Ted Lindsay

Ted Lindsay (http://bigmouthsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/ted-lindsay-28-apr-10.jpg ())

Not so "Terrible" Ted

"I had the idea that I should beat up every player I tangled with and nothing ever convinced me it wasn't a good idea." Cynically, Ted Lindsay quips in his self-deprecating manner about his experiences in the sport of ice hockey. Born Robert Theodore Lindsay in 1925, Ted grew up in Renfrew, Ontario, during the Great Depression. Although he never saw hockey as a way of life, Lindsay's talents were recognized by local and national coaches when he was a young man and he quickly became a role model to other young men aspiring to the sport, as he effortlessly rose through the ranks to become one of the greatest hockey legends. Known for his rough-and-tumble style of play on the ice and humor off the ice, "Terrible Ted" as his fans called him was the icon of the game during 1940s and 50s. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1966, Lindsay brandished his body and hockey stick as a deadly combination to which no opposing player could ever hold a candle. Lindsay not only shocked the world of sports with his athletic prowess and charisma, but also with his traits of determination and moral uprightness.

Lindsay's determination and moral uprightness made Ted not only one of the greatest hockey players of all time but also one of the greatest men of all time. As a determined individual, Lindsay never stopped striving to attain his best. His deep sense of moral leadership inspired many others to follow in his footsteps. I look up to Lindsay because he is the type of person I want to become. I aspire to be a strong, independent man with a strong sense of identity. Because of his characteristics as a hockey player and a role model, Ted Lindsay perfectly embodies the definition of the word, "hero."

Always Determined (http://www.hhof.com/graphspot/one_lindsay03.jpg ())

Tenacity is hugely apparent in the career of Ted Lindsay. He did not get to where he is only by being skilled and talented, but also by being a hardworking individual. "I lost my cool a lot. ... But I was a competitor, and I hated to lose against them or anyone. I hated everyone I played against.  They were the enemy, and we were supposed to win, not them," said Ted when asked about how he viewed his opponents. At heart, he is a winner who will never lose no matter the consequences, a person who will never stop until he finally gets what he is striving to attain.  Having a reputation for hard work and fortitude, he is unforgettable in the minds of his audience. His thousands of rabid fans created him into the hero that he is today. For example, even when he was on his way to greatness, he still wanted improve his athletic prowess. He went to many camps and seminars in order to advance even more. Lindsay reflects, "We trained in Windsor that year. The hottest September I can remember...There's no air conditioning. It was difficult to even keep ice in the place... It was not an easy camp" (Kincaide 54). He was already on the fast track to fame when he signed a deal with the Oshawa Generals in Canada whom he led to Canada's junior hockey title in 1944. In spite of his success, the very next year he went to this camp to work on agility, speed, and physical strength. Lindsay's tenacious attitude compelled him to continue striving toward even greater achievements than his previous successes. When he finally joined the National Hockey League, he did not stop fighting to win. "...No man on skates was ever too big or too tough for Ted Lindsay to challenge. His fierce determination, his ability at the game, and the great attitude of a team player gave Ted the edge as a hockey player" ("Ted Lindsay." Great Athletes). The word determined means to come to a decision and never stray from it, and that is what Lindsay did. He is not the most skilled hockey player, unlike many of the players that now play the game. But his ferocious can-do attitude had everyone around him awestruck. There was something about watching a man smaller than most of the other players charge into the corners of the rink and shake off bigger and stronger players. It inspired people! To see an underdog fight hard for what he wants was to the audience the American Dream made manifest! That was why he is remembered, and why no one will be as great as him ever again. Clearly, he was not the stereotypical athlete who basks in his glory and does nothing, but instead one whose determination shows that all is possible if you work hard and strive for it.

Ted always wins (http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/824/953/TedLindsey_display_image.jpg?1301594035 ())

Exemplifying sound morals in his choices and actions, Lindsay is an example to society and aspiring athletes. Opposing the attitude that ice hockey was a male dominant sport, Ted took advantage of an opportunity to assert his position even when offered the highest honor in hockey.  "In 1966, Ted Lindsay was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame... he declined to attend the ceremonies when he learned that members' wives and families would be excluded from some of the events. "If my wife and kids can't see the old man honored, what's the point to going?" Rather than leave the family out, Ted stayed home" ("Lindsay, Ted -- Honored Player -- Legends of Hockey"). Ted saw that the only reason that his wife and kids were being excluded was because back then hockey was seen as a man's sport. Women did not need to have fun, or even be there with their husband when he obtained the highest award a hockey player can receive. Instead, they should be at home with the children, cooking the meals and cleaning the house. Lindsay, being the righteous man he is, knew that this was wrong, and declined to go. Because of this, the very next year the ceremonies for the inauguration to the Hall of Fame were no longer male exclusive. Ted Lindsay also used his moral influence and his finances to start a charity for people with disabilities. "He has dedicated his retirement years to numerous charitable organizations, including the Canadian Alzheimer's Association and the Special Olympics. In 2001 he established the Ted Lindsay Foundation to raise money for autism research" ("Ted Lindsay." Gale Biography in Context). Even though he is wealthy, he has not spent his money on a lavish lifestyle. Instead, he decided to give back to the community that loved him so dearly and help out those who are in a worse situation than he. He has spent millions of the dollars from his career, the money that he obtained from the hard working people who watched him as a hockey player, to give help to those unfortunate people who are probably children or grandchildren to those he once entertained. Ted did not limit his sense of moral decency to just those in need. For example, Ted saw that his fellow hockey players were also being mistreated by the management of the teams. As a result, he then created the National Hockey League Players Association to fix this injustice. "...We were intent on ensuring that the league dealt fairly with the players on such issues as the pension fund, covering expenses after trades and instituting a minimum salary for first-year players." ("Lindsay, Ted -- Honored Player -- Legends of Hockey"). Ted was intent on making  the game fair for all who played, not just the corporate managers, who kept most of the money themselves. He gathered all the players at that time and started an association to ensure that everyone was treated equally. That foundation is still around today, helping thousands of players to not be mistreated by the companies that own them. Lindsay did not allow any moral injustice around him to continue unopposed, and did all he could to put those around him in better situations.

Works Cited

"About Ted Lindsay." Ted Lindsay Foundation. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.

Kincaide, Richard. The Gods of Olympia Stadium: Legends of the Detroit Red Wings.

 [Champaign, Ill.]: Sports Pub. L.L.C., 2003. Print.

"Lindsay, Ted -- Honoured Player -- Legends of Hockey." Web. 28 Mar. 2012.

"Ted Lindsay." Gale Biography in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2012. Gale Biography In Context.

            Web. 27 Mar. 2012.

"Ted Lindsay." Great Athletes (Salem Press) (2001): 1478. Biography Reference Center. Web.

            26 Mar. 2012.