What about Bob?

I know I'm supposed to write my Sunday stuff, but reading Greg Logan's piece in Newsday today about Jeff Tambellini got me thinking about hockey. Mostly because it brings back memories from a million years ago when I covered Jeff's father, Steve, a forward for the Islanders back in the late 70's and 80's.

Steve showed promise back in the day, and was looked on as another version of Bobby Bourne, but it just never panned out for him. Good kid, though. I once took him out to lunch for an article I wrote on him, and he drove us to a diner near the Isles' training facility in his sports car. I believe at the time I felt very cool.

Tambellini is now the assistant GM of the Vancouver Canucks. When he was with the Islanders, they called him "Tamby." Most guys were referred to as something -ie. Bourne was Bournie. Clark Gillies was Clarkie. Billy Smith was Smitty. Dennis Potvin was Denny. A few exceptions were Jean Potvin (Potsie), Bryan Trottier (Trots) and Mike Bossy (Boss).

Bob Nystrom was Ny. Wayne Merrick was Bones. The only guy without a nickname was the guy who was only referred to by his nickname. Chico Resch was called Chico. Of course, the trade that sent Resch (actual first name Glenn) packing and brought in Butch Goring at the trade deadline in 1980 was a turning point in franchise history ...

At the end of Tambellini's career, he spent a season playing in Austria in a small town on the Italian border named Villach.

I was in Villach!

My daughter's marching band went on a trip to Italy and Austria over spring break this past year, and the whole family decided to tag along. Best trip ever. Stopped in Villach for lunch after driving up from Venice. Wound up in Salzburg for a few days.

Yes, it really did feel like you were on the set of the Sound of Music.

... I really have to write my Sunday stuff.

Wait!

I used to play hockey as a kid, and scored my first goal in high school after jumping over the boards because one of our forwards had his skate lace undone. I took a pass from Tommy Palumbo. When the defenseman skated toward Palumbo, he passed it back, and I scored on a wrister to the goalie's right.

... Rod Gilbert was my idol growing up.

... I liked Bobby Hull, too, and I once got his autograph - in black felt pen - before a Rangers-Blackhawks playoff game. But Hull got into a fight with Orland Kurtenbach, and I was so angry at Hull that I licked my finger and erased the autograph.

... fyi, you can get a Bobby Hull hockey card for $40. You can get one of Orland Kurtenbach for $3 ...

... I did a story on Bobby Hull when he had a look-see with the Rangers in '81 at age 42. It was at Playland Ice Casino in Rye, NY. The same rink where I scored my first goal in high school.

... I was 42 when I nearly beat former Jets tight end Kyle Brady in a footrace. He challenged me to race because he thought I wrote something disparaging about him when I said he had "decent" speed.

Really.