The first question that most people ask me when I tell them that
I collect cards of Craig Billington is...."Why?"
"Why do you collect him? He's terrible!"
"Who the hell's that?"
"Wasn't he only in Boston for a year or so?"
"Let my know if you need cards of any REAL players."
You get the idea.
Frankly, I tell these people that they just don't get it. They
don't understand why I admire Billington. It wasn't just for his
performance on the ice (although I think his hockey abilities
are vastly underrated by nearly every so-called "expert"
I've talked to.)
Craig's perseverance through some incredibly difficult situations
is what first caused me to follow him. He was a young, promising
goalie who had just established himself as a solid NHL player
with New Jersey.
Then he was traded to the worst team in the league, and perhaps
one of the worst in NHL history, the 93/94 Ottawa Senators.
Not only that, but he had to carry the main workload in net. It's
tough enough to play goal in the NHL, with pucks whizzing by your
head at 100 MPH.
It's tougher to do it for 63 games with a defense in front of
you that resembles the French army facing the Blitzkrieg in WW2
("Please sir, kindly go around to the left.")
Ever had a bad day at work? When nothing goes right, when people
yell at you, when you try your best, yet you still can't turn
things around?
Craig had 63 of those days in one year. Not only that, but there
were about 15,000 critics at each one, advising him to look for
another line of work.
Not to mention the media, who decided that Craig
was the reason the team did so poorly.
Craig's attitude was simple: I'll do my best, and I won't try
to fight it, because I'll wind up in therapy if I do.
When Biller was traded to my hometown Bruins, he had been through
the battles. He had seen much. He was ready to do anything his
new team asked of him.
What they would up asking him to do was to be the temporary no.1
while they actively sought for a "real" no.1 goalie.
The Bruins could no longer count on Blaine Lacher, so they turned
to Craig. All Biller did was stand on his head for the team, while
many of his teammates were taking the first few months of the
season off.
This would be like being named acting director of a work department,
busting your hump to get things in order, and then watching management
hire some guy from outside to take your spot, because they felt
you weren't "management material."
When the Bruins finally acquired Bill Ranford, Craig said he'd
gladly accept his new role of backup, and that he'd help in any
way possible. Even though he had played very well to that point
in the season, Biller didn't complain.
When Ranford made every start in net for TEN WEEKS, Craig never
complained. He was at every extra practice, every team meeting,
everything that was asked.
When the Bruins passed over Craig in favor of rookie Robbie Tallas
to start a critical game against the Islanders when Ranford was
injured, he didn't sulk. He instead took Tallas aside and gave
him pointers about the Islanders skaters and their shooting tendencies.
Tallas and the Bruins won the game 4-3, assist to Billington.
When Ranford was hurt after the first game of the playoffs, Craig
stepped in and made the start with no complaints, despite not
having seen any action in over a month.
To me, Craig seemed to be the perfect role model for kids who
look up to athletes. Despite what Charles Barkley says, athletes
are role models. The way they act influences the kids who watch
them.
If my kids emulated the way Craig acted both on and off the ice,
I would be thrilled. They would learn how to be a team player,
and how to contribute in any way possible, no matter what their
vocation was.
Craig's with the Colorado Avalanche this year. He's backing up
superstar Patrick Roy. When he went to Colorado, he was thrilled.
"I'll do anything they ask of me. 15 games, 20 games, whatever."
If Colorado wins the Cup this year, guess who I'll be happiest
for? You got it, Craig Billington.
Craig, from this Bruins fan, Thank you.