Phoenix Doesn't deserve the Great One | What the Fadoo

There is a story today in Truth & Rumours that if Jerry Reinsdorf gets control of the Phoenix Coyotes then Wayne Gretzky is out as coach. Based on his performance as a coach, you can't really argue with that decision. Also, he makes $8million a year, and that is probably hurting the fanchise, but it is not the biggest reason. The biggest is, that the Glendale area does not care about hockey. For a team that lost more then $30million last year, this problem goes a lot deeper than a lack of season tickets and a coaches salary. For all the mess that the Coyotes have become, and the court proceedings that have ensued, it is not Gretzky's fault. And selling him out like this, and essentially laying blame at his feet is unacceptable. This issue begins and ends with the location of the this franchise. And for a new owner like Jerry Reinsdorf to leak that Gretzky will not be back if he gets control of the franchise is placing responsibility at the feet of Gretzky. This is not only wrong, it is cowardly. I would say the NHL should step in and protect a good soldier like Gretzky, but we have seen how Gary Bettman treats his friends (Jerry Moyes, Craig Leipold, etc), so there is no help coming from New York. Gretzky will leave and be classy in his departure, that is his trademark. He will not sling mud, and he will not poison an already combustible environment. And he will not lay blame at anyone's feet. These are lessons that Mr. Reinsdorf and the NHL should learn.

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July 12, 2009 03:40 AM ET

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Gretzky isnt a great coach

Army of Adam

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August 8, 2009 07:31 PM ET

Ive got a great idea for the Great One!! He could team up with your team, I bet the fan base would be so supportive of the Great One coaching the team you support. He can charge your team $8 million a year (which is almost a third of what the franchise looses yearly, go figure!!) then you can watch a winning franchise continually decline to what it is now. Let's see how warm and protective of the great one you will be. Plus do you really think that any other franchise would welcome him with his less then stellar winning average(less then 50%) as a Head Coach. Lets face it he was a ploy to try to get butts in the seats and frankly his greed of needing that high of a contract well didn't help much. Bottom line a great player does not make a great coach!!!! I loved watching him as a player and I think maybe one day he will become a good coach but maybe he might want to start at youth and work his way up!