What happened to Wayne Gretzky?

[Ferarri]

I think it’s safe to say that Wayne Gretzky is Canada’s most recognizable figure both at home and abroad. However, I can’t stop and wonder what happened to his moral compass and his devotion to Canada. It’s no secret that he’s a Trump supporter and MAGA bootlicker, but it seems so odd to me that he would sacrifice his iconic status to his home country.

While he is disliked for obvious reasons here (Oilers) at one point he did seem to have a strong affiliation to Canada. He was the Executive Director for the Salt Lake gold winning team and one of the Olympic torchbearers at Vancouver 2010. At the 2002 Olympics he gave an impassioned speech about people taking shots at Canadian hockey and wore his heart on his sleeve.

His affiliation with Trump can certainly explain his recent actions, but if you dig a bit deeper it appears that the fracture was a long time in the making. In 2009 he was awarded Canada’s greatest civilian honour, the Order of Canada, but never attended the ceremony and still hasn’t made the trip to Ottawa to pick it up.

Apart from being completely disrespectful, I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that he’s turned his back on his Canadian roots. In this country he was a national treasure and a hero and arguably the most popular figure in the history of Canada. In the United States he really isn’t anything special. Americans have their heroes, and he certainly doesn’t register on anyone’s list of all time greats.

Is this strictly him falling into the MAGA cult or are there other reasons which would explain his change of tune that I’m not aware of. His actions as Canada’s honorary captain last night were embarrassing. Giving the Americans thumbs up and not even making an effort to acknowledge the Canadians was just bizarre. Why sacrifice your legacy and chose this path when you were once idolized in Canada?

[Locke]

Well...theres pints of wine?

[topfiverecords]

A decade in Edmonton in a person's formative years doesn't really set them off on the right path.

[Sliver]

Wayne Gretzky is our most recognizable figure? Lol, dude, you're in a bubble. Way fewer people gaf about hockey than you think.

Just off the top of my head, more recognizable Canadians would be Trudeau, Bieber, Celine Dion, Drake, Micheal J Fox, James Cameron, Jim Carrey, etc etc.

[OldDutch]

I think we need to separate the on ice man, with the off ice man.

If you have seen Wayne for a while, he's obviously not a super bright guy to start, with obvious signs of alcohol abuse on his mental. I have family with alcohol problems over long term, and they all exhibit similar traits to Wayne. Given his family is full on MAGA, he's likely swimming in that non stop all day every day.

I would hope this country moves on from the guy. Treasure what he was on the ice, but just recognize him for what he is now. Not a bad guy, just no longer our guy. Honestly there is far better people to take the mantle from him.

[Johnny Makarov]

We should remove him from the hockey hall of fame.

[BigThief]

Wayne's been a rich guy in America with an America wife and American children for decades now. The Trump love isn't shocking

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by Locke

Well...theres pints of wine?

I guess Dean Wormer was right when he said "drunk and stupid is no way to go through life".

[WideReceiver]

Rescind that Order of Canada!

[Scroopy Noopers]

Money and fame makes you a total loser. This seems to be a fact.

[Yeah_Baby]

He was a big Harper guy back in the day even though the Harper government took away folks like him who live abroad right to vote. The fact of the matter to is generally speaking Hockey is a pretty conservative sport. It's largely white, costs a lot of money to play, etc etc. It's all there in the soup.

But the fact of the matter is now every alumnus has #### you money like Wayne, or the inability to care about how he's perceived like Theo does

[Johnny Makarov]

How much money did they pay him to do that covid vaccine commercial. Prob goes against every bone in his diseased body.

[Jiggy]

I saw a picture of Wayne and the orange man together. Has Wayne come out and said anything about loving DT?

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by BigThief

Wayne's been a rich guy in America with an America wife and American children for decades now. The Trump love isn't shocking

Nailed it.

[Fuzz]

DES.


Delayed Edmonton Syndrome.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Puppet Guy

I guess Dean Wormer was right when he said "drunk and stupid is no way to go through life".

Whoa now!! Lets not say things we can't take back!!

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by Locke

Whoa now!! Lets not say things we can't take back!!

Hey, I fully support drunkenness.

[Yamer]

I think some people would be surprised and dismayed at how many wealthy athletes support Trump, especially white ones. There are a lot of childhood heroes out there ready to let you down. They just haven't been as open about it as people like Gretzky, Orr, Theo, Sale, Jericho, Taker, etc.

Trump loves the poorly educated.

[Winsor_Pilates]

What did he actually do?
I know he's friends with Trump but did he actually say/do something specific to disrespect Canada?
I probably missed it.

[WideReceiver]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

What did he actually do?
I know he's friends with Trump but did he actually say/do something specific to disrespect Canada?
I probably missed it.

Came from the U.S. dressing room and gave a thumb up to the U.S. bench.