Unmasked: Bernie Parent and the Broad Street Bullies

by Bernie Parent, Stan Hochman, Bobby Clarke (Foreword)

In a city known as home to some of the sporting world’s biggest stars, few have ever shined as brightly as the Philadelphia Flyers’ Bernie Parent, and this autobiography shares how he became one of the most sensational goalies in NHL history. The catchphrase “Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent” became ubiquitous in Philadelphia as Parent won two Vezina Trophies as the league’s top goaltender, two Conn Smythe Trophies as playoff MVP, and two Stanley Cup championships, but this work shows how his on-the-ice exploits were only a part of his amazing story. After suffering a career-ending eye injury in 1979, Parent’s life took a turn for the worse, a time during which he battled alcoholism and watched his marriage end in divorce. In the end, however, facing the fears that had plagued him all his life led Parent to find solace and happiness once again. In Unmasked , Parent traces his life and career from his days as a youngster learning to skate to his current role as a Flyers ambassador and public speaker. Featuring rare photos from his personal archive and accompanying text from legendary Philadelphia sports columnist Stan Hochman, this life story gives Parent’s millions of fans a never-before-seen glimpse into the life of a hockey icon.

Genres: Hockey, Sports

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[David Horton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bernie Parent was a much better goalie than he is a writer but he is not afraid of being honest and direct with his readers. It came as a surprise to me how much he struggled to cope with life after hockey especially since his career was violently ripped from him when one of his eyes was permanently damaged by a stray stick poking through his famous mask. He is an old grandpa looking back on his life now which is a new perspective of the man for those of us who are old enough to have idolized him during his playing days and maybe still do when searching for old hockey highlights on YouTube. I would have like to tap him on the shoulder as he was writing and remind him that he was repeating himself yet again (how many times do we need the story of how he won a new car for his goaltending accomplishments then turned the key over to his coach Fred Shero - who gets a lot of "close-ups" throughout the book. Obviously he had a big impact on Parent). That is my biggest complaint about the book. He says he likes to speak to people who are struggling because he wants to help. He doesn't have much help to give within these pages (I think he has another book just for that alone). He is here to vent, to break down the pedestal that we have put him on (a sign-writer in Philadelphia once wrote "Only God Saves More Than Bernie Parent". How many times did Parent have to put up with that? What does that kind of adoration do to a person especially when they can't live up to the hype anymore?). It was touching to learn that the mysterious young athlete behind the emblematic mask, the one with either breathtaking or maddening ability (depending on whose team you were rooting for) is no better or worse than you or I.