As the tributes to Jean Béliveau continue to flow in from around the world, I wanted to add my humble voice to the chorus.
My perspective is unique: I never got to see Béliveau glide around the rink with the grace and elegance that carried him off the ice. I’m of the Gretzky-Lemieux generation, used to 150+ point seasons and seeing the Stanley Cup being won by other teams.
My father’s generation, on the other hand, expected a Stanley Cup parade on Sainte-Catherine Street every May or June. He was spoiled by the dynasties Montreal had produced and the endless list of Hall-of-Famers who donned the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge, including Béliveau.
Being a fervent Habs fan, I know the history of the team and its God-like players: Rocket Richard, Dickie Moore, Henri Richard, Guy Lafleur… The list is endless, but at the top must be Béliveau.
In the last 83 years, I doubt there has been a bad word spoken or written about him. He is the best that we all aspire to be. The class of a king, but the humility matched by no one. To help you understand it, let me give you a few examples.
When I was working in Montréal, I had the pleasure of covering the Canadiens. So when the team was about to announce the retirement of a couple of numbers, my assignment was a fun story on the mystery behind just who would be receiving the honour.
I called the Béliveau home to ask for an interview on what it’s like to get such an honour and Béliveau (as he always did) told me to come over with the crew.
Greeted at the front door by his wife, Elise, who was just as gracious as her husband, we made our way down into the basement. That’s where we found Le Gros Bill responding (with hand-written letters) to fan mail. Yes, not only was the 70+year-old still getting fan mail, but he was still (as he always had), responding personally.
As we set up for the interview, I asked him about the fan mail and his answer was shocking. Not because it didn’t make sense, but because it made perfect sense and was the polar-opposite of the ego-filled world of today’s pro-athletes. Béliveau said, “If they took time out of their busy day to write to me, I should be able to do the same”–a simple answer that tells you so much about the man who spoke it.
As we started the interview, he remembered that he was chewing gum. It was something prescribed to him by his doctor following his cancer treatments, as he said the radiation robbed his saliva glands of normal function, so chewing gum helped. At that moment, he asked “Do you want me to take out my gum? I’m supposed to keep it in…”
Excuse me? Jean Béliveau is asking ME if it’s okay for him to chew gum? He has 17 Stanley Cups, is a Hall-of-Famer, and refused the job as Governor-General–and he’s wondering if it’s okay for him to chew gum during the interview?
Semi-shocked, I said: “Of course, I mean, if your doctor says you have to, then of course…”
I was in awe throughout the interview. I nearly forgot some of the questions as I let the fan in me realize I was sitting in the basement of not only one of the greatest Canadiens, but one of the greatest Canadians.
At the end of the interview, I thanked him for his time and–get this–he thanked me too. That is the type of person he was.
One last anecdote…
At a gala honoring Béliveau a few years ago, I got to interview Gordie Howe and ask him about his main rival for most of his career. What Howe said was telling.
Mr. Hockey is probably just as well known for his elbows as he is for his goals; let’s not forget a Howe hat trick is a goal, an assist, and a fight. With that reputation in mind, consider what Howe said when I asked how much he respected Béliveau on the ice:
“When I would go into the corner with anyone else and they had their head down, I would take advantage. But when I was going into the corner and saw Jean with his head down, I’d say ‘Jean, I’m coming in!’ just to make sure he could brace himself.”
Howe thought that much of Béliveau, and I think the rest of us should too.
Rest in peace, Mr. Béliveau. As a hockey player you were the hero of my dad’s generation. As a person, you are the hero of my generation.
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