Thicke a dear friend to sports world
Canadian entertainer Alan Thicke — a longtime sports fan with a strong connection to the hockey world — was remembered fondly by the sports community Wednesday.
Thicke, from Kirkland Lake, Ont., died Tuesday at age 69. Hockey legend and longtime friend Wayne Gretzky offered his thoughts in a post on Twitter.
“Janet & I are deeply saddened to hear of Alan’s passing. He was a wonderful man, father, husband and friend. He will be missed by all. RIP Alan,” Gretzky tweeted.
A photo of the actor with Gretzky, Phil Esposito and Gordie Howe — all wearing all-star uniforms — was posted on the NHL’s Twitter feed.
“In addition to being a passionate fan, Alan was an energetic participant in many of our events, including all-star, charity games and awards shows,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “He frequently attended games, and was with us as recently as September’s World Cup.
“Alan always displayed humour and grace and he will be greatly missed.”
Thicke told mlb.com last year that he named his youngest son Carter after former Toronto Blue Jays great Joe Carter and former Montreal Expos catcher Gary Carter.
“I was sitting in the bathtub,” Thicke said. “We knew that we were having a boy and we were wrestling with a name and what would we do. And then I’m watching a documentary on the sports channel about Canadian baseball heroes … and sure enough, Joe Carter, for hitting those home runs, and Gary Carter, being a great Expo catcher. And I said, ‘Eureka!’ Out of the tub and we have a name for the kid.”
Joe Carter said Thicke shared that story with him when they met at a golf tournament a few years ago in Las Vegas. They became friends and Thicke often participated in Carter’s annual charity golf tournament in the Toronto area.
“Our lives are better because of him,” Carter said Wednesday from Kansas City. “My life is better because of him.”