Donald Brashear works at a Tim Hortons. I’m very happy to see Brashear smiling here. pic.twitter.com/7QF8GRGIDg

— Dean Blundell (@ItsDeanBlundell) October 16, 2019

In August, Brashear was busted for cocaine possession after breaking an apartment window in a rage over sumthin’.  Today he’s working a drive-through in rural Quebec. Tough go.  But, fuck, good for Donald Brashear.

Brashear has dealt with garbage his whole life.

He was born to an alcoholic father who started abusing Donald at birth.  Brashear’s African-American Father Johnny Brashear threw six-month-old Donald through a window into the front yard.

He was abandoned by his white birth mother because she married a racist who didn’t want a mixed-race family, given up for foster care by his stepfather wasn’t fond of Donald’s skin color.  He was called ‘retarded’ and made to sleep with a plastic bag around his waist when he slept.

He’s estranged from his kids, been arrested for assault twice in the past twenty years and has had substance abuse issues for years.  And oh, probably post-concussion issues.

And he’s working because he has to and he needs to make money.  That’s incredibly fucking brave.  Super brave.

I dunno what his legal conditions are but he most likely has to work to satisfy those conditions and his friend, former teammate Pierre Sevigny owns the franchise.   ‘He’s an employee, that’s all. We have just started, he is here to help me,” Sévigny told the Journal. “We’ll take it one day at a time.”

Donald Brashear has played more than 1000 NHL games.

Donald Brashear was never drafted.

Donald Brashear has emotionally suffered more than anyone I’ve heard of for the longest I’ve ever heard.

Everything about Donald Brashear says “Unwanted”.  It seriously blows my mind how someone dealt a hand like that could’ve made the NHL, alone play over 1000 games.

He speaks 5 languages and plays the piano and guitar.

Just seeing a Smile on Donald Brashear’s face and knowing he’s sober and trying, makes me happy for him.  That’s not embarrassing.  That’s something to aspire to be able to do especially after having what he used to have.  Some of these guys don’t make it but he’s trying and he’s happy.

Donald Brashear works at a Tim Hortons. I’m very happy to see Brashear smiling here. pic.twitter.com/7QF8GRGIDg

— Dean Blundell (@ItsDeanBlundell) October 16, 2019

This is my favorite memory of Brashear.  They showed this on Sportscentre for a month straight.  I hope he makes it and good for him.  100% in his corner and Wade told me he was the fucking WORST guy to fight in the NHL.  Said he was the strongest and smelled the worst.  I respect him for both.  And more so now.