about Gretzky and Canadian hockey team

[jutka]

Mari and everyone else,

Did you hear him whine after the game with the Czechs? He went really nuts! Some of his comments were totally uncalled for and disrespectful. I'll try to find a link.

I think he took some whining lessons from Sale and Pelletier.

[jutka]

Gretzky fuming after draw with Czechs
Feb. 18, 2002. 11:37 PM

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (CP) - An impassioned Wayne Gretzky gave a rallying cry for Team Canada on Monday, claiming the world wants his team to lose at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

"No one wants us to win except the guys on this team and our fans, but we're a proud team and we're still standing," said Gretzky after Canada tied the Czech Republic 3-3 in its strongest game of the tournament so far.

The team was blasted from coast to coast by fans and media after losing its opening game 5-2 to Sweden and then barely beating underdog Germany 3-2.

Gretzky's tirade in the post-game interview room at the E-Center appeared to be an attempt to motivate his team by claiming the whole world is against them.

Or, he may have been just plain angry.

"It turns my stomach to hear some of the things being said about us," the Team Canada executive director said. "We're a good team."

He said criticism even comes from opposing players on the ice.

"To a man, every one of our guys will say how great (Dominik) Hasek or (Mats) Sundin is," said Gretzky. "I don't think we dislike the other countries nearly as much as they hate us.

"That's a fact. They want to see us lose. They may say something different in public, but on the ice, they (the players) hear it."

It boosted Gretzky's argument when Czech winger Martin Rucinsky dissed Team Canada after the game.

"We don't care about Canada," said Rucinsky, a former Quebec Nordique and Montreal Canadien who now plays for the Dallas Stars. ``We don't take them as the team to beat.

"I don't think they're even close to being the best team in the tournament. You've seen that by the scores."

Gretzky said even the U.S. public and media revelled in watching Canada struggle through the round robin portion of the Olympic tournament, although he was careful not to include the members of the U.S. hockey team at the Games.

"Absolutely - American propaganda," Gretzky replied when asked media criticism in the host country, where he has lived and worked since the late 1980s.

"We're the biggest story down here and they love it when we're not doing well," he said. "Now they have two Canadian stories - figure skating and the hockey team. "It's all a crock of bull."

The tie with the Czech Republic gave Canada new optimism as it heads into a quarter-final meeting on Wednesday against a beatable team from Finland.

The red-faced Gretzky admitted he was "hot" with anger over Czech defenceman Roman Hamrlik of the New York Islanders, who speared winger Ryan Smyth and then bruskly cross-checked Theoren Fleury in the dying seconds of the game.

Fleury crumpled to the ice after the shot and was very slow in getting up.

Gretzky called Hamrlik's actions "cowardly," and said he should be suspended for the rest of the tournament. He also accused the media of holding Canada to a double standard.

"He blatantly tried to hurt (Fleury) - he cross-checked him in the back," said Gretzky. "I don't know why I wasn't asked that question, but if it was one of my players who would have done it, that's the first question I'd be asked.

"If a Canadian did that, it would be big news. If a Czech does it, it's OK. It's all a crock of crap."

It was Gretzky's ashen face that graced the front pages of many of the newspapers carrying stories of Team Canada's struggles at the Olympics.

"The pressure and expectations on our team are far greater than on any other team," he said. "And to top that with the fact that we haven't won (at the Olympics) since the 1950's makes it more difficult.

"I think we played pretty well and now we're in a situation where we can control our destiny."

[Mariboulg]

Hmmmm... I don’t know what to say.
I just don’t like this attitude of: "it's not fair, it's not fair"

was this the real title of the article ? Gretzky fuming after draw with Czechs ?

[SirHC]

That spat is very unGretzky-like. But I think he's just using some fierce words to light a fire under Team Canada. They haven't been playing up to their potential. Very unmotivated they seem to be.

No gold medals for Canada in hockey since the 50's. Maybe he thinks he's the only one who feels the pressure.

[jutka]

Originally posted by Mariboulg
Hmmmm... I don’t know what to say.
I just don’t like this attitude of: "it's not fair, it's not fair"

was this the real title of the article ? Gretzky fuming after draw with Czechs ?

Yes, that was the real headline!

SirHC,

Maybe he was just trying to motivate his team. Nevertheless, he could have done it without disrespecting everyone else.

[Canadian_Wolf]

Well, Gretzky is a genius in my opinion. He took pressure off his team, stood up for Canada and since then, 3 victories and GOLD I say. We we're very lucky to face Belarus in the semi's though. Yet our impressive victory against the USA shows that we still are Hockey Country.

And talking about whining lessons, I think Russian coach Fetisov should be the teacher. Especially considering its the american media who whined for Sale and Pelletier.

[yureeka]

the reason why hamrlik cross checked fleury like that was because fleury was lying down on hasek for like 15 seconds and wouldnt get off! Canadians are whiners and cheaters.