mr.x
Jun 12, 2008, 6:55 AM
http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/2de3e3f6-b472-4835-9142-3ead50913788/sun1409-golfs156.jpg
Linden leaves door open to political future
Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, June 12, 2008
Trevor Linden for mayor? That's ridiculous.
If he settles for anything less than the premier's office, he's a fool.
A recurring question during Linden's retirement press conference Wednesday was whether the most popular player in Vancouver Canuck history will go into politics, as Mayor Sam Sullivan suggested.
"You never say never, but it's not something I envision myself doing," Linden said. "I think the best thing is take time to feel out where your heart is."
Linden said he has never seriously considered running for mayor "despite what some of my teammates might have said at various times."
But one of his former teammates, good friend Brendan Morrison, said after the press conference: "If he totally immersed himself in politics, it wouldn't be long before he could be voted mayor and lead a party. That's just the type of guy he is; he can do whatever he wants when he puts his mind to it."
For now, Linden isn't putting his mind to anything but decompressing and going to Europe on holiday. It's possible he may not feel the full impact of his retirement until August, when Morrison and every other National Hockey League player is skating hard in preparation of training camp and the coming season.
"It's true it's going to be a huge shock and big adjustment," Morrison said. "As athletes, we basically live our lives off itineraries. But he's smart enough; he's been preparing for this day. He's a very intelligent guy. He's one of the guys who will make the transition as seamless as possible."
Linden's brother Jamie - their other brother, Dean, also attended Linden's farewell announcement - said Trevor is comfortable with his decision and that it might be hardest on their parents. Lane and Edna Linden still live on the family farm in Medicine Hat, where a staple of their lives is watching Trevor play on television.
"They'd have friends over and eat popcorn," Jamie said. "My dad said he ate 52 pounds of popcorn last season, so I think Orville Redenbacher's profits are going to drop. My mom is a really big sports fan. She'll probably keep watching games, but my dad will be watching CNN or the History Channel."
Canuck player development director Stan Smyl, Linden's first captain and the guy who drove him to the rink every day when Linden was a rookie 20 years ago, said there will never be another Canuck like him.
"Right from Day 1, you knew he was a very special person," Smyl said. "You could feel it."
"I respect what he's done as a hockey player tremendously," Morrison said. "But the person he is supercedes the player."
Linden leaves door open to political future
Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, June 12, 2008
Trevor Linden for mayor? That's ridiculous.
If he settles for anything less than the premier's office, he's a fool.
A recurring question during Linden's retirement press conference Wednesday was whether the most popular player in Vancouver Canuck history will go into politics, as Mayor Sam Sullivan suggested.
"You never say never, but it's not something I envision myself doing," Linden said. "I think the best thing is take time to feel out where your heart is."
Linden said he has never seriously considered running for mayor "despite what some of my teammates might have said at various times."
But one of his former teammates, good friend Brendan Morrison, said after the press conference: "If he totally immersed himself in politics, it wouldn't be long before he could be voted mayor and lead a party. That's just the type of guy he is; he can do whatever he wants when he puts his mind to it."
For now, Linden isn't putting his mind to anything but decompressing and going to Europe on holiday. It's possible he may not feel the full impact of his retirement until August, when Morrison and every other National Hockey League player is skating hard in preparation of training camp and the coming season.
"It's true it's going to be a huge shock and big adjustment," Morrison said. "As athletes, we basically live our lives off itineraries. But he's smart enough; he's been preparing for this day. He's a very intelligent guy. He's one of the guys who will make the transition as seamless as possible."
Linden's brother Jamie - their other brother, Dean, also attended Linden's farewell announcement - said Trevor is comfortable with his decision and that it might be hardest on their parents. Lane and Edna Linden still live on the family farm in Medicine Hat, where a staple of their lives is watching Trevor play on television.
"They'd have friends over and eat popcorn," Jamie said. "My dad said he ate 52 pounds of popcorn last season, so I think Orville Redenbacher's profits are going to drop. My mom is a really big sports fan. She'll probably keep watching games, but my dad will be watching CNN or the History Channel."
Canuck player development director Stan Smyl, Linden's first captain and the guy who drove him to the rink every day when Linden was a rookie 20 years ago, said there will never be another Canuck like him.
"Right from Day 1, you knew he was a very special person," Smyl said. "You could feel it."
"I respect what he's done as a hockey player tremendously," Morrison said. "But the person he is supercedes the player."
