Recent days have been difficult ones for Wayne Gretzky, and it has torn my heart as the media feeding frenzy occurred. Some have lost faith, and have even teased me that I will need to change from wulrich99 to 98 or something! But no, I shall not change.
Throughout his playing career Gretzky displayed great humility about his accomplishments, great loyalty to his family and country and unfailing grace in the face of overwhelming wealth, fame and accolades.
It seems to me that he was set up to become the target of negative attention. He was advised that his assistant coach was being charged in a gambling ring, and that his own wife had been involved in placing bets. He subsequently phoned his coach to find out about the issue, and to attempt to protect his wife from the fallout. Of course, the coach's phone conversations were being tapped (I hope they had a warrant for this one!), and the next day the police let it leak out that Gretzky was recorded on a wiretap discussing the gambling ring! Well, wonder of wonders! All heat was suddenly drawn from the corrupt police officials who were running the gambling ring, and onto Gretzky who is mainly guilty of being naive! And the media howled for his scalp!
Now that the police have admitted the chain of events, we are waiting to hear the media retractions and apologies... but we're not holding our breath!
Throughout his playing career Gretzky displayed great humility about his accomplishments, great loyalty to his family and country and unfailing grace in the face of overwhelming wealth, fame and accolades.
It seems to me that he was set up to become the target of negative attention. He was advised that his assistant coach was being charged in a gambling ring, and that his own wife had been involved in placing bets. He subsequently phoned his coach to find out about the issue, and to attempt to protect his wife from the fallout. Of course, the coach's phone conversations were being tapped (I hope they had a warrant for this one!), and the next day the police let it leak out that Gretzky was recorded on a wiretap discussing the gambling ring! Well, wonder of wonders! All heat was suddenly drawn from the corrupt police officials who were running the gambling ring, and onto Gretzky who is mainly guilty of being naive! And the media howled for his scalp!
Now that the police have admitted the chain of events, we are waiting to hear the media retractions and apologies... but we're not holding our breath!
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