The only way a kid is going to practice is if it's total fun for him... and it was for me. Wayne Gretzky More Quotes by Wayne Gretzky More Quotes From Wayne Gretzky When you're playing an exhibition, you're kind of letting everyone get an opportunity. Wayne Gretzky exhibitions kind opportunity The greatest thing about playing obviously is winning, and you can't replace that experience with anything. Wayne Gretzky winning The last year I was playing, I asked the stick boy to get me a Diet Coke and he said, "Really?" But I always had one on the bench because that's what I did in 1979 when there wasn't Gatorade. If you needed energy you went and got a Snickers or a Kit Kat. Nobody knew any better. Wayne Gretzky energy boys years I can remember hockey. It was my life, my passion. It's what I love the most. Wayne Gretzky hockey passion remember I think the Americans are ready to play, they want to beat us. I think that players like Chris Chelios and his leadership over there goes a long way. Wayne Gretzky player long thinking Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull and Jean Béliveau probably looked at us in the '80s and said, "These guys are soft. We used to take the train." Wayne Gretzky hull used guy Hockey is my life. I love every minute of it. Wayne Gretzky hockey minutes By no means could I play at the level of these kids who play in the NHL now but as 50-year-olds go, I feel really good and I feel blessed that I'm still healthy. Wayne Gretzky blessed mean kids People in general want to build somebody up and then try to knock them down. They always root for the underdog. Wayne Gretzky roots trying people When I broke into professional hockey at 17 I was told that I was too small and too slow and I wouldn't make the NHL. Now it's kind of flip-flopped and the sense is I can't be a good coach because I was a great athlete. Wayne Gretzky nhl hockey athlete He brings something special. I don't know what it is, but if you ask him, you couldn't understand his answer. Wayne Gretzky nhl hockey special I have absolutely no complaints about my life. But people think I got handed everything, all this kind of fell in my lap, that I was just God-gifted with all this talent. I wanted people to realize it's a lot tougher than just waking up one day and you're in the NHL. Wayne Gretzky nhl people thinking It's just amazing how many companies suddenly want you to hold up their products after you've held up the Stanley Cup. Wayne Gretzky company cups want The biggest difference between L.A. and Edmonton was that instead of people looking at me I was looking at them. Wayne Gretzky edmonton differences people My best friend had a hockey scholarship at Ohio State, so I would get a couple of pairs at the beginning of the season and send them down to him. They practised two hours a day. He'd skate in them for three weeks then ship them back. Wayne Gretzky ohio-state hockey couple Listen, first of all, my wife is my best friend. My love for her is deeper than anything. The reality is, I'm not involved, I wasn't involved and I'm not going to be involved. Am I concerned for both of them Sure there's concern from me. I'm more worried about them than me. I'm like you guys, I'm trying to figure it all out. Wayne Gretzky wife guy reality I wasn't naturally gifted in terms of size and speed; everything I did in hockey I worked for, and that's the way I'll be as a coach. Wayne Gretzky hockey motivational sports Hullie's a lot like a garbage can. You step on the pedal with your foot and the top opens up. Wayne Gretzky garbage-cans nhl hockey There's no perfect coach in the world. Coaches are human, too. Mistakes are made. But, fundamentally, if you're sound, you eliminate as many mistakes as possible. Wayne Gretzky perfect sound mistake I really wanted to write a book [99: Stories of the Game] on the tradition and history of the league, where kids can pick it up and read it and learn things and say, "Geez, I didn't know that. That's pretty cool." Wayne Gretzky writing kids book
