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Ironman streak ends

The Living Legend's ironman streak is over. The fellow founding father missed Sunday's game to attend to a family emergency in a faraway city. It was his first scratch from the Sunday Morning lineup in more than three years.

"It was shocking," says notorious gameshow host gone bad, Wink, the only other roadster who's career spans every era of Sunday Morning Road Hockey. "It was really kinda frightening to see the game without our leader, without our heart and soul."

"I can't even begin to wrap my head around that," says Elvis, who had never played a game in his career without the Living Legend on the court. Until Sunday.

The Legend's longetivity is all the more remarkable in that he's also the game's oldest player. While other roadsters may cower from the rain or snow, he's usually the first player at the courts, sweeping standing water into the drains or working on his patented shot from impossible angles.

"You just have to have him around," says Billy Idol, another roadster for whom the Legend has been a constant presence throughout his tenure. "We're not going to have anybody off in the corner for those backhand shots."

But, says Wink, the Legend's contribution to the game goes far beyond his knuckleball shot.

"I think it's really important for any of the senior guys to really show the younger guys what it means to be commited. Part of the reason we've been going through these great seasons is because of these guys who've stuck it out and taught the younger guys what it means to show up every week in the rain, snow or sleet."

It's a lesson not lost on the game's newer players.

"He gives guys something to look up to," says Rudy, who had his first flirtation with the game only three seasons ago, before becoming a full-time player last season. "We need those guys to set an example for the young guys."

And with the Legend absent, that role fell to the game's other stalwart veterans.

"To fill his shoes for even one week was pretty daunting," says Wink. "It was a frightening challenge, to have to make the decisions and to step up and really show some leadership."

For another veteran, it was an opportunity to showcase his own waning talents.

"Everybody has to miss a week now and then," says Paul One. "(Without the Legend) it was a lot more freewheeling, there's not an extra body sort of clogging things up."

Posted by jaysuburb at December 7, 2003 10:23 PM