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Theoren Fleury and Graham James Disgraced junior hockey coach Graham James is back in the news as former hockey star Theoren Fleury has accused him of continuous sexual abuse decades ago. In his new book, Playing with Fire, Fleury accuses James of being primarily responsible for Fleury's descent into the alcoholism and drug abuse. Some cynics will say that Fleury, who reportedly had a tough home life back in Russell, Man., is finally admitting the abuse to sell books. I haven't read it yet but promise to, as I knew both he and James, especially James. As a university graduate and Silver Heights boy, Graham James signed on as a substitute teacher in the St.James-Assiniboia school division where I was a school principal and on the executive of the Manitoba High School Athletic Association. He substituted in my junior high school several times even though he was not technically a teacher and should have been passed over by those more qualified. James was a natural teacher, and we asked for him when we needed a substitute in his field. So much so that my superintendent called me, said he should not be first on the list, but to quietly go ahead after I mentioned how good he was and how much the students liked him. There was never a complaint by any student about Graham and no hint of any deviant behaviour. I told him he should complete his teaching qualification and we would give him a full-time job, but he told me he wanted to have a shot at coaching junior hockey and gratefully declined. When I was promoted as principal of the prestigious Silver Heights Collegiate, James continued to substitute while coaching the Winnipeg Warriors of the WHA. One day he approached me about accepting seven players he wanted to bring in to Winnipeg, billeting each one with a Silver Heights family and paying their expenses. Of course I agreed, and they were quite the gang! One was the 16-year-old son of a female deputy minister in the Saskatchewan government who phoned his mother every day (so she told me). He was a good student. Another was a huge defenceman brought in to bolster the Warriors defense, who was not. He was literally chased down the hall by his English teacher, who was determined to make him work and pass. Academics were not easy for these players, who would ride the bus for days away from school for which they were forgiven for non-attendance as long as they completed their assignments. The teachers took an interest in them and they really did quite well. The huge defenceman graduated and the next year, while in Winnipeg, came to see his English teacher to thank her for making him work. Theoren Fleury was also brought in to Silver Heights by Graham James to play with the St. James midget Canadians, but he practiced regularly with the Warriors. He was not an easy student to have in class and of the seven, he was in the office the most. Fleury told me once, "Mr. C. is not nice to me." I told him to behave himself, do his work and the teacher will be nice to him. He also asked me to come and see him play, which I did. He was a superb player Ð short, but they could not take the puck from him, and the Canadians went from last place to first thanks to Theoren. He was simply a superb athlete, and almost single-handedly took our fastball team into the provincial playoffs. He played shortstop, and they couldn't hit the ball past him and couldn't strike him out. When the Warriors relocated to Moose Jaw, Fleury joined them. That summer I told lifelong friend and St. Louis Blues scout Paddy Ginnell about this superb player and said he should look at him. Paddy later told me that he and Ted Hampson had scouted him but decided he was too small for the team. I never let him forget about this gaffe! As we all know, Graham James, accused of sexual abuse by former player Sheldon Kennedy, was found guilt and sentenced to three and a half years in prison. His coaching career was finished in North America, but was resumed in Europe. Some writers objected to this, but why not? Surely a person who has supposedly paid his debt to society should be allowed to work. One Winnipeg sports writer is claiming James, who is still in Europe, should be apprehended, re-arrested and tried on Fleury's accusations, but it is doubtful this will happen. Let's hope that Fleury will make some money out of his book and finally get rid of the demons that have haunted this superstar for so long. Roger's Right Corner runs Wednesdays.
