Thinking About Writing A Book

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

Goring was the final piece to the puzzle and why the Islanders won those Cups. Great penalty killer and played his best when it mattered the most. He also wore that old helmet forever and just painted it every year. He was substance and not style.

[JimmyC]

Originally Posted by jakebeckleyoldeagleeye

Goring was the final piece to the puzzle and why the Islanders won those Cups. Great penalty killer and played his best when it mattered the most. He also wore that old helmet forever and just painted it every year. He was substance and not style.

Goring and Tonelli and don't forget Mr. Islander himself, Bobby Nystrom.....

Goring was definitely the final piece for the dynasty run to begin......and no one - no one was tougher on the boards than Tonelli and Nystrom.....

They don't win four in a row without those three guys.....even with the HOF talent they had at the time with Potvin, Bossy, Smith, Trottier and Gillies.....

IMHO....

[perezfan]

I'll be the third to say Dave Parker. He WAS the most feared hitter in baseball for quite a few years, he had the cannon throwing arm, and he's got the lifetime stats.

I believe the writers had issues with him, but that should be water under the bridge. I'm all for a "small hall" but would like to see Parker get in.

[jingram058]

Interesting stories, overlooked stories, who to include, who to leave out. I think the list is coming together.

I anticipate approximately 200 pages, + or -

Strongly desire to populate this with rarely seen photos, even newspaper clippings and cards and such. Not the same old, stale images we've all seen a million times. If I use your stuff, I will ask for and get permission or I will use something else.

[jingram058]

Ned Williamson? George Gore? Bobby Lowe?

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by perezfan

I believe the writers had issues with him, but that should be water under the bridge. I'm all for a "small hall" but would like to see Parker get in.

My uncle had an HoF vote and covered Parker’s career in Pittsburgh. I know he liked him. I know that Parker and Stargell always chatted up my grandmother when she visited Uncle Charley in Pittsburgh.

Uncle Charley most definitely voted for him. But perhaps the out of town writers didn’t like him. Good question.

[Kevin]

I could have sworn Pete Browning WAS in the HoF already.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by JimmyC

Goring and Tonelli and don't forget Mr. Islander himself, Bobby Nystrom.....

Goring was definitely the final piece for the dynasty run to begin......and no one - no one was tougher on the boards than Tonelli and Nystrom.....

They don't win four in a row without those three guys.....even with the HOF talent they had at the time with Potvin, Bossy, Smith, Trottier and Gillies.....

IMHO....

Tonelli is really close. Counting WHA, he has almost 1000 professional points. I asked him about it once and he said if he had thought about it at the time, he’d have held on for a bit to get those 14 points.

But look at Goring’s Kings’ career; the guy was an all star. He sort of played in obscurity out there all those years. We have seen Goring’s career and Carboneau’s career. I’ll ask anyone that saw those two play: you are starting a franchise and have to pick one of those players, who are you picking? You take the 32 GMs now, I’d say 24 take Goring. Probably more.

[JimmyC]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Tonelli is really close. Counting WHA, he has almost 1000 professional points. I asked him about it once and he said if he had thought about it at the time, he’d have held on for a bit to get those 14 points.

But look at Goring’s Kings’ career; the guy was an all star. He sort of played in obscurity out there all those years. We have seen Goring’s career and Carboneau’s career. I’ll ask anyone that saw those two play: you are starting a franchise and have to pick one of those players, who are you picking? You take the 32 GMs now, I’d say 24 take Goring. Probably more.

Yup….I’d take Goring all day long…..

People don’t realize what it takes to win 4 Cups in a row….it takes Goring, Tonelli, Nystrom ( the bad boys ) and the 5 HOFers and quick skaters like Bourne and defensive gems like Morrow….may never see it again…….and guys like Langevin, Sutter, Lane were no slouches……

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by JimmyC

Yup….I’d take Goring all day long…..

People don’t realize what it takes to win 4 Cups in a row….it takes Goring, Tonelli, Nystrom ( the bad boys ) and the 5 HOFers and quick skaters like Bourne and defensive gems like Morrow….may never see it again…….and guys like Langevin, Sutter, Lane were no slouches……

My dad always states: Bobby Bourne on any other team is an all star. (If he played in Toronto or Montreal, we’d still be hearing his name.) he also says that 5th Cup really isn’t in ‘84, it’s ‘78 or ‘79. And that’s what Goring did. Made them believe they were that good.

During the pandemic, I started watching a lot of those mid 80s Oiler teams. I used to give the edge to the Isles because, well, I’m from Long Island, but also Arbour over Sather. But those Oiler teams were probably just as good as the Isles. Over an 80 game season the teams are probably 35-35-10 (that’s 10 ties, not “loser point shoot out nonsense”.)

[JimmyC]

Originally Posted by refz

My childhood hero was Mattingly. That being said, in my opinion he don’t belong in. He was good (great) for couple of years and that’s it. Unless his managerial credentials amount to anything, still a no. Players that fall in this category regardless, no!!!!

Originally Posted by Kevin

My dad always states: Bobby Bourne on any other team is an all star. (If he played in Toronto or Montreal, we’d still be hearing his name.) he also says that 5th Cup really isn’t in ‘84, it’s ‘78 or ‘79. And that’s what Goring did. Made them believe they were that good.

During the pandemic, I started watching a lot of those mid 80s Oiler teams. I used to give the edge to the Isles because, well, I’m from Long Island, but also Arbour over Sather. But those Oiler teams were probably just as good as the Isles. Over an 80 game season the teams are probably 35-35-10 (that’s 10 ties, not “loser point shoot out nonsense”.)

Can’t disagree - but the Isles won four straight - almost five and 19 - nineteen straight playoff series in a row…..just incredible….the Oilers were great back then….5 Cups in 7 years I believe? I would take the Isles lineup all day long….but like you, I am biased being from Long Island….

[Mungo Hungo]

So unless you’re advocating for a big expansion of the HOF, it would seem that you should have a chapter on players who, in a perfect world, would be expunged. Otherwise, you’re bascially just moving the bar lower, which creates borderline HOFers out of players who are currently very good, but not all that close. Then someone pushes for the new borderline players to come in, and the pattern repeats itself.

A chapter on revising the standards and voting procedures might help too. There are plently of stories about certain people having outsized influence to get in their own favorites. And the whole thing has been done with a decided lack of professionalism since the beginning. Whay does it have to be that way?