Orr: My Story

How did you spend New Year's Day? I spent mine reading this book in its entirety. I had a difficult time putting it down and I wouldn't know a blue line from a clothes line. Of course I'm aware that Bobby Orr played hockey for the Boston Bruins but this is a book for both players and parents of any sport their child participates in. Bobby Orr does not emphasize his numerous accomplishments in hockey. In fact his greatest memory of the sport is the time he spent playing the game as a child on rinks near his home at Parry Sound, Ontario. Tennyson once wrote, "I am a part of all that I have met" and Bobby Orr spends a great deal of time in recognizing those who helped him from the time he was a child throughout his career at a professional hockey player. He realizes that what we accomplish we don't do on our own without the help of significant others along the way.Orr concludes the book by giving his opinions on the state of the game today and mentions suggested rule changes he would make and the reasons for them. Included also is suggested practical advice for up-and-coming hockey players and questions they should ask themselves if they plan on continuing their dream on playing in the National Hockey League.I am not a hockey fan but for those who have children in any sport I would highly recommend this book to be read by both parents and children. I also found it refreshing in that there are no profanities in the book. Hockey fan or not this book is must reading for the reasons I mention above.

See this link for photo to my opening statement on this review: [...]This photo is the one photo missing from Mr. Orr’s biography. A terrific book that covers the many aspects of his life, personal, professional, and in all manners of dignity simply a decent read. I was disappointed of course there was no mention of the Vietnam Veterans in this book – but as a kid growing up in Canada I recall a CBC news article on television that showed a picture of U.S. Army Soldiers in Phu Bai South Vietnam that took a picture with the poster shown here in between all the players – one soldier was at the time also holding a poster or a flag of the Boston Bruin logo and #4 ORR sweater number. This said, the lack of inclusion of this photo and lack of even a small reference to the Vietnam Veterans of the era does not in itself take away from this book.The story is both interesting and heart felt. The final chapters of this book is where Mr. Orr opens up to his fans and public and in some ways was able to dispel and exorcise whatever small demons may have existed due to none other than the business mogul turned player criminal in both Canada and the USA in Alan Eagleson. Mr. Orr struggles a bit following his early end to the hockey he loved and the NHL that he played for – like a phoenix however he reinvents himself and today is successful on many fronts to the business aspect of hockey while attempting to care for the youth who play sport. He has some solid advice within these pages for parents, coaches, and the application of the business model. Even keel temperament and individual responsibility lay at the heart of this advice.It was quite touching to read of his respect for Mr. Hockey in Gordie Howe – this book was published when Mr. Howe was still alive. There are other hockey players he references within these pages as well such as Jean Béliveau, Phil Esposito, Johnny Bucyck, Serge Sevard; announcers in Foster Hewitt; fishing trips with baseball great Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox, and a deep respect for Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics, and a modern day reference and respect for Tom Brady Quarterback for the New England Patriots. I enjoyed the reference to Mildt Schmidt a coach he played for in the early days of his career. Milt was known as “Uncle Milty” a reference to the “Uncle Milty” show of the 1950’s starring none other than Milton Berle – an American class act for the era that led all the way through the 1980’s. Mr. Orr is proud of his Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada roots – reading of how he played hockey as a young boy on the lakes, creeks, and other watered areas reminded me of my own humble beginnings in the sport as I was raised in London and Windsor Ontario Canada. I recall quite vividly having a hockey card after Mr. Orr was traded to Chicago – the favorite part of those old time hockey cards for me was the cartoon stick men drawn on the back the phrases that most likely would represent the player featured on the front. On the back of this card the stick man was actually two men – one of Bobby Hull and Bobby Orr both – the caption read “Just call us Bobby!” That card ended up in the spokes of my bike like most other baseball and hockey cards of the era. As a kid I simply enjoyed the flickering sound as my wheels would turn and the spokes would hit whatever card dejour would be placed there on any given day. Though I wish I had that card now among many others of the era gone by, I am equally glad I could be a simply kid at the time as well.Between Ken Dryden’s book, Gordie Howe’s book, and now Bobby Orr’s book – I would have to say that Mr. Dryden’s is still my favorite. Mr. Howe can no longer come back to update his book but I hope Mr. Mark Howe will; I also hope that Mr. Orr will come back and provide to his fans and fans of all sports the periodic update. In this book I found a new respect for Mr. Don Cherry – a guy hockey fans either love or hate. As a U.S. Marine – I simply appreciate the straight forwardness of this book – honest to a point and heartfelt to near tear. Thank you Mr. Orr.

Sometimes I regret reading an autobiography by someone I hold in high esteem, because the reality often doesn't live up to my image of the person. Here I had no such problem. In fact, while I didn't think it was possible, I respect Bobby Orr even more after reading his book.I do not come from a family of hockey fans. When I was 12, I happened across a game on TV. This was in 1974, Orr's last full season as a Bruin. Watching him play mesmerized me, and he is the reason I am, to this day, an avid fan of the sport in general and the Boston Bruins in particular.Some fans might be disappointed because Orr does not offer a lot of behind-the-scenes kind of detail about his interactions with other players. But those stories do not belong to him alone and, therefore, he does not feel comfortable telling them. He also doesn't give much detail about his career in the way of stats, records he holds, awards, and trophies. He tells us that those things are public knowledge and he didn't want to write a book of bragging rights. I have tremendous respect for his choice not to give us a book full of gossip and inflated ego. Instead, we're treated to a glimpse of the broad spectrum of his life, from the early pond hockey games to his current career as an agent.As an added bonus, this book contains a bunch of very cool photos!