Anna Daniels
Longtime fans will know that Booth grew up in Pittsburgh, but was born in Philadelphia. (And he’s related to a historical figure with the same last name.) The black-and-white photo on his desk is of the Philadelphia Flyers, a quiet little recognition of Booth’s birthplace coupled with his passion for Pennsylvania sports. He also has a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey in his office, and can be seen sipping coffee from a Steelers mug every once and again.
The other photo, however, might be more special. It’s a signed portrait of Bobby Orr, who is recognized by many as one of the greatest professional hockey players to ever play. The picture’s inclusion on Booth’s desk does imply a curious case of timing, however; Orr retired from play in 1978, and while Booth has no definitive canonical age, he likely would have been born in the early ’70s, a little too late to have seen much of Orr’s play as a formative experience. Orr also played for the Boston Bruins, not one of Booth’s beloved Pennsylvania teams.
Why include it then? It might have more to do with the man himself as a personal hero. Orr is famous for his generosity and extreme humility, and has helped other former players with addiction rehab. He even personally housed former Bruins trainer John “Frosty” Forristall, who had been diagnosed with brain cancer, for a year until he passed away in 1995 (via Sports Illustrated). Orr also testified against his former agent during the infamous NHL Players’ Pension scandal in the early ’90s. At the core of Orr’s personality are honor and modesty — similar virtues Booth also aspires to as a character, being a recovered gambling addict and duty-filled combat veteran.
Written by: Looper
