“Is it real?”
That’s the No. 1 question Howie Borrow was asked while lugging around the 3-foot-high, 37.5-pound NHL Stanley Cup trophy while visiting Dallas media outlets and local landmarks Monday.
“Of course it’s real!” Borrow exclaims at every inquiry.
Keeper of the Cup
Borrow has been given multiple nicknames over the years: Keeper of the Stanley Cup, The Stanley Cup Guardian, and Bodyguard of the Stanley Cup. But he prefers "baby sitter."
“I say that jokingly, but it is a serious job,” Borrow said. “It’s something that requires some patience. You have to go with the flow sometimes.”
Whether he’s a baby sitter or a bodyguard, Borrow loves his job.
“It’s amazing. It’s so many wonderful experiences,” he said. “I get to travel around the world. I’m hanging out with the hockey players. I’m meeting new fans every day.”
Media frenzy
Borrow's day in Dallas started around 5 a.m. at KXAS-TV (NBC5), before he traveled to other local TV and radio stations doing live interviews. He and the cup then climbed about 500 feet so it could be displayed proudly atop Reunion Tower, where more TV and radio interviews were held, all before lunchtime. The cup then made a stop at The Dallas Morning News, where a gaggle of journalists asked questions from every angle.
Borrow is also an employee at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada, so in addition to his keeper of the cup responsibilities, he’s a historian and can answer virtually any question about the cup or hockey in general. He’s rarely stumped.
In between interviews, fans would approach the cup and take selfies. Borrow tells them it's OK to touch the cup — just don’t pick it up.
When the cup isn’t on display or is being transported, it rests peacefully in a large, nondescript black case.
“It’s on wheels. It’s a big trunk. It’s form-fitted on the inside so it doesn’t bounce around,” said Borrow.
He traveled to all the Dallas stops thanks to a local driver in a black Chevrolet Suburban. Dallas commuters would have no clue what treasure was being stowed in the vehicle.
Canadian craves chicken fried steak
After a busy morning, the Toronto resident had a craving for some Texas chicken fried steak. His driver tossed out Norma’s Cafe in Oak Cliff, and the hungry keeper agreed to the suggestion.
Borrow and his small entourage entered Norma's with the cup in tow. The trophy had its own table while the keeper enjoyed chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and cherry pie.
Again, fans approached, touched the cup, and Borrow answered questions between bites.
Word travels fast
Oak Cliff residents Homero and Mary Martinez were eating lunch at Round Table Pizza in Frisco when Mary received a call from her brother that the Stanley Cup was at Norma’s in Dallas.
“We finished real quick and hauled butt all the way back home to Oak Cliff,” said Mary.
The couple made it just in time for a few selfies and dessert at Norma’s.
“It’s beautiful,” said Mary, referring to the trophy while eating a slice of chocolate cake.
Cup errors
With Borrow’s wealth of knowledge of the NHL and the Stanley Cup, a couple of fun facts he likes to throw out are the spelling errors engraved forever on the trophy.
For example, the 1980-81 New York Islanders are spelled “New York Ilanders”
“So phonetically, it’s correct,” explains Borrow.
Also, the 1972 Boston Bruins are spelled “Bqstqn Bruins.” Borrow adds that the letters on the trophy are so small, the engraver had a difficult time telling the difference between an O and a Q. He then reassures inquiring minds that no engraver has ever been fired for an error.
One final interview
Borrow wheeled the cup trunk from DIBS on VICTORY to American Airlines Center. It was a short walk, but Dallas Stars fans stopped and looked with curious eyes at the case that held the trophy.
The Keeper of the Cup removed the trophy one last time for a live interview with WFAA-TV (Channel 8) for its 6 p.m. newscast. Immediately, fans realized what was in their presence and whipped out cellphones, cheering the sterling silver relic.
After the interview with WFAA’s Jonah Javad, Borrow looked noticeably exhausted. Nonstop interviews, chats with fans, and carrying around the trophy had taken a toll on the guardian. He took a short break, then entered American Airlines Center to watch the Stars beat the Nashville Predators in overtime to clinch the first-round playoff series. (This was the only place Borrow went without the Cup.)
Borrow returned home to Toronto on Tuesday and already has the rest of his week planned for more Cup stops.
After a long day, Borrow was still grateful to get paid to travel around with the trophy.
“It’s insured for $1.5 million, but in essence, it’s priceless,” he said.
