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As long as I have been a Kings fan, Luc has been there and it's hard seeing him in street clothes rather than a Kings jersey on the ice. Gretzky may have gotten me into hockey but it was Luc that helped keep me in as a Kings fan.
Luc could have taken the Stanley Cup he helped win with the hated Red Wings to Montreal. Instead, he brought it to his new home town of Los Angeles and presented it at Dodger Stadium sporting a Dodgers jersey with "Robitaille" and #20 on the back. He loved Los Angeles!
I was lucky enough to have passes to go outside the Kings locker room the same night Luc had a hat trick against the Atlanta Thrashers. It was on January 19th, 2006 and he broke Marcel Dionne's Los Angeles Kings all-time goal-scoring record. I cherish that night! When Luc came out of the Kings locker room, I went over to him and gave him a bear hug (he didn't mind it at all, just gave one back). I got to talk to him for a bit (he had Bruce McNall with him too) and got a photograph with him (those of you on my friend's list on MySpace have seen it!). As it turns out Kettle&Tonic's aunt was there too!
I may get teased for this, but I may have teary eyes tonight when they raise his jersey up into the rafters. My only regret is that the team he so dearly loves is not doing well enough for him this season. I think if the Kings players used Luc more as an example they'd be better players and better people in general.
Congratulations Luc! I couldn't think of anyone that deserves it more than you!
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Nice to read
my fellow Kings' fans tributes. How can we even touch what Luc gave us for so many years? All those memories.
My favorite line in almost 40 years of Hockey Fandom is Robitaille, Gretzky, and Sandstrom, Kings fans knew when these guys took the ice, everything would be ok. When Luc got his first goal in a Kings Jersey I knew he was special, and I wasn't the only one.:)
My favorite memory of Luc was back against Toronto during our trek to the Stanley Cup Finals. I know he had a great shot and lots of people talk about him as a great Sniper, but he knew how to make great decisions too. We needed one goal to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals, and the announcer was making the call on time winding down:
"10 seconds left, Mcsorley gets the puck looks for the open man, 9, 8, he spots Robitaille 7,6 and headmans the puck to him, 5,4 Lucky Luc spots Gretzky breaking for the net, ,3 ,2 he passes to Gretzky, 1, Gretzky shoots he scores! The KINGS are going to the Stanley Cup Finals!" Luc made that play happen due to his unselfishness and great vision on the ice.....
Luc, it doesn't matter what the play or the goal was, you are a KING of KINGS, You will always be in our hearts and you deserve the very best now and forever. Thank you for being a role model to children, fans, and players everywhere! It's totally impossible to thank you enough for all those goals and becoming the leading Left Wing Scorer of all time and you did it in a Kings jersey most of those years! So I will suffice with giving you my undying gratitude, love, and respect. I sure hope I have enough Kleenex for the ceremony.
Happy retirement,
PPharoah
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I've been a KINGS fan since 1980, attending games at the forum with my parents as a hockey loving 11 year old. I've had several favorite players thru the years, but Luc is tops. Now my entire family are Kings fans, and all agree Luc is the best. So many memories, mostly of #20 parked in front of the net, scoring many, many, many goals! But I think the memory that stands out the most was one that happened at Tip a King in 2004. We went with our 2 kids, and though my daughter who was 10 at that time inherited an old jersey of mine, my 7 year old son had nothing 'KINGS' to wear. He decided that was not okay with him, and surprised us...he combined a white turtleneck shirt with a black sharpie and made his own PERSONALIZED jersey, of his favorite player, Luc Robitaille. He had a big 20 on the back and a little 20 on the neck, of course Luc's name was all over it too. Of course we waited in the longest line at tip-a king, but my family didn't mind. We watched Luc signing autographs and taking pictures with fans, smiling and looking geniunely like he was having fun. The lockout was looming, and there had been talk of the possibility of Luc retiring if the lockout happened, so we knew when our turn came that the moment would be special. But as awesome as I knew Luc was, I had no idea how GENUINE he really was, and soon realized that he truly loves his fans as much as we love him. As my kids got ready to have their picture taken with Luc, he noticed my son's jersey. The look on his face said it all, this future hall of famer was truly excited to see my son's homemade LUC 'jersey'. He read both the front and back, and even showed it to his wife. It was clear that he absolutely appreciated the fact my son was a huge fan, and I'll never forget how special he made my son feel. Through the years Luc has ALWAYS thanked his fans, as athletes often do, and I'm sure there has never been a doubt among Kings fans as to his sincerity. However, I believe the appreciation Luc has of his fans is so HUGE and whenever I hear him thanking the fans, I think back to that moment and know Luc loves all of his fans as much as we love him!!
'Lucky' Luc is the greatest scoring left wing in NHL history, and holds the Kings record for goals scored. But really, was this because of luck?? Kings fans know the answer to that, really we are all the 'lucky' ones, because Luc started his long career as a King, ended it as a King, and gave us so much enjoyment in all the years between. I am so happy that Luc continues to be involved with the Kings and hockey in LA, so I know we will see and hear much more from Luc thru the years.
I remember attending games at the Forum, and seeing Rogie Vachon's jersey on the wall. I asked my dad why there was only one Kings jersey on the wall, he answered that in any sport only 'special' players have their jersey's hung, that a player would have to be so special and so successful in their career that their number would never be worn again by any other player. So, though we no longer will see the back of the special #20 in the goal crease, we will forever see that special number high on the wall at Staples Center. I
realize now that it doesn't matter how many or few jersey's are hung up high, but what really matters is the memories of the players who wore them. Thank you LUC, for many, many, many memories!!
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It was nice seeing Luc today for the last time on the Ice. We'll miss you Luc.
