Lived in the boonies, so mostly on TV. A few flashes:
- Listening to the car radio to an early game say 79 or 80. Rod making the call; "Gretzky with a long pass to Semenko.......He has a breakaway.....and shoots it wide from 40' out!!! What a bonehead play!!" My dad nearly hit the ditch he was laughing so hard.
- One of the few games I saw live. March '83 vs the then hapless Pens. Gretz scored a 7 point night including goals 87, 88, 89 & 90 (I think) on his way to his 92 goal season. Pure dominance.
- Those first play-off series vs the Islanders. Very tense and pivotal series in the franchise's history.
- His 50 in 39 game......he was absolutely in a different world than anyone else on the ice anywhere.
- On TV when he got laid out by (MacGill?) of the Leafs........holy smokes we thought he was dead!
- His slapper off the wing in OT against the despised (now it's just hated) Flames.
- Teared up mightily at his Oiler jersey going up to the rafters.
Happy Birthday Wayne!
That's hilarious.
Gretz killing the Flames in '88 at the Saddledome with the slapper over Vernon's shoulder was classsssic.
The best was Sather turning around and giving the "up yours" sign to a bunch of the Flames fans behind the bench right afterwards
Lived in the boonies, so mostly on TV. A few flashes:
- Listening to the car radio to an early game say 79 or 80. Rod making the call; "Gretzky with a long pass to Semenko.......He has a breakaway.....and shoots it wide from 40' out!!! What a bonehead play!!" My dad nearly hit the ditch he was laughing so hard.
- One of the few games I saw live. March '83 vs the then hapless Pens. Gretz scored a 7 point night including goals 87, 88, 89 & 90 (I think) on his way to his 92 goal season. Pure dominance.
- Those first play-off series vs the Islanders. Very tense and pivotal series in the franchise's history.
- His 50 in 39 game......he was absolutely in a different world than anyone else on the ice anywhere.
- On TV when he got laid out by (MacGill?) of the Leafs........holy smokes we thought he was dead!
- His slapper off the wing in OT against the despised (now it's just hated) Flames.
- Teared up mightily at his Oiler jersey going up to the rafters.
Happy Birthday Wayne!
The one and only Barry Melrose was the culprit on that play....
The one and only Barry Melrose was the culprit on that play....
This one is OT but the talk about the old Garden's got me thinking. Do you or any of the other old goats remember those barrels they used to flood the ice in th old barn before they got a zamboni?
These are my favorite kind of comments re: Gretzky and for those that didn't watch him he was seeing different things and patterns on the ice than anybody else. Like a hockey version of a card counter or chess grandmaster Gretzky developed a hockey savant.
He understands the game better than anybody else(but like any savant has a harder time explaining or understanding how he does it and how he's different than others.
There were tons of things like below that Gretz would know and analyze on the ice and its fascinating.
For instance he had pattern recognition of where the players were on the ice and what they were doing and going to do. Again as in Chess he had an understanding of where and what pieces would come into play before they did.
Gretzky's hockey brain would be processing so fast the ice became stop action animation to him. He could literally have time to know what was going to happen, and what he was going to do about it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by foshizzle
I'm 34 and Gretz was my hero growing up. I remember seeing an interview with John Garret (I believe)- he was talking about Gretzky coming in on a breakaway on him and not even look at the net- he was looking at the glass behind Garret to see where the other players were in relation to him. Gretz understood the nuances of the game like no other. I hate getting into the discussions with people who say he wouldn't have been the best player in the game if he played today- to that I say he would of been just as smart, innovative and competitive. You can't change that no matter what generation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moonlapse Vertigo
This is a pretty neat comment from Walter from the TSN website.
Quote:
As a young boy growing up in that house, the young Wayne Gretzky would watch hockey on television with a pencil and paper in hand, drawing lines that followed the direction of the puck.
"I said 'Wayne what are you doing?' I still remember, he was six or seven years old," says Walter. "He said `Dad, can't you see, are you blind?' Then he picked up the paper and said `Dad, see where all the lines cross, that's where the puck is most of the time.'
This wasn't the worst hit he ever took however. The hit from behind byGary Suter in the Canada Cup was way worse and much dirtier.
Ah yes, that's right it was McCreary, not McGill. Thanks for that.
You're right, the hit from Suter was definitely worse, but I was limiting my comments to his time as an Oiler as per the thread tag.
....and the comment that was made about Sather giving it to the Flames fans. Not sure that anyone today really appreciates how deep the animosity ran between these two teams; I'm still carrying it all thee years later.
I am 34 as well and did see him live once Oilers-Blackhawks in 1985. He wasn't my favorite player. Messier was, but as I got older I appreciated his hockey sense and pure talent a lot more.
I am sure some of you know, but Gretzky had 41 goals going into game 38-Snipes 4 goals in that game and 5 the following game for 50 in 39. 9 goals in 2 games thats 35-40 games work for some of the sad sacks playing for the Oilers now. I miss the old days.
