Rick Middleton | Thursday Afternoon Monday Morning Podcast 3-5-26
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What is discussed at the start of this section?
Hey, what's going on, everybody? It's Phil Byrne. It's time for the Thursday afternoon, just before Friday, Monday morning podcast. And I'm just checking in on you. And I have a guest. I can't even believe this guy is on my podcast. This is one of my heroes growing up. Little Billy Freckles when I had my big orange afro back in the early 80s. And I used to go down to the Boston Garden and go to all the Bruins games. One of my favorite players of all time, the one and only, number 16, captain of the Bruins from 85 to 88, Mr. Rick Middleton. What's going on? Hey, Bill, thank you so much for having me on your podcast. This is awesome. Are you kidding? You have no idea. I got your jersey under my bed there. I used to play pickup hockey, and I was just disgracing your name and number, so I had to put on my Jay Miller one, and then I couldn't fight.
You had to knock a few people around. No, you have no idea. Like, I fell in love with hockey and the Bruins in, like, 1980. And that was like, I saw the end of like the Stan Jonathan, Wensick, Wayne Cashman, those big bad Bruins. And then there was like the Peter McNabb, Barry Peterson, you, both Crowder.
How did Rick Middleton become a Bruins fan?
When Barry came to the team, you know, my numbers and my production went straight up. He became my centerman and we took off. Yeah. You know, I was going to ask you, you know, because I watched, you know, this year was watching the Bruins, seeing like Kustaninov coming from the third line up to the first line. And like as much as Pasta scores goals, his passes are some of the best passes in the league. And he can handle the puck and he sees the play. As you know, it's all about... not only being able to skate fast, but be able to do everything at that speed. Everybody can skate fast. But if you can't think fast enough to make a pass and see the lane, and he seems to have that, and now they're moving him up the lineup.
How is that, as someone like yourself, before we get into promoting your documentary and everything, I should say it in the beginning. He has this amazing documentary that I watched last night about his coaching the 2002 Paralympics sled hockey team. It's called Ice Gold. It's on NBC Peacock. Is that what it is? Right. Just started streaming. Yeah. I got to talk to, I could not believe the drama. I would have just thought everyone would have been like, this is amazing. They're letting disabled people play. Everybody's having a good time. And it was just like, you know, if you will. I called it the bizarro world of sled hockey back in those days. But anyway, I want to get back to that question because, you know, um,
who's sitting off, who's having a great season, but like playing on the third line versus the first line, as far as like quality opportunities and your numbers, you know, did you ever, as such a natural goal scorer that you were, I'm sure at some point in your career, you were playing on a line. You don't have to name the team, but you're thinking to yourself, you know, if I was playing with that guy, if I was on that line, I would have like 30 goals. And now I'm down here. I got eight goals and the coach is looking at me like I suck. It's like, I don't suck. No, you're absolutely right. In just about any business, you've got to work your way up. And it's all about performance. Not how many, but not how.
Just get the goals. And ice time is the big secret. If you're only playing six minutes a game, you're not going to score 50 that year. So you need to get that ice time. So usually when you come in the league, you know, you start third line. Fourth line back in my day was the fighting line, the tough guys, the guys that would mix it up and get things going. So if you were on the third line, you usually killed penalties and you didn't play that much. And I started in New York and I always wanted to play with Jean Rattel. But Rod Gilbert was his right winger, and I never had a chance until I came to Boston. And when I got to Boston, my very first game, Don Cherry played me on a line with Johnny Busick and Jean Rattel.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is discussed at the start of this section?
0:00–1:21
2
How did Rick Middleton become a Bruins fan?
1:21–5:28
3
What insights does Rick Middleton share about scoring goals?
5:28–8:41
4
What is the significance of the documentary 'Ice Gold'?
8:41–1:03:57
5
What humorous comparisons are made between sloths and junkies?
1:03:57–1:04:32
6
How does the discussion shift to the effects of drugs on physical appearance?
1:04:32–1:05:25
7
What insights are shared about the music industry and creative freedom?
1:05:25–1:06:39
8
How does the conversation touch on the current state of politics and leadership?
1:06:39–1:57:44
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