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Ted Grycel's avatar

Touching story AD, thanks for sharing!!!

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Dirk's avatar

I find it quite interesting reading historical memoirs. And typically at some point, they will all note how much has changed in their lives. I guess the demise of sports illustrated, like so many legacy media outlets, is just a part of that.

But would you say the change has been all that bad? For example, did you ever get to interact with your readers as much as you do now? Was there anything like this back during the ‘96 run or even the ‘01 run? Probably the closest thing you had was the local sport talk shows on the radio.

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Adrian Dater's avatar

Maybe I should have made it clearer: yes, the rock bottom times helped make me a better person, and right with God, than the self-absorbed status climber of the past

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Dirk's avatar

Sorry Dater. I didn’t mean to minimize your personal hardship here. Having your livelihood taken away, more importantly having promises and long term dreams and ambitions get crushed by the merciless wheel of change is very disheartening to say the least. I have seen career setbacks in my own life and in those of friends and to say that it can screw you up mentally is an understatement. Thankfully I haven’t experienced the darkness you describe, but I have seen it with people close to me.

I am glad you are doing better now. And again, I think this sort of outlet here, modest as it maybe compared to SI in its heyday, is a pretty sweet place for us fans to congregate.

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petr mrtn's avatar

Big Red, thanks for sharing & trusting us, your readers, with these stories. Life is an adventure, eh?

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Adrian Dater's avatar

Sure is

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MMajor's avatar

AD, I’ve been reading your work since you started at the Post, and the sports section was the only thing worth reading there! Tough times make for tough people, and I’m damn glad to be still reading my favorite hockey writer. Thanks for the backgrounder, and best wishes to you and your family!

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Adrian Dater's avatar

Thanks pal

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