Gordie Howe never took anything for granted. Not his place in hockey history. Not his place on the Detroit Red Wings roster.
For 25 seasons, he was the face of the Red Wings, and former teammate Ted Lindsay doesn't remember a training camp in which Howe wasn't fighting for his job.
"He was always worried about making the team," Lindsay said. "It was a tough job for the guy playing on the wing in training camp. This guy was fighting for his position."
He was humble. On the ice, he could be mean. And when it was all done, Lindsay said Mr.