It's why we call him great. Hockey fans don't like douchebags, though some are douches on the ice, like Brad Marchand, Wayne was actually humble on the ice and off it too. He's a pass first player and always cares about his teammates, and then off the ice, he cares so much about growing the game and being an ambassador for hockey too
My dad was born in Quebec in 1930. He lived and breathed hockey to his last day. He also lost his entire grill to a hockey puck playing goalie sans mask when he was a teen.
Looking back at this interview with the advantage of hindsight, one can see that Gretzky was not completely at ease (not quite his usual self), and not really a surprise he retired just a few months after this. Something in his voice and demeanour just seemed off. He was pretty much done in his own mind, I think, but he couldn’t say it to anyone yet. He seems a little disappointed here. Probably because he knows inside it’s his last season, but he was on an awful non-contending team that would end up missing the playoffs for the 2nd straight year. Mark Messier had jumped ship to go play in Vancouver, and Messier was the biggest reason Gretzky came to NY. That entire Messier story was a bit strange to be honest, given that Gretzky specifically signed with NY to end his career with him. I can’t help but feel Gretzky retired one or two years earlier in part because of the Messier situation, and have always felt there was more to Messier’s departure than released publicly.
He was literally cracking jokes at the end. He seems fine in this. He maybe knew at this point it would be his last season, but I'm sure it didn't have anything to do with Mess. Don't read into it too much
@@strats991probably not actually. Look up messier’s antics when he was in Vancouver. He is one of the most hated hockey figures in that city since joining the team. If Wayne would’ve played just one more year he would’ve hit 900 goals and 3000 points. He was 4th in the league in scoring in 98/99 (2 points away from 2nd in the league) so he was still pretty much the best player in the world his last season as the only players that beat him (Jagr, Bure, and Francis I think) were all on better teams. The point is he had reason to keep going but his heart wasn’t in it anymore. He loved the game more than anyone else in history and messier not staying in New York actually makes a lot of sense.
take lesson Michael Jordan. You really don't need to be an arrogant prick to win. i am a huge Jordan fan btw … but its been discovered that his rings came at the cost of "un-gentlemanly behavior"
How so? Cause he supports one of two candidates in an election? It's only valid if it's the candidate that you support?? I'm sure he is upset to lose your undying admiration.
Conan really missed on this interview. He had a couple of decent bits, but he didn’t listen and interact when Wayne wanted to interject a thought. Wayne actually opened up about coaching, then quickly put up a wall when he realized the interview was nothing but a laugh session for him.
stop... it was 30 years ago and Toronto lost because they couldn't beat the Kings enough times, not because of a lousy call by Kerry Fraser. They had an entire next game to do it and couldn't . True deserving champions face adversity and unfairness and find a way to rise above it, dig even deeper and win.. Toronto didn't, so the 93 Leafs get to be remembered as a good team that wasn't good enough.. Surely you diehard Leafs fans have had enough more recent disappointments that you can stop crying about this one....
He was smart to stay silent. There are millions of people out there that belong to the "shut up and dribble" mentality. He would be damned if he did, and he most certainly is getting damned by you, and others, because he didn't. The more he said the more one side or the other would be all over him. It was a great move.
Talented, genius people tend to be perceived as boring by normies such as yourself. Simply because you aren't worth the effort. He's not trying to manipulate anyone, he has no reason to impress you or anyone else. He's smarter than you, and you simply aren't worth his time, so he resorts to being polite and courteous person. I guarantee you what's inside his head is that he's surrounded by a idiots and I'm sure it was the same when he was on the ice. Probably a very lonely person. Go back to living your worthless dumbed down life.
It’s wild how un-assuming hockey players look man. You almost can never tell how athletic they are. But really to play the game you just have to have good hand eye coordination and quick reflexes not necessarily super human strength. Agility is generally un-assuming. You would never know that guy is a savant on ice skates with a stick and nugget 🏒 🥅
For a dude nicknamed 'The Great One,' he sure is humble and soft spoken.
