Bobby Orr arranged surgery for his hips destroyed by prednisone. When no takers stepped forward before the next season, he retired from the game.[18]. "[The money] just sped up the process," he says. I recently interviewed Derek Sanderson, the NHL hockey player, in Toronto during a dinner sponsored by Healthy Minds Canada. In 1980, through the good graces of Orr, he checked into rehab in Ste. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. I didn't think I was special or different. You could trust him. Web1967 Topps. Harry Sinden had it going, there was nothing he did not think of and I never went into a game that Harry Sinden didnt give me something to think about, said Sanderson. He said, Youre a centerman, so win them all., I tried some things that I had never tried before and I had some success.. I'll wear a sweatshirt home.'. He drank at 12 after his girlfriend dumped him, and then at 14, consumed four beers in rapid succession. Sanderson also acts as financial advisor for athletes in Boston. There were two aspects of Sandersons game that were crucial in the recently expanded NHL when he broke in with the Bruins in the 1968-69 season. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. The snooty treatment embarrassed Derek Sanderson, who had grown up poor. [They've] got some great players. The content within Cybergolf.com is copyright-protected by its publisher, Orbit Enterprises, Inc. No part of Cybergolf.com may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from Orbit Enterprises. Get a hold of Harry and write a book. Derek Sanderson was living the life of a sports playboy until he hit rock bottom- but he came back ready to make a difference in other athletes' lives. But signs of trouble developed immediately. He co-founded a sports wealth management group in 1990. His substance abuse spiraled out of control. If you work hard, they're not gonna throw rocks at you. How hard was your famous sweep check and could it be taught today? WebThe two Stanley Cup championships, 1970 and 1972 were, but for the man they called "Turk," the first one had to be sweeter, simply because of the circumstances surrounding The two-time Stanley Cup champion set up the epic overtime goal scored by Boston Bruins teammate Bobby Orr that clinched the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals, widely considered to be the greatest goal in National Hockey League history. He was in traction. I like that they go in and get involved. He lectured about drug and alcohol awareness in schools and worked as a broadcaster in Boston. Montreal. was playing for the Bruins. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. It made him mad, vindictive and then foolish. The Pittsburgh Penguins signed Sanderson as a free agent in 197778. Access articles from across Canada with one account. The owner of the Bruins wisely cautioned him that, for someone not bred to wealth, it would ruin his life. BostonBruins.com -There has, perhaps, never been a greater character - and storyteller - in the history of the Boston Bruins than Derek Sanderson. WebTurk: Directed by John Curran. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Draft beer used to be a nickel.. What is wrong with reporter Susan Raff's arm on WFSB news? The game-winning play was a give-and-go pass from Sanderson to Orr in the slot and Blues Hall of Fame goalie Glenn Hall never had a chance. This is a problem for anyone who has to travel for work. WebSanderson asked the Bruins for an $80,000 contract. A modified version of this story originally appeared in the June 4, 2012, issue of Sportsnet magazine. Bobby ended up parallelI was amazed that that [photographer] caught it right at that moment. Then it was over pretty quickly. Sandersons signature play was the sweep check, a wildly successful defensive dodge that created turnovers and reduced the number of body blows he absorbed in a game. Bobby wasn't there, he wouldn't do something like that. While the doctor took him off the Valium, Sanderson still needed something to calm his nerves before a flight. Would give himself a lot more opportunities. (See video). Harry Sinden was a genius. Unfortunately, the Philadelphia sortie did not have a happy ending. The film's director Doug Atchison last directed Akeelah and the Bee and Class Act. I didnt understand it.. It remains the only time in Bruins history that they had consecutive Calder Trophy winners.[8]. In 2017, on the 100th anniversary of the league, fans voted the so-called Flying Goal as the greatest in its history. He cares that much about his players, he never called us by our nicknames. He paid for it all with his credit card. What is one story from 1970 that people might not know? The 21-year-old scored 24 goals and 49 points in 71 games. He actually cut with a saw and sawed off his shin pads because the normal ones wouldn't fit him. WebDerek Sanderson, popularly called Turk, is a former professional ice hockey player. The film's writer Doug Atchison last wrote Brian Banks and Akeelah and the Bee. "Bobby and I talked for a while, and then when I went to leave I walked straight into the wall. Movie Insider is a registered service mark of The Movie Insider LLC. A look at the Turk behind-the-scenes crew and production team. Sanderson played only eight games with the Blazers and was kicked off the team at the end of the season. Doctors diagnosed him with chronic ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease that isnt helped by excessive alcohol consumption. The first thing he did was purchase a burgundy Rolls Royce car and fox-fur coat. