Bobby Orr: biography and personal life

Bobby Orr - one of the greatest hockey players of the world, played for "Boston Bruins" in late 1960 - mid 1970's. Although he played in the National Hockey League with 9 full seasons (1966-1975.), And his name can not be seen at the top of the scorers list, he is considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time. He revolutionized the game, combining defense with attack, beat defenders and records two seasons was the best scorer of the NHL.

The article is devoted to sports biography and personal life of Bobby Orr.

Hockey prodigy

Robert Gordon Orr was born in 1948 in the resort town of Parry Sound (Ontario, Canada), located on the Bay of Lake Huron Georgian Bay. His father, Douglas was a packer of dynamite at a munitions factory, and Arwa's mother worked as a waitress in a motel restaurant. The family had 4 children: Ron, Patricia, Douglas Jr. and Penny.

Like most children in Parry Sound, Bobby began to skate soon after learned to walk. As with the stick it was easier to do it early became interested in the game of hockey. The extraordinary ability of the boy were evident from the outset. By the time he was 9 years old, he was already able to play with the adults in the amateur team of his father.

A young, blond-haired and blue-eyed Bobby Orr (photo given in the article) was smaller and lighter than most of his peers (even in the best years, he had a short height 180 cm in the NHL and weighed 79 kg), but he impressed coaches Parry Sound their skill, speed and perseverance. In 1960, at age 12, he led his team in the last round of the Ontario Cup. It was during this game, Bobby began to attract the attention of hockey agents. To him we have shown interest in several clubs, but "Boston Bruins", which then was the worst in the NHL, was the most active. To win the favor of the boy, the club has donated money for a youth hockey program Parry Sound, and its representatives have regularly visited his family.

"Oshawa Generals"

Perseverance "Bruins" has paid off. In 1962, 14-year-old Bobby signed a contract with the junior hockey team "Oshawa Generals" is a farm club of the Boston NHL participant. In turn, Bobby Orr's family received a small monetary compensation and new plaster to his home. In "Oshawa" paid for his room, and he was getting $ 10 a week pocket money. Realizing that the transaction is made not in favor of his son, Douglas Orr hired an experienced Toronto lawyer Alan Eagleson to the Bobby represented in future contract negotiations. Boy homesick, and a new family treated him more severely than the parents. On his four years of performances in "Oshawa" he said, that each correspond to the results of ongoing efforts: those who have been diligent, know that in 18 years they will become professionals.

Rookie of the Year

Bobby Orr played so well in the youth team that "Boston Bruins" would take him a year earlier, if not rule prohibiting players have at least 18 years. When he appeared at the club in 1966, he became the highest paid rookie year in the history of the National Hockey League, earning 25 thousand. USD. Per year. While the average salary in the NHL was 17 thousand. USD. A year, and the biggest star league legendary Gordie Howe of the Detroit club, "Red Wings" for the year earned about 50 thousand. Dollars.

Demonstrating team spirit that brought Bobby sincere respect for teammates, he asked his lawyer Alan Eagleson organize the Association of NHL players. This played an important role in increasing the level of payment for all players. By the end of his career, Orr earned 500 thousand. USD. Per year, although this can not be compared with the money received such players as Wayne Gretzky after him. But it does not upset the high salaries of today's players. Orr longer upset that they are earning a lot of money, only 3 showed a good performance of the 10.

Sports achievements and career

Bobby Orr was in the NHL with the hype that it seemed impossible to live up to its reputation. However, he did not disappoint his fans. Despite the fact that the "Bruins" again finished at the bottom of the six National League teams in 1966-1967 season. Bobby won the Calder Trophy as the Rookie of the Year. The following season, the Boston team, reinforced by the acquisition of Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield from Chicago "Black Hawks" took the III place in the Eastern division of the NHL expanded and advanced to the playoffs of the Stanley Cup. Orr received the Norris Trophy, awarded outstanding defenders of the league (he won the prize for the next 7 seasons). Once pathetic "Bruins" is now included among the National League's most competitive teams.

Stanley Cup Champion

Further sporting achievements Bobby Orr are no less impressive. In the season of 1969-1970. "Bruins" won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 29 years, defeating the "St. Louis Blues" in four straight games in the final playoffs. Orr ensured Cup for Boston, scoring the winning goal in overtime of the fourth game. In addition to Norris Trophy he won Hart Trophy (most valuable prize NHL), Art Ross (leading League scorer) and Smyth (most valuable player in the playoff). It was the first time that a hockey player has obtained all 4 awards in a single season. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the NHL expanded rapidly in the city where hockey is traditionally not popular. The unprecedented feats of Bobby Orr allowed to sell tickets there and made hockey in the United States by the national sport. He was a key figure, a charismatic personality, around which in the 70 years to unite the whole hockey, just as the golf once united around Arnold Palmer, baseball - around Baba Ruth, and American football - around John Yuntasa.

