why was derek sanderson called turk why was derek sanderson called turk

I thought that was a great moveCash wheeled him out of there. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Sherman will produce the film through his Fort Point Media banner along with writing/producing partner Dave Wedge and Black Mass producer Michael Bassick. Slowly, he lost the magic and for several years after he left hockey, he struggled with those addictions. WebWhy was Derek Sanderson called Turk? You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. Over 13 NHL seasons, he amassed 202 goals, 250 assists, 911 penalty minutes and a plus-141 rating in 598 games with five teams. Get us past the opening and I can double you back and make it a defensive battle and eventually you're gonna win because we were that much better. But he says he was embarrassed by it and almost turned it down. I enjoyed it," he adds. At the time, Sanderson was in denial. 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. He broke to the net on a give-and-go and (Blues defenseman) Jean Guy Talbot should never have come to me. [9] If the Frank J. Selke Trophy had been given to the top defensive forward during his Bruins stint -- the award made its debut in the 1977-78 season -- it's not unrealistic to think that Sanderson would have been the recipient more than once. He was just making sure the fans would remember the name Derek Sanderson as much as they remembered Orr's. This takes you through the rollercoaster ride that's been my life." I never went into a game that Harry Sinden didn't give me something to think about. Do you have a favorite off-ice story from the Big, Bad Bruins era? It's a 50-50 chance you'll get it, right? In St. Louis, Sanderson set career highs in assists and points scored in a season with 43 assists and 67 points, but recurring knee and alcohol problems prompted Blues management to trade him in 197677 to the Vancouver Canucks in return for a first-round pick in the 1977 draft. Eddie Westfall. "I didn't want to leave Boston. Ace Bailey. What do you remember from the goal itself? A look at the Turk behind-the-scenes crew and production team. The eccentric center, the winner of the 1967 Calder Trophy as the NHL's best rookie, became one of the most beloved athletes in the city's sports lore. But they're on top of you, they've got all the leverage. The team grew tired of the contrast between his lack of performance on the ice and his considerable energy off it. But Sanderson says its important to consider the circumstances from which many athletes have come. WebNow, it looks like his life story is one step closer to the big screen. Its easy for sports fans today to find amusement in the financial train wrecks that many athletes suffer. On Thursday, August 3, Derek Sanderson became the world's highest-paid professional athlete when he signed a $2,625,000 contract with the Philadelphia Blazers. Biographical information and career statistics from, This page was last edited on 20 April 2023, at 13:56. " Video: 1970: Bobby Orr's iconic OT goal wins Cup for Bruins. Sanderson was a maestro in the faceoff circle and was, along with sidekick Eddie the Shadow Westfall, one of the NHLs premier penalty killers. Always one guy had a catchphrase. I never thought of what to say in those moments. That made no sense to me," he says. From alcohol, Sanderson turned to barbiturates to deal with another challenge facing athletes; pain. The people were really good. According to a story in the Toronto Star by Ellie Tesher on March 21, 1982, the couple separated soon thereafter. As a leading star, the rival hockey league soon offered him an unprecedented $2.6 million dollars to be the first NHL player to switch to the WHA league. He was in traction. "I told him he was good to me when I was 15 and I owed him that," he said. 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. Posted by Brooklynite on January 20, 2012 at 09:07 PM. "And I signed with the Blazers." [21] His first autobiography, I've Got To Be Me, written with Stan Fischler, had been published in 1970. Contents copyright 2016 Orbit Enterprises, Inc. I got blamed for it, but I never did it. the old Camels Cigarettes TV and print comercials when Sanderson In the space of 12 years this all happened to Derek Turk Sanderson. It was a mountain of money at that time. Bobby Orr had a Cinderella year. - Details", "Sanderson, Karen / parents Carol (nee Gillespie) & Pte. He helps professional athletes invest their money as vice president of Baystate Wealth Management in Boston. The doctor then advised Scotch, Dewars White Label. He first prescribed Valium. This then lead to free sex, a lifestyle as close to heaven as a young, good-looking hockey star from small town Niagara Falls could ever imagine. Read more about cookies here. One of the good stories is Esposito in the [hospital] bed and I wasn't a part of that. Get email updates from your favourite authors. [Wayne] Cashman said, 'No, you're not.' 