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. Personal life, health, and sportscasting career, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, "Gillespie, Caroline Hall / Sanderson, Harold A., Pte. So I asked Sanderson what finally saved his life. I wanted to protect athletes from themselves, he says. Comparing players across generations can be skewed because modern NHL athletes are bigger, stronger, faster and better trained and equipped than the helmetless horde of the 1970s. Not that it was a fluke, but he did everything right, took it to another planet. There was a lot of players along the way that came up and down. If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, unlimited online access is, Katy Perry will be temporarily replaced by big-name star on 'American Idol', DEAR ABBY: Ex-girlfriend believes she wasn't cheating, LILLEY: Three years after Trudeau's gun ban, nothing has changed, Cats scratch Leafs fans, discourage them to buy road tickets, Megyn Kelly causes stir posing poolside in 'Make Women Female Again' MAGA-style hat, Photo by Michael Peake, Toronto Sun files, tap here to see other videos from our team. They were only about 100 feet, 120 feet away. Hes dedicated to making sure they do not lose the millions of dollars that fell through his hands. He paid for his care in detox centers only to see him walk away from them multiple times. The rink spanned two backyards of small cookie-cutter houses on lots provided at modest prices to servicemen such as Harold upon their return home. He's been a member of The Ridge Club in South Sandwich, Mass., since the early 1990s. The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox. At the time, Sanderson was in denial. But he says he was embarrassed by it and almost turned it down. Especially for one nicknamed The Turk.. Brash, cocky and flamboyant, he dressed in expensive suits, drove a silver Rolls Royce, wore a mink coat and sat on Johnny Carson's couch. WebDerek Sanderson has won 2 Stanley Cups as a player. Sanderson went to the bank to get a cashiers cheque Fifty years, we might have pretty well covered it all. Bobby Orr, always a class act and possibly the greatest hockey player of all time, repeatedly tried to steer Sanderson away from his snowball slide to hell. Sanderson looked back at the team and the times during a Zoom town hall meeting with Bruins season ticket holders on Tuesday afternoon. Forty seconds into the extra period, Sanderson controlled the puck behind the Blues goal line, at which point defenseman Bobby Orr broke in from near the blue line. With the contract offer in hand, he went to see Bruins owner Weston Adams, Sr. Adams asked why he was there when he had the proverbial offer he couldn't refuse. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. This Christmas, Sanderson is a happily married man with two children. Six years after becoming the highest paid athlete in the world, a broke Sanderson was stealing booze from package stores and sleeping on a New York City park bench. Our story Email Us Call Us: 248.387.9826, USA TODAY • L.A. Times • CBS Detroit • Crains Detroit Business • Corp Magazine. [15] He received $600,000 in cash as part of the agreement, an offer that the Bruins declined to match. A welcome email is on its way. The life and hard times of professional hockey player Derek "Turk" Sanderson. Fortunately, hes hasnt lost his sense of humour. Sanderson played only eight games for the Blazers in an injury-plagued first season. Doctors informed Orr that his former teammate was an alcoholic and drug addict. You cant buy friends, you cant buy respect, you cant buy talent, he says. Jean-Guy Talbot should never have come to me and when he came to me and poke checked me and flipped it over, the rest was up to Bobby. Nearly half a century after his last appearance with Boston, Sanderson still owns the Bruins team record for most career shorthanded goals (six) in the playoffs, a mark that he shares with Ed Westfall, his longtime line mate. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. 2023 Toronto Sun, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. "I didn't want him getting any credit," he said. Contact Info | Privacy Policy | Site Map | Photo Credits, Golf a Constant for Once Flamboyant Derek Sanderson. The sedate life of an amateur golfer is a long way from when he was spinning out of control with a combination of drugs, alcohol and far too much disposable income. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Eddie Westfall. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. The next disaster occurred when Sanderson, along with Joe Namath, the football star, opened a bar in Boston, compounding his temptation. Through the 2021-22 campaign, his 24 short-handed tallies in the regular season ranked third behind Brad Marchand and Rick Middleton in club history. Winning that night was not Sandersons agenda; enticing Orr into a brawl was. