CambieKev
Scout. Future Considerations, Dobber Prospects.
- Aug 26, 2019
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I was going through some old clippings.
Gordie Howe was known as a gentleman off the ice and a terror on it. There appeared to be one incident in 1964, though, when a fan got in the way of his boarding of the team bus. That fan must have thought he was invincible, or that Gordie wouldn't be his same, fearsome self off of the ice.
A short scuffle ensued.
It's maybe the only tale I've read of Gordie taking his toughness off the ice. That fan then tried to sue for $25,000.
Howe's retelling of events:
"This guy got in the way and said to me, 'the refs call 'em right for you?' I said, sure. All right. He said, 'oh, he didn't call 'em right, huh?' He wasn't making much sense...
I asked him if he was looking for trouble. Then he stepped into me and I let him have a light punch on the nose. I took another step toward the bus and he hit me on the back of the head...
So I put down both travelling bags and let him have a good one." - Gordie Howe, March 1964 ("Sawchuk Back," The Vancouver Sun, Mar. 31, 1964).
gordie howe, 1964: you want a punch in the mouth? - puckstruck
Of all the players to pick on...
Gordie Howe was known as a gentleman off the ice and a terror on it. There appeared to be one incident in 1964, though, when a fan got in the way of his boarding of the team bus. That fan must have thought he was invincible, or that Gordie wouldn't be his same, fearsome self off of the ice.
A short scuffle ensued.
It's maybe the only tale I've read of Gordie taking his toughness off the ice. That fan then tried to sue for $25,000.
Howe's retelling of events:
"This guy got in the way and said to me, 'the refs call 'em right for you?' I said, sure. All right. He said, 'oh, he didn't call 'em right, huh?' He wasn't making much sense...
I asked him if he was looking for trouble. Then he stepped into me and I let him have a light punch on the nose. I took another step toward the bus and he hit me on the back of the head...
So I put down both travelling bags and let him have a good one." - Gordie Howe, March 1964 ("Sawchuk Back," The Vancouver Sun, Mar. 31, 1964).
Dempsey Sues: SPORT BRIEFS
The Province (1956-2010); Vancouver, British Columbia [Vancouver, British Columbia]02 Apr 1964: 13.
...
MISCELLENEOUS: ... and just to carry on the special in spring suits, a Chicago Black Hawk fan is suing Detroit Red Wings' star Gordie Howe for $25,000 damages for a punch in the mouth which "humiliated and embarrassed him."
...
Frankly Speaking
Eric Whitehead. The Province (1956-2010); Vancouver, British Columbia [Vancouver, British Columbia]20 Apr 1964: 15.
...
"The respect for Howe, on and off the ice is tremendous," said Detroit's John Walter [of the Detroit News], who'd skipped into New York between games. Whereupon Walter told a story that never did hit the news wires.
"It was just after a Detroit-Chicago game, in Detroit, and a fan, who probably had some money on the Hawks and lost it, was giving Howe a bad time outside the arena. He jostled Gordie between insults, jostled him again, and then Gordie took over. He quietly punched this idiot right on the nose and knocked him down.
"Naturally, this idiot goes running to a lawyer, and lays a charge against Howe. The preliminary hearing comes up before a judge who, as justice would have it, is a hockey fan.
"The judge hears the fellow's story through, thinks it over, and says:
"'I must warn you that I am slightly prejudiced in this case, but because of this I will lean over backward to believe your story of unprovoked assault. However, I happen to know the alleged assailant's character, and I must say that if he punched you on the nose, you must have thoroughly deserved it. Case dismissed.'"
"Then," said Walter, "the judge added: 'I think you should consider yourself very fortunate that the alleged assailant did not punch you on the nose as hard as he is able. Mr. Howe is a very powerful young man."
...
"On the basis of the evidence you've given me, any judge in my opinion would find Mr. Howe not guilty, since you admitted that you provoked him." - Judge John Sullivan, March 1964 (Doug Peden, Victoria Daily Times, Apr. 2, 1964).Fist in Face Worth $25,000, Figures Fan
Doug Peden, Sports Editor. The Victoria Daily Times (1884-1971); Victoria, British Columbia [Victoria, British Columbia]02 Apr 1964: 12.
CHICAGO (AP) - A Chicago Black Hawk fan sued Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League and their star, Gordie Howe, Wednesday for $25,000 damages for a punch in the mouth.
Robert Rosenthal, 20, charged in his circuit court suit that "Howe's unprovoked attack humiliated, embarrassed and held him up to public ridicule."
In Detroit on Monday, Howe said he punched "an abusive Chicago Black Hawks fan a good one" as the Red Wings were leaving Chicago Stadium after their 5-4 victory over the Hawks Sunday night.
On Monday, Rosenthal attempted to obtain a warrant against Howe, but Judge John Sullivan of Monroe Street court refused to grant one.
"On the basis of the evidence you've given me," Judge Sullivan said, "any judge in my opinion would find Mr. Howe not guilty, since you admitted that you provoked him."
Rosenthal's suit said a cut he received on his lip required eight stitches and had become infected and swollen to three times its normal size.
Columnist Stephen Smith wrote a little bit about it earlier this year.Sawchuk Back in Goal For Wings Tonight - Howe Punches Fan
The Sun (1959-1973); Vancouver, Canada [Vancouver, Canada]31 Mar 1964: 17.
Detroit scoring ace Gordie Howe punched a Chicago fan and was backed up by a Chicago judge.
The incident occurred at Chicago Stadium Sunday night as the Wings were leaving to catch a bus.
...
The fan, Robert Rosenthal, appeared in Monroe Street Court with a swollen mouth and said eight stitches were needed to close the wound. He asked for a warrant to have Howe arrested.
Judge John Sullivan, after hearing Rosenthal's story, said:
"I will not perform a useless act. On the basis of the evidence you've given me, any judge in my opinion would find Mr. Howe not guilty, since you admitted you provoked him."
Howe's version of the incident was this:
"This guy got in the way and said to me, 'the refs call 'em right for you?' I said, sure. All right. He said, 'oh, he didn't call 'em right, huh?' He wasn't making much sense.
"I asked him if he was looking for trouble. Then he stepped into me and I let him have a light punch on the nose. I took another step toward the bus and he hit me on the back of the head.
"So I put down both travelling bags and let him have a good one."
gordie howe, 1964: you want a punch in the mouth? - puckstruck
In the aftermath of Rosenthal’s dismissal at court, his mother, whose name may have been Veronica but is given in at least one account as Veronia, mentioned that lawyers would be consulted. Sure enough, before the week was out, just in time for Howe’s birthday, Rosenthal filed a lawsuit seeking US$25,000 for damages from number 9 and the Red Wings, claiming “Howe’s unprovoked attack humiliated, embarrassed, and held him up to public ridicule.” He noted, too, that his wound had become infected and swollen to three times its regular size.
Howe and/or Wings may have settled the suit — whatever happened, the incident vanished from the press.
As for the NHL, president Clarence Campbell said he’d investigate, though he didn’t expect anything to come of it. “I’m not too excited about it,” he said, “and I doubt there’ll be any league action against Howe. After the game is over and he’s out of the rink, it’s not really an NHL affair, although these incidents can’t do anything for our public image.”
Of all the players to pick on...
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