Flashback Friday #1: Guy in sunglasses ad, 1988

Welcome to the inaugural installment of Flashback Friday.  Idea shamelessly stolen from the Dallas Stars, this is where I share Guy tidbits from the past.

First up, Guy in a sunglasses ad from 1988!

You'll have to pardon my lack of a scanner, but this is the ad as taken from the January/February 1989 issue of Les Canadiens magazine.  Carbo is looking pretty dapper!

Stay tuned for more of Guy from days gone by!

Why Guy will never speak to Bob Gainey again

In an interview with the Quebec English newspaper The Suburb, just published, Carbo had this to say about his former friend and linemate and former Habs GM Bob Gainey:  "No I do not talk to him.  I still think that if we were good friends he would have told me the truth when he fired me.  I still do not understand what happened.  Whenever I am around him now, it is very awkward.  I am not a kid anymore.  I could have handled the truth."

Also in the interview:  Guy was interviewed for the Habs head coaching position last spring but was not surprised to see Michel Therrien land the job.  He would only consider going elsewhere -- as a head coach or assistant -- if it was the right fit.  Also revealed:  Guy gives a lot of his time to charity.  "Just before Christmas I went down to the Old Brewery Mission to serve dinner.  It was an awesome experience.  Most of the men lined up were hockey fans.  They remembered me playing.  I feel for those people.  They all had jobs and families at one time.  Now they have lost it all."  (link / article found on page 52)

Carbo on visors, & farewell to a Canadian icon

Scary injury to the Rangers' Marc Staal last night -- he took a slapshot right to the eye.  He is expected to make a full recovery, but his lack of a visor has once again ignited the debate about whether the NHL should make visors mandatory.  Here's what Carbo had to say about it:  when asked about it in 2000, he was against it, and said that it should be up to the players.  I'd be interested to know if his stance on the issue has changed any in the 13 years since then.  (link)

ETA:  On RDS Hockey 360 this evening, Guy commented that at the age of 18 years, a player can decide whether he wishes to wear a visor or not.  And there you have it -- no change in his opinion.

Also taking another small off-topic detour:

Stompin' Tom Connors, Canadian folk/country singer best known for "The Hockey Song" which is played in hockey arenas around the world, passed away today at the age of 77.  I'm an enormous fan -- my father and I were actually going to go see him live, but never got around to it.  Hard to believe that both Stompin' Tom and my father are now both gone.  He will be sorely missed.

Here's Stompin' Tom's performance of "The Hockey Song" at the NHL Awards in 2008.  This was the last year the awards were held in Toronto before the move to Las Vegas, and also the same year that Guy was nominated for the Jack Adams Award as best NHL head coach.

Carbo in Dallas & charity tourney

Carbo attended Stars practice in Dallas today.  Here he is with other Stars greats Jere Lehtinen, Stu Barnes, and Bob Bassen.

(image credit:  Twitter / @Razor5Hole (Daryl Reaugh)

Also, tickets are now on sale for the Face a Face Celebrites charity tourney in Montreal on April 7 at the Bell Centre, which benefits the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation.  Guy will be playing.  For ticket information and to purchase go here.

Guest post: "The Day I Was Recalled"

(written by my fiance Erik, with apologies to Don MacLean)

A long, long time ago

In a rink in Halifax

I can still remember

How if I tried my best

I could outskate all the rest

And I'd be called up for a while

But my opponents made me quiver

With every hipcheck they'd deliver

Just let them notice me

Let the phone call be for me

I can't remember if I bawled

The day I got my call

But something changed me deep inside

The day I was recalled.

That call, incidentally, came from the Canadiens in March 1981.  Just a little bit of humor that I found too good to not post.

The $650 Carbonneau gamer that broke my heart

Allow me to share the story of a jersey that crushed my soul.

(image source:  Classic Auctions)

Before I finally did obtain my grail last winter, there was this jersey.  It came up in the spring 2009 Classic Auction.  Bidding on this jersey was slow, and I surmise that was because of the huge personalized autograph on the front, something that collectors tend to avoid.  Alas, I was without a job at the time, and had I had the money, this jersey would've been within my reach.  Some friends (God bless 'em), attempted to pool together some cash for me to buy it, but in the end we came up short.  Heartbreaking.

The jersey sold (before hammer fee and shipping) at just below $650.  If you know anything about Carbonneau game-worn jerseys, you'll know that this is absolute highway robbery for one of his gamers.

Now, for something I do own, which I don't believe I've ever shown on this blog:

I've had these for a few years.  They're shinguards that Guy wore in the 1996-97 season with the Dallas Stars.  (My cat Henry really wanted to get into the picture, apparently he loves Carbo too.)  I bought these from someone who had acquired them at a Stars equipment sale.  To me they're cool because Guy was known for blocking shots, and how can you block shots without shin protection?

The shinguards are also marked with his number 21.  

A new take on the HHOF's lack of action

...And we're back.  I've been dealing with some health issues of late and just haven't felt up to blogging, but I'm on the mend now, thankfully.  Also there has been little to no Carbo news to report.  He will be honored by the Dallas Stars as part of the 20th Anniversary All-Time Team in the near future, and as soon as that's announced, I'll post it up here.

I did, however, come across an interesting take on why HHOF voting results should continue to be kept secret.  It has to do with a study on status and premature death, oddly enough.  The article does sardonically mention the Hall of Fame's continued lack of action on inducting Guy, which is why it caught my attention.  You can read it here.

Also of note, Guy will be participating in a Hockey Helps the Homeless fundraiser on March 22 at the Sportplex 4 Glaces in Pierrefonds, Quebec.  All participants, no matter what their skill level, will get a chance to skate with NHL alumni -- including Guy -- that day.  Anyone interested in participating can sign up as a single player or as a team and must raise a minimum of $350 and cover his or her registration costs of $150, which includes a jersey.  Also participants must be a minimum of 19 years old to play.  For more information click here.