He‘s Canadian! 🇨🇦
There lies greatness
"The Polite One"
This is what makes him “great”
It's why we call him great. Hockey fans don't like douchebags, though some are douches on the ice, like Brad Marchand, Wayne was actually humble on the ice and off it too. He's a pass first player and always cares about his teammates, and then off the ice, he cares so much about growing the game and being an ambassador for hockey too
He truly is the Great One. On the ice , off the ice he continues to be an ambassador .
I can't think of many world champions with as much class as the "great one" lots of good ones but he's on another level.
He sells gambling addiction and his son in law is a Saudi Arabia owned sell-out.
Gosh what a great clip! My day is always better when a new classic conan clip is uploaded
I can’t imagine the pressure of having to actually be the best every time you play.
I just realized where Crosby got his vocal cadence from.
Amazing! so true!
My dad was born in Quebec in 1930. He lived and breathed hockey to his last day. He also lost his entire grill to a hockey puck playing goalie sans mask when he was a teen.
Why was I expecting Mac & Me at 1:49
Did Probert ever win the Lady Byng?
"Jordan's pretty solid" 😂😂
Waynerrrrrrr
Looking back at this interview with the advantage of hindsight, one can see that Gretzky was not completely at ease (not quite his usual self), and not really a surprise he retired just a few months after this. Something in his voice and demeanour just seemed off. He was pretty much done in his own mind, I think, but he couldn’t say it to anyone yet. He seems a little disappointed here. Probably because he knows inside it’s his last season, but he was on an awful non-contending team that would end up missing the playoffs for the 2nd straight year. Mark Messier had jumped ship to go play in Vancouver, and Messier was the biggest reason Gretzky came to NY. That entire Messier story was a bit strange to be honest, given that Gretzky specifically signed with NY to end his career with him. I can’t help but feel Gretzky retired one or two years earlier in part because of the Messier situation, and have always felt there was more to Messier’s departure than released publicly.
Probably reading *way* too much into this.
@@strats991 - Probably. Or probably not. We’ll probably never know.
He was literally cracking jokes at the end. He seems fine in this. He maybe knew at this point it would be his last season, but I'm sure it didn't have anything to do with Mess. Don't read into it too much
@@strats991probably not actually. Look up messier’s antics when he was in Vancouver. He is one of the most hated hockey figures in that city since joining the team. If Wayne would’ve played just one more year he would’ve hit 900 goals and 3000 points. He was 4th in the league in scoring in 98/99 (2 points away from 2nd in the league) so he was still pretty much the best player in the world his last season as the only players that beat him (Jagr, Bure, and Francis I think) were all on better teams. The point is he had reason to keep going but his heart wasn’t in it anymore. He loved the game more than anyone else in history and messier not staying in New York actually makes a lot of sense.
Yeah! Hindsight is ALWAYS 20/20 you jerk!
Wayne didn't change hockey...Walter did.
?????????????????????????? lololol not a clue lolol
If Gretzky got that spot on the couch , Jari Kurri would show up for sure.
Conan was close.
He predicted curling to be the sport everybody watches when there's no NBA and no NHL.
In 2020, the sport ended up being cornhole.
cornhole = horseshoes for idiots
November 27, 1998
Thanks!
Great Phish show that night
take lesson Michael Jordan. You really don't need to be an arrogant prick to win.
i am a huge Jordan fan btw … but its been discovered that his rings came at the cost of "un-gentlemanly behavior"
Who cares dude
@@TmanTyler619you enough to comment😂
LOL love the part about "fear." Yes the other players feared Marty McSorley so they stayed away from Wayne.
Steve yzerman has gnarly facial scars.
That skit was cheesy but funny. That was a great cast
He retired 5 months later.
he forgot to mention he always had protectors on his team
They had a Gretzky rule, YOU DON'T touch Wayne. Anyone can be great with that rule. Try playing withe original 6 he would have been done in 3 yrs.
Great point 😒
I look at him as a mega
Now, unfortunately he is maga. Sad😢
Wayne has recently also lost credibility as a Canadian . Stay in the states Wayne.
