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Connor McDavid is another can’t-miss talent you don’t want to miss

Oilers sensation Connor McDavidhits town tonight to meet the Lightning
 
The Minnesota Wild's Jordan Greenway (18) chases the Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid during a game last month. [Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP]
The Minnesota Wild's Jordan Greenway (18) chases the Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid during a game last month. [Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP]
Published Nov. 6, 2018

TAMPA – When I was 14 and reasonably defiant, I wanted to take a train, all by myself, to Belmont Park. It was June 1973. I wanted to go see the greatest athlete in America at the time.

Secretariat.

My mother disagreed slightly.

"You're for the birds if you think I'm going to let you go to a race track with all those crazy people to see that stupid horse."

Secretariat won that day, moving like a tremendous machine. I got goose bumps just from watching TV. Then Mom made lasagna.

But I made a vow to myself that day.

Not again.

I wasn't going to miss seeing the best.

I think of that now as the Edmonton Oilers visit the Lightning tonight. Edmonton means 21-year-old Connor McDavid, the sensational Edmonton star, already the best in the game. I've never see him in person.

That changes tonight.

I'm not telling you how to spend your money, not at all, but if you have a sports bucket list, McDavid should be on it. Hey, I'd be happy just to watch the kid tape his sticks in the morning.

I don't like to miss events like McDavid. I have spent a life seeing who I needed to see in sports. I never saw Babe Ruth trot or Ted Williams hit or Jim Brown run or Muhammad Ali fight.

But I have always had my own list.

I bet you do, too. Love to hear them.

I once saw Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson pitch within two days of each other at Shea Stadium. Saw Willie Mays. Saw Hank Aaron.

I saw O.J. Simpson run before he ever ran from the law. I saw Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. I once scalped a ticket to sit behind the home bench at Chicago Stadium because Michael Jordan was playing. He had to be seen.

I needed to see Bobby Orr play hockey and I did. I needed to see Wayne Gretzky play hockey, and I drove two hours, but I saw him in St. Louis. He scored twice, including one from behind the net, off the goaltender's back. Paid my way into the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh to see Mario Lemieux play. I saw Barry Sanders and Dan Marino and Brett Favre and Jerry Rice.

I went to see an Army-Navy game. I walked around an empty Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke. I loved Tiger Stadium at night in Baton Rouge. I've been to Indiana state basketball and Minnesota state hockey.

I had to see those great Baltimore Orioles teams, and I did, the Robinsons, Brooks and Frank, both at once. I wanted to see the 1975 Reds and the 1998 Yankees and the 1979 Canadiens. I saw the 69-13 Lakers and the 72-10 Bulls and the 73-9 Warriors. I saw the 16-0 Patriots. I saw the U.S. women's gymnastics team at the 1996 Summer Olympics. I watched Katarina Witt at a practice skate.

I watched the New York Knicks, Reed, Frazier, DeBusschere and the rest, when they were champions. There was nothing like them. I once sat behind home plate in Baltimore to watch Chicago knuckleballer Wilbur Wood pitch in both ends of a twilight doubleheader. Been to Wrigley, been to Fenway. Must see. I saw Broadway Joe Namath lead a comeback.

I had to see Pete Rose extend his 1978 hitting streak. I went to Tropicana Field to watch Greg Maddux start a game at the height of his powers. I think he threw like 78 pitches and the game was over in an hour and a half. I saw Lou Brock during his 118-stolen-base season. Watched Rickey Henderson swipe two during his 130-stolen base season.

Once sat courtside and watched an entire John McEnroe match at the U.S. Open. I followed Jack Nicklaus around Augusta. I once went to an asphalt basketball tournament in Harlem, New York to see Julius Erving play in summer leagues. I saw Pete Maravich play at Madison Square Garden.

And tonight, I'll see the kid Connor McDavid.

A final note: I never saw Secretariat race, but years later I did visit his grave outside Lexington, Ky. I spoke with one of his handlers, who often led Big Red to the stud barn, where Secretariat made little Secretariats. Missed that, too.

The handler assured me it was "quite a show."

Connor McDavid is here tonight.

Don't get any ideas, kid. A goal and assist will do.