BRENING: Tommy Salo finally got his vindication
For the jury to reject Tommy Salo was the best thing that could have happened.
Because in the end he got acquitted.
Finally, perhaps one of the most shameful chapters in the history of Swedish ice hockey has come to an end.
I jumped on our TV couch at home in Ulta. Care must be taken, however, because there were grim expressions when my brother wore a few planks a few years ago.
My friend hid in a closet.
It was truly one of those moments where you will never forget where you are.
When Foppa put the penalty kick in, sure. But actually saving Tommy Salo was the thing for me.
Lillehammer 1994. I was seven years old.
Swedish sport plague
Not least because I was impressed by the fact that he was unharmed at the bottom of the victory pile (second to bottom, for some reason it was important to point out when we talked for ages about the Olympic final in the schoolyard).
I also remember that thing clearly against Belarus. But I have no idea where I was at that time.
It wasn’t that moment. But it still seems to have come to define Salo’s entire career. his whole life.
Because like everything went to hell after that.
He has now released a book, and recently did a very dark interview with my colleague Christopher Bergstrom. Tommy was in the gutter, hiding in Surat, not speaking to anyone for three months and watching TV eight hours a day.
Paralyzed by anxiety.
It was a dark solution and the feeling was that they would stay that way.
That he will forever be the Tommy who was called fat by Per Leyden and dribbled into a puck against Belarus. Get away from hockey and the public eye with an endless source of mischief and demons.
Swedish sport plague.
But during the days something happened. And this time it is not an exaggeration to call it unexpected.
Suddenly they closed in behind Salo
Tommy Salo was never nominated for a hockey gala – and that was the best thing that could ever happen.
Because suddenly they broke up. Referees, legends, journalists and fans. Suddenly they are on Tommy’s side.
Finally again.
Chronicles wrote in his defense. Merit (World Cup gold, Olympic gold, two-time World Cup MVP …) was shaken for him. The forgotten stats (he has a scoring average as good as the legendary Patrick Roy) are brought up again. His eternal loyalty to Tre Kronor and Swedish hockey was highly appreciated (only seven goalkeepers in the whole world have earned more than eight championship medals).
Now, pundits, captains and longtime teammates have chosen him as the clear player among our greatest players of all time.
Instead, the rookie that could have sent him to the wrong side of hockey history instead did just the opposite. It was as if he had rewritten his sporting destiny. As if the clock has finally turned back and forth again.
The thick ice of the Belarus match became the bogey of Lillehammer. Olympic champion, WC champion, NHL star.
Allegedly he won’t be doing the ceremony and I think he’s right about that.
I hope he settles instead on a comfortable wood-paneled sofa—or locks up his wardrobe himself—and spends the evening reading all the homages in the papers and social media.
He got it.
It took 20 years to be forgiven and the treatment of Tomi Salo would be one of the most shameful chapters in Swedish ice hockey history. Tonight they celebrate 100 years without him.
But Tommy Salo is not one to miss the party. It’s the gig Tommy Salo will miss.
he won.