Wayne and Janet: Call It a Love Story for the Ages

Sports has never had such a bona fide hearts-and-flowers story, on ice yet, as this one, in which Wayne Gretzky turns his back on the Edmonton Oilers for the love of a woman.

He can’t wrap his arms around the province of Alberta, a cold place to be. But because he has Janet Jones to come home to, life has taken on an entirely new dimension.

Usually, the husband, who by conventional standards is presumed to be the meal ticket, decides where the resident nest is going to be. That’s whether you work on the railroad, pick huckleberries, write sports or play ice hockey.

Gretzky, however, has ostensibly tried to please his wife by deferring to her best wishes. Because his wife is an actress, Wayne decided her professional interests could be more adequately served in Hollywood than in Edmonton.

It’s romantic, like a candlelight dinner, wine and violins, any time a man refuses to be separated from the one he loves. British subjects, including those in Canada, can look to the modern history books for a precedent.

It was before the outbreak of World War II. King Edward VIII had placed himself on irrevocable waivers as the King of England. And all for the love of a woman.

Edward couldn’t handle a hockey stick any better than he could a broom, but he knew the girl he wanted to marry. She was a divorcee named Wallis Warfield Simpson. So a king toppled himself from the throne so he would be free to live the rest of his life with his true heart throb.

It was like fantasy land, except it was true.

Now, Wayne Gretzky becomes a King, the Los Angeles type, and skates off with Janet on his arm to Los Angeles, where nuts and fruits grow on every tree and the ice on skating rinks and cocktail glasses is pure plastic.

Ah, love. Ain’t it grand?

Meanwhile, Edmonton, which had its own blind love affair with Gretzky, must be content with two incoming players -- Jimmy Carson and Martin Gelinas -- and three upcoming first-round draft choices plus a bundle of money, in excess of $10 million, which will look good piled on the ice.

Naturally, Janet is elated over this profound expression of sentiment. It’s enough to make both of them sit down and cry. And they have.

With so much rancor and displeasure, it’s an exciting experience to see Gretzky do so much for his beautiful and beaming bride. What he’s telling us is that it could never have happened in Edmonton.

They deserve happiness, which is purely a state of mind. It’s possible they might collide on a point or two in domestic discussion, over such things as whose turn it is to take out the trash, but the important thing is their careers will both be allowed to flourish. Ah, the tranquillity of it all.

Edmonton, whether it wants to admit it or not, was left at the altar. When Wayne Gretzky said, “I do,” he headed south before the drop of the next hockey puck. It plays so well on the heartstrings that all of Edmonton should send Wayne and Janet a gushing Valentine.

It is hoped the couple will have more loyalty to each other than Wayne had to Edmonton.