWING UP IN SASKATCHEWAN,
I HAD A SCHOOLTEACHER,
THE VERY FIRST HOCKEY COACH
I EVER HAD.
HER NAME WAS MRS. CRAWFORD.
WAS SHE HOT?
[CACKLES]
UH, I WOULD SAY NOT, SMOKEY,
BUT, UH, BUT SHE WAS
REAL GOOD TO ME,
AND SHE TAUGHT ME
THE VERY FIRST RULE OF HOCKEY.
SHE SAID, UH, "GORDIE,
IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE
A GOOD TIME OUT THERE,
THERE'S NO POINT
IN PLAYING THE HOCKEY."
A GOOD TIME.
I HAD A REAL GOOD TIME
PLAYING HOCKEY
WITH YOU FELLAS THIS YEAR.
THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST FUN
I'VE EVER HAD PLAYING THE GAME.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.
THIS YEAR WAS SPECIAL.
NOW, TO MAKE SURE
I DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN,
LET'S GO WIN A CUP.
[TEAM CHEERING IN EXCITEMENT]
HERE WE GO, GUYS!
[CHEERING
AND SHOUTING ENCOURAGEMENTS]
[ANNOUNCER]: IT'S A SWEEP.
THE FANS ARE COUNTING DOWN
THE FINAL FEW SECONDS.
[FANS]: FIVE, FOUR, THREE...
[ANNOUNCER]: HOUSTON HAS WON
THE WHA CHAMPIONSHIP!
[CHEERING IN TRIUMPH]
[CROWD CHEERING AND SCREAMING]
BOYS...
UNREAL.
YOU TIRED?
I WOULDN'T TRADE THIS
FOR ANYTHING.
I'M GONNA MISS
HAVING YOU AROUND
NEXT YEAR, OLD MAN.
WHY? ARE YOU PLANNING
ON RETIRING SOON? HUH?
I'M GONNA GO
SKATE WITH THE BOYS.
ALL RIGHT.
GO KISS YOUR MOM.
THANK YOU.
FOR THIS.
MY PLEASURE.
YOU'RE MY BEST TEAMMATE EVER,
YOU KNOW THAT?
I'VE HEARD YOU SAY THAT BEFORE.
WELL, I MEANT IT THEN,
AND I MEAN IT
EVEN MORE NOW.
I'M GONNA START CALLING YOU
"MRS. HOCKEY."
[CHUCKLES]
GO ON. GO SKATE.
HEY, GORDIE, COME ON!
[CHEERING]
[CROWD CHEERING AND SCREAMING]
[♪♪]
[REPORTERS CLAMOR]
MR. NORRIS, MR. NORRIS!
CAN WE GET A COMMENT
ON GORDIE HOWE WINNING
THE WHA CHAMPIONSHIP?
NO.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
HIM WINNING THE MVP AWARD
AND HIS SON, MARK,
WINNING
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR?
IT'S A BUSH LEAGUE.
WHY WOULD I DIGNIFY IT
WITH A COMMENT?
WELL, HE DID PLAY HERE
FOR 25 YEARS,
SO IS THERE ANY TRUTH
TO THE TALK OF A MERGER
WITH THE WHA?
NEVER.
NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.
YOU THINK I'D LET
THOSE BUMS IN MY BARN?
[CLICKS OFF TAPE RECORDER]
[ANNOUNCER]: WELCOME TO
THE 1980 ALL-STAR GAME,
COMING TO YOU
FROM THE BEAUTIFUL
NEW JOE LOUIS ARENA
IN DOWNTOWN DETROIT.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
AND NUMBER 99,
CENTER WAYNE GRETZKY.
THIS IS
THE FIRST ALL-STAR GAME
SINCE THE MERGER
WITH THE FORMER WHA CLUBS.
IT'S NICE TO SEE
THE JOE LOUIS CROWD
GIVING THE YOUNG OILERS STAR,
GRETZKY, SUCH A WARM WELCOME.
[COMMENTATOR]: IT IS,
BUT I THINK THERE'S
A BIGGER APPLAUSE TO COME.
[ANNOUNCER]: DEFENCEMAN,
NUMBER 28, REED LARSON.
AND FROM THE HARTFORD WHALERS,
REPRESENTING ALL OF HOCKEY
WITH GREAT DISTINCTION
FOR FIVE DECADES,
NUMBER 9!
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
[CROWD CHANTING]
GORDIE! GORDIE! GORDIE!
[CHANTING AND SCREAMING]
[ANNOUNCER]: GORDIE HOWE,
AN NHL ALL-STAR AT AGE 52.
UNBELIEVABLE.
THIS CROWD JUST WON'T STOP!
[COMMENTATOR]: NO, AND
I DON'T THINK THEY EVER WILL.
I THINK MR. HOCKEY
JUST CAME HOME FOR GOOD.
[♪♪]