Celebrate Jumbo Joe Day every year by Terry Carroll On Thursday, November 21 last year, my lovely wife Nancy played for me a video issued by the mayor of St. Thomas declaring November 23 (the day # 19 would be retired in San Jose)
the streets of a major American city. But here, in what is arguably his hometown, it’s a different story. Joe Thornton’s name adorns our puck palace, our hockey hall of heroes, call it what you will. Here in the Railway City, we call it the Joe Thornton Community Centre. Here, we cherish Jumbo Joe in our hearts and aspirations. After all, his meteoric rise to the NHL, the World Cup, the IIWF Championship, the Olympics, the Winter Games, the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Spengler Cup began with the St. Thomas Travelers and then the Thomas Stars, where, as a 15-year-old, he notched 104 points over 50 games. My view? St. Thomas should declare the fourth Saturday in November as Joe Thornton Day in perpetuity. A Sharks flag should be raised and fly at full mast during five days of revelry: Black Friday, Joe Thornton Saturday, Ordinary Saint Sunday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday. With his awesome beard temporarily dyed white, Joe Thornton, or a digital replica, should lead the Saturday Santa Claus Parade. The week before this occasion, Mayor’s Update should restrict questions to the following themes: hockey, the name Joe, the word jumbo (including hot dogs) and anything pertaining to sharks. Malichi Male should be encouraged to add Saint J to his Saint T clothing line. Perhaps in exchange for a reasonable fee, Malachi would consider including me, or my digitally enhanced replica, as a senior male model for his Saint T line of tees? And Mayor Joe Preston as the poster child for the soon-to-be-released Saint J line?
as Joe Thornton Day in St. Thomas. I was caught a little off-guard. Only two days until November 23? Not nearly enough time to prepare and that particular Saturday was already crowded. In my calendar, I had a morning shift at a table at the Winter Horton Market selling copies of Railway City Writes; a family gathering near Kettle Point in the afternoon, and an 80s-themed birthday bash for Tammy Bale at the CASO Station that evening. I had yet to pick out my outfit. Where was the time to get ready to celebrate what Joe Thornton means to the municipality where he spent his formative years? (Well, technically, that was the Municipality of Central Elgin, but let’s not feed the flames of municipal rivalry, shall we?) To complicate things, Mayor Joe’s announcement lacked information detailing what was expected of us lowly citizens of the Railway City on Mr. Thornton’s special day. A little journalistic digging on my part – some call this Googling – relieved my anxiety. ‘Jumbo Joe’ was unlikely to appear in person. The City of San Jose had proclaimed November 23 as Joe Thornton Day in San Jose. As talented as he is, even Jumbo Joe is unlikely to appear in two places at once. But out of the ashes of disappointment rise phoenixes of opportunity. By next November, Joe Thornton will be just another pretty face (albeit magnificently bearded) on Geoffrey Rae Managing Editor / Sales Geoff@villagerpublications.com • 519-495-7177 Copy Editor: Peter Bloch-Hansen Publisher: Barb Botten barb@villagerpublications.com Graphic Artist – Cathy Wood Photos, community events and article suggestions welcome. Please email hometown@villagerpublications.com. We look forward to hearing from you. oomers oomers B and EYOND B Copyright @ 2015 Villager Publications. All rights reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the Publisher. Information presented has been compiled from sources believed to be accurate at the time of printing however the Publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions.
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