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Things I wish I would have said to Ryan Getzlaf
July 11th, 2009, 10:18 am · 27 Comments · posted by Suzanne Broughton, Contributing Writer
Last night I was out with my family at a restaurant in Anaheim. The place was crawling with Angel’s fans grabbing a bite before the game–red t-shirts and jerseys peppered the dining room. Then I saw him there; sitting in a booth with his beautiful girlfriend was Ryan Getzlaf — Center for the Anaheim Ducks, Assistant Captain, future Hockey Hall of Famer.
Now, I know you’re thinking, “She promised not to talk about hockey until next season.” I did. But this is just too enormous an event and frankly, I need a little hockey fix. I hope you don’t mind too much.
Getzlaf is the one pictured here in this post that I wrote about the Ducks after the last game of the season–Why I love hockey. I’m certainly not a fame or celebrity hound. I refuse to read People Magazine (or the like) on principle and I would rather watch old reruns of C-SPAN translated entirely in Portuguese than TMZ. In fact, I can’t think of one actor I would approach for a photo, one politician, or musician, but Ryan (Flippin’) Getzlaf, I couldn’t help myself, not just for me, but for my kids, Emily, 8 and Ben, 5.
The thing that came to my mind when I introduced my kids to him was that someday they could tell their kids how they met him. They will have the photo. They will remember how their mom told them they were about to “meet greatness” and didn’t know what she meant until later in their lives.
As a parent I find that most things that happen to me are experienced twice, once by me and once through my kids’ eyes–like parental double-vision. I see what experiences will mean to them 5 ,10, 20 years from now, not only what they mean to me personally. This one was a keeper, for all of us.
Now a word of advice about “meeting greatness” in person…in the dinning room of a chain restaurant…camera in hand…after a cocktail–have a whisper of a plan. I’m pretty sure I introduced myself at least three times. I know I shook his girlfriend’s hand twice. I rambled on about this blog and how I had written about The Ducks, about the Ducks Twitter Group, about global warming and the falling dollar–okay not really those last two, but I seriously might as well have. I was a tragic mess.
He and his girlfriend, Paige, were gracious and obviously used to blathering fans armed with cameras, random Ducks facts, and stupid questions. I think I managed to get out a “Good luck this season. You’re awesome,” but besides that, I barely acknowledged how grateful I am for his character, for being a good role model to my son, for his sacrifice to the game, for demonstrating to all of us what courage and good leadership looks like in an athlete.
So there. I just did it. I’m sure once he catches up on his Mom Blog reading, he will see this. Right?
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Other things I’ve written about The Ducks and you have been so kind to tolerate:
What comes over me at a Ducks game (girls and hockey).
Mickey and Minnie are Ducks fans, too.
Let’s go Ducks! Squish the fish!
Or see my photography of the Ducks on Flickr.
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My friend Sk and I started a Ducks Twitter Fan Page on Facebook. Please join if you’re a Ducks fan on Twitter.
We are also planning a Tweet-up at The Discovery Science Center on August 26th. Please RSVP if you want to come. Free admission to The Science of Hockey Exhibit.
27 Comments
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Wonderful post! And what a pic! You look fabulous, btw. When I had nothing of value to say as I was meeting Bobby Ryan, I felt like a complete idiot. I definitely feel your pain!
You SHOULD have said, “you’re amazing…shoot the damn puck more!”
Umm, did you see how big Getz is?
How big? Well, I met Dustin Penner on a flight from Dallas to John Wayne once…the poor man was in economy and had is knees up by his ears. That boy really is large.
He, also, couldn’t have been more gracious. He even seemed a little sheepish.
t.
Yes…which just means he has TONS of energy to SHOOT THE PUCK MORE!!!
No… tell him to pass more. In fact, he should never shoot. Ever.
Glad to hear that he was a good guy and gracious though. I’ve met both good and bad– and it REALLY sucks when you meet someone that you love on the ice, but hate in person.
Now if he could just get traded, I could probably like him…
haha, ah Matt…you’re my FAVORITE bitter Kings fan!
Talk about being at the right place at the right time !! Great article. Your perspective is amazing.
Not only were you in the same place at the same time, you had the good fortune of having a camera with you. LUcky!!!!!
