Language Barrier

Jacques Demers has been an NHL coach for five teams, including a stint as a general manager, positions in which communication is vital. So it's quite surprising to learn that the Quebecker is illiterate.

Demers shared his disability in a recently published book, "Jacques Demers En Toutes Lettres," which roughly translates as "Jacques Demers From A To Z." At this time, the book is only out in French.

In it, Demers pinpoints his illiteracy to his childhood. His father was an alcoholic and abusive to him and his mother. He said that his father's behavior affected him in such a way that it made learning in school nearly impossible.

''... if I could not write or read, it was because I had so much of a problem with anxiety because of the things going on in the family," Demers told Canadian Press. "I couldn't go to sleep at night. I'd go to school and I couldn't learn anything.

''So the message is, leave the kids alone. Don't beat them up. They're defenceless. Don't beat up their mom in front of the kids."

Demers said he relied on his strong verbal skills to communicate while working as a coach and general manager. As GM for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Demers hired two others to handle contracts, and his secretary would write memos for him.

''I could read a little bit but I can't write very well," he told the Press. "I took to protecting myself. You put a wall around yourself. And when I was given the possibility of talking, I could speak well and I think that really saved me.''

The disibility was so personal to Demers that he didn't even let on to his wife until one day when she pressed him as to why bills hadn't been paid, he told the Press.

Demers coached the Quebec Nordiques, St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, whom he led to a Stanley Cup, and Tampa Bay.

Demers lived a life fearing embarrasment and fought decades to keep his illiteracy a secret. It's more than admirable that he has come out with it with the hopes of it inspiring others to seek help.

''I have no problem saying what I wanted to say. That's what I needed," Demers told the Press. "I've been carrying this all my life. I succeeded, and I'm telling people `you're capable of doing something in your life even if you have some big handicaps.'''