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. Movie Insider is a registered service mark of The Movie Insider LLC. Along with New England Patriots receiver Jim Colclough and the New York Jets star football quarterback Joe Namath, he opened Bachelors III, a trendy nightclub on New York Citys Upper East Side. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. Please contact us. campaign very well. Montreal. was playing for the Bruins. Although Sanderson had been an elite scorer in junior hockey, his role with the Bruins club was limited to that of a third-liner in the middle of right wing Ed Westfall and either Wayne Carleton or Don Marcotte at the left side. [Gary Doak] was there. WebDerek Michael Sanderson (born June 16, 1946), nicknamed "Turk", is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and two-time Stanley Cup champion who helped transform the culture of the professional athlete in the 1970s era. Sanderson scored 16 points in 16 games with the club before he was sent to the minors because of disciplinary reasons. Sinden responded, "How many times have you told me you were misquoted. I watched him, I think it was his first training camp. They were the key to the enthusiasm. Sanderson turned to therapy for a fruitless solution that included taking Valium. 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. You're coming with me [into rehab].' Booze and drugs send Sandersons life into a downward spiral but his superstar teammate Bobby Orr helps him get his life back together. We needed them and they appreciated us. There are 9,369 other movies coming out on the same date, including The Rosie Project, Bad Boys 4 and Praise This. Sanderson along with the Bruins captured consecutive East Division titles in the (197071 and 197172) seasons, and won the Stanley Cup in 197172 against the New York Rangers, its second in three seasons. He actually cut with a saw and sawed off his shin pads because the normal ones wouldn't fit him. You never do the same thing twice.' You were such a great penalty killer and face-off man. [3], Sanderson played junior hockey in his hometown with the Niagara Falls Flyers of the Ontario Hockey Association. Negative publicity over some of the club's less than reputable patrons led to problems and eventually Sanderson had to get out of what went from a "goldmine" to a money-losing venture.[17]. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. He would tell me, 'Once you are sober, we'll do things together and you'll always make money.' He He lectured about drug and alcohol awareness in schools and worked as a broadcaster in Boston. It's kind of like in the NFL, you're waiting for a penalty flag, 'Is everything OK?' Perhaps, if you purchased it, youd be sitting in the back.. WebSanderson, the man who delivered the pass to Bobby Orr on the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in 1970, was not just an athlete, however. Experience Rogers Hometown Hockey. Derek Sanderson vs. Tim Horton, October 26, 1968 - Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Wow does this one go way back--Turk Sanderson versus Mr. Donut. I saw it hit the back of the net and I said, 'Well, that's it, I think.' Would give himself a lot more opportunities. His reckless flamboyance left him with nothing more than nagging loneliness and a debilitating addiction to drugs and alcohol. We use cookies to improve your experience. WebThat man's name is Derek Sanderson, who was born in Niagara Falls to a Scottish mother & an Army Canadian serviceman in 1946. 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.. "With your personality you will rue the day you took this money," Adams warned him. He also shared his wild, almost unfathomable tales of life in the fast lane. Multiple events lead to Sandersons downfall. I was really happy that it was as close as it was. Then, 'OK, what are you guys doing?' It wasn't long before Westfall and Sanderson emerged as the most accomplished penalty-killing tandem in the league. Everybody likes to say it was a foregone conclusion. 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. "When you're young and making $40 or $50 million, you don't know what to do with it," he says. When you see the photo of 'The Goal' today, what goes through your mind? What are the qualities of an accurate map? Unfortunately, the Philadelphia sortie did not have a happy ending. ", Orr was among those who helped him get sober and rebound from losing millions in bad investments. [10], He also received publicity for his numerous female companions and lavish ways, which included a Rolls-Royce car and circular bed. WebSanderson asked the Bruins for an $80,000 contract. I was intimidated by it. He returned to the dealership, made sure the salesman didnt earn a commission and drove the Rolls-Royce right off the lot. My thanks to it for arranging this interview. [Patrice] Bergeron has a great pair of hands, he's as good as anybody in the game two ways, up and down. What do you remember from the clinching game? 