Thrusday, January 07, 1999
Biggs returns to cheers
Ex-Cyclone, back with Utah, welcomed by fans
BY DAVE HELLER
Enquirer contributor
Former Cyclone Don Biggs returned to Cincinnati Wednesday and found out he hasn't been forgotten.
Biggs, the Cyclones' team captain for 41/2 years and one of the most prominent community-oriented players ever for the club, returned to the Crown on Wednesday for the first time since he was traded to Utah on Dec. 3.
When Biggs was announced in the starting lineup, the fans erupted in a load roar. Biggs raised his stick in appreciation.
“That's something a lot of players live for, they play the game for stuff like that,” Biggs said. “Not too many guys get to come back to a building they've had success in and have an ovation like that.”
Earlier, the fans who were around as Utah hit the ice for the pregame skate gave Biggs a standing ovation along with a chant of "Biggs, Biggs.”
Several signs lined the boards prior to the game, including “Welcome Home Biggsy, We Miss You”, “Biggs Rules” and “Ron Smith Trade Yourself.”
Biggs didn't give the fans too many more reasons to cheer. Biggs didn't score a goal, taking only one shot, finishing with no points and a minus-three.
“I was very nervous,” Biggs said. “I tried to downplay it as much as possible, but with the news conference and with my family being here, this whole night, it just drains you mentally. It was tough to sustain (that fire) after they got a two- and three-goal lead.”
Asked before the game what he'd like to say to the fans, Biggs took a deep breath, put his head in his hands and tried, unsuccessfully, to hold back tears.
“To all those people that sent me cards, e-mail, faxes, letters, I want to thank them for that,” Biggs said. “It certainly helped me get through a tough time. And just having some of the greatest fans that I've played in front of for six years, it's been a treat for me and hopefully it'll be a treat tonight.”
Not everything was cozy in Biggs' return, however. When he was dealt, Biggs insisted it wasn't for his on-ice performance. Biggs said he hadn't spoken to either Cyclones president Doug Kirchhofer or general manager and head coach Ron Smith.
While Biggs said he'd have no trouble exchanging pleasantries with the duo, it's apparent there is still some ill-will as to the circumstances leading to his being dealt.
“We'd say hi,” said Biggs in regard to what he'd say to Kirchhofer and Smith. “The topic of the trade probably wouldn't come up right away. It's something I think that would have to be in a closed room, just the three of us, and the questions would be asked then.”
Biggs, a free agent in the offseason, also said he had a“casual” discussion with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. “That could be an option,” Biggs said.
Biggs, who turns 34 in April, said he would like to play for two or three more years.
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