New York Islanders forward Matt Martin likely just played in his final home game of his 16-year career. His team did right by him, allowing the fan base to embrace him while also allowing him to thank the Long Island faithful who have been by his side for 14 of those years.
On Wednesday morning during the Boomer & Gio show, his father-in-law, Boomer Esiason, praised him for his hard work and dedication to the sport.
Boomer played 14 years in the NFL before retiring in 1997.
"He's 35 years old. He's going to be 36 in May. He played, I think, 985 or 986 games, and the way he played is what people respect," Esiason said. "I mean, he wasn't a goal scorer. Everybody knows that. He was just an in-your-face guy. And when they had him, Cal and Casey at their top, they were the identity of the Islanders, and they always played against the other team's top line."
Because of the way Martin plays, injuries are going to happen. Some injuries are ones that the fan base and the media never find out.
"He used to tell me -- I knew a lot of things that were going on with him, whether he was injured or not -- but I can tell you right now, over the last eight or nine years that I've known him, I would probably tell you that there have been six injuries that he has played through that, and I've seen what these bruises look like.," Boomer said. "That's why you're emotional, because he's probably playing hockey since he was four years old. He doesn't know anything other than hockey this time of year. He played in, I think, 80, what, 82 or 83 playoff games for the Islanders.
"And really, the pinnacle for me, anyway, as being his father-in-law, was at Gunner's wedding, and he couldn't make Gunner's wedding because they were playing Tampa in the Eastern Conference Final. But what was really funny about this whole thing is that he had the game-winning goal that night. Yeah. And I gotta tell you, even though those of us who were wearing the Ranger jerseys at the wedding were incredibly happy for him. And we gave a loud cheer for him."
"It's been 16 years of hard, grinding hockey, and he's everything that's right about hockey," Boomer said.
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