You know, I’ve held women and babies and jewels and money, but nothing will ever feel as good as holding that Cup.
WAYNE GRETZKYYou know, I’ve held women and babies and jewels and money, but nothing will ever feel as good as holding that Cup.
WAYNE GRETZKYNothing can replace the Olympics. I love the Olympics. I was so proud when I played in ’98 and I was so proud when we won in 2002.
WAYNE GRETZKYThere’s no perfect coach in the world. Coaches are human, too. Mistakes are made. But, fundamentally, if you’re sound, you eliminate as many mistakes as possible.
WAYNE GRETZKYI think that from the time you start playing sports as a child you see that your responsibility to your team is to play the best that you can play as an individual. And yet, not take anything away from being part of a team.
WAYNE GRETZKYNot doing it is certainly the best way to not getting it.
WAYNE GRETZKYWhen I was 5 and playing against 11-year-olds, who were bigger, stronger, faster, I just had to figure out a way to play with them.
WAYNE GRETZKYThe biggest difference between L.A. and Edmonton was that instead of people looking at me I was looking at them.
WAYNE GRETZKYI really wanted to write a book [99: Stories of the Game] on the tradition and history of the league, where kids can pick it up and read it and learn things and say, “Geez, I didn’t know that. That’s pretty cool.”
WAYNE GRETZKYWhen I played in a 21-team league, there were six or seven goalies who were just average, and the equipment and pads were smaller. I came in the right era. I played for the right team. It was all speed, and creativity and imagination.
WAYNE GRETZKYIt doesn’t matter what I think. It doesn’t matter what other people think. You have to get on the ice and participate and play and the best team wins.
WAYNE GRETZKYMost players go where the puck is. I go where the puck will be.
WAYNE GRETZKYMy kids are no different than anyone else’s – they tend to disagree with everything I say!
WAYNE GRETZKYMaybe it wasn’t the talent the Lord gave me-maybe it was the passion.
WAYNE GRETZKYAnd people who know me would tell you that away from hockey I’m really not that competitive.
WAYNE GRETZKYEverything I did in hockey, I worked for.
WAYNE GRETZKYLifting the Stanley Cup for the first time. There’s nothing like it. It’s the greatest story. In my era, they used to say you couldn’t be a superstar without winning one. I remember thinking when I lifted it: “Now they can’t say that about me.”
WAYNE GRETZKY