(cover image unavailable)Boss: The Mike Bossy Story
Author: Mike Bossy with Barry Maisel
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Release Date: Late 1988
Availability: Out of print; available through Amazon Personal Sellers
"Each time you knock me down, I will get back up and score more goals." -Mike Bossy
Mike Bossy, along with Wayne Gretzky and Pat LaFontaine, was one of my three heroes growing up. I never really got the chance to see Bossy in his prime; in fact, by the time I went to my first game at Nassau Coliseum, Bossy had already retired. Still, as a diehard Islander fan and someone who was very willing to latch onto a star player (and really, what five-year-old isn't?), I developed a very soft spot for Mike Bossy.
I'd heard about his autobiography from a variety of other sources, which was the main inspiration behind my purchase. I'd heard hockey players praise it for the helpful advice it gave them. I'd heard fans say it was a great read. But I'd be lying if I didn't say a major reason I sought this book out is the not-so-glowing review Bossy gets from Wayne Gretzky in his own autobiography (a.k.a. the greatest book ever written). Gretzky goes out of his way to slam Bossy on quite a few occasions, with one of his criticisms being that Bossy names himself to his own all-time team. Naturally, upon receiving this book, the first thing I did was look for that passage.
I didn't find it right away, but when I did, it turns out all Bossy really did was say he was a better player than Jari Kurri. It was a series of comparisons between the Islanders dynasty and the Oilers dynasty, and Bossy certainly didn't seem too intent on sparking any controversy. Looks like he did in the eyes of The Great One. However, the long-rumored part where Bossy claims he always aimed five-hole in order to avoid missing the net was nowhere to be found.
What is in Boss, though, is a comprehensive summary of Bossy's stellar career. A lot of autobiographies contain surprises about their subjects. This one's no different. I always assumed Bossy was this quiet guy who just scored goals. Nope. Turns out he was very outspoken, not only within the clubhouse, but with the media as well. But none of that compares with the pressure he put on himself. We hear all about the goals he set for himself each and every year; some might mistake this for Bossy putting his stats before the team, but he had these lofty expectations in mind so that he could help his team out. Would he ever have broken the rookie scoring record or achieved so much without holding himself to the highest possible standard? Bossy himself doesn't seem to think so.
Bossy devotes an entire chapter to his pursuit of the fifty goals in fifty games mark, something that seems a bit silly after Gretzky himself massacred the record just one year later. But it's synonymous with Bossy's career (Gretzky himself, on the Ultimate Gretzky DVD, praises Bossy for giving the mark so much notoriety), and it deserves considerable mention. After all, before Bossy, only Rocket Richard had pulled it off. So Bossy takes us along for the ride, starting back when it was just a pipe dream and going through all the stress that comes with letting the media know about such a lofty goal. When he finally achieves it, even if you know how it happens, it's hard not to smile.
You get the impression that goals such as fifty in fifty were the only things that could possibly raise Bossy's game. He'd just won his first Cup the year prior; as the Islanders approached the 1981 finals, they openly admited to being mostly concerned with how many games it'd take them to win. You can also see how much it bothered Bossy that he was never considered the game's best player. As Guy Lafleur slowed down, Gretzky took the mantle, leaving Bossy wishing for the recognition he deserved. Bossy describes how hurt he was when Butch Goring won the 1981 Conn Smythe, one of the many awards Bossy was passed over for. So it's no surprise that Bossy devotes an entire chapter, aptly titled "MVP", to the twelve-month span in which he won the MVP award of the Canadian team at the 1981 Canada Cup, the 1982 All-Star Game MVP award, and the 1982 Conn Smythe. Despite having the best goals-per-game average in NHL history, it's astonishing how much hardware Bossy didn't win.
But Boss is about more than Bossy's NHL career. We get a down-and-dirty look at the state of junior hockey in the 1970s, something that many people have heard about, but never really experienced. After reading Bossy's take on the situation, it's clear that the junior game at that time was absolutely revolting. It's sort of easy to see why the juniors are so dirty, with so many players trying to get noticed any way they can, but it can be downright dangerous. Bench-clearing brawls were the norm back then, as were coaches who would demand their players to intentionally injure opponents. Gretzky tells a story in his book where an opposing coach offered his players $2 for each hit laid on The Great One, but that's nothing compared to Bossy's tales. In one particularly disgusting instance, Bossy's coach gave his players amphetamines before a game to enhance their abilities. Sadly, this was just one sign of the times.
After reading about Bossy's struggles in juniors, you can see why he was so adamant about getting rid of fighting in the NHL. But what's really surprising is that he wasn't the only Islander who felt that way. Both Bossy and Bryan Trottier, his close friend and roommate, were heavily against fighting, but Trottier felt Bossy would be a better ambassador for the cause, so Bossy got all the credit (and criticism). Even more shocking than that is that Clark Gillies, considered by some to be one of the best fighters ever, had grown to hate fighting by the time Bossy reached his prime. In fact, Bossy opines that it was Gillies' burgeoning nice-guy nature that caused his skills to erode so quickly; since Gillies refused to play a physical game late in his career, he was unable to be of worth to the Islanders.
Boss also does a good job of showing the human side of Bossy. There are stories about his drunken exploits on the Islanders, his long-term relationship with his wife, who didn't drive or speak English when Bossy was drafted, and his distant relationship from his brothers and sisters. Bossy doesn't shy away from talking about his personal life, but doesn't boast about it as many athletes tend to do while penning their memoirs.
Although Bossy and Gretzky were rivals on and off the ice, their books are remarkably similar. Both are written in a rather informal style and cover the same sort of material - the dirty nature of juniors, learning how to win, and their devotion to their respective teammates. It's almost strange to know that Gretzky would so willingly trash someone so similar to him. And it's remarkable how it almost worked out with those two.
The book closes in 1988, as Bossy concludes his year off from hockey not sure if he'll ever play again. We know that he was forced to retire from his back injuries, which is detailed in the book. However, what not everyone knows - and what might not even be true - is that Kings owner Bruce McNall supposedly tried to recruit Bossy to come to Los Angeles that summer to play with Gretzky, who had just been acquired by the Kings. Imagine Gretzky, Bossy, and Robitaille on the same line! It's a shame it never happened.
If you can find a copy, Boss is highly recommended. There are better books out there, but this one's a bit different than you might expect. If you've ever wanted to know about the behind-the-scenes stuff, like negotiating contracts, self-doubt, and the importance of staying happy in spite of greener pastures, this is an interesting read. If you just like Mike Bossy, you'll enjoy it just the same. And if you'd like to take a look back at the NHL in its so-called Golden Era, Boss is a good place to start.
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