What happened to Wayne Gretzky?

[btimbit]

Curves, let's not pretend people are annoyed at him simply because he has conservative views. It's clearly way more than that, as has been mentioned numerous times

[Paulie Walnuts]

Most dominant athlete in history....lol

[BowRiverBruinsRule]

Originally Posted by curves2000

The guy is clearly a conservative and supports a conservative mentality and that is Gretzky's right. That's ok and people don't need to get vindictive about him. Questioning his love of Canada? Wanting to strip him of his order of Canada? Where are these tactics coming from? A lot of people have strong political opinions who are not in the public eye. This is stereotypical Canadian hysteria and little man syndrome at it's finest.

He is arguably the most dominate athlete in history, very mild mannered and always been an absolute gem of a Canadian. If the situation was reversed and he was America's sports king, lived and made his living in Canada and supported a much more left leaning Canadian PM who was considered deplorable, American's would not be clamoring to do harm to him, question his love of America and stripping him of honors. It's bizarre behavior.

He probably likes certain, basic elements of Trump's policies around growth, taxes, jobs, legal immigration and pushback against things like political correctness and more progressive, left policies related to LGBTQ manners. I don't think he is some supporter of 51 State, attacking Canada and Trump's personal demeanor qualities. He is a quite supporter of some aspects and probably disapproves of a lot of elements quietly as well.

Ok. And, Elon Musk was just stretching his right arm.

[TorqueDog]

Nothing happened to Wayne Gretzky. He's always been an uneducated rich athlete. He just happens to be an old and retired one now, but the uneducated and rich part that has such strong correlations to supporting Trump has always been there. The only difference is that Trump wasn't there.

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

People who support Trump either agree with his policies and what he is doing, or are willing to overlook them.
Both are awful. There are no other choices though. It's one or the other.

What about the third choice of "ignorance"? You're missing out a big contingent of Trump supporters that blindly support him like he's their sports team, without understanding how damaging his policies are until it's already happened.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by Ped

Well curves, unfortunately you don't know what policies of Trump he supports. What we do is he showed up at Trump's inauguration wearing a MAGA hat. That's an indication of a whackjob. And as Canada's honoury captain, he came out of the US bench and gave the US team the thumbs up. And as others have pointed out, he also never bothered picking up his Order of Canada.


What there makes him a gem of a Canadian, pray tell? He's actively supporting the MAGA crowd who want to annex Canada. Real gem, there.

Your right, I actually don't know and I am purely speculating. Trump and Trump support is something that I can totally understand but also not understand at all. The level of loyalty is something that is unseen in other humans and for a lot of people, doesn't even apply to their closest friends and family members. It's bizarre.

On the basis of probability I am sure Gretzky likes some aspects of Trump's policies and despises others. I don't understand the retribution aspect though for just showing support but that would apply to to whatever side of the political spectrum he supported.

Doing things and actively engaging in conduct or being directly involved in political matters that do damage to someone or another country is a little different.

[Ped]

Except Trump already proved who he was over and over and over. People who didn't know who he was (or claim as such), then shouldn't be out supporting him and wearing hats supporting the MAGA extremists.


Would we excuse someone wearing a swastika and then claiming they didn't know what it was for?



Well, MAGA would, I suppose, but no one rational.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Ped

Except Trump already proved who he was over and over and over. People who didn't know who he was (or claim as such), then shouldn't be out supporting him and wearing hats supporting the MAGA extremists.

Stupid people do stupid things, trying to apply sense or rationality to their behaviour will make your brain hurt. [shrug]

[Coach]

Originally Posted by curves2000

The guy is clearly a conservative and supports a conservative mentality and that is Gretzky's right. That's ok and people don't need to get vindictive about him. Questioning his love of Canada? Wanting to strip him of his order of Canada? Where are these tactics coming from? A lot of people have strong political opinions who are not in the public eye. This is stereotypical Canadian hysteria and little man syndrome at it's finest.

He is arguably the most dominate athlete in history, very mild mannered and always been an absolute gem of a Canadian. If the situation was reversed and he was America's sports king, lived and made his living in Canada and supported a much more left leaning Canadian PM who was considered deplorable, American's would not be clamoring to do harm to him, question his love of America and stripping him of honors. It's bizarre behavior.

He probably likes certain, basic elements of Trump's policies around growth, taxes, jobs, legal immigration and pushback against things like political correctness and more progressive, left policies related to LGBTQ manners. I don't think he is some supporter of 51 State, attacking Canada and Trump's personal demeanor qualities. He is a quite supporter of some aspects and probably disapproves of a lot of elements quietly as well.

Sorry, it's black and white now. The President of the United States and commander of the greatest military in human history open threatens annexation daily. You are either against that or you're with that.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Most dominant athlete in history....lol

Well I mean in statistical terms he kind of is. In NHL hockey there is an approx 50% gap in points between him and #2. That is a larger gap than #2-100. #2 in the NHL in points (Jagr) looks like a welfare case in some ways.

If you look at other sports, the level of gap between the top players is never that large.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Ped

Well curves, unfortunately you don't know what policies of Trump he supports. What we do is he showed up at Trump's inauguration wearing a MAGA hat. That's an indication of a whackjob. And as Canada's honoury captain, he came out of the US bench and gave the US team the thumbs up. And as others have pointed out, he also never bothered picking up his Order of Canada.


What there makes him a gem of a Canadian, pray tell? He's actively supporting the MAGA crowd who want to annex Canada. Real gem, there.

It’s just the long-winded, say-nothing curves’ version of “people are allowed to have different opinions.”

