TOP GIFs: Richards’ Song
Monday was an incredibly tough day for the LA Kings.
Mike Richards, one of the NHL’s best players of the late 2000s, was waived by the team. The former All-Star center was a symbol of a new era for the Kings when Dean Lombardi went all in on Richards, trading away talented youngsters Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn to acquire the then 26-year-old.
Perhaps even more alarming was that Richards cleared waivers. Meaning that each of the other 29 teams in the NHL passed on the opportunity to bring him into their lineup without giving up any assets to the Kings.
But Monday was a rough one for pop punk kids of the late 1990s and 2000s as well: Blink-182 announced that founding member Tom DeLonge would be indefinitely leaving the band (AKA he got booted).
Beyond realizing that Blink-182 was still around, it made me feel nostalgic for something that was once part of my life.
That’s how I felt about the announcement that Richards was being waived.
I understand that the best moments in life can’t be capsulated. What you love today may not be what you love tomorrow. But, still, it hurt to see Richards, a once amazing hockey player, being cast aside …even if was for the greater good.
With that said, it did give me a chance to combine two things I love into one. Which is probably my favorite part about blogging. …even if that means referencing a song that’s nearly 16 years old.
Get comfortable and enjoy the show!
So open the instrumental version of the song in a new tab, and enjoy “Richards’ Song” by Blink-182!
I never thought Manchester would be my home
I played the hardest who’d have known?
A few hits straight into the wall
Some said that the concussions took it all
That I never healed, played too rough
The choice was mine I didn’t think enough
Cap hit is too big to go on
♫♫♫
Never on special teams, rarely play
26 just held such better days
Games when I still felt alive
I couldn’t wait to get inside
The rink was wide, I was still spry
Season was over Kings had thrived
I can’t wait til’ my skills are shown
And make it back to the NHL on my own
♫♫♫
I never thought I’d be disowned
Another six months I’ll be unknown
Give all my things to all my friends
You’ll never wear my Kings jersey again
You’ll rip it off, except for ‘Tuff
Remember the time that we won the Cup
They said I’d end up “in the Hall”
Please tell Jeff this is not his fault
♫♫♫
Never on special teams, rarely played
30 will hold such better days
Games when I can still feel alive
When I can’t wait to get inside
The rink is wide, the puck will fly
AHL will be over, I’ll survive
I can’t wait ’til I atone
And return to my place atop the throne
