Why Did He Boo Gretzky? Let Him Count Ways

As a 10-year season-ticket holder, I have something to say to you myopic Gretzky fans. Yeah, I was booing at the Kings’ game Monday night. I’ve been waiting for this game since the trade and I vented and booed the whole time.

Before you tell me how ignorant I am, let’s look at what happened. If you say Tardif, Johnson and Vopat will never come close to equaling 10% of Gretzky’s abilities, you are absolutely right. But that is the point.

When Wayne made his desires known publicly, he nuked the Kings. It left Kings’ management (and I’m no fan of them) without any leverage to pull off a good trade, either for the players Gretzky wanted or for Gretzky himself. He held a loaded gun to the Kings’ head and then expressed surprise when it went off.

A great player does not equal a great person, even if he’s “the Great One.” Wayne Gretzky did not cure AIDS, nor did he bring peace to Bosnia. He may have had a great seven years with the Kings, but that doesn’t excuse how he left.

CHRIS EISENBERG

Los Angeles

*

The lack of respect the Mighty Duck fans displayed at Sunday’s game against the Blues was appalling. I can understand the excitement of a great game and a close playoff race for the Ducks, but get this through your suntanned heads: No Gretzky Equals No Mighty Ducks.

Long before your burning mascots and skating cheerleaders, Gretzky was defining the sport of hockey, mesmerizing new fans here in Southern California and the nation. The greatest man to play hockey deserves a little more respect than you showed.

ENRIQUE PAULO

Irvine