There once was a superior hockey writer named Joseph Nichols, although that wasn't his real name.
Guiseppe Fappiano was the original handle, but somewhere between New Haven and the New York Times building he became Joseph C. Nichols; but Joe to were with him in the mezzanine, overhanging (best ever) press box at the old Garden.
Like James (Thirsty Jim) Burchard of the World-Telegram, who I profiled earlier, Joe Nichols was an original.
He was there when the Rangers were organized in 1926 and remained on the beat until 1975 when he retired.
Like Thirsty Jim, Joe Nick was a flamboyant character who loved to do a good song and dance as much as write a hockey story.
"I'd say I had more fun with Joe than any other writer on the beat," said original Ranger Frank Boucher who knew Nichols through Boosh's managerial years. "We both enjoyed a good time and I even got to do a duet with my buddy."
Those who attended the 1953-54 end of season hockey writers' dinner at the Hotel Martinique never will forget Frank and Joe going on stage to pretend that they were bringing back vaudeville.
Boucher: "Joe and I had a favorite song-routine based on the tune 'Are You From Dixie?' It started off with us bumping into each other on stage and then Joe would open with, 'Hello there stranger, how do you do?"
"I'd come back with, 'Pardon me stranger, I don't know you.' And he'd sing, 'Don't be surprised, you're recognized." And then I'd go, 'I'm from the Southland, and I'm not surprised.' Then together we'd do the chorus of 'Are You From Dixie.'"
That night Joe and Frank brought down the house and was just another reason to love these two swell guys.
As a hockey writer for the Times, Nichols wrote a straight, easily readable story. I especially like when he described a rush down the portside as "a left alley thrust."
When The Blueshirts Convinced The NHL To Start An Entry Draft
HELP WANTED! That was the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers" target="_blank">Rangers</a>' S.O.S. in March 1954.
Joe was erudite and just loved the hockey beat. He also was somewhat of a philosopher. One day he took a young Stan Fischler aside and said, "I have words of wisdom for you."
He then articulated the famed Joe Nichols philosophy:
"VERY LITTLE MATTERS – AND NOTHING MATTERS VERY MUCH."
And now you know a little more why the Rangers beat was so much fun for me 70 years ago when Frank and Joe did "Are You From Dixie?" and some important hockey work on the side!
Joe died in 1984 and the world lost a wonderful guy.