FIRST WORD

Players get more reflective in the years following retirement

Ithe 2004 All-Star Game in Saint Paul, and one of the hot topics is T’S MEDIA DAY AT NonHeLiniswinhiachpearnioidrriotfatAinllgnStoa-rshGoawmse.-Tithise, tniucimpabteerfionfdpalanyesrcsawpehohaatrceh.sIet’lsecatetdrentod pthaartpevlaeynetrusaflolyr opnreomgapmtse itfhtehelyeapguullea Htoousduisnpie. nd

Martin Brodeur is not one of those players. arpeTpehaerDanecveilsinsuapenrinstea-ryeisarmsatkreintcghhaisnedigtheltlhs porters he relishes the weekend. He says he Iwktn’asonwatssmthoismatbeimsnoterboinftthsheelfrs-apywostalarigsehnltoeinsssgfiansitrpee,osasonsnidbahlneet. EasnethrgeyACrecntitcerw. inds howling outside the Xcel

Typically, that mindset isn’t planted in players until after they’ve retired. That’s a generiwanlihtzeoartvaiiorenew, gsae,nnbduittnhetehlryeeyta’hrroeeutgshhoetmfumelianacontrdivitecya.anAtdhnildetetinos igt’sthuenmdehrsatvaendsuablset.aTnhtiealmdoesmt apnodpsuanlarexatemnotn, sohnotuhledierrstiamned, the tparsekssouf raensowf earicnitgythone stahmeier pionruqbsuliimcreliyrlascrraiqrtuieceanslteioaofrn-tsahdreveepprelsaaaytreeirdelsoy,.rhShaoivmsinetgeoabmf etehine their work. For most, dealing with the media hisoackneycepslsaayreyrse’vciol,doen. e that’s embedded in the

That tends to change post-career and is part bmeosroeeanvteariltabinleionfgt.heTrheasporninocriaplahlsisatorreieosftcean banacdksihnatrheetdhainygosr tdhiedyn’teitthhienrk wtoesraey.gIunatrhdeinsge ochfaintsfo, ramautsiionnganbuogugtestosmanedofbouurirefdavtoreraitseuarellsbtiemset fimndesmyooruie’lsl raeraed uin tehaertehnesdu. inSgompaegeosf atrhee: MKeurrrryayF,rdauserirnignfaonrminetderCmaipsita•lsWcohaacthreBfreyraene dsioingotfhtehreemEaasitnedreErpoifct,hoeffgiacimales(wpgo.u1l7d)n.’t be

• The misfortune that befell Washington napgnorigiadohlriste.etBotiontbhgeMthIaesslsoatna,dgferrofsomrtyatinhneegxstcahemepteciognaamtellseyt,ljo2un-s2gt

• The serendipitous reason why rookie Daryl Evans, the unlikely overtime hero of the lKininegusp’ Mthiartacnlieghotn(Mpga.n1c2h)e. ster, was even in the

• How coach Kevin Dineen changed the Ochlyempisitcrtyeaomf wthiteh a20cr1e4ditCcaanradd(iapng. 6w8o)m. en’s

• What was on Oshawa goalie Fred Bcoruatnhtwerapiater’ts Mmiikned,Totrhcehriat,hasn hcoensoklaitnegdhtios the opposite end of the ice after his team 1sc9o9r0edMetmheordiaoluCbulep-ofivnearlt(ipmge. 1w07in)n. er in the iWn thhaet iBnrfauminosugso1a9li7e9Gtiolloe-smGailnbye-rmt,etnhegavmicetim• angadinwshtaMt othnetrreaslu, lwt wouoludldlobve (tpogd. o29to).morrow pagWees bareeliesvpectihael, rliekseulatsploafytehrein ethxte 1p5r0im-peluosf his career. Yes we know we’re biased, but at least we’re self-aware.

DARYL EVANS