Hockey's flagship shows how to pass the baton to a local D.C. legend with honor.
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Alex Ovechkin finally got it. On Sunday afternoon, the Russian left wing found himself in the open ice during an extra man, reached back to receive a pass and sent a wrist shot into the upper right corner for his 895th goal, a new NHL record. In New York that same day, Wayne Gretzky, the Great One, stood smiling and applauded as his record fell.
“I told you I’d be the first one to shake your hand when you broke the record,” Gretzky said before embracing the big Russian at center ice at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. Then Gretzky kept his promise. From one era to another, the gregarious Gretzky provided a fitting bridge from past to present in one of hockey’s greatest moments.
I was there at the tail end of Gretzky’s remarkable career. He was playing for the New York Rangers when I got to watch him. Even then, in his twilight years, Gretzky was as brilliant as anyone. But for all that Gretzky accomplished on the ice, it was what he did off the ice this weekend that most clearly underscores the unique legend he has created.
It’s not easy to watch your greatest accomplishments pass you by, but Gretzky did so with great honor and respect for Ovechkin and the game itself. Gretzky was at Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C., to witness Ovechkin equal his career-high of 894 goals, a feat many thought impossible. Gretzky was seen cheering on Ovechkin, and the two shared a brief, special moment after the Russian’s 894th goal, when Ovechkin skated to the benches and saluted Gretzky in the stands.
“When I set the record,” Gretzky said recently. “I told my dad the night before, 'I'm so ashamed, Gordie Howe was the greatest hockey player that ever lived, and he'll always be in my eyes, that's never going to change. I'm so ashamed to break his record.' And he goes, 'Are you crazy? Don't even think that. You should have the same dignity and respect when somebody breaks your record. You should make sure you have the same respect for somebody who breaks your record.'”
In the last few days, Gretzky has lived up to his father's expectations. Gretzky's goal-scoring record has long been considered one of the most elusive feats in sports history, a stunning achievement achieved over 20 years of consistent, flawless play. Instead of being dismayed, Gretzky has shown humility, honor, and dignity as his lofty achievement has been ripped from the record books.
It has been a tough year for Gretzky, who has found himself at the center of an intercontinental war of words and a trade deficit. Gretzky, who lives in America, is married to an American and attended Donald Trump’s election party at Mar-a-Lago, has become the target of the ire of angry Canadians who despise everything Trump. The 47th president of the United States has called on Gretzky to run for “governor” of Canada, and the NHL legend was photographed with FBI Director Cash Patel at a game Friday night in D.C.
When Gretzky was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988, the Great One cried in front of
Sourse: theamericanconservative.com
