Driven to perfection
Forget retirement -- Gretzky 'loves to play too much'
Posted: Sunday January 24, 1999 10:05 PM
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Gretzky: "The excitement that I still have is the same today as it was in 1980 when I played my first game in Detroit." |
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Wayne Gretzky couldn't say if he'd played in
his last All-Star game. When you're two days away from your 38th
birthday and still play as well as he does, you don't rush
retirement.
The NHL's career goals, assists and points leader was a surprise
starter Sunday and walked away with his third MVP award after
scoring one goal and assisting on two others in North America's 8-6
victory over the World on Sunday.
Gretzky acknowledged that during the game, he had thoughts about
it possibly being his last All-Star appearance.
"But I felt the same way last year in Vancouver," he said. "I
thought about it [Sunday], but I don't have a definitive answer
until the year's over. I don't want to want to put any thought in
to it. I love to play too much."
Gretzky was a late addition to the lineup in place of
Philadelphia's Eric Lindros, the projected starter after Detroit's
Steve Yzerman withdrew because of an injury.
The move didn't disappoint an Ice Palace crowd of 19,758, which
gave the New York Rangers star the biggest ovation during pregame
introductions.
"The year is 99, and it could be his last year," Lindros said,
explaining why he deferred to No. 99 and declined to speculate
about Gretzky's future.
"The way he played tonight," Lindros said, "he's playing
well."
The third MVP award ties Gretzky with Mario Lemieux for the most
in All-Star history. He also won the honor in 1983 when he scored a
record four goals and in 1989 when, like this time, he had one goal
and two assists.
He extended his record for All-Star goals with a wrist shot from
the right circle that went through the legs of World goaltender
Arturs Irbe less than two minutes into the second period.
He assisted on Mark Recchi's first-period goal and set up Rob
Blake late in the second period for a 7-3 lead.
Besides a crystal trophy, Gretzky also won a car for being the
star of stars. He estimates that he's been given 16 or 17 cars
during his career, but the latest is the first one he plans to
keep.
"After 21 years of professional hockey, 20 in the NHL, I just
feel like this is the one thing I want to keep," Gretzky said. "I
want to have it, and I want to remember it. I don't want to forget
it."
The All-Star appearance was a record 18th straight for Gretzky,
who also holds the career All-Star mark for points (25). He trails
only Gordie Howe (23) for most All-Star appearances.
He said his love for this game, and hockey in general, is as
strong as ever.
"The excitement that I still have is the same today as it was
in 1980 when I played my first game in Detroit. The difference now
is when I look over and see No. 9, it's Paul Kariya. When I looked
over and saw No. 9 earlier, it was Gordie Howe," Gretzky said.
"But I still have the same amount of respect for a guy like
Paul Kariya, who is a wonderful player. I've gone from being this
young guy looking up to old guys to this older guy looking up to
younger guys."
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