That’s not right, all star players get that kind of protection and he was exceptionally good at avoiding the big hit, one of his outstanding talents.
I really, really, wouldnt want to disrespect “The Great One”, as he was an amazing player and clearly the best ever on a “long period” of time, but he did get more protection than anyone else in the league. In his last years there was almost a “gentlemans agreement” that noone should hit Gretzky.
A great year for a star is a 100 point season, he was getting over 200 points. Gretzky was as good as advertised. I should give props to Mario Lemieux as well, because he was comparably good.
This probably really sounds like im knocking on Gretzky, but as there are probably people here not that familiar with hockey statistics, it has to be said that the game of hockey has really changed since Gretzky played. His 215(or whatever it was) point season is amazing, and was that in his time as well, but id say a 160 point, 60 goal season is comparable with a 215 point, 90 goal season from the 80’s and there are two guys on the horizon who i could see doing that in the coming years. Also, Gretzky did have a nice supporting cast as well, and despite many people that played on his line being accused of “living off Wayne”, they showed that they could rack up as good or better stats once Wayne left for LA, and win more Stanley Cups without Wayne than Wayne could without them.
Also keep in mind that sports like hockey and basketball are much more physically demanding than golf. They are oranges and apples.
True, but that doesnt have really anything to do with my point. My point being, that Tiger has shown(publicly, we dont really know him), to be a more rational and goal-oriented person, and who has consistantly acted in his own best interest while Gretzky seems more like the “im great, whatever” type of guy, that so many team sport athletes are.
He sure did have an amazing career, and is the best there ever was for such a long period, but for me Tiger is just in a league of his own when considering which athlete is a “hero” and which athlete is “just another amazingly talented athlete”. Gretzky was in a league of his own, but not compared to Tiger. Golf is a sport that didnt have a “dominator” in 30 years, and is almost impossible to dominate in, and then along comes a guy that just demolishes the opposition, and that has shown a degree of stability and extraordinary greatness more times than anyone else in the game before.
I can imagine there being another Gretzky, but i cant see anyone getting near the dominance of Tiger for a long long time. Hopefully im wrong, as Golf is a total snooze-fest once Tiger isnt playing, as all i can ever think about is that “Tiger would have beaten you”…
If i had a child, and had to show them one athlete, who they should look up to and try to learn from, it would be Tiger.