Still Wayne's world
In the twilight of his career, Gretzky continues to amaze
Posted: Sunday January 24, 1999 09:03 AM
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See you in the Hall of Fame: Wayne Gretzky meets with his hockey idol, Gordie Howe, during All-Star practice AP |
By Denise N. Maloof, CNN/SI
TAMPA, Fla. -- Once a year, the hockey world gives Wayne Gretzky a standing ovation for no reason other than his identity.
Watch carefully during player introductions for Sunday's 49th NHL All-Star Game, and you'll likely see the Great One take the ice last at Tampa's Ice Palace. It's an unassuming, and often-unnoticed gesture, but one that's not lost on the rest of hockey.
"Number 99," said NHL vice president Gary Meagher. "That's all the reason you need. It's been like that for as long as I can remember, and that's 18 years."
While the late-30ish Gretzky continues to contribute on the ice for the New York Rangers, he's far from the statistical god that he was in his prime. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman added him to the North American All-Star roster last week as an afterthought, some might say. Yet Bettman's decision wasn't without cause. Gretzky led the Rangers with 36 assists and 43 points as the season's first half ended, and ranked fourth in the NHL in assists behind Anaheim's Paul Kariya (41), Pittsburgh's Jaromir Jagr (40) and Colorado's Peter Forsberg (39).
"He's got eyes in the back of his head," said Boston's Ray Bourque, another long-time All-Star and generational icon. "I've played many games with him and against him -- we played Canada Cup together -- and you get amazed just watching him."
It's hard to imagine an All-Star Game without the Great One, but expect it sooner than later, he said Saturday. During a pope-like media audience, he admitted that the thought that the 1999 game might be his last has crossed his mind.
"Yeah, but don't take that the wrong way," he added. "Because I thought that the one in Vancouver was going to be my last one."
In the 1998 All-Star Game in Vancouver, Gretzky waived his customary last-place introduction in favor of Messier, who was performing before his home crowd. Messier accepted the honor, and there's no word on whether the Great One will defer to someone else on Sunday in Tampa.
But the body clock continues to tick, particularly in the wake of Michael Jordan's retirement, which has sparked new talk of Gretzky's. Jordan, a contemporary in age and impact, announced his decision last week, marking the end of an NBA era. Gretzky's retirement is expected to do the same in the NHL.
"It's going to happen," he said, adding that he felt a fan's remorse when hearing of Jordan's decision. "I'm going to have to make that decision. At the end of the year I'll sit down and make a decision, but I've got enough going on in my life that I don't need to decide what I'm going to do in a few months."
With a team seemingly headed nowhere in the standings, the gospel that Gretzky preaches now is for the NHL to participate in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has such strong memories of last year's experiences in the Nagano Games that he'd like to see Canadian and U.S. youngsters re-think the way they view international competition.
"Playing for your country is one of the greatest experiences that a player can have," he said. "I know as kids grow up in Canada, their main focus is playing in the NHL, and because you play in the NHL, it almost eliminates your chance to play for your country."
Don't count on No. 99 again, however.
"I would love to play in 2002," Gretzky said, appearing momentarily wistful. "But it's not going to happen."
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