Getty Image / B Bennett
Wayne Gretzky is the greatest hockey player in history. Full stop. Everyone who knows the game of hockey knows this and every Canadian knows about The Great One even if they don’t follow the game.
Prior to his first season in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, Wayne Gretzky was already lighting up the WHA (World Hockey Association) which existed between 1972-1979. In his first full WHA season with the Edmonton Oilers, Gretzky tallied 104 points in 72 games. And he did this as a teenager who still had to attend high school in Edmonton.
Wayne Gretzky was a recent guest on the Smartless podcast with Will Arnett, Sean Hayes, and Jason Bateman. He revealed how he got the last laugh on his high school principal in Edmonton. The principal pulled him into the office and told him he’d never amount to anything and threatened to kick him out. Wayne got the last laugh.
Wayne Gretzky was ‘just another’ high schooler in Edmonton after he was traded to the Oilers in 1979
An audio clip was featured on reddit (clip is below) but here are the full comments from The Great One.
Wayne Gretzky: “(I was) sold to Edmonton. I got traded or sold a couple of times in my career. For a lot of years I got sold a lot. So I get sold to Edmonton and I’m going to high school in Edmonton and the principal doesn’t know who I am.”
“Now, Edmonton travels more than other teams. So I’m gone on the road for 5 days or 7 days.”
Will Arnett: “Wait, you were going to high school in Edmonton when you were playing there??”
Wayne Gretzky: “Yeah, and (in) the WHA. The principal calls me in (to his office) in like early January. He says ‘young man, you’re gonna be a nothing. You’re going to amount to nobody. You’re screwing this and that. I should kick you out.'”
“And I said to him ‘look, give me until January 26.’ And he goes ‘what’s that?’ and I go ‘I turn 18 (on) January 26. If I’m still messing up, you can call me in and kick me out of the school.’ So the guy goes ‘okay, I’ll do that for you.'”
“So (on) January 26th… And I used to pick up one of my teammates’ daughters (who) was in one of my classes. (Laughing) We were the same age. So, we’re driving to school and I’m kind of singing to the music in the car and I’m really excited. And she goes ‘wow, you’re pretty happy today.’ And I said ‘yeah, I’m quitting school. I’m going in and telling that principal I’m done.'”
“I walked in the principal’s office. I said ‘you know what, I just want to thank you for not kicking me out of school. I quit.’ And that was it. And I lived up to what my dad wanted.”
Here’s that audio clip from Reddit:
The New York Rangers Gifted Him A Car As A Welcome Gift
To tease the latest Smartless episode with Wayne Gretzky, they tweeted this clip. Gretzky talks about what it was like to show up in New York after being traded in 1996.
You’re gonna give a puck about this week’s guest, Mr. @WayneGretzky. It's an all new SmartLess. @SmartLess @SeanHayes @batemanjason @arnettwill
“SmartLess” is available one week early & ad-free with Wondery+ on @ApplePodcasts or the @WonderyMedia app, and early on @amazonmusic. pic.twitter.com/eENvhRpVqq
— “SmartLess” (@SmartLess) November 7, 2022
Wayne Gretzky says:
“The Rangers were so nice. They bought myself and Janet a new car. And they had my dad drive out in the car from the corner (of the ice). And as he’s driving the car to center ice I open the car door to get him out and he’s got his seatbelt on.”
“I said to my dad ‘what are you doing with the seatbelt on?’ And he goes ‘you just never know.'”
You can check out the latest episode of the Smartless podcast with Wayne Gretzky as the featured guest wherever you get your podcast. Here’s a link to the Apple Podcasts episode page if that’s helpful.