On August 9, 1988 when he acquired the NHL's biggest star, Wayne Gretzky, along with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski, from the Edmonton Oilers for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three first-round draft choices and US$15 million. McNall raised Gretzky's annual salary from less than $1 million to $3 million, which, in turn, triggered a dramatic rise in NHL salaries throughout the 1990s.
In December 1993, McNall defaulted on a $90 million loan, and Bank of America ordered him to put the Kings up for sale or they would force the team into bankruptcy.
On December 14, he pleaded guilty to five counts of conspiracy and fraud, and admitted to bilking six banks out of $236 million over a ten-year period.[3] He was sentenced to 70 months in prison. Immediately after his conviction, it emerged that he'd grossly mismanaged the Kings financially. The team was ultimately forced into bankruptcy in 1995.
I saw him play a few times in Edmonton in a Kings uniform because my dad never wanted to miss a game in which he was playing. He lost interest once Gretz moved on to the Blues though.
First of all we are 27, not only 27 ?
While I don't remember much of it, I do have a few memories of watching him play with the Oil. I remember one of our neighbors came over to our house when the Cup was being awarded to the Oil in 88...he wasn't a big hockey fan and for some dumb reason I remember him asking my dad "they won it already?" as we were watching.
I remember that, and I remember watching Coffey's first game back in Edmonton with the Pens earlier that season (if I'm not mistaken they hauled us that night), but unfortunatly that's about it.
When I was 4 I remember telling my mom that Lemieux played with the Oilers as well and wouldn't take no for an answer...I'm guessing it's because I had watched the Canada Cup that fall and assumed that was the Oilers. I remember her telling me during the 91 Canada Cup "I know you remember the one in 1987" and I had no recollection of watching it other than seeing the Gretz to Mario goal a billion times on replay, but I didn't know what the Canada Cup was until 91.
I also vividly remember crying as hard as I could when he got dealt. It was pretty tramatizing for a just turned 5 year old kid to hear that the greatest player in the world and his favourite player in the world had just been traded.
So to sum up ...I know that I watched him a lot, but I don't really remember much. Thanks for taking this walk with me down memory lane, so pumped up that I can't sleep!
Also I forgot to add that I don't know if Narnia has mentioned this or not yet in this thread, but nobody wants to play in Edmonton. Just thought I should point out that nobody wants to play in Edmonton. Just so you guys know, cause you should know that nobody wants to play in Edmonton. Don't know if Narnia has been around to mention that to anyone yet.
This reminds me of the Woodstock phenomenon where 400K people actually attended Woodstock whereas polls of respondents would suggest that several million people attended. That its an icon and cultural lightning rod that everybody wants to say they attended or saw.
By no means am I replying simply to bump up my post count....
I recall as a kid hearing on the radio during breakfast (CHQT - The Authoratative Newsvoice - my parent's choice, not mine) a story about this future superstar named Wayne Gretzky who was burning up his minor hockey league with goals o'plenty. This was during a time when I was playing minor hockey (Calmar) againt future superstars like Grant Fuhr (Spruce Grove) and David Staples (Devon - he never did make the bigs, did he?) and my older bro was playing against Lindy Ruff (Warburg or Thorsby?).
So many memories of Gretz. Watching him peform his magic - wow. What can I say that hasn't been said already? I've been an Oilers fan since the WHA and attended games when I could as well as Stanley Cup parades.
Climbing up and being perched on the hoarding that surrounded the DT public library const. site gave me a great vantage point with my camera for that first Stanley Cup parade. I have a super photo of Gretz in the limo with shades on, hoisting the Cup. Priceless.
My guess is that the people who were lucky enough to see him play are just more likely or enthusiastic to respond. I don't remember Woodstock and if someone started a poll on it I could see myself skipping a reply altogether just as easily as I could see myself bothering to chime in.
I remember Gretz from Day 1 of his NHL career (the WHA, not so much though), something I feel quite privileged to say.
I think this is likely the cause. I'm one of the no people and the only reason I bothered to vote is after I got really bored one day and had been on here for a while. No offense intended to the OP, it is an interesting question.
I think a more interesting question would be why people are more willing to chime in if their answer is yes. Is it simply what do you say beyond no, if thats your answer?
I hate how it's become trendy to downplay Gretzky's accomplishments because of the goaltending of the 80's. Jeremy Roenick got in on the act yesterday talking about how today's players are so much better and SUN columnist Chris Stevenson had to chime with with the obligatory goaltending observation today. Whatever. Most of the goaltenders in the 80's were stand-up, yeah, but there were physical obstacles that star players had to deal with. And don't tell players that played in the 80's that Billy Smith was easy to beat game to game.
Gretzky routinely outscored his nearest competitors by 50, 60 points until Lemieux came along. If it was so easy to score in the 80's then why was he able to dominate so heavily? Answer: Because he was that good.
Last edited by Moonlapse Vertigo: 01-29-2011 at 05:11 PM.