I always have a camera and video camera with me–always!
i know how you feel…i met Chris Kunitz when he was at Disneyland with the Stanley Cup 2 summers ago and i babbled on about something super lame. I wonder if athletes get together and talk about the things fans talk to them about.
Probably they do. They must hear it all!
My friends once ran into Kunitz at a Chipotle…she said the funniest thing about it was the fact that he introduced himself. She was wearing a Ducks shirt at the time.
He’s taaaaalllll! Or you are really short.
Having that camera strapped to your side 24-7 actually came in handy. Kind of weird that you guys look like a “real” couple…what do you do when your fantasy blurs in to reality?
Blog about it, Silly.
You’re glowing like an angel. What a fun moment.
They’re all great guys.
Getzlaf always seemed sort of shy to me, nice guy, relatively humble for how good he is, but he’s just the anti-athlete, he’s not the Kobi or Shaq, “HEY LOOK AT ME, I”M YOUR NEW GOD” type of guy.
You need to meet Bobby Ryan!
Nicest most gracious young man on the planet. Like he has NO idea how good he is or how much he means to his fans.
Selanne is polar opposite, Nice guy, very gracious, he will stop whatever he is doing for the chance to talk with a fan, or stand there for an hour making sure everyone gets the picture they want or all the items get signed. And he does it BECAUSE he knows just how good he is and how much he means to his fans.
Ducks players are not normal. Not just in sports, but even in Hockey. The organization takes great pride in having players who excel on the ice but who are also upstanding members of the community who are responsive to fans. As a fan and a parent, I am truly grateful for that.
I’ve been at that same restaurant every night since then just waiting for Ryan and Selanne, Carter, Niedermayer, or Hiller but no luck–KIDDING.
I hope to meet some of the players at the preseason event they have for kids.
Thanks for your comment. I appreciate it.
Definitely agree. And I have to say, that’s what their appeal is. They are so talented on the ice. Off the ice, they are the nicest, most humble guys. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Bobby Ryan, Selanne, Pronger, DiPenta, and Nokelainen and they were all wonderful.
Totally understand that one . . . in the rare occasions I’ve met a pro surfer or a musician, I have nothing productive to say and giggle in a way that sounds like a cross between Beavis & Butthead and Goofy . . . like a nervous 13-year old kid on his first date times 10.
Hey, you don’t think he checked out your blog? Sure, if it was another sports blog, yeah, totally blow it off . . . but how often does he get mentioned in a mom blog? Who wouldn’t want to sneak a peak at that? Fame doesn’t kill curiousity, does it?
I have met Getz a few times, and several others who used to and/or still do play for the Ducks, and I agree - they stand above the rest in graciousness, politeness and class. Hockey, in general, is just a nicer bunch of humble workhorses than in other sports. I’m glad you had the opportunity to meet him! And he is a big guy! Bobby Ryan, as others stated, is also terrific. He’s just happy to have a place to play his passion and is humble. I met Bryzgalov at a park two years ago with my daughter and he was gracious enough to sign his autograph for me. He then remembered me a few months later at a charity event and asked after my daughter! I couldn’t believe he rememebered! I commend the organization for sticking to their guns and their belief that fans and the community come first for this team!
great story - great for the kids
i met getzy in the parking lot of Ralphs in Aliso Viejo. I knew he lived in Aliso and i would always keep my eye out for him and finally i saw him. he was really cool even while i was babbling like a school girl and telling him how he is my favorite player. o and his girlfriend paige is really cute!
GOOO DUCKS!!!
Awesome!! I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting any of the Ducks yet (Teemu is my wife’s favorite, she says he’s dreamy :D) but I did get to meet David Eckstein back in the day (in the dugout no less), my favorite. Same thing, I wanted to say thanks for giving everything, for going 100% and being an amazing role model… all I got out… “……..” I had a ball & pen in hand, and couldn’t say anything other than “thanks” as he was running onto the field to practice. Fan fail!
please divulge which restaurant it was in….we don’t want you waiting (lurking) for others Ducks alone!
Him and Bobby are the nicest guys to talk to! I met him a couple times, and once my friend wanted a picture with him, and he was doing that weird smirk/smile thing, and I told him “It wouldn’t kill you to smile, ya know?” jokingly. My friend looked scared after I said that, but he just laughed and did a real smile. He’s super down to Earth.
P.S. Paige is SOOOOOO adorable. Him and her look perfect together.