The inherit kindness of a home-grown Saskatchewan guy has garnered Wawota native, Brooks Laich, a nomination for the Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year" award.
"I don't how to take it really," said Laich. "The nomination is a result of the whole tire changing story. It's an honour; it's great to be recognized, but it's not the reason I changed the tire."
The "tire changing" story Laich is referring to occurred while the centre for the Washington Capitals was on his way home after a Game 7 loss to the Montreal Canadiens during the playoff series.
He came across Mary Ann Wangemann and her 14-year-old daughter stranded on the Roosevelt Bridge because the car they travelled in had a flat tire.
Help was on its way, but due to the large call volume that night, it meant the woman and her teenage daughter may be waiting for some time.
Without hesitation, Laich went straight to work and changed the tire.
Afterwards, he was blown away by how many media outlets began talking about his kindness for helping a complete stranger.
"I just thought for us, where we grew up, that is just the way of life - to help somebody out when they have a flat tire," Laich said. "You help them out and it's not a big deal. But apparently in other parts of the world you end up getting recognized, possibly [with] a "Sportsman of the Year" award and a nomination. That is why I say I don't really know how to feel about it, because it's part of everyday life for me where I grew up."
Laich received the nomination thanks to Sports Illustrated writer Michael Farber, who referred to Laich as a "gentleman" in his nomination article, citing the whole tire changing story.
"Too often professional athletes seem to live by separate rules if not on completely different planets," Farber wrote. "They behave as if they are above us. But on a sad spring night in D.C., a small-town Saskatchewan guy lowered himself to the pavement."
"Laich was a gentleman. This is something of which we never tire."
Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year" will be announced Nov. 30. Laich would be only the third Canadian to win the award since it's inception in 1954. He would be following in the footsteps of Bobby Orr (1970), Wayne Gretzky (1982) and Bob Bourne (a co-winner in 1987).
"I don't really worry too much about it," said Laich. "If I get the award, great. If I don't, it's not a big deal because it wasn't the reason I changed the tire. I'm not going to be upset if I don't win the award."
