Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Pavel Bure's father says he's rooting against his son and the Florida Panthers in their playoff series against the New Jersey Devils. "I have to be going for New Jersey," Vladimir Bure said. "My heart is with the Devils." The elder Bure made his comments to the Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale on the eve of Thursday night's first game in the series. Father and son haven't spoken in nearly three years. Neither will say why. Pavel Bure, who led the NHL this season with 58 goals, politely dismisses the question by saying, "That's my private life. I'll talk hockey." The elder Bure was also guarded about the subject as he watched the Devils practice Wednesday. "I don't like to talk about this," he said. "I'm not here to discuss my relationship with my son. I'm here to be with my Jersey boys." Vladimir Bure, a personal trainer, spent weeks last summer working with Devils Scott Gomez, Sergei Brylin, Colin White and prospect Pierre Dagenais. "My program is specifically for hockey players," said Bure, a former Olympic swimmer who lost to Mark Spitz in the 1972 Games. "It's a joy for me to be here now and see what I did for these guys in the summertime." The elder Bure lives in Vancouver, where Pavel began his NHL career. The father hasn't traveled to Florida to see his son play for the Panthers, and he said he tries not to watch games on TV. "I'm just happy he had a good season," he said of his son. "He'll probably have good playoffs." |
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