Tuesday, February 19, 2002
Gretz goes off the dial
But it's really motivation for Canada in medal round
By TERRY JONES -- Edmonton Sun
SALT LAKE CITY -- Wayne Gretzky was trying to be like Phil Esposito in Vancouver in '72. With large parts of Glen Sather sprinkled in there for good measure.
It seemed so out of character.
I mean, there's this billboard in Salt Lake featuring Gretzky's face and the message: 'Nice guys finish first.'
But this was no more Mr. Nice Guy.
Today Gretzky will receive the highest award within the Olympic movement, the IOC's Olympic Order. They may have to rethink that after this.
Gretzky worked himself into a real lather and went off the dial here last night after Canada's 3-3 tie with the defending gold medal-winning Czech Republic team.
It was an "Us vs. the World'' speech. It was a Canada vs. America propaganda pitch. And it was classic drip-drip-drip playoff stuff with the referees that nobody ever did better than his old coach and GM in Edmonton, Slats Sather.
The motivation was obvious.
In case you haven't noticed, this is where the Olympic Winter Games' hockey tournament starts. Now it's for real. Now they play for keeps. Canada-Finland for starters tomorrow. If Canada had actually won this game it would have been Canada-Russia. But they couldn't play poorly and lose or they'd have nothing to take into the elimination round of the tournament.
NIEUWENDYK'S LATE GOAL
With a late goal by Joe Nieuwendyk and two big ones by Mario Lemieux to salvage a 3-3 tie and still successfully avoid Russia in the cross-over game, Gretzky wants Canada, the world and mostly the 22 guys in his dressing room to believe they climbed out of a pile of manure last night smelling like a rose.
And maybe they did. Game on!
Gretzky, while he's a novice at this sort of thing, scheduled his own appearance in the interview room to make all the points with as much emphasis as he could.
"The whole world wants us to lose except Canada and the Canadian players,'' said No. 99 after a great game against the Nagano gold-medal winners.
"It's sickening to my stomach to turn the TV on. It makes me ill to hear what's being said about Canadian hockey. I don't think we dislike those countries as much as they hate us. They want us to fail. They don't like us. We have to get the same feeling.
"Americans love our poor start.
"It's American propaganda.
"Nobody wants us to win but our players and our loyal fans.
'`The pressure and expectations on our team are far greater than any team in the tournament,'' he said pointing out it's the normal Canadian condition plus the added Olympic pressure of Canada not having won gold since the 1952 Edmonton Mercs.
"Nobody understands the pressure. It's BS what our guys have to go through. We're very proud. I guarantee you we'll be standing at the end.
"This was much better,'' he said of the tie which the Canadians spoke of like it was a win. "There was much more emotion and much more desperation.''
He said it could do nothing but positive things mentally for the Canadians.
"You want to go into the game on a high. We deserved the tie tonight. We deserved better than a tie. It sets up a pretty good situation going into Wednesday.''
With Jamie Sale & David Pelletier in the arena, Gretzky offered another thought.
"There's now two Canadian stories here, figure skating and this hockey club.''
Gretzky claimed to be incensed about a check to Theo Fleury in front of the Czech goal late in the game by ex-Edmonton Oiler and current New York Islander Roman Hamrlik.
Gretzky said there will be payback.
"I wouldn't want to be at the Ranger-Islander game next week,'' he said.
That's good, because there isn't one.
The Rangers and Islanders have only one game remaining this season and it's on March 23.
"If a Canadian had done that, he would have been suspended. If a Canadian does that, it's big news. It was cowardly.
"He cross-checked him in the back.
"If that was one of our guys he'd be called a hooligan or a goon.
SPEAR AND CROSS-CHECK
"There was a spear and a cross-check on the same play. There were four or five blatant penalties. There should be two or three suspensions.
"If we do it we're hooligans. If the Europeans do it , it's OK.
"It's a pile of crap.''
Should we really take Gretzky seriously?
"You should put a goofy collar on him and stand him up by Ron MacLean,'' one of my American colleagues suggested passing my position as I pounded this piece.
Probably one of those propagandists.
Martin Rucinsky of the Czechs wasn't that impressed.
"We don't care about Canada. We don't take them as the team to beat,'' he said. "I don't think they are the best team out there right now.''
Gretzky speaks. People listen.
For parts of his tirade he really did seem serious. For other parts he looked like he was working hard to put a spin on everything.
Either way, for his first real try at this sort of thing, he did great.
2002 Games Columnists
