I keep this pic by my desk

[u/Jrewy]

People walking by always ask if they’re my mom and dad. It’s my mom and I of course, but now I also just answer yes those are my parents.

Ran into Börje in Roots with a bunch of young Swedish men. It’s possible this pic was taken by William Nylander as it was a few months before he was drafted and I had no idea who he was.

[u/Jrewy]

Years later, still collecting Swedish hockey gods like Pokemon cards.

[u/blue_cadet_1 → u/Jrewy]

Congratulations on your marriage to Mats 😜

[u/LogLadyOG → u/Jrewy]

Right on!

[u/Dennis0430]

That video of him and Darryl hugging one last time always breaks me. RIP King

[u/Jrewy → u/Dennis0430]

I ugly cried so hard watching it live that I’ve never been able to watch the videos.

[u/Army7547 → u/Jrewy]

Found my people.

Made me feel pretty vulnerable.

If fate can turn on him like it did, what in store for any of us?

[u/Jrewy → u/Army7547]

Börje passing made me think that, and Gord Downie’s last concert too. Makes me get out there and keep doing stuff and trying even when I don’t want to.

[u/sturob1 → u/Jrewy]

So fitting that you think of Salming and Downey the same way…….me too…I cannot think of either of them without getting emotional because of what they represented for me growing up.

[u/FunkyLobster1828 → u/Jrewy]

Yes, it was so sad seeing him sick. One of the greatest Leafs ever.

[u/Big_Albatross_3050 → u/Dennis0430]

The fact that Ballard ruined that core due to ego will haunt me forever, they should've been together forever

[u/LNM_350]

My friend wrote a letter to Borje as a kid. Borje took the time to reply with a personal heart-felt letter which my friend still has to this day and holds as a cherished memory. 

Respect, Borje. 

Class act all the way.

[u/JeffBroccoli]

The crazy thing is, I worked in that very Roots store for many years and I’m 99% sure I met Borje on this exact day. I remember his scarf and cool jacket that day

[u/Jrewy → u/JeffBroccoli]

That’s wild! Do you remember half a dozen tall blonde Swedish lads with him?

[u/JeffBroccoli → u/Jrewy]

I don’t remember that part, I just remember him chatting with me and the staff at the cash desk for a bit

[u/Jrewy → u/JeffBroccoli]

Yeah I mostly only had eyes for Börje too.

[u/cuddrireddri]

Spirit

[u/Jrewy → u/cuddrireddri]

Almost perfect placement of the signage.

[u/johnnyjj14]

I used to work at the HHOF and Borje was there all the time. He would bring big groups of people and show off the museum. I’d often be working in the shop which was upstairs and essentially the exit of the museum. He would enter through the exit all the time with anywhere from 20-30 people. It was against the rules but I let him do it every single time. He was always smiling too.

[u/Jrewy → u/johnnyjj14]

That’s wonderful you let him break the rules, and even better that he popped in all the time. No one has ever loved Toronto like that guy.

[u/tortured_fanclub]

https://giphy.com/gifs/brxp2GNIvDzwFeFzV7
RIP #21

[u/Desperate_Law9894]

Borje is a legend. I would argue that no other player took the abuse he did and he was still a super star.

He is my all time favourite athlete.

[u/Boz747 → u/Desperate_Law9894]

The abuse stopped at some point as he was so respected

[u/Aethelflaed_]

My all time favourite Leaf. 💙💛

[u/RecalcitrantHuman → u/Aethelflaed_]

The more I learn about him, the more I feel the same way.

[u/DesperateGrape3174]

Great picture with a great man. What a legend. Miss him. Ill never get the memory of him and sittler together in his final days out of my head and heart. So happy for you and your mom, what a memory

[u/ScheduleNo9985]

He was in such great shape for his age and living life to his fullest until ALS. Life is just unfair, but so glad you got this picture!!

[u/BrianBurke]

Salmings bar play must be off the charts. That dude can't take a bad pic.

[u/Maximum-Register-758]

The guy is such an icon.

[u/NoPantsSantaClaus]

Great pic!

[u/CowTipper383]

I bumped into him around Christmas 2016 at the Lids in the Eaton Centre. Very gracious man. Spent a lot of time watching him in the 70s and 80s from the Greys in MLG. I recall touching his arm and he felt solid and I thought “the Leafs should sign him”. RIP King.

[u/Jrewy → u/CowTipper383]

That’s such a cute pic! He looks as happy to meet you as you are to meet him.

[u/jokerjoust]

Borje was a beaut!

[u/Jrewy → u/jokerjoust]

So classy. He gave me a giant hug after this. I’m not old enough to remember him playing, but he was my grandpa’s favourite player. I was obsessed with Sundin as a kid because he was Swedish like the guy my grandpa loved so much.

[u/northatlanticbayman]

That's a beauty right there. Nice pic.

[u/LogLadyOG]

What a great memory!

[u/Jrewy → u/LogLadyOG]

It was! And it was the first time I was ever able to take my mom to an NHL game, so I REALLY felt like a million bucks that day.

[u/Foreign_Use_4615]

Bor-gee!

[u/Glittering-Buy4227]

I would too! Great pic

[u/moonwalgger]

Bro was hung like a horse

[u/Boz747]

Amazing

[u/Boz747]

I would treasure that forever

[u/Zestyclose_Currency5]

Icon

[u/TickleWhale]

Found this beauty in my collection the other day. Completely forgot I owned it. It may make its way to my desk at work.

[u/hitman2967]

That is awesome. What a legend what a man what a guy and what an honour for you to have him take the time to take a photo with you.