"Mr. Hockey," who gave his family and fans a scare a few days before Halloween, is said to be doing better as the 86th November of his life begins.
"“Dad’s spirits are good and his competitive attitude remains strong,” Gordie Howe's family says in a statement as he recovers in Texas from a serious stroke Oct. 26.
As it turns out, the life-threatening setback brings a kind of blessing in disguise -- recollections, tributes and emotions of the type that sometimes flow too late for a hero to hear.
"Gordie Howe, as an athlete and a gentleman, remains beyond special," a Toronto sports columnist writes.
"With his days numbered, you’ll be reading a lot about Howe’s hockey heroics," Ann Arbor sports commentator and author John U. Bacon predicted on Michigan Radio Friday morning. While the first half of his statement is speculative, the rest certainly is true.
An outpouring in publications, sportscasts and social media began when the elderly star's condition seemed dire, and grew to arena size as fans rose at the Joe in a televised get-well display Friday night (video below). Howe watched on a family member's iPad like a real-life Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer hearing their own eulogies.
Those honoring the hockey Hall of Famer include Steve Yzerman, who was an 18-year-old Wings rookie when they first met in 1983. Reminiscing with Helene St. James of the Free Press, Yzerman describes the 23-time All-Star as "very humble, very down to earth, just a really nice person."
The Detroit News solicited and shares 20 readers' tributes in a heartfelt roundup that includes fans' anecdotes from childhood. "Mr. Hockey, you pulled my winter hat off at the Detroit Skating Club when I was about 10 years old," recalls Laure Lampi of Plymouth. "You were my hockey idol."
At NBC, hockey announcer and commentator Michael "Doc" Emrick delivered a memorial-like career and personal retrospective three days after the stroke, recalling "the firm handshake, the pleasant smile . . . that great heart."
A Sports Illustrated writer, Windsor native Allan Muir, posts a personal essay about "my treasured moments" with Howe. "Gordie has staged more than a few comebacks along the way," he writes. "Here's hoping he's got at least one more in him."
And in Toronto, sports columnist Dave Feschuk of The Star describes him as "one of the nicest people in sports" and quotes "stories being swapped around the hockey world on Wednesday, the morning after it was made known Howe had suffered what his family called 'a significant stroke.' "
There remains an undeniable awareness and reverence. . . . Howe has earned enduring respect in the player fraternity. . . .
Gordie Howe, as an athlete and a gentleman, remains beyond special. The hockey world was heartened to know that he was resting at his daughter’s home in Texas on Wednesday, that he was in good spirits, that he was making progress.
Word had it that the stroke had impaired the use of his right side. To which any respectable hockey historian would reply — no problem, he’s ambidextrous. . . .
Nobody who met him will ever forget him. And nobody wants to say goodbye any time soon.
