jeff@dciem.UUCP (Jeff Richardson) (04/24/84)
> I just have one response to an article which made a reference to Wayne (the > Great) Gretzky not coming through when it really counts. Wayne Gretzky is > by far the best player in hockey today and, probably the best hockey player > of all time. (Gordie Howe was awesome) Just because the Isles shut Gretzky > down doesn't mean he doesn't come through in the big ones - it means the whole > Edmonton team didn't play well. No player can go one on five in any sport. If the whole team didn't play well, whose fault is it? Throughout hockey history, when a team was in a slump, they looked to their leader pick up the team and turn things around by getting everybody to play better. True superstars like Rocket Richard and Bobby Orr have been able to do this. The Oilers look to Gretzky for it, but so far he's been unable to supply it. Sure, he does a lot of things better than anybody else, but I don't think you can call him the greatest player of all time until he demonstrates this most important quality. > Gretzky really proved himself early this year when every team the Oilers > played put a great defenseman on Gretzky alone, ignoring everybody else. > What effect did it have on Gretzky? He was still a scoring machine! If he was a scoring machine in the regular season with good checkers on him, then why can't he do it against the Islanders? That just reinforces my theory that he chokes when he's really needed, since the regular season doesn't mean anything because almost everybody makes the playoffs. > When he got hurt, the Oilers started getting, not beat, but killed. As soon > as he came back, they immediately started winning again, and big. His > record speaks for itself! I think the Oilers have the talent to be one of the top teams in the league even without Gretzky, but they look to him to provide all of their leadership and drive, so when he's not there or doesn't provide it, the rest of the team can't cope. The Oilers will never win the cup unless: a) They get over this dependence on Gretzky and generate some leadership and drive within themselves, or b) Gretzky becomes a true superstar and starts showing some of the things that they look to him for. He's only 22 or 23, so maybe he will be the greatest player of all time, but he isn't yet. Jeff Richardson DCIEM, Toronto
fargo@ihuxx.UUCP (Matt Noah) (04/27/84)
Who cares who is the greatest player of all time? Is it not enough to be awed by how Wayne plays the game? As surely as the Isles swept Edmonton in 4 last year, the reverse could happen this year. As anyone who knows hockey can attest to - it is a very unpredictable game. Let's cur the petty bickering about greatness and concentrate on reality - like the reality of an Edmonton/Montreal Stanley Cup. Would there be intensity in that series! What has awoken Montreal? Is it Penny or is st on a high? Funny game, hockey, eh?
lincoln@eosp1.UUCP (Dick Lincoln) (04/27/84)
> Who cares who is the greatest player of all time? Is it not enough > to be awed by how Wayne plays the game? As surely as the Isles swept > Edmonton in 4 last year, the reverse could happen this year. Not unless the Isles start playing a hell of a lot better against Montreal than they have so far.
rosul@nmtvax.UUCP (04/28/84)
AMEN!
Ronald "Not quite all here" Rosul@nmtvax
New Mexico Tech, Socorro, New Mexico