Wow, so former Habs head coach Jacques Demers reveals in his book...

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...that he is illiterate. I know jokes are easy, but it's definitely brave to carry this burden throughout his long career. Really, I'm stunned and my admiration for him increased ten-fold.

http://www.radio-canada.ca/sports/HockeyNHL/2005/11/02/001-demers.shtml

― alex in montreal (alex in montreal), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 17:33 (twenty years ago)

How did he write the book???

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 17:36 (twenty years ago)

Oh, it's an authorized biog. Kudos to the French for their word for illiteracy: analphabète.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 17:40 (twenty years ago)

A lovable coach -- sad to see he's struggled with this. His contributions to the Red Wings in the late '80s were huge -- I think those teams, with Yzerman blowing up, drew the talent that came to fruition in their cup seasons in 97 and 98.

― scrimhaw1837 (son_of_scrimshaw), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 18:08 (twenty years ago)

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2005-10-04-demers_x.htm

Not to mention that he apparently writes for USA Today! (Insert USA Today joke here.)

― d4niel coh3n (dayan), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 18:54 (twenty years ago)

Is illiteracy a difficult concept for anyone else to grasp? I can't understand how anyone can't put letters and words together. (Likewise, I have no depth perception and have no actual idea what depth perception is like.)

― Are You Nomar? (miloaukerman), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 18:57 (twenty years ago)

Holy shit! No wonder those commercials he did for Weingartz in Utica always seemed so weird.

― Df'nM (OutDatWay), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 18:58 (twenty years ago)

Hmm...I wonder if that USAT was done "as told to," or Demers has overcome his illiteracy (which, Nomar, I can't fathom. I've had recurring nightmares where slowly lose the ability to recognize characters and alphabet letters, but can't really conceive actual illiteracy.)

DM: Weingartz is that equipment rental place, right? JD was great with the endorsements. The one time I saw him in public, at a horse barn in Northville, he was wearing a shirt that said "I am having a maalox moment."

― scrimhaw1837 (son_of_scrimshaw), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 19:23 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I think it was. I'm not from Detroit, but we watched the games on PASS all the time back then, and those commercials were always on. My mom and I used to make fun of the way he said "WeingartZZZ... in YOUtica" and now I kinda feel bad!

― Df'nM (OutDatWay), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 19:26 (twenty years ago)

His contributions to the Red Wings in the late '80s were huge -- I think those teams, with Yzerman blowing up, drew the talent that came to fruition in their cup seasons in 97 and 98.

Yes, definitely.

― KSTFU (Ex Leon), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 19:28 (twenty years ago)

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