8502170382
DETROIT FREE PRESS
851121
Thursday, November 21, 1985
METRO FINAL
1E
Photo
MITCH ALBOM
Copyright (c) 1985, Detroit Free Press
FORMER SKATING PLAYBOY MELLOWS INTO TEAM LEADER
You might call it growing up, or, if your address ends in California, maybe
mellowing out. Fair enough, since California is still an off-season home to
Ron Duguay, a nugget of the glamorous life he once commandeered.
Oh, you remember those years. Ron Duguay, Hockey Hunk of the New York
Rangers. Floor-length mink coats, a different girl on a different arm on a
different night, night after night, parties till dawn, while his rump swayed
to and fro across Big Apple television sets in those "Oooh-la-la, Sasson!"
jeans commercials. Duguay -- The Ranger In The News. His life was illuminated
less by sunlight than by flashbulb. The guy was a paparazzi's birthday wish.
But times change, and so do addresses and Ron Duguay's is, of course,
Detroit, Michigan now. And the former skating playboy has settled not only
into marriage and fatherhood but has emerged as a most likely candidate for
leadership on a young Red Wings team that needs leadership oh, only
desperately.
"No question about it," says Wings general manager Jimmy Devellano, "we've
gone from an old team to a very young team in pretty much one year. Ron's the
veteran now. We expect him in a leadership role."
There are no ugly moments
Those who remember the Studio 54 days may blanch at the idea of "Doogie"
leading some apple-cheeked kids from Canada anywhere. Fear not. He won't be
holding class in the art of staying out all night. The playboy wildness was a
few years ago. And in the accelerated world of pro sports -- where you're an
infant at 20 and an old man at 30 -- a few years is a generation.
"I know there are younger players now looking up to me," said Duguay, 28,
after a recent Red Wings practice. "I know I have to face that responsibiity.
"That's my role. They pay you more money than the younger guys and they
expect more out of you. I try to show my leadership on the ice. I don't use
words to lead. Words are cheap. The best way to gain attention from your
teammates is to set an example."
Not that gaining attention ever tripped him up before. He still has a lean
and muscled body, and the trademark long curly locks hanging loosely, like
open curtains to his movie star face. How else do you say it? The guy always
looks good. He even skates without a helmet -- "I've just never been
comfortable with one" -- only furthering the impression that he is meant to be
seen, that his life has somehow already been edited, so that there are no
ugly moments, no frames where he is caught with his mouth hanging open or his
finger in his nose.
There's even a story that goes around about Duguay claiming he doesn't
sweat. Players switch jerseys in practice and whoever gets Duguay's lucks out
-- it's nearly dry.
But all this doesn't make him untouchable. A few weeks back, Duguay was
rumored to be on the trading block, charisma and all, one of several
desperation moves considered by Devellano to goose his then-winless team back
on track.
It was then that Duguay realized that while he might still look New York
on the outside, Detroit was now deep in his blood.
"I heard the talk. I guess maybe deep down inside I thought they would do
it. But I really don't want to be traded. I'm happy here with the team, the
coaches, the whole organization. Leaving would be a big disappointment."
In tough times, he leads
Devellano has since said there's "no way" he'd trade Duguay. Good. Trading
him would be a mistake. Leadership is an intangible, a vital one to the Wings'
collection of rookies, free agents and the occasional Czech import. Besides,
Duguay is a real Red Wings booster now. And the first step in leading a team
is believing in it.
"The slump we went through early this season was tough," he said. "We lost
a quick two games and a lot of players got down on themselves because
everyone expected so much." A leader goes out and keeps playing hard. He
doesn't let losing gets to him. He walks tall in the locker room and tells the
others to do the same. That's what Duguay did. A leader.
"It is funny to think how much I want to stay here when I remember a few
years ago," he said, referring to the shock of being traded in 1983 by the
Rangers -- with whom he had reached the Stanley Cup Finals. But it worked out.
He had a career-high 89 points last season with a weak Wings team. And since
the trade smoke has dissipated, his play this year has been good.
"There's more to being a hockey player than having a good time at night,"
he said, in a tone that might drop a few jaws in some of his old Big Apple
night spots. But then, this cloak of leadership is a relatively new outfit
for Duguay. That's OK. You can only assume, as with all the rest of his
wardrobe, it will fit him perfectly. No sweat.
RON DUGUAY;DREDWINGS;HOCKEY;COLUMN;Red Wings