After watching the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs and witnessing a hat trick just last week, I would just like to say that former Flyer Rod Brind'Amour is the greatest hockey player of all-time. He is 37 and, like a fine wine, he gets better with age, as he is currently fourth in NHL scoring with 18 points in 12 games.
You are the man, Rod.
Former Flyer Rod Brind' Amour used both his dominant faceoff skills and an intimidating mid-surname apostrophe to help the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup in 2006.
I have been a Flyers fan my entire life and have had many favorite players through the years.
It can be argued that Dale Hawerchuk was my all-time favorite, for he had one of the most underrated careers ever. I also went through an Eric Desjardins stage, but that didn’t last too long. There is definitely no arguing that I enjoyed watching a conscious Eric Lindros more than any other, as he worked his magic throughout the years. After that, I became fond of Keith Primeau. Today, I would have to say that no one player hypes me up like Sami Kapanen (yes, he is in my MySpace Top 8. This is no lie.)
However, I believe it to be truth that consistently, over the course of my Flyers life, Rod Brind'Amour was my day-to-day favorite player.
I love you, Rod.
What other player would ride the stationary bike more than Brind'Amour? The dude was an animal on that thing. How can you not love a man who sits in an empty arena hours before the puck drops, meditating and visualizing the ensuing battle? Granted, in reality, the man may be a psychotic serial killer, but still!
Go Rod, Go!
And that nose. Ahhh, that nose. His nose has suffered more breaks than dishes from a bus boy with Parkinson’s, and he still carried an impressive iron man streak with the Fly Guys. It does not matter how many hills and valleys are on that schnoz, it is still beautiful to me.
I admire you, Rod.
The scrappy play of this man is what makes me love him the most. Grinding the puck out of the corner and winning strength battles in the face-off circle is just another day at the office for #17. And when he is done fighting for his team, the chewed-up, slobber-filled mouthpiece, hanging out of his mouth, gives him a legendary characteristic that I will indeed tell my future children about. That scrappiness makes him a wonderful captain, and gives him my personal nickname, Scrappy Cappy.
I will follow you, Rod.
With his jersey halfway tucked in, his nose piercing through the cold air above the hockey rink and his hair flapping like old glory, Rod Brind'Amour is definitely my favorite non-Flyer and one sexy individual.
I salute you, Rod.
Now, I used to be hard on my man when he wore the orange and black. I would call him Rod Backhand'Amour for his frequent and unnecessary tendency to resort to the backhand in many situations. I would also ridicule him on his unappealing looks, specifically his nose. I sincerely regret any of this, as I now realize that he is sloppily dapper and the greatest hockey player of all time, better than Gretzky, Lemieux, Howe, Orr and Crosby.
I’m sorry, Rod.
When the Flyers traded Rod the Bod for Keith Primeau, I was hurt and had an immediate hate for the concussion-stricken Flyers captain. I learned to love Primeau and he was my favorite Flyer for some time there, especially after his performance in the 2004 playoffs. However, I am pretty sure that I would reverse that trade if given the opportunity, even if concussions were not an issue. I have a certain itch and only Brindy can scratch it.
I yearn for you, Rod.
Look at the name: Rod Brind'Amour. It is classic. Rod, whether it is short for Rodney or not, is abrupt, yet regal, and it demands the respect of the entire human race. And, how cool is it that his last name has an apostrophe after five letters. That is rebellious and the coolest thing ever.
Ku'dos t'o y'ou, Rod.
Anyway, it is my belief that there is a little Rod in all of us (wow, that doesn’t sound good). But, taking our minds out of the gutter, you will see that I speak the truth. I sometimes feel that I am the Rod Brind'Amour of my men’s league hockey team. I am an iron man, who does all the scrappy, grinder work that helps the team immensely, yet does not get credited. But, like Rod, I’m humble, and that’s OK because I take pride that I am playing hockey the right way… the Rod Brind'Amour way.
You’re my idol, Rod.
If and when the Flyers are no longer in contention, I hope that you all watch this god in action and root for the legendary Rod Brind'Amour to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup.
He will win a few more before his 2030 retirement. I know he will.
Go get ‘em, Rod!
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