Memorable goal of

One of the most memorable moments in the history of hockey, without a doubt, the goals scored Orr on Mother's Day May 10, 1970, after 29 years since, as a club "Boston Bruins" at last won the Stanley Cup. It was a meeting c "St. Louis Blues" in the fourth match of the championship. On the covered arena, "Boston Garden" was hot and humid, and the game just went into overtime. At 30 seconds of the 4th period Orr picked the puck at Larry Keenan and handed it to his teammate Derek Sanderson. Bobby ran to the gate, and Sanderson made him a transfer. Once Orr hit the puck, the defender of "St. Louis Blues" Noel Picard used his stick to send him flying. The goal was scored, and photographer Ray Lucier succeeded in making the famous picture of Bobby, flying through the air parallel to the ice with arms outstretched, and with an expression of joy on his face. He had just returned to the Stanley Cup in Boston.

Hard Style

The "Bruins" of the late 1960s and early 1970s, played a tough and dirty (in contrast to the elegant classical style, "Montreal Canadiens", the most frequent winner of the Stanley Cup). Bobby Orr was amazingly polite and brought off the ice, but during the game he never shied away from a fight. Although he said it was not a dirty game, and the desire to always do their work by any means, he realized later in life that violence and militancy - a bad example for children. In 1982, Orr directed a short film "The first goal," which advised the young athletes and their parents in the first place to enjoy hockey, and then win.

Sunset "Bruins"

After the "Montreal Canadiens" beat the Boston club to the playoffs the season of 1970-1971. He returned to the Stanley Cup in 1971-1972. But luck has left the team. At the end of the season some of the best players in t. H. The bright center forward Derek Sanderson, a thing of the newly created World Hockey Association. A number of quality players second tier was lost in another expansion project. Orr was left with "Bruins", but a knee injury that dogged him from the beginning of a professional career, becoming more serious. According to him, a young man everyone thinks that they are eternal and can conquer the world, but he already knew in 1974-1975, that all changed. Orr played, but not as much as before. His knees ached before, during and after the match. He could not do that before he easily managed.

Go to Chicago

In 1976, a dispute about the contract interrupted long-term relationships hockey player Bobby Orr with "Bruins". He became an advocate for the Chicago "Black Hawks" as a free agent, but due to problems with his knee for 2 seasons left on the ice only a few games. In 1978 he reluctantly announced his retirement. After breaking with the "Bruins" Orr was not prepared for the reaction of Boston fans when his jersey with number 4 was posted on the beam "Boston Garden" in 1979. This display of love has left him speechless and on the verge of tears. The same emotions accompanied the closing ceremony of the old Boston Arena in 1995 .: the legendary hockey player last drove on the ice, "Boston Garden".

Financial difficulties

Bobby Orr problems did not end with his retirement. Eagleson, represented him before he signed his first contract with the "Boston Bruinz", managed the finances of the hockey player, so that he was in great debt to the Canadian and US tax authorities. By 1980, Orr, in essence, became bankrupt. However, all the crimes Eagleson were not apparent for many years. Only in 1992, a Canadian lawyer has been charged in the US in 32 episodes of racketeering, fraud and theft relating to the time, when he led the league NHL players. He eventually served 18 months' imprisonment. In the biography of Bobby Orr has the following interesting fact: after the verdict Eagleson he and 18 other players threatened to leave the Hall of Fame if the offender will remain in it.

Heritage

Although Orr professional did not come out on the ice for more than 20 years, its influence can still be seen in the game. It still remains the only quarterback who ever was the top scorer of the National Hockey League. His manipulation of the washer, including a rotation of 360 degrees and continue to inspire, and his 30-second and longer playing in the minority remain legendary. Nevertheless, even though Orr often imitated, no one could match his ability to combine defense with attack. Although players with longer careers surpassed him in the number of goals scored, it averages at 1, 39 points for a regular game and 1, 24 per game in the playoffs, it seems, will remain for many years to record defenders.

Life

Bobby Orr and his wife Peggy, a former therapist, live in the suburbs of Boston, and also own homes on Cape Cod and in Florida. They have two sons, Darren and Brent. Orr spends his time doing a variety of investment and charitable activities. He is not interested in coaching and would like to return to professional hockey as a team owner. Orr glad that retired young. adaptation period was difficult, but he coped with everything. Now he has a good life.

In 2002, Orr left the sports marketing firm Woolf Associates, to establish his own Orr Hockey Group, representing several NHL players.