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. [4] In 196465, Sanderson helped the Flyers reach the Memorial Cup finals where they beat the Edmonton Oil Kings[5] in five games. He was just making sure the fans would remember the name Derek Sanderson as much as they remembered Orr's. When you come to a game and you think you are prepared but you are not unless someone gives you something specific like, This is what we are going to do tonight. . I said, 'Wow, this kid's got talent.' It was the beginning of the end. It was a mountain of money at that time. Combine a gritty style of play with quick hands and fast feet, throw in a swagger that sat well with his movie-star good looks, mix well with his fair share of nastiness and you have the young Derek Sanderson, better known by his friends and teammates as Turk. Those fans were comedians. Well, that might be tough. In late 1978, Bobby Orr found his ex-teammate to be in dire straits in Chicago and checked him into a local hospital. Sandersons ridiculously opulent lifestyle was driven in part by watching his own father work for $26 a week sweeping floors, before becoming a machinist. Asked why hockey players are usually good golfers, he says, "It's not foreign for us to hit something at our feet. WebTurk Becomes a Blazer by Frank Bertucci The Hockey Spectator August 1972 It was this city's biggest signing since 1776. [10], He also received publicity for his numerous female companions and lavish ways, which included a Rolls-Royce car and circular bed. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. campaign very well. For starters, the Rolls-Royce ran out of gas on the way home. You make the play and hope it works. This season, home is where the hockey is. The doctor then advised Nobody expected it to be that close. He just loves the game. In the space of 12 years this all happened to Derek Turk Sanderson. Rhonda Sanderson's detailed questions about their son's death led to an investigation by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. WebThat man's name is Derek Sanderson, who was born in Niagara Falls to a Scottish mother & an Army Canadian serviceman in 1946. "The more I had, the more temptations there were, and the less I turned them down. When I was young playing bantam, 11 or 12 years old, my father had me pay attention to every faceoff, said Sanderson. Enter your email address to get a new one. His popularity reached heartthrob and rock star status from the moment he arrived on the scene in 1966. Thats when he took four fingers for a flight to New York and eight for the trip to the West Coast! Perhaps, if you purchased it, youd be sitting in the back.. No, no. But Harry came to me at the end of the game (regulation) and said, Listen, usually these things end quickly and the only chance theyve got is if it ends quickly., I sat beside Phil and he goes, I cant believe that. I said, What are you going to do? . After their series victory over the Rangers followed by a sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 196970 playoffs, the Bruins faced the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Finals. In 1977, Sandersons attorney informed him that hed lost everything. WebBorn and raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario, he played his junior hockey for the N.F. He convinced Sanderson to accept the role of God in his recovery. 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But due to alcohol and drug addiction, Sandersons career and life cratered and, by his own account, he was left penniless and sleeping on park benches. Along the way, he studied to become a financial advisor. You never do the same thing twice.' Born and raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario, he played his junior hockey for the N.F. Copyright 1999-2020 Boston Professional Hockey Association, Inc. and the National Hockey League. [21] His first autobiography, I've Got To Be Me, written with Stan Fischler, had been published in 1970. (He didnt.) Be sure to watch this NBC sports special. They had the Stanley Cup there and everything. He did everything for everybody and it came to him. Former Bruin Derek Sanderson on his demons. [19], Sanderson went on to become a sports broadcaster. All I do is make sure they're treated properly and educated about what they own." There was 20-something guys and everybody liked everybody. That something was a couple shots of Scotch, until a couple shots was no longer enough. In case you had an injury or a bad game. He's got complete stick controlwhen you're coming into forecheck somebody and they go left to right, no, go right at them and drop your stick. The two Stanley Cup championships, 1970 and 1972 When he was fit to return weeks later, club management insisted that he remain inactive. Sanderson didnt listen. Sanderson was a maestro in the faceoff circle and was, along with sidekick Eddie the Shadow Westfall, one of the NHLs premier penalty killers. Flyers. They agreed to meet the next day. The image I projected was that I was this crazy playboy, and I believed my own hype, but the truth was that I was just an insecure kid from Niagara Falls, Ontario.. Money meant nothing to me. You're a centerman, if you win them allan average of 92 back in the daya lot of face-offs and you win every face-off back to your defenseman who then turns back a little bit and passes to his partner, you're gonna have the puck - my father used to tell me - a good seven, eight minutes more than the other team and that's a good thing. But Sanderson says its important to consider the circumstances from which many athletes have come. Did you know the pass to Orr was going to work out? But I realized that I needed help. