ELItorial: The Great One was the greatest of all

RAY STUBBLEBIND/NEWSMAKERS Wayne Gretzky's play revolutionized hockey, leaving no doubt that The Great One is the greatest of all times.

On Sun., Apr. 18, at 3 p.m., the hockey world stopped. Fox cancelled its scheduled baseball programming to bid farewell to the Great One in his very last National Hockey League game. Gretzky's departure marked the end of an era that created hockey as we know it today.

While there is no denying the incredible prowess of the greatest athletes in basketball, baseball, and football, what sets Gretzky apart is that he brought glory to a sport that was never that popular in the U.S. Gretzky carried the NHL on his back, and his magic brought hockey into the national spotlight, raising it to the ranks of other professional sports in terms of salaries, attendance, and popularity. He did it with his humble attitude and superhuman talent.

Starting his career with the Edmonton Oilers in 1979, Gretzky garnered four straight championships, a feat unbeaten by any professional baseball, basketball, or football team since. He set and re-set nearly every offensive record in the league, breaking the goal-scoring and point-scoring records in a fraction of the time it took Gordie Howe to set them. He established himself as the most impressive scorer the NHL has ever seen, setting up so many of his plays from behind the net that the area was nicknamed "His Office."

Perhaps what's most impressive about this Canadian phenom is that in a sport that dramatically changed over the 20 years of his career, No. 99 always played the game his way: with integrity. In the early days of hockey, the sport was dominated by finesse players of smaller stature. But as thae '80s came to a close, teams began shelling out the big bucks for players with overwhelming size and kick-ass hip checks. Fighting became increasingly intense, as dropping the gloves became as essential to victory as netting the game-winning goal. But Gretzky refused to play dirty. Though many fans have accused him of shying away from the punches and avoiding confrontation, Gretzky showed class by refusing to participate in the gratuitous violence that he believed had no place in hockey. He never responded to the antagonism, double-teaming, and senseless boarding, often placing his body in greater danger of injury and harm in the process. Instead, Gretzky hit opponents where it hurt the most: on the scoreboard.

Known for his fine hands and vision, Gretzky could see goals and make plays in ways beyond the capabilities of any other player. Advised by his father not to worry about where the puck was, but to know where it was going to be, Gretzky foresaw scoring opportunities and placed himself in the proper position. In his autobiography, Gretzky noted that the crucial difference between great hockey players and marginal contributors was their perception of the goal. An average player would remember the color and make of the padding on every goaltender he ever took a shot against, while a master scorer couldn't even tell you which goalie appeared on a given night. Gretzky never noticed the goaltender; all he could see were the empty patches of net where the puck would fit.

Gretzky's unparalleled talent caught America's eye and enabled hockey to become a premier sport in the professional arena. When he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988, he singlehandedly turned a weak franchise into a Stanley Cup contender. In a town where movie premieres had been the biggest draws on a Saturday night, a rinkside seat to see the Kings became the hottest ticket in town.

Gretzky was the first hockey player to sign a multimillion dollar contract, quite an achievement in a league that has boasted the lowest average salary among American professional sports for the last decade. His ability inspired the Kings to promise that he would forever be the highest-paid player in the sport as long as he was a King.

Always a gentleman and forever a hero, Gretzky has left a void in the world of professional hockey that will never be filled. NHL President Gary Bettman announced that the number 99 will be retired from the league--a testament to the Great One's rightful place as the greatest athlete
of all time.

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