Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 19, 1991 TAG: 9104190094
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: NICK SEITZ THE NEW YORK TIMES
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
At the end of his 12th season, Gretzky, the Los Angeles Kings center who plays twice as much as his linemates, has amassed the most assists (1,424) and points (2,142) ever, dethroning his hero, Gordie Howe, who is known as Mr. Hockey. All that remains is Howe's goals record, based on regular-season productivity.
(Gretzky, who led the Kings to the Smythe Division regular-season championship, also became the career playoff goal scoring leader with 93 when he scored his fourth goal of this season's playoffs against Vancouver in the semifinal series. Los Angeles won the series 4-2.)
Late this season Gretzky went past Phil Esposito into third place on the lifetime goals chart. He has 718, trailing Marcel Dionne's 731 and Howe's 801. He should surpass Howe's once unassailable record during the 1992-93 season.
He says he would prefer to finish with 800. From most athletes, that would sound as synthetic as the ice in Madison Square Garden. From Gretzky, it's believable.
Howe has been Gretzky's idol since Howe gave him an award at a banquet when he was 11. The young Gretzky tried to copy everything he could about Howe, including Howe's thinning hair, instructing the barber to cut him a bald patch just like Howe's.
A close friendship has developed between the two over the years. For his part, Howe is alternately an unabashed fan and insightful analyst of No. 99.
"I have a picture of me presenting him that award when he was 11," said Howe, who does promotional work for the NHL and the Hartford Whalers, the team with which he finally ended his 26-season career.
"He'd scored 90 goals in 11 games or some preposterous thing. He was born to put the puck in the net. He remembers that I told him back then to work hard on his backhand. He broke my points record with a backhand. I was there and couldn't have been happier, he's such a great player and great person."
Howe advises anyone not convinced that Gretzky is the headiest player of all time to go to a game and focus only on Gretzky.
"Television cannot cover him," he said. "He's always wandering around setting up a play off camera. You would need an inset in the picture to appreciate what he's doing."
When he assesses Gretzky's offensive pyrotechnics, Howe talks first about his quicker-than-the-eye hands.
"You can't coach great hands," Howe said. "But he's been helped by playing hockey with a tennis ball as a kid. He still practices with a tennis ball when he falls into a slump. The hands separate him from the rest."
How would Howe play Gretzky?
"His game at heart is setting up his teammates," he said. "Some teams have had some success by trying to eliminate his wingmen, his targets. You aren't going to shut him down, but if you make him stickhandle and do more himself, you can keep him from killing you. Maybe."
by CNB