If you’re not familiar with that nickname for #11 Dan Cleary, you need to head over to the A2Y Glossary of terms to find this plus other wonderful little tidbits from “The 19”…
“Dan Cleary, the boy with the golden ticket. Wandering the streets of
dreary whatevertownBucketsgrewupin, not wanting to go home because Grampa Joe
wasn’t getting out of bed and yet another dinner of disgusting thick tasteless
soup awaited him. A sparkle in the gutter, a silver dollar. That
money could feed his family for a week! Oh, the turmoil. Tasty Wonka
chocolate and a chance at a trip every child in the world was hoping for, or
food on the Bucket table. Screw it. Grabbed it. Bought the bar.
Ripped it open. Golden Ticket. Hell yes."
Basically this is a metaphor for Cleary’s career in the NHL. During his junior years, he was hyped as the second coming of Eric Lindros. Drafted 13th overall in 1997 by the hated Chicago Blackhawks, he spent time with ‘Hawks, Oilers, and Coyotes and never amounted to much. Cleary nearly gave up on pro hockey, if not for the insistence from his wife, Jelena, to stick it out and get back into shape. Ken Holland offered him an open tryout for the Wings in 2005…he was signed on October 4th (happy birthday, sis) thus getting his proverbial “golden ticket”.By the way, Cleary signed a 5 year extension in March of 2008, he became the first “Newfie” in history to win the Cup three months later.
Well that wonderful muse of inspiration, Jelena Cleary gave birth to a second daughter this summer and thus Dan has spent the off-season in “the D” instead of Newfoundland or California.
Dan along with Kirk Maltby will be participating in this week’s Buick Open in Grand Blanc. Cleary said he’ll be the better Wing.
Well congrats, Dan and good luck…at golf and raising two little girls.
He talks about Hudler as well, but I’m not going to get into that, read it if you want to know what he has to say, (Hint: Cleary is a class act.)
Thanks for the shout-out!
ReplyDeleteCleary is a class act? Fuck he is. Witnessed him cheat on his wife multiple times in Grand Rapids. How inspiring he must be. The latest time was the best when he told the girl he was hitting on that his two beautiful daughters were his neices. Guys a fag and deserves to die
ReplyDeleteWho said that?
Delete...
Must have been the wind, or maybe someone hiding under a sheet in their closet.
Any one else have a similar story? I would love to know!
ReplyDeleteCleary cheats all the time. It's true. Married and has children.
ReplyDeleteYou "witnessed" him cheating? I went out on the town with him and some of his old Wings teammates several times in Detroit when one of my best friends played for Detroit with him and Danny was always a gentleman. Sorry if hugs and kisses from fans is considered cheating in your eyes. He is a proud father and husband and a great guy. I can understand you're jealous of his success and all the girls that like him but you don't need to trash talk him online with lies and rumors and death wishes. This says more truth about you than anything. Cheer up and get better.
ReplyDeleteI'm another Dan Cleary and I just gotta say that, from what I know, he's one hell of a stand-up guy. One who certainly doesn't exhibit the low life characteristics required to cheat.
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of the guy since we share a name and the fact that he's just 1 can't hair shy of full on benevolent.
Let's ask some other Dan Clearys like the european soccer or australian rugby icons, shall we?
Hahaha
Love my nam. Keep on keeping on Dan Clearys.