what did sycophants have to do with the gretzky scandal?”
SO vigilant in protecting his halo, and wary of potential vixens, Wayne Gretzky was fabled for avoiding solo encounters with strange women in elevators, cabs and empty hallways. And yet it has been Gretzky’s company of men who have undermined his aura. So deft with handling tight situations, and skillful with escapes, Gretzky was known to ease himself toward the door as he spoke to reporters after a game until he would simply say a congenial, ”O.K., guys?” to signal his last answer as he disappeared down the hall. Now Gretzky finds himself cornered by the questions that are following him around the globe, from the United States, to Canada, to Italy. Gretzky arrived yesterday at the Winter Games as the executive director of Canada’s Olympic hockey team only to face a bank of 25 photographers who moved with him like skeet shooters as he walked through a packed press room. He was all parts amused, startled and bewildered. ”Wow,” he said as he took a gulp of water. It was Day 7 of ”Gr
You know why Wayne Gretzky didn’t work here, why his association with the Phoenix Coyotes was a complete and utter disaster? He wasn’t No. 99. Remember the day the Coyotes brought Gretzky on as the team’s managing partner? It was June 2, 2000, and you’d have thought we had witnessed the second coming. The city of Scottsdale proclaimed it “Wayne Gretzky Day.” Sheriff Joe Arpaio showed up at the press conference to put his arm around Gretzky and mug for the cameras. Fans cried tears of joy, and much of the local media were convinced the Stanley Cup was just around the corner. But that was Wayne Gretzky the player the Valley fell in love with. And as we learned over the next nine years, greatness in one arena doesn’t always translate to another. Gretzky’s resignation Thursday was long overdue. Frankly, he should have been fired years ago, but no one in the Coyotes’ organization had the courage or conviction to stand up to him. They were still in awe of his legacy, the greatest player ever
