Sports Illustrated will announce its choice for Sportsman of the Year on Dec. 6. Here's one of the nominations for that honor by an SI writer.
Whenever I think about Ian Laperriere, I also immediately think about a little girl named Ellie Rolfs.
You see it all the time and it's still a good thing: athletes visiting sick kids on team outings, athletes giving money to sick kids, athletes saying all the right things about perspective when talking about sick kids. But, really, that's usually as far as it goes. These guys are busy, under a lot of pressure, and have families and troubles of their own.
"Lappy" had all of the above -- and still does -- when he played with the Colorado Avalanche. But he found time -- lots of it -- to give to Ellie, who in 2008 was diagnosed at age 2 with Stage IV Widely Diffuse Anaplastic Wilm's Tumor -- an aggressive, rare form of pediatric kidney cancer.
Following the diagnosis, this little girl spent 90 days in the hospital, received 40 blood transfusions, had a tumor removed from her lungs, underwent more than a dozen high-radiation treatments, and had yards of tubes anchored to her frail body.
But you want to talk about hockey tough?
Ellie today is two years in remission, her once bald head now covered by beautiful long, blonde hair.
Any trophies/recognition whatsoever heading Lappy's way is well deserved.
A little child seeing the sacrifice and hard work put out there on the ice by a fourth liner, though? I think there's a future NHL coach in waiting there.
When's he gonna get his arse back on the ice? Lappy should either shyte or get off the pot. I hope he doesn't turn into another Hatcher or Cote.
$0.02 (my Two Cents)
I have an idea, since you think he should be back playing and all by now...
I think we should fire a couple pucks at your face and see how quickly, if ever, you return to posting here, let alone leading a fully functional life.
You have stooped to levels unknown. Do us all a favor and never post here again, you are a disgrace.
When's he gonna get his arse back on the ice? Lappy should either shyte or get off the pot. I hope he doesn't turn into another Hatcher or Cote.
$0.02 (my Two Cents)
Hahaha, oh wow.
Anyway, Lappy deserves all the respect he's been getting lately. Can't remember the article it was from but he said something like "man why didn't I sign for this team years ago!" Hope hes around the organization for a long, long time.
