As I lay in bed this morning, I was feeling just a tad sorry for myself. My world, since the election in the U.S., has gotten smaller. I no longer read great swaths of the papers, given that so much coverage is devoted both to the election results and what lies ahead. I also am limiting my tv news intake for the same reason. I no longer want to give space in my head to who the Americans elected. However, one story has roused me from my torpor, and it is the subject of today's post.
I have written a couple of times in the past about Wayne Gretsky, the misnamed 'Great One', who inexplicably heaped lavish praise on Stephen Harper. It seems that Wayne has found a new idol, Don Trump.
It would appear Wayne Gretzky can be added to the list of high-profile professional athletes and sports figures who support U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump.
The Great One attended an exclusive A-list event at the Republican nominee’s Mar-a-Lago resort in West Pam Beach, Fla., on Tuesday night, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Tesla founder and X-owner Elon Musk and UFC president Dana White as team Trump awaited results.
Gretzky, was joined by his wife, Janet, who later congratulated Trump on Instagram. “You did it, You deserved it, you earned every bit of it. The world is a better place to have you as our Leader, Proud to be an American. Thank you for being such a great friend. May God keep watching over you,” she wrote, ending with “Love our family to yours!”
Mrs. Gretsky also posted on Instagram a loving tribute to Trump. Although I viewed the post, it has now mysteriously disappeared.
The post, scored by a version of God Bless America, included a reel of photos, one of which shows Wayne leaning in to speak to Trump at some point during the event, presumably after news outlets began declaring him elected as the 47th president.
Janet’s reel also featured a photo reported to have appeared in her daughter Paulina’s Instagram stories. In this one, not confirmed to have been taken at Mar-a-Lago, Janet and Wayne pose alongside Paulina and her husband, pro golfer Dustin Johnson, all wearing formal attire.
Perhaps I am just lashing out due to my deep disappointment in the election results. Nonetheless, as I have said many times to those around me, Wayne is dead to me. This latest outrage is merely the final nail in his coffin.
Once again, the Great One has let Canada down. I never want to see another commercial with Gretzky in it
ReplyDeleteThat is another reason for my disdain of Gretsky, Cathie: his shilling for online gambling. Despite his untold millions, he still needed to add to his lucre in a deeply disreputable way.
DeleteI had Gretzky pegged in the 80's as trash in Edmonton. A hockey idiot savant. Trump was just a fool for ... well for forever.
ReplyDeleteInfant men children , disconnected and above consequences.
Our next infant man child , 'lil pp le pire , gonna fit right in . And as given the Canadian voter political ignorance assures his ascension I feel I might be willing to trade his immediate instalment to another glitzy shitzy pro pp dream ad .
I think that given his obvious limitations, lungta, Gretsky would have been well-advised to stay in his own lane. To pretend that your 'greatness' extends beyond your physical prowess is hubristic, to say the least.
DeleteGives everyone a clear idea of the misplaced loyalty we have from time to time about athletes. Gretzky is a moron full stop. He is easily manipulated apparently. He has virtually no education. He was playing junior hockey at 16 and did not finish high school. He went to high school in Brantford but I have never heard anything about him attending much after Grade 10. This doesn’t mean he can’t be intelligent and self taught but he has spent his whole adult life among the white super rich enclaves of the USA, so what exposure and what ideas about education, poverty, racism, democracy, injustice, reform, wealth distribution, voting rights, women’s rights, and on and on has he absorbed? Still I am disappointed I admit. He was just a magical hockey player. Maybe the best ever (although I am partial to another first class numbskull, Bobby Orr). It’s so disheartening that these golden athletes are really iron pyrite outside of the arena.
ReplyDeleteThanks, John, for your insightful comments, which put Gretsky's disgraceful behaviour in a well-needed context. From what you said, I guess it was expecting too much
Deletefor the "great' One to have any deep values.
Why we look for leadership or moral direction from the rich and famous has always left me scratching my head.
ReplyDeleteTB
It is yet another failure to practise critical thinking, TB. It may well be our species' fatal flaw.
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