11:03 AM, Wednesday, July 18, 2007:

News broken first at the North Buffalo Table Hockey League's website
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/NBTHL/post


I didn't think it could get any better, but it has!!!

An hour ago, I received a telephone call that woke me up. (I'm
working midz). It was my old buddy, Kevin Reardon, from Buffalo, NY.
He doesn't do e-mail. A couple weeks back, I'd sent his wife an e-
mail with information about Chicago's and New York's upcoming table
hockey tournaments. Nice wife--she passed it on to Kevin!

Kevin called me asking questions, What's it about? Logistics? What
do I think?

Mind you, with the exception of a few times when I came home from
the Marines, this guy has touched the rods only twice seriously in
30 years.

His first time back, was at Johnny Goodguy in 2005, which is about 2
hours from Buffalo. Kevin finished just out of a medal in the "C"
Division. Not bad considering he'd also just had wrist surgery.

In 2007, he and I returned to JGG. This time he was awaiting
shoulder surgery, which he still hasn't had --- due soon. He works
in the rough and tumble New York State Prison System. One of the
prisoners got loose from other guards and Kevin stepped in to fight
and subdue the convict.

Anyhow, since 2005 I've learned a few things. The day of the
tournament I passed on what I could given the amount of time to
Kevin. Now any great player can take information and immediately
implement it. Me, it takes awhile. But, Kevin implemented it and
earned 3rd Place in the "B" Division.

I'm excited, because in the waning years of our old North Buffalo
Table Hockey League, which had about 21 players over the years,
Kevin had surpassed me.

Here's a little about him from a booklet our league created in 1982,
two years after our league ended. The NBTHL played games with three
5 minute periods, stop clock, referees and face-offs on all dots. We
also experiemented with 5 minute games, setting up a special
division one year to do so. And, one of our players, me, went to an
international tournament, The Burlington International, 1978
(however, it turned out to be on the Munro not Coleco, which we
played).


Note: This chapter is part of a document copied verbatim with
spelling and grammatical mistakes and is from the original type-
written document completed in 1982, which was written from
accumulated original notes and first-hand accounts of the players.

"Kevin P. Reardon, maybe the greatest player in the history of the
league. Kevin has set many offensive records and is thee offensive
player. His quickness and ability to move the puck faster than
anyone else has helped him to score more goals than anyone in a
single game or in an entire season. Kevin has earned four
Championships, seven Ross trophies, and is the only person to be
unbeaten and untied in a season. The height of his career came in
League Ten when he won all of his twenty four games and also became
the first player to score over three hundred goals. He also
narrowly missed winning the Vezina trophy by seven goals. Kevin is
working currently part-time and going to college."

You can read more and learn more about this league at
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/NBTHL/

While Kevin specifically didn't want me to play him up, I am
excited. This guy is a great table hockey player and a lifelong
friend. When I had zero money for about 10 years, he'd help me out.
Which is why I bought him up a custom Coleco from Carlo Bossio,
replete with both Buffalo Sabres logos and mentions Kevin's awards
and our old league. (Incidentally, this is how Bill Galatioto, now
of NYC but formerly of Buffalo and one of our players in our NYC
league recognized his old friend too by seeing Kevin's name on the
game in NYC).

I've known Kevin since we were 10 years old. His dad, French
Canadian, taught all of us kids to ice skate and play ice hockey on
our backyard rinks before his very young death from cancer. Kevin's
a solid blue collar guy and was an exellent ice hockey player.

He's also graciously accepted to play in the Stiga tournament as
well, a game he's never touched.

While Kevin honestly does not expect to win the Championship in
Chicago, I can assure you some of you will be finishing lower in the
standings.

Bottom line: Kevin Reardon is going to Chicago!!!!!! A great
representative from Buffalo, New York!