How so? Cause he supports one of two candidates in an election? It's only valid if it's the candidate that you support?? I'm sure he is upset to lose your undying admiration.
@@dnormore1814 It has nothing to do with me, I was talking about the public opinion in Canada and why he would support a rapist and a felon .
Conan the interrupter and talker
Conan really missed on this interview. He had a couple of decent bits, but he didn’t listen and interact when Wayne wanted to interject a thought. Wayne actually opened up about coaching, then quickly put up a wall when he realized the interview was nothing but a laugh session for him.
retired the next year.
5 months after this interview
Ask him about when he high sticked Doug Gilmour, gave him stitches! Never got a penalty!!!
stop... it was 30 years ago and Toronto lost because they couldn't beat the Kings enough times, not because of a lousy call by Kerry Fraser. They had an entire next game to do it and couldn't . True deserving champions face adversity and unfairness and find a way to rise above it, dig even deeper and win.. Toronto didn't, so the 93 Leafs get to be remembered as a good team that wasn't good enough.. Surely you diehard Leafs fans have had enough more recent disappointments that you can stop crying about this one....
@jeffstevens4532 but he still cut a guy for 8 stitches without a penalty. Fact! Any other player would off the ice
Go Leafs Go
He lost his teeth by blowing Gary Bettman
Your anger at a wonderful athlete just shows how dumb You are!
SNL is one of the worst shows of all time now lol, it was fine in the 90s but yikes.
I love the guy to bits, but he's clearly on drugs
He's got a Russian background, right?
Last name is definitely from Russia or Belarus.
I've heard Ukrainian mostly. Just googled it a bit and Belarus and Poland also get mentioned sometimes.
1
God bless Conan for trying to make the world's most boring sports star interesting for a whole 8 minutes!
It's just a thing with Hockey players, a lot of them are dull, personality vaccuums. I wouldn't actually say Wayne is that dull
You my friend are am idiot.
Canadians are Generally Humble and Quiet... not ARROGANT AND LOUD like Most AMERICAN sport stars! I like the Canadian Classy style better!
@@coastaku1954 Because they dont fight dogs, beat their wives or get arrested.
@@vids595 What are you trying to say here?
And then he lost his dignity by endorsing trump...the end
Anyone who backs the Democrats should be embarrassed. Look at California.
he won the most coke done in one game
Greatest hockey player ever...R.I.P Wayne.
Shush... He lives
He’s very much alive. I think you’re thinking of wade boggs.
What the hell? He's still alive, his Dad died but Wayne Gretzky is still alive
@@Schnids1655Wade Boggs is still alive
class act all the way
This man betrayed his country and has become a maga devotee. Shame.
Once again, O’Brien made the interview more about himself than his guest. 🤦🏻♂️
traitor
Conan lost the tonight show because he didn’t have the smarts to keep his big mouth shut,😊
Let's just remember, the supposed 'Great One' remained silent during the lockdown and was too scared to stand up to protect the people.
he was playing in overseas with a group of NHL s all paid for by him dumb ass
He was smart to stay silent. There are millions of people out there that belong to the "shut up and dribble" mentality. He would be damned if he did, and he most certainly is getting damned by you, and others, because he didn't. The more he said the more one side or the other would be all over him. It was a great move.
Worst ambassador for a sport ever
gretzy is so boring
😝
😝
He's Canadian
Talented, genius people tend to be perceived as boring by normies such as yourself. Simply because you aren't worth the effort. He's not trying to manipulate anyone, he has no reason to impress you or anyone else. He's smarter than you, and you simply aren't worth his time, so he resorts to being polite and courteous person. I guarantee you what's inside his head is that he's surrounded by a idiots and I'm sure it was the same when he was on the ice. Probably a very lonely person. Go back to living your worthless dumbed down life.
He was a professional athlete not a professional entertainer
It’s wild how un-assuming hockey players look man. You almost can never tell how athletic they are. But really to play the game you just have to have good hand eye coordination and quick reflexes not necessarily super human strength. Agility is generally un-assuming. You would never know that guy is a savant on ice skates with a stick and nugget 🏒 🥅