Ted Lindsay

I had a chance to make a living at the thing I love, and I have always appreciated that, and I have always wanted to give something back.

I hated everybody I played against, and they hated me. That's the way hockey should be played.

I've been slashed, speared, elbowed, board-checked, butt-ended, and hit on the head as much as anyone. I just like to keep the ledger balanced.

Owners never paid my salary. I always recognized that it was the people in the seats who did. I always wanted to give my best.

With me serving as the president, we filed a $3-million lawsuit against the league and its member clubs in an attempt to win increased pension benefits and a larger share Of television revenue.

They thought we were going to hurt the game, but we just wanted to help ourselves, because the players needed to get together to protect their interests.