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. He returned to the Bruins in the NHL and was traded to the New York Rangers, where he continued to live lavishly. He laughs and says, I made Orr famous!. WebCasey Sherman, author behind the books that became "The Finest Hours" and "Patriots Day," has written "Turk," a film about Bruins center Derek Sanderson. Bobby got right up and said, 'That's it. Before long, pucks were raining down and Captain Derek had to beat a hasty retreat to the dressing room to save his skin. Who did I think I was at 24 [to be writing an autobiography]?". I remember McKay as a tall stringbean defenseman, a journeyman at best. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. As was the case in St. Louis, the front office grew impatient with his personal and health issues and released him after the season. Get a hold of Harry and write a book. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. Brad Marchand is the player to me who is gritty and in your face and hes got a great pair of hands, said Sanderson. Sindens hunch created a few grumblings on the bench but proved to be the right move. "I had no money and no place to sleep, writes Sanderson of arriving in NYC. He returned to the Bruins, but was traded to the Rangers in 1974. A 7-handicap who once played to a 1, Sanderson plays nearly every day during the summer, despite walking with a limp after 10 hip surgeries. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. I grabbed a discarded New York Times and stretched out on a damp bench, pulling the newspaper over me like a blanket to keep dry and as warm as possible.". And as the team celebrates the 50th Anniversary of its 1970 Cup championship, Sanderson sat down to remember some of the best stories and anecdotes from that era during a 45-minute virtual town hall with season ticket holders and media on Tuesday afternoon. I didn't think a team could come out that hard every time. Phil said, 'Geez, where we going?' Derek The Turk Sanderson, One of the Great Characters in Sports, Talks Openly about His Glory Days with Stanley Cup Winning Bruins, Life as a Bachelor in the Swinging Sixties and Seventies, His 13 Trips to Rehab, and Life in General. A serious knee injury. There was a lot of players along the way that came up and down. All Boston's ever asked is that you work hard. What would it be like to be the highest paid athlete in the world, the toast of Boston, the winner of two Stanley Cups, the rich devil-may-care playboy? Photo: Hockey Players Relaxing in Dressing Room, By Bettmann. I was interested in his story as I had attended the same school, lived on the same street and watched Sanderson as he started his hockey career with the Niagara Falls Flyers. How can I be broke? Sanderson asked. Those are the guys. [Vancouver Canucks forward] Bobby Lalonde was 5-foot-4. "I thought I looked pretty good and had my act together," he says. Sanderson continues, "My ego simply wouldnt let me. [2] In his early youth, Sanderson took to hockey, skating countless hours on a scaled-down version of an NHL rink, which his father built and maintained while his mother served hot chocolate during breaks in the action. WebTurk: Directed by John Curran. Soon his bank account was running on fumes, too. Well, that might be tough. Do Eric benet and Lisa bonet have a child together? You cant buy friends, you cant buy respect, you cant buy talent, he says. In a lively interview with WKXLs Chris Ryan, Derek Sanderson opens up about his amazing life. In the summer of 1972, Sanderson signed what was then the richest contract in professional sports history. Sinden chose Sandersons third line to start the overtime instead of either of the Bruins scoring lines centered by Phil Esposito and Fred Stanfield. When he was fit to return weeks later, club management insisted that he remain inactive. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Sanderson did know how to grab a headline. The involvement of the fans was really important. Sanderson fielded inquiries in a Q&A format. Derek Michael Sanderson (born June 16, 1946), nicknamed "Turk", is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and two-time Stanley Cup champion who helped transform the culture of the professional athlete in the 1970s era. Eric Russo. Hes also a prostate cancer survivor. His new deal, which the Bruins would not match, made him the highest-paid athlete in the world at that time. Former Bruin Derek Sanderson on his demons. My dad made me do that when I was a kid, when I was young, playing bantam, 11-12 years old. He cares that much about his players, he never called us by our nicknames. He was drinking more regularly by age 20. He called NHL commissioner Clarence Campbell "a stuffed shirt," and said of the Montreal Canadiens, "They are full of Frenchmen and I hate Frenchmen." Hes dedicated to making sure they do not lose the millions of dollars that fell through his hands. For starters, the Rolls-Royce ran out of gas on the way home. It made him mad, vindictive and then foolish. It's a little more difficult with shorter people. Its a poverty thing.. Later this year, the movie "Turk" (Sanderson's nickname) is scheduled to be released. For comments, email info@docgiff.com or tweet @GiffordJonesMD. The film's director Doug Atchison last directed Akeelah and the Bee and Class Act. That puck had to land flat, but he never held it, he just redirected it, really. He drove a silver Rolls Royce, owned a nightclub, Bachelors Three, in New York and Boston in partnership with Joe Namath and could make quite an entrance with his full-length mink coat and a new blonde on his arm every night. