He isn’t the Great One when it comes to money.
Wayne Gretzky turned down a cool million bucks from James Dolan in 1999 when the Madison Square Garden boss offered Gretzky the cash just to consider not retiring at the end of the season.
“Probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, right? Without question,” Gretzky said in an interview with “In Depth With Graham Bensinger.”
“You know, I always tell people this: There’s nothing like playing in Manhattan. It really is special, and the Rangers organization is one of the greatest organizations in all of pro sports, and the Dolan family were nothing but just incredible not only to me but to my family, my wife.
“The day before I was announcing my retirement Mr. Dolan said ‘Just give it seven days, and if you still want to retire in seven days you can keep the money.’ And I said to him, I said ‘You know, in good conscience I just can’t take your money because I know I’m done.’ But that’s how classy their organization was. I can’t say enough good things about him personally and that organization.”
Funny enough, it wasn’t money that would’ve convinced Gretzky to stay, but a chance to play with The Russian Rocket Pavel Bure, who was traded during Gretzky’s final season from Vancouver to Florida. The Rangers couldn’t get Bure then, but they did end up acquiring Bure from Florida in 2002.
Gretzky says in the interview that it has never crossed his mind to return since his retirement, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t miss playing.
“People say to me, ‘Do you miss it?’ Absolutely. I wish I could still play. I wish I could be out there,” he says. “Unfortunately as a professional athlete at the age of 40 you’re an old man, but in the real world you’re a youngster. So do I miss it? Immensely. And do I wish I could still play? Yeah, but I know I’m not good enough to play.”
Gretzky did play in the Heritage Classic Alumni Game over the weekend between Oilers and Jets alumni, and he didn’t like the results.
“I stink,” he told reporters with a laugh. “I’m really bad.”