I wish I could have experienced this kind of skill in person (Hockey Video)
 

This mother fucker made people look fucking stupid. I know, the game has changed but damn.

Don Cherry's an asshole - but I have to agree with him - Orr was the greatest player of all time.

Plus 124 in 1970-71

Next closest Wayne Gretsky plus 90

Every kid I played Hockey with
 

Every kid I played hockey with...

Growing up in Lexington Mass back in the day
After the British of course came and went
But not too long after that
every one was Orr
in his dreams, on every frozen pond
freshly sheeted smooth
Sprayed down with a hose
borrowed from the neighbors house
strung over a granite stone wall
built by minutemen
for cover to snipe brits
the best defense is a good offense
Just ask Bobby Orr

The only fair way of judging greatness in athletes across generations is how they compared to the best in their time. Bobby Orr is the greatest ever by that standard, revolutionized the position he played, won scoring championships as a defencemen, never before and never after had it been nor will it be done - and while most offensive defencemen aren't great defenders, don't hit much and don't fight, Orr was a beast and if you got him mad he could fight with the best of them.

Too bad players wear helmets today, you connected so much more with players when you could see their faces and hair. The shaggy haired 70s was my childhood, crazy hairstyles and facial hair abounded in the NHL. I once saw Kings goaltender Rogie Vachon walking through the airport - long black hair, big thick fu manchu stash, huge fur coat, bell bottom pants dragging on the ground, a cigarette or cigar dangling from his mouth - and all of maybe 5'5" or so, he was quite the spectacle, looked like a drummer from some bad Canadian rock band.

When players didn't wear helmets they respected each other, nobody died because of a head injury. And here we are in 2013, helmets are mandatory and concussions are more common than knee injuries. Same thing in the NFL, the equipment meant to protect players turn into weapons of destruction and players health has suffered.