Yet none of the folks that trot this out have the guts to actually think critically about these things or address what people are actually taking issue with. Just hand waving using surface level musings. It’s not like you have to have a doctorate in literature to actually understand what people are saying here.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by Coach

Sorry, it's black and white now. The President of the United States and commander of the greatest military in human history open threatens annexation daily. You are either against that or you're with that.

I fully agree with you, I really do. But what is Wayne Gretzky suppose to do? Call up Trump and say something? For whatever reason Trump is focused on Canada like no other at the moment. Our own NATO/EU/Commonwealth country allies are not even coming to our defense. Nobody has said anything out loud in public. Actually nothing.

I don't see no groundswell of support to remove King Charles, Queen Elizabeth or others from Canada's history because of threats from Trump.

I just don't see where Gretzky comes really into play. Recently Don Cherry came out and said how much the 51st State and anti Canada mentality bothered him. Are people willing to forgive "You people, milk and honey" etc and appoint Don Cherry as some Canadian hero because he supports Trump but pushes back about annexation talk?

[Ped]

Gretzky is allowed to do as he pleases. And we're allowed to think less of him for who he supports.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

It’s just the long-winded, say-nothing curves’ version of “people are allowed to have different opinions.”

Yet none of the folks that trot this out have the guts to actually think critically about these things or address what people are actually taking issue with. Just hand waving using surface level musings. It’s not like you have to have a doctorate in literature to actually understand what people are saying here.

I just think things get REAL dicey when you start to really go after people for their political leanings and elements of support for whomever.

You wanna go after Wayne Gretzky for supporting Trump, totally fine, that's your deal. You can also start to go after ANYBODY of substance who attended Trump's inauguration as a guest of the President. That probably includes a lot of people that you may look up to and who champion YOUR causes. If your up there supporting Trump, we know that progressive causes are just for optics for the people like Pepsi. Pacify the little person

[Drak]

These are NOT traditional conservatives. They are threatening our country’s existence.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by curves2000

I just think things get REAL dicey when you start to really go after people for their political leanings and elements of support for whomever.

You wanna go after Wayne Gretzky for supporting Trump, totally fine, that's your deal. You can also start to go after ANYBODY of substance who attended Trump's inauguration as a guest of the President. That probably includes a lot of people that you may look up to and who champion YOUR causes. If your up there supporting Trump, we know that progressive causes are just for optics for the people like Pepsi. Pacify the little person

Alright, anyone who supports Trump or showed up to his inauguration, I have no respect or admiration for. Clear cut.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by curves2000

I just think things get REAL dicey when you start to really go after people for their political leanings and elements of support for whomever.

You wanna go after Wayne Gretzky for supporting Trump, totally fine, that's your deal. You can also start to go after ANYBODY of substance who attended Trump's inauguration as a guest of the President. That probably includes a lot of people that you may look up to and who champion YOUR causes. If your up there supporting Trump, we know that progressive causes are just for optics for the people like Pepsi. Pacify the little person

Sorry, what flaccid point are you jamming at here?

Save the slippery slope, generalized nonsense. It’s not smart.

We’re not talking about people going after anything for their political “leanings” or “elements of support” for whomever. We’re talking about people actively supporting an individual who is extremely dangerous and a threat to Canada and many, many other countries and individuals (both at home and abroad). “Oh but what if he just likes his taxes!” so what? Hey guys, curves doesn’t necessarily “support” Hitler, he just likes “some” of the things Hitler did. Sound like the kind of thing you’d be OK with someone saying about you?

[BOSSY]

I used to work with a guy that played with Ray Ferrero (who is a legit good guy and person) and bunch of those guys and has golfed a few times with Gretzky and buddies - says Gretzky really is a POS and an absolute bottle... But also says its important not too confuse the amazing player with the absolute amazingly POS person - he doesn't owe anybody anything he was a hockey player and his obligation ends there...

[Senator Clay Davis]

People aren't really shocked are they? MAGA appeals to three primary audiences: Dumb people, racist people, rich people. Gretzky undeniably checks two boxes, so obviously he is on board. Now they definitely should have picked someone else last night, but Gretzky has profile so he was always gonna be the choice. The fact he handled himself like a twat isn't a huge shock.

[Huntingwhale]

I'm torn as to what to do with his goal scoring record. After learning OV is a Putin simp, I was holding out for Gretzky to hold the record, given his Ukrainian heritage and Canadian. But now to know he's a MAGA, who should the record go to? Bleh. Was always looking forward to this record getting broken since the day I saw OV come into the league, but now it sucks if either of them get to hold it.

[WideReceiver]

Originally Posted by curves2000

The guy is clearly a conservative and supports a conservative mentality and that is Gretzky's right. That's ok and people don't need to get vindictive about him. Questioning his love of Canada? Wanting to strip him of his order of Canada? Where are these tactics coming from? A lot of people have strong political opinions who are not in the public eye. This is stereotypical Canadian hysteria and little man syndrome at it's finest.

He is arguably the most dominate athlete in history, very mild mannered and always been an absolute gem of a Canadian. If the situation was reversed and he was America's sports king, lived and made his living in Canada and supported a much more left leaning Canadian PM who was considered deplorable, American's would not be clamoring to do harm to him, question his love of America and stripping him of honors. It's bizarre behavior.

He probably likes certain, basic elements of Trump's policies around growth, taxes, jobs, legal immigration and pushback against things like political correctness and more progressive, left policies related to LGBTQ manners. I don't think he is some supporter of 51 State, attacking Canada and Trump's personal demeanor qualities. He is a quite supporter of some aspects and probably disapproves of a lot of elements quietly as well.

If he didn’t make a public display of his fascism, no one would know or care. Do what he does and he deserves to be vilified.