Both the TORONTO SUN and the N.Y. POST report that
Rangers C WAYNE GRETZKY will retire after the team's season
finale Sunday at MSG. In N.Y., Larry Brooks has "learned
from unimpeachable sources" that Gretzky "is not coming
back." Brooks notes that "as of last night," Gretzky had not
informed Rangers or MSG management of his decision (N.Y.
POST, 4/13). In Toronto, Tim Wharnsby cites a source who
said that Gretzky has "asked the club for an unusually large
number of tickets" for Sunday's game. After last night's
game, Gretzky said, "All of a sudden it has become a bigger
issue than I imagined. Let's see what happens over the next
five or six days" (TORONTO SUN, 4/13). Rangers announcer and
"longtime friend" of Gretzky's JOHN DAVIDSON also has said
that Gretzky will retire: "I don't like to talk about things
like this unless I'm sure. I've talked to Wayne about what I
said and he had no problem with it." Gretzky's agent,
Michael Barnett said, "Only time will tell. He certainly
hasn't decided anything yet" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/13). Cablevision
President & CEO JAMES DOLAN, when asked if talk of Gretzky's
retirement was troubling him, said, "Yes, it is. I hope it's
not true" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/13).
