Best Autobiography (Gretzky, Wayne Gretzky) |
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 Looking for insight into the psyche of the greatest ice hockey player in history at the peak of his powers, personally and professionally? Then look no further than Wayne Gretzky's self-titled 1990 autobiography.
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The book was co-authored with veteran Sports Illustrated writer Rick O'Reilly, but the voice is still distinctively that of the dazzling playmaking center who forged his reputation with four Stanley Cup championships, plus numerous scoring titles and MVP trophies, with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s.
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A Canadian Hero Goes Hollywood |
 At the time of writing, however, Gretzky had just completed his second season with Los Angeles after being traded there in 1988, a move that most observers credit with pushing the popularity of the National Hockey League to new heights in the United States. He had become a celebrity right across North America, not just in Canada and parts of Europe. Perhaps his California surroundings contributed somewhat to the more relaxed, open and humorous tone Gretzky takes here, compared to his more cautious and businesslike demeanor when playing in hockey-crazed Canada.
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The "Great One" is humble but doesn't downplay the facts when describing his early rise to fame: "I could skate at two. I was nationally known at six. I was signing autographs at 10. I had a national magazine article written about me at 11 and a 30-minute national television show done on me at 15. I turned pro and kept going to high school!"
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 Gretzky gets off some good one-liners, such as when describing the aftermath of Edmonton's shocking 1982 playoff defeat at the hands of Los Angeles: "Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun said it was the biggest choke in Stanley Cup history and that we were all 'weak-kneed wimps'. I really objected to that. My knees are fine." Another one describes his purported recipe for on-ice success: "I play best on four hot dogs, oozing in mustard and onions. (Maybe because no defenseman wants to get near me after that.)"
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Excitement and Exhaustion |
The National Hockey League's all-time leading scorer courts a little controversy when discussing some fellow NHL icons like Marcel Dionne ("Was I just going to be some guy like Marcel Dionne, with loads of scoring records but no championship ring? That kept me awake some nights.") or Mike Bossy ("I always respected him for his shot, but I wouldn't be too excited to share a cab with him.").
Number 99 even reveals how during the second game of the 1987 Canada Cup final between Canada and the Soviet Union (widely regarded as the finest hockey game ever played), he was so exhausted during an overtime period that he actually wet his pants.
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 The style is breezy and conversational, much as if the reader were sitting down with Gretzky for a couple of beers.
It's a fun read. When you consider that the man was never quite the same physically (although still spectacular) after being cross-checked from behind by USA defenseman Gary Suter and injuring his back during the 1991 Canada Cup tournament, the book takes on an extra level of historical significance.
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To buy this product try one of these retailers. They are competitively priced and reliable:
Amazon.co.uk - The UK arm of the world’s biggest book store
Amazon.com - The US arm of the world’s biggest book store |
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