Celebration of the Canadiens winning the Stanley Cup on May 16, 1977. There is a lack of cones… Credit: Michael Dugas/The Gazette
FORT LAUDERDALE- Tempus fugit, sang Plume Latraverse in Roberval the evening he caused a riot at the Traversée Internationale du Lac St-Jean.
Tempus fugit and nothing better than working with young colleagues to make it happen. Yesterday morning, I was on the air with the two Anthonys. Marcotte and Desaulniers. Two very competent professionals.
We were talking about the riots that devastated Montreal after the Stanley Cup victories in 1986 and 1993. Comparing it with the joyous celebrations and drunken parties that enlivened the night in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Boca Raton after the Panthers’ victory.
One of the Anthonys spoke of the riots which accompanied the Canadian’s victories…
Tempus fugit. There weren’t always riots. I covered the 1976 parade after the win over the Philadelphia Flyers. A million people. The police had said 750,000 but I had counted the legs and divided by two. In 1976, Doc Mailloux still had both legs. Two million legs were installed along Sainte-Catherine. And there had been no incidents. Like in 1977, 1978 and 1979.
It was in 86, when the Canadian had won in Calgary, that we had the first riot of thugs. The thugs who smashed the windows of the Catherine.
In 1993, the last Cup won in Canada, journalists were asked to stay locked in the Forum because there was so much noise in the corner. Thugs and thugs.
We were talking about 1993 when I realized that the Anthonys were two years old in 93. For them, these riots and these conquests date from before Creation. At least their creation.
We can reassure them. There is nothing left to smash and steal on Rue Sainte-Catherine. Besides, there is no longer rue Sainte-Catherine.
The Panthers parade will take place on Ocean or on A1A. There is not an orange cone. In Montreal, the Canadian can no longer win a Stanley Cup. We no longer have streets to hold a parade!
Legoland Florida honored the Panthers’ victory using 400 pieces Credit: Legoland Florida
And with permit requests, the parade would get underway in January. In skidoos.
This is why the leaders of the CH, great corporate citizens, are not in a hurry to win, they know their streets and their town.
So much so that the Canadian’s extraordinary marketing department found a new word to keep fans waiting. And the fefans.
The mix. We want to be in the mix said Geoff Molson.
What is the mix? It’s not the playoffs, it’s something between the 22th and the 16th positions. Le CH 21th, we’re going to be in the mix. We will be satisfied.
That way, no problem. No riot. No pressure. No parade. We’re in the mix.
STEVE CLAGGETT DOIT BOXER COCHON
Steve Claggett has been all smiles since his arrival in Miami. Come fight week, Claggett is still feeling good about himself. It was in the long months between two battles that he became moody and irascible: “He was bored all alone in Montreal. It’s difficult for him. In the week of a fight, he feels in his element. I spoke to him today and he had a good voice. He is with Giuseppe, Mick Gadbois, Claudia and Camille Estephan. His father is about to arrive from Calgary, he is feeling much better,” said Mike Moffa late yesterday afternoon.
Giuseppe Moffa, Claggett and Mick Gadbois. Credit: Claudia Marisol
Words that his son and coach Giuseppe Moffa endorses in Miami. It was Giuseppe who made the trip to Florida. But the father is on the phone a few times a day.
Mike hopes Claggett will be able to be a dirtier boxer than usual. That’s his expression. By this he means that facing Teófimo López, a true phenomenon, will require something more: “It’s not in his nature as a gentleman but Steve should try to be a bit like Jean Pascal. Pig boxer shorts. Hitting, holding, putting weight on the arms, using the elbows, anything that will disturb López. The first minutes of all the rounds are going to be complicated, we know that. But Steve is so durable that he will win as the rounds progress,” explained Mike Moffa.
We hope so. But the customer is very high end.
And basically, everyone, both in Montreal and Miami, knows that you can’t recondition a boxer in a few days.
Claggett should box dirty.
He will box clean, it’s in his nature…
IN THE NOTEBOOK
– The press conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. today in Miami. We’re going to be there…