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. 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. He is now managing editor of Golf & Leisure Cape Cod magazine and has written for a variety of other publications, including Sports Illustrated, the Boston Globe, Yankee magazine and Cape Cod Life. What time does normal church end on Sunday? We had great fans, the same type of fans today. The timing for a golf shot is the same as for a slap shot. By that time, Sanderson had developed vascular necrosis. They were great. So why is Sanderson alive today? Phil [Esposito] might have been a little upset. A few smart-alec quotes in the press made his new owners irate and, before the season was over, the team bought him out for $1 million. Derek Sanderson was a product of his times with a nickname to match. Did anyone in the NHL rival you? I had a reason to turn my life around," he says. " WebTurk Becomes a Blazer by Frank Bertucci The Hockey Spectator August 1972 It was this city's biggest signing since 1776. [7], After brief stints with the Bruins in the two previous seasons, Sanderson earned a permanent roster spot in the 196768 campaign. WebBobby Orr, Edward Burns, Derek Sanderson and Aaron Lubin attend the "Turk" Movie Launch Event at W Boston on January 9, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. I said, 'Well, what are you gonna do?'. Sanderson had pen in hand when the lawyer walked into the room and said, "I still think you're only worth $75,000. Unwilling to put up with the aggravation of lugging his golf clubs on vacations, he would purchase a new set, and give them to his caddie as a tip before leaving. Opening night in Philadelphia, there was a problem with the ice and pucks kept disappearing under the boards. We had great fans. They'd just shake you off. Money meant nothing to me. Wasn't somebody a little upset that you were starting overtime instead of him? (The Blazers also gave his father a five-year, $250,000 deal as a scout.) During his career, Sanderson made several bad business investments and lost millions of dollars in the process. It was over pretty quickly and Bobby took a chance along the wall, said Sanderson. After Sanderson and the Blazers parted ways, he returned to the Bruins for two seasons but suited up for only 54 games. ", In the summer of 1972 he signed what was then the richest contract in pro-sports history, a one-year, $2.65 million deal to play for the Philadelphia Blazers of the newly formed World Hockey Association. The Calder trophy wasnt the crowning jewel in Sandersons trophy room though. When youre a defenseman you are not going to go behind the net but he reached in and that was all I needed.. [19], Sanderson went on to become a sports broadcaster. He claims a counsellor at Hotel Dieu, a rehab center in St. Catharines, Ontario, caught him at just the right time. A year later the two budding superstars were teammates on the Bruins. Nobody expected it to be that close. His popularity reached heartthrob and rock star status from the moment he arrived on the scene in 1966. Winning that night was not Sandersons agenda; enticing Orr into a brawl was. The first thing he did was purchase a burgundy Rolls Royce car and fox-fur coat. On November 1, in a game at Cleveland, Sanderson suffered a back injury when he slipped on a piece of paper on the ice. [4] Sanderson also played two games in the CPHL with the Oklahoma City Blazers in 196566, recording one goal. 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. Born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Sanderson was the son of Canadian Army Private Harold A. Sanderson, and Caroline Hall Gillespie of Dysart, Scotland. 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. Sanderson made a name for himself during his Bruins career, earning Rookie of the Year honors during the 1967-68 season and assisting Bobby Orrs Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1970. Healthy Minds Canada supports research on mental health and mental illness. He did everything for everybody and it came to him. I also remember the ad "Bobby will never turn his back on a friend. He blew out his knee, was getting operated on. Photo: The Bruins' Derek Sanderson, By Boston Globe, Of his time in Boston, Sanderson writes, "Id been living the life. Fame and fortune had come his way. If you work hard, they're not gonna throw rocks at you. Enter your email address to get a new one. That's goodthere was nobody behind him but St. Louis Blues players. I loved the Bruins and the city. In the 1975-76 season, Sanderson scored his 32nd career short-handed goal to surpass Toronto Maple Leafs center Dave Keon as the all-time league leader. You knew exactly what he was capable of and he always did it. Is Brooke shields related to willow shields? The owner of the Bruins wisely cautioned him that, for someone not bred to wealth, it would ruin his life. Well give you the latest news when it becomes available, or feel free to add some more selections to My Favourites. We were really deep. Fifty years, we might have pretty well covered it all. