rather that the most-celebrated athlete

Over the years, it was never a surprise to see groups of children in the Canucks locker room after practice. Almost always, [Trevor] Linden was the one playing tour guide. And he always did it in a way that put the kids—many of them with special needs—at ease, as if they were hanging out with a friend rather that the most-celebrated athlete this city has ever seen.
-- Linden’s gifts to the city won’t be forgotten in The Georgia Straight, Thursday June 12 2008

Correction: rather than the most-celebrated athlete

Two Linden memories I want to remember forever:

• Checking a guy into the boards at Pacific Coliseum with both of them crashing through the shattering glass
• Scoring the Canucks' only two goals in game seven of the 1994 finals