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The puck has to be inside your weighted foot and you have to stay behind it when you swing." Teddy Green said to me, 'What are you gonna do if we lose this?' Always somebody said something to make you laugh. the 60's and 70's in the Boston area. [Patrice] Bergeron has a great pair of hands, he's as good as anybody in the game two ways, up and down. "I thought everybody lived like I did. I like the Bruins. But Harry Sinden, there was nothing he did not think of. I thought that was a great moveCash wheeled him out of there. Fame and fortune had come his way. After signing his contract with the Blazers, Sanderson covered a month-long excursion to Hawaii for seven people on his American Express gold card a bill of close to $47,000. Wanting to make sure that other hockey players would not follow his path, Sanderson organized The Professionals Group at State Street Global Advisors, where he was Director of The Sports Group that provided professional financial advice to athletes in the 1990s. He helps professional athletes invest their money as vice president of Baystate Wealth Management in Boston. "Crossing the Lines: The Outrageous Story of a Hockey Original," chronicles the riches-to-rags journey of the former Boston Bruins center. What do you remember from the goal itself? While his rights reverted to the Bruins, they traded him at the end of the season to the New York Rangers. Sanderson turned to therapy for a fruitless solution that included taking Valium. the old Camels Cigarettes TV and print comercials when Sanderson Born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Sanderson was the son of Canadian Army Private Harold A. Sanderson, and Caroline Hall Gillespie of Dysart, Scotland. They said, 'We're going for a beer.' Bobby got right up and said, 'That's it. They did a study on the top 10 sports pictures of the century and that picture won it. However, you may want to comfirm this He broke to the net on a give-and-go and (Blues defenseman) Jean Guy Talbot should never have come to me. Calgary Flames fire head coach Darryl Sutter, Panthers restricting ticket sales for series against Maple Leafs to U.S. residents, Playoff Takeaways: Tkachuk, Panthers stun Bruins, face new challenge in Maple Leafs, Bruins blew a 3-1 lead: Hockey world reacts to Panthers historic win over Boston, Cheveldayoffs words fall flat due to lack of accountability, plan for Jets future. Derek "Turk" Sanderson is a talented but troubled member of the Stanley Cup-winning Bruins in the 1970s. Video: Sanderson Answers B's STH Questions. The player Bruins fans called Turk was young, brash, outspoken with movie-star looks and tuned into the cultural transformation taking place in Boston during the late 1960s. After winning a second Stanley Cup two years later, Boston fans could not believe the news that summer that Sanderson had jumped to the upstart WHA, signing with the Philadelphia Blazers for $2.6 million. Do Eric benet and Lisa bonet have a child together? In 2005 he went to work in the professional athletes department of Howland Capital, a private investment firm in Boston. My thanks to it for arranging this interview. I didn't think a team could come out that hard every time. [11] Named by Cosmopolitan as one of the sexiest men in America, he was the subject of gossip columns, a frequent guest on television talk shows.[12]. He laughs and says, I made Orr famous!. Flyers. Turk is coming out as a release To Be Announced (TBA). Never. It was widely speculated that it had hoped to prod Sanderson to bolt the team and void his lucrative deal but his contract was bought out for $800,000 after the season.[16]. On behalf of the City of Boston Sanderson has counselled tens of thousands of wayward children. The guys said, 'Oh, what are you doing?' Photo: The Bruins' Derek Sanderson, By Boston Globe, Of his time in Boston, Sanderson writes, "Id been living the life. What are the duties of a sanitary prefect in a school? WebTurk Becomes a Blazer by Frank Bertucci The Hockey Spectator August 1972 It was this city's biggest signing since 1776. Do you have a favorite off-ice story from the Big, Bad Bruins era? From our newsroom to your inbox at noon, the latest headlines, stories, opinion and photos from the Toronto Sun. "I didn't want to leave Boston. It was cheap then, Sanderson says. "I was making more money than Bobby Orr. Donny Marcotte should have got a lot more attention than he did. This made Turk groggy. I was anonymous for the first time in my life. Sherman will produce the film through his Fort Point Media banner along with writing/producing partner Dave Wedge and Black Mass producer Michael Bassick. When you come to a game and you think you're prepared, you're not. I always thought, man, Marchand's talent and ability, he could do that easily.

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