"For a player whose 20-year playing career was a devout adherence to repetition, Thursday was a day unlike any other in the life of Joe Sakic. For one thing, he didn't get his usual sound sleep. Sakic didn't have many slumps in his NHL career, but he always got lots of slumber. Not only did he usually get a solid eight hours, he was a great catnapper. You always could tell Sakic had gotten a good pregame nap on the road when he'd show up in the hotel lobby with his hair messed up. But for the Avalanche captain, who retired Thursday, there would be no sleep in the wee hours. For the player who always hated talking, who always hated attention, the hours leading to his retirement ceremony were tougher than a cross-check

to the jaw. "Didn't sleep a wink," Sakic confessed. Not only would all eyes be on him, there was a big speech to make. A long, personal speech, full of introspection and reflection and the capital "I." There was lots of talk about Joe Sakic - just the subject he always wanted to avoid. But there was no avoiding the auditorium of the Inver- ness Hotel. In the same room where Broncos legend John Elway retired, a kid born in British Columbia, but who spoke only Croatian until around age 6, would be required to deliver a personalized address to a crowd of more than 200 people and many thousands more watching on television. "Glad I only had to do that once," Sakic said after it was all over and he was looking much more relaxed than when he walked in. Memories galore Here is a peek into Sakic's final hours before the ceremony: Wee hours, Thursday morning: While his wife, Debbie, at least, got some rest, Sakic entered the morning bleary-eyed. If all he had to do was show up and say a couple of words and sign a couple of autographs, Wednesday night would have been a breeze. But there was that speech, all those people to thank, all those I's to ponder. "He wrote it all himself - you can tell, because there were no big words," Debbie Sakic said, laughing. "He must have reread that speech about 10 times in bed." Midmorning: While Debbie and daughter, Kamryn, leave the Sakics' Cherry Hills home early for a girls' morning at the beauty parlor, Sakic continues to pace the house, tweaking his speech and feeling like he's going to throw up. Breakfast is a banana. "That was it," he said. "The nerves were just too much." Sakic passes some time with fatherly duties, including getting his two boys, Mitchell and Chase, showered and dressed. But it's still only about 9 a.m. Four torturous hours remain until the speech under the klieg lights. Late morning: Lots of calls pour into Sakic's cell phone, which helps pass the time."