February 10, 2008

read story | posted by grum@work to Hockey at 10:25 AM CDT (22 comments total)

Or the chance to drink beers with greatness, at any rate.

posted by Adept at 11:32 AM CDT on February 10

“It changed my dentist practice entirely. Because of the experience with Wayne, I went home and let myself be excellent. It was like he gave me permission to be excellent.

This guy has seen Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure too many times.
"Be excellent to each other!"

That would be cool, I wish I had an extra $10,000 lying around. Thanks for the article, grum.

posted by BoKnows at 12:18 PM CDT on February 10

What a creative guy. Amazing how he coordinates it all, including getting his dad and kids involved, and still has fun at it.

posted by worldcup2002 at 1:12 PM CDT on February 10

What a creative guy.

Gretzky creative?

I suppose anything is possible.

posted by tommytrump at 1:27 PM CDT on February 10

I read the headline and thought to myself, "Well, if it's cash, I can get a car that I don't have to claim on my taxes."

Upon reading the article, I see that it would be a very cool thing indeed. Would one have to know how to ice-skate? Damn.

posted by THX-1138 at 6:58 PM CDT on February 10

Gretzky creative?

I suppose anything is possible.

I know you are referring to his recent stint as a coach, but this is Wayne Gretzky we are talking about here. His "creativity" on the ice led to rule changes (coincidental minor penalties) and designating a portion of the ice in his honour ("Gretzky's office"). He was probably the most creative player in the history of the game.

For the money these guys are putting up, they are getting more than just a meet-and-greet with Gretzky. I would have guessed most of them would have been happy to have Gretzky coach them in the fantasy games. Having him play on the same line as you, and (as mentioned in the article) try as hard as possible to set you up to score a goal in the game? That's almost beyond dream-like for most kids who followed hockey in the 1980s.

Sadly, if/when I get financially secure enough to consider blowing 10-large (not including flying to the camp), he'll probably be too old to play.

Side note: other fantasy camps I'd love to participate in...

Baseball: Rickey Henderson or Larry Walker
Football: Pinball Clemons
Basketball: Magic Johnson or Larry Bird

posted by grum@work at 10:51 PM CDT on February 10

Grum, when I read Tommytrump's post, I assumed he was being sarcastic. He's from Ontario, and I think it's a sin in Canada to not acknowledge the creative genius that is Wayne Gretzky. (Admittedly, I am not familiar with Canadian Law, I could be way off.) In tt's defense, I'll say that you may have mis-understood his post.

However, Tommytrump, if you were being serious, read what Grum said. I second all of that.

posted by BoKnows at 11:02 PM CDT on February 10

Grum, I suppose I should have have installed the sarcasm alarm. I thought it would be obvious, but....... apparently not.

Bo, it's not a sin, it's a summary offence.

As far as his creativity, the only other player in his class would be #4 .
As to who was greater, tell you what, you take your choice, and I'll be giddy with the guy you leave for me.

posted by tommytrump at 12:21 AM CDT on February 11

He's from Ontario, and I think it's a sin in Canada to not acknowledge the creative genius that is Wayne Gretzky.

I think it depends on whether you have or have not seen his Saturday Night Live appearance.

posted by mkn at 8:12 AM CDT on February 11

Waikiki Hockey was awesome.

posted by fabulon7 at 9:54 AM CDT on February 11

92 goals in a season is easy. Comedy is hard.

posted by chicobangs at 11:18 AM CDT on February 11

I don't know why tommytrump needed to be sarcastic, but if you'd read the article, you'd see I wasn't being facetious with my comment.

I mean, think about it. You can pack it in, but you love what you're doing. So you buy a team and run it. On top of that you do a camp for people willing to pay ten-large for you to sit and watch a game with them, drink some beers with them, and yes, school them on the ice. Now you could just do that and coast. But, no, you've got your family involved, which means you get to spend time with your dad and your kids. On top of that, you get all your other businesses (wine label?) and foundations and sponsors along to fund this thing, and you kick it up a notch by mixing in a surprise team's uniforms each time. Somehow, he manages to juggle all this big-business corpo shit (funding, running and marketing the camps) without letting it fuck up some innocent (and expensive) fantasy fun.

That's why I say Gretzky's creative. "I skate to where the puck is going to be."

posted by worldcup2002 at 1:22 PM CDT on February 11

I don't think any of that is in question at all, wc2k2. We're all on the same page with this one. Gretzky's passion for the game, whether it be as a player, coach, owner or ambassador is second to none.

It would've been easy for Gretzky to retire, leave the game completely, count his money and admire his accomplishments. The fact that he hasn't done that allows him to maintain his nickname "The Great One", in all facets of his life.

posted by BoKnows at 1:45 PM CDT on February 11

I don't know why tommytrump needed to be sarcastic, but if you'd read the article, you'd see I wasn't being facetious with my comment.

*Please have Sarcasm Detector dial set at 11, full power, when reading this post.

*Please be advised that parts of this post are sincere.

*I did read the article.

*wc2k2, I did not think you were being facetious. I, on the other hand, was being sarcastic.

*Noone at SportsFilter is ever sarcastic about anything.

* My apologies.

*I will only make serious, thoughtful comments about important issues from now on.

*Or not.

*Any questions, my contact is in my profile.

posted by tommytrump at 1:52 PM CDT on February 11

no worries, tommy. no offense meant.

posted by worldcup2002 at 4:42 PM CDT on February 11

That would be cool to go to. Fantasy camps that I've attended:

John Holmes camp with Seka
Marquis de Sade camp with Nina Hartley
Schecky Greene camp with Don Rickles

posted by budman13 at 4:51 PM CDT on February 11

I hoped it was sarcastic, but that "I suppose anything is possible" sounds almost anti-sarcastic. Dismissive. I fell for it. Also, it was late at night. I'm claiming exhaustion.

posted by grum@work at 8:11 PM CDT on February 11

John Holmes camp with Seka

Seeing as how "The Wad" died in '88, I'm interested in which part of his life was the actual fantasy? The death from AIDS? The horrendous drug abuse? The gay porn? The "Wonderland" murders? His 16 year old girlfriend when he was in his 30s? Livin' the Dream!

posted by dyams at 7:36 AM CDT on February 12

John Holmes camp with Seka

One of the best movie reviews I ever read was of Deep Throat, in which the reviewer, referring to Linda Lovelace, said that her costar was 9 inches long.

posted by Howard_T at 9:29 AM CDT on February 12

I'm interested in which part of his life was the actual fantasy?

From the era of "Insatiable" when he's doin' Marilyn Chambers.
Dyams, I'll be happy to send you some money to buy a sense of humor.

posted by budman13 at 1:05 PM CDT on February 12

How much money we talkin' about?

posted by dyams at 1:48 PM CDT on February 12

How much money we talkin' about?

That's negotiable. I mean I'm not Bill Gates but you get what you pay for and I've always gone for quality over a bargain. Get some estimates and get back with me.

posted by budman13 at 3:38 PM CDT on February 12

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