I hate how it's become trendy to downplay Gretzky's accomplishments because of the goaltending of the 80's. Jeremy Roenick got in on the act yesterday talking about how today's players are so much better and SUN columnist Chris Stevenson had to chime with with the obligatory goaltending observation today. Whatever. Most of the goaltenders in the 80's were stand-up, yeah, but there were physical obstacles that star players had to deal with. And don't tell players that played in the 80's that Billy Smith was easy to beat game to game.
Gretzky routinely outscored his nearest competitors by 50, 60 points until Lemieux came along. If it was so easy to score in the 80's then why was he able to dominant so heavily? Answer: Because he was that good.
If anything I've always noted that Tim Thomas would get destroyed in the 80's. People would go high, pick the corners, and chase this guy from the league. As it is he chronically has the best save %. lol. Against the Crosby's and Ovechkins.
Something today gets lost in the translation. Even star forwards that seem really vulnerable in their game and can easily get off of it and go on a slump.
I actually think yesterdays stars had to be more analytical and think the game through more for themselves because now all the gamefilms and scouting is all spoonfed to them. What gets lost in this is some of the self analysis and scorers knowing each goalie they face intimately and studying them through their own efforts.
Also that back in the day coaches actually had the respect of the room. Not like today when some players basically role their eyes at the guy making not even a tenth of what they make on an entry level contract..
Players thought the game through much better independently back in the day and were able to solve a lot of problems and expose limitations. I do think they were better students of the game. Todays game tends to be more about landing the big contract and entitlement.
Seems to be far less self applying and players doing their own homework today and Tim Thomas lives as the reincarnation of Gump Worsley and Les Binkley, goalies decades ago that were chased from the game eventually. I keep waiting for shooters to solve Thomas. When that gets done I'll have a little more faith in todays stars.
Also I forgot to add that I don't know if Narnia has mentioned this or not yet in this thread, but nobody wants to play in Edmonton. Just thought I should point out that nobody wants to play in Edmonton. Just so you guys know, cause you should know that nobody wants to play in Edmonton. Don't know if Narnia has been around to mention that to anyone yet.
Who do you have in mind since nobody will sign in Edmonton as a UFA. The question is if anyone of note will sign in Edmonton. Remember Edmonton is one of the least desirable places to play according to the players. Winning team or not, players will not sign in Edmonton. Arnott won't sign in Edmonton. After every loss, fans thrash the team. Before they want a lose but after the game, they get thrashed for losing. That's why I don't see people being patient with a rebuild. You can see it after every loss that fans thrash the Oilers.
This is a pretty neat comment from Walter from the TSN website.
Quote:
As a young boy growing up in that house, the young Wayne Gretzky would watch hockey on television with a pencil and paper in hand, drawing lines that followed the direction of the puck.
"I said 'Wayne what are you doing?' I still remember, he was six or seven years old," says Walter. "He said `Dad, can't you see, are you blind?' Then he picked up the paper and said `Dad, see where all the lines cross, that's where the puck is most of the time.'
=======
I understood that helped him develop his peripheral vision.
Who do you have in mind since nobody will sign in Edmonton as a UFA. The question is if anyone of note will sign in Edmonton. Remember Edmonton is one of the least desirable places to play according to the players. Winning team or not, players will not sign in Edmonton. Arnott won't sign in Edmonton. After every loss, fans thrash the team. Before they want a lose but after the game, they get thrashed for losing. That's why I don't see people being patient with a rebuild. You can see it after every loss that fans thrash the Oilers.
Oops...you have been busted for complaining in the wrong thread.
I watched Gretzky from his first shift in the NHL and remember the day he was traded - I went home from work early to watch in shock that he was gone.
fan since '79. my father and I went see Gretzky and the Oilers whenever they came to Detroit. simply amazing to watch live. pregame warmup gave me chills to see how good they were.
Last edited by Oil_in_my_veins: 01-31-2011 at 02:52 PM.
I hate how it's become trendy to downplay Gretzky's accomplishments because of the goaltending of the 80's. Jeremy Roenick got in on the act yesterday talking about how today's players are so much better and SUN columnist Chris Stevenson had to chime with with the obligatory goaltending observation today. Whatever. Most of the goaltenders in the 80's were stand-up, yeah, but there were physical obstacles that star players had to deal with. And don't tell players that played in the 80's that Billy Smith was easy to beat game to game.
Gretzky routinely outscored his nearest competitors by 50, 60 points until Lemieux came along. If it was so easy to score in the 80's then why was he able to dominate so heavily? Answer: Because he was that good.
I think it's true for the most part but the players today are so much better because of Gretzky. He dragged the talent of the league up by about 10 notches just in having to deal with his game. You couldnt just get away with guys who couldnt skate at all on the blueline anymore or Gretz would be gone on a breakaway. Goaltenders had to be quicker, players had to be smarter defensively.
Gretzky changed the league like no one else that's for sure.
Alas I never got the chance to see him play live as an Oiler. Luckily I have the 10 greatest Oilers games DVD set so I still get to see Gretz' in action every now and then
) Flames.
? 
...I know that I watched him a lot, but I don't really remember much. Thanks for taking this walk with me down memory lane, so pumped up that I can't sleep!
