The Gordie Howe Hat Trick

Dear Blog Diary,

Reputation matters, yet we don’t control it.

Eric’s definition of a pussy: someone who cannot endure and abandons their character and/or convictions in the face of adversity or fear.

How easily do you quit, half-ass it, don’t do what you believe to be right just because it’s hard or you’re afraid?

I admire when someone has years in whatever they love, especially pre-mainstream boom.

Not like my brother is Royal Robbins but he has OG status in climbing. My buddy Austin has been on a snowboard 2/3+ of his life. I started breaking 26 years ago.

I notice patterns.

The OG’s ego is quiet. They don’t put their craft as a primary part of their identity, yet they have more reason to. They celebrate beginners and envy them. What a beginner gets to experience for the first time with such joy, the OG experienced decades ago and probably didn’t appreciate it at the time, wishing they could go back.

Indisputably what I find is that the OG respects “try hard.”

In my camp, we fucking love try hard and we don’t give a fuck how good you are. Bonus points if you don’t take yourself so seriously.

I’m not at all a hockey guy but I wish I was. I’m allergic to grass and grew up with nothing but futbolers. Sometimes I felt left out. I consider hockey the cold, non-grass equivalent to futbol and I always wondered if I would’ve been any good. Yet I don’t know shit about the sport.

One term I learned is the “Gordie Howe Hat Trick.”

In a single game you have a goal, an assist, and a fight.

Skill to score, make plays, but still have that toughness to drop the gloves.

The record holder of the Gordie Howe hat trick is Rick Tocchet, former Canadian player and current head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. The record sits at 18.

How many times did Gordie Howe himself have one?

Twice.

Truth is, they only call it that because Gordie Howe earned that reputation that on any given Sunday he is liable to do all three, not that he actually did it a lot.

Reputation matters yet we don’t control it. We choose who we want to be and make choices. Chips fall where they may.

I recommend whatever you do, really try hard…and don’t be a pussy.

Best,

Eric

#ARTiculate