“And another thing I don’t like about this scoreboard is all the lights on it! There’s too damn many and they’re too damn small! And they don’t blink! I want blinking lights! I don’t care if it’s March, you should be able to have blinking lights at times other than Christmas! And what is it with this ‘Home’ and ‘Visitors’ crap up there? This isn’t MY home. And I don’t see any players living here either! And who are these ‘visitors’ who are soooo important. I don’t recall inviting anyone over!”

Ah Pro Set! The first half of this series was the first box of cards I ever received and I absolutely loved them. They are also partly responsible for the ridiculously huge card sets that would follow. Series II of the 1990-91 set features literally everyone who ever handled a puck or stood behind a bench. In this case, Bob Murdoch did both, playing in the NHL from 1971 to 1982, and then coaching (as an assistant, associate and head) from 1982 to 1993. He was only a head coach for three years, and his high-water mark was a 37-32-11 mark with Winnipeg in 1989-90, the year this photo was taken. It stands to wonder why he’s so damn angry here as his Jets were a decent team. They used to get bounced out of the playoffs in round one year after year, so maybe there’s your answer. Tough job coaching in Winnipeg. Not much chance you were gonna beat Edmonton or Calgary in those days, so coaches predictably came and went with regularity in Manitoba.

I love the expression on the guy wearing the red suit and candy-cane-looking tie sitting behind the Jets’ bench. For one thing, who the hell, other than an usher at the old Montreal Forum wears a red suit to a hockey game. The other thing I wonder about is what this guy thinks about the scoreboard I presume he’s looking at. I’m not sure what else would be in the direction his eyes are pointing. Maybe he’s just as miffed as Bob is, but he’s got a little more self-control. Good for you, Candy Cane!

Note: Before I start getting e-mails asking me if this Bob Murdoch is the same Bob Murdoch who played for the Seals, the answer is no.