My Sports Heroes - (Borje Salming)

Dear Borje Salming,

Thank you for being a hero of mine. I admire your courage and work ethic. You have inspired me to be a better 'me' and to be more diligent in my training for sports and for life. You are from a community and a family that definitely knows the meaning and importance of hard work. I understand how difficult it must have been for you to lose your father at such a young age. My father also died suddenly when I was nine years old. You persevered however, and became arguably the best player to have ever played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and certainly one of the best in the league. That is a testament to your determination and inner strength. I have learned a lot from your story.

I visited Toronto in February of 1978 and went to Maple Leaf Gardens to watch YOU play. It was the same night as ‘King’ Clancy’s 75th Birthday celebration. I liked that I got to watch you play that night because your nickname was also ‘King’ – the same as Mr. Clancy’s.

You didn't score any points that night but you were '+1' with two shots-on-net and you played amazing defense in a 4-0 victory over the Washington Capitals. In the intermission between the first and the second period, I climbed the stairs up to their viewing box and introduced myself to Mr. Clancy and Mr. Ballard between periods and congratulated Mr. Clancy on the occasion of his birthday.

I asked them both who their favorite players were, and they answered me unanimously, and without hesitation - “Borje Salming”. I agreed and told them that I was there that evening for the exact same reason - to see Borje Salming play hockey.

They both laughed and King Clancy thanked me and wondered, “Should I feel hurt to think that you didn’t attend tonight just to wish me a ‘Happy Birthday’? Never mind though, I’ll forgive you, since it is the ‘other King’ we’re talking about.”

At a time when the NHL desperately needed a fix from its ROLLERBALL mentality, you came into the league – you were like a breath of fresh air. You made plays that no one had ever seen before. On Feb. 7, 1976, you scored 2 goals and added 2 assists in a game where you were only the second star. It was like finally being on the Ed Sullivan Show and getting to come on RIGHT AFTER the 'Beatles'. Of course, that was the same night that Darryl Sittler scored six goals, and added another four assists for his famous 10-point game. There were also at least three seasons in your career where you could have easily won the Norris Trophy but it seems that Bobby Orr, Denis Potvin and Larry Robinson were bigger names at the time and they sort of won the award by acclimation, and certainly not because they were any better or more productive than you. I am glad you played for the Leafs in all those years, but surely if you had been playing for the New York Islanders, you would have had six, or maybe seven, consecutive Norris Trophies. No matter how the voting turned out – you were definitely the most creative and most consistently brilliant defenseman, day in and day out, season after season in the league during the NHL years from 1973 to 1985.

You are the reason I began enjoying NHL hockey again and resuming my love for the Toronto Maple Leafs. You are the reason I wore a JOFA hockey helmet when I played and why I wore number ‘21’ on my back. You were a perfect role model for me – tough as nails and smooth as silk. I worked harder at hockey and life because of you. I tried new approaches and took more risks so I could be like Borje Salming. Even though I never came close to your skill level, your style and your grace, my teammates nicknamed me ‘Borje’. That was my greatest honor ever in the game of hockey.

And finally, I wish you well and with all the luck in the world, in your most recent battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It is a cruel blow to such a vibrant and talented individual. Let it be known though that you will always be truly appreciated and admired by your fans, your teammates, and anyone who has ever been associated with the game of hockey. You are the best.

Thanks again ‘King Borje’, and take care always.

All the Best, from a fan and an admirer,

John O. Smith