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. [13] It also turned out to be the signature moment for both players in their careers. Boston Bruins and BostonBruins.com are trademarks of Boston Professional Hockey Association, Inc. (BPHA). (approx 1 - 2 per week). After hitting bottom in the late 1970s, he managed to pull himself up. Draft beer used to be a nickel.. His fights were as legendary as his charm, while his smothering fore-checks and tenacity in the corners were his trademarks. You make the play and hope it works. He published another one at 26. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup and NHL Conference logos are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. I said, 'This is great.' He convinced Sanderson to accept the role of God in his recovery. 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. He was tough as nails. In Montreal, wow. "The clothes I was wearingthe only clothes I hadwerent appropriate for a miserable New York night., He continues, "I trudged over to Central Park. The 21-year-old scored 24 goals and 49 points in 71 games. "I never had an ending [before]," Sanderson says when asked why he wrote the most recent book. I loved the feeling," he said. He told them about a shaggy-haired kid who was once the highest-paid athlete in the world. Come with a little grit and work hard. Sanderson was also a productive player with unique skills that propelled the Bruins to a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Blues in the 1970 Stanley Cup Final. While his rights reverted to the Bruins, they traded him at the end of the season to the New York Rangers. Sanderson played only eight games for the Blazers in an injury-plagued first season. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. I used to watch the Big Bad Bruins on my grandparents television set in Hyannis growing up, Sherman said. He grudgingly acceded to The Turks request to unlock the front door of a burgundy sedan so he could size up the front seat. the 60's and 70's in the Boston area. I'll wear a sweatshirt home.'. I always thought, man, Marchand's talent and ability, he could do that easily. e track upcoming movies through all stages of film production. Rhonda Sanderson's detailed questions about their son's death led to an investigation by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. But Harry Sinden, there was nothing he did not think of. Of his time in New York, Sanderson talks of living under a bridge, eating out of dumpsters and panhandling. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! By the late 70s, Sanderson found himself on what he would call a three-year binge that took him to Rangers territory. Derek Sanderson co-authored his first autobiography when he was 24. His third autobiography came out in October, and it's the first that tells the entire story. This is not TURK, the movie. The referees were obliged to cancel the game. He first prescribed Valium. How he walked into a Rolls-Royce dealership and pulled out in a dream. In 2005 he went to work in the professional athletes department of Howland Capital, a private investment firm in Boston. I'm glad he didn't miss the pass. "Somewhere along the way you meet up with responsibility and it's usually a woman standing there saying this is what we need to do.". It was gang tactics most of the time. My hair was really long and unwashed, I hadnt shaved for a while, and my clothes were filthy. It was a team that, there was no one there that you didn't like. About three times a week? He had me pay attention to every face-off. with another source. The rise, fall, and redemption of a Stanley Cup-winning former Boston Bruins player is set to receive the big-screen treatment. Bobby ended up parallelI was amazed that that [photographer] caught it right at that moment. Flyers. That was all I needed, just a little opening. got the girl and who portrayed a charactor called "The Turk" from Did you know the pass to Orr was going to work out? They wheeled the bed out, the whole nine yards. The scouts and the fans took note. His team worked with athletes and high-net-worth individuals, but he is not currently listed on the company's website. In the pre-season, he was involved in a brawl at a local strip club that left him in a hospital, where tests showed an extremely high level of alcohol as well as evidence of cocaine, sleeping pills, Seconal and Valium in his system. It remains the only time in Bruins history that they had consecutive Calder Trophy winners.[8]. Back in the '80s, he dreamed of becoming of PGA club professional.