I was saddened to learn of the passing of legendary Blackhawks defenseman and tough guy Keith Magnuson (“Magnuson dies in crash; Ex-Hawks coach, defenseman was a fan favorite,” Sports, Dec. 16).
I met Magnuson on several occasions.
The last time was at the Illinois Special Olympics Sports Carnival in October.
Magnuson always took time to greet fans of his and the Blackhawks, even though many of the fans were too young to remember him from his playing days.
As a child, I was asked by an uncle which number I wanted on my Blackhawks jersey for Christmas and I said No. 3.
He asked why I didn’t want Bobby Hull’s No. 9.
I said, because Magnuson was tough and wasn’t afraid of anyone.
In his playing days, Magnuson was closely associated with the fans of Chicago because he was a hardworking, no-nonsense player who was willing to sacrifice himself for his team, a trait that many players are lacking in today’s sports.
Magnuson represented the spirit and pride of the Blackhawks and the City of Chicago. Also he was a dedicated family man, respected teammate and good friend to many people, especially charitable organizations.
I would like to see the Blackhawks honor him for all his efforts, both on and off the ice, by raising his No. 3 to the rafters of the United Center.
