Glory days gone on and off the ice

Re: “Fighting through the pain” (Montreal Gazette, Sept. 15)

Every year, when I see the ritual coverage of the Canadiens’ annual physical, I think: “Yes, but can they score?”

Many years ago I remember an interview with Bobby Orr about what he did during the summer to prepare for the coming season, and he answered that, in August, while watching TV, he would do push-ups and sit-ups during the commercials.

Orr could score, and the hockey was great. Yes, players today are faster, bigger and stronger, and the game is quicker and more strategic, but it has suffered.

Hoopla, flashing lights and T-shirt cannons are attempts to compensate, but the glory days are gone, probably forever, in the view of this aging hockey fan. It’s the same with cars, air travel and so many other facets of modern life: often faster and more reliable, but at a cost.

Nowadays cars almost always start and seldom rust, but we can’t move. In a few years, we are told, we won’t even drive them. Air travel is readily available and reliable, but a growing hassle.

Marketing will convince us to buy the latest hockey jerseys and scream for the T-shirts as the music blasts. As our smart cars, planes and trains move us along, we will solemnly sit and stare at our smartphones and check on our fantasy teams.

Then again, maybe the Canadians might yet hire a scoring coach or two.

Jerry Dunn, Laval