WAYNE GRETZKY "hinted broadly" yesterday that
retirement is his "strongest consideration," according to
Joe Lapointe of the N.Y. TIMES. Gretzky: "I'd probably be
lying if I didn't say I was leaning somewhat one way more
than the other. No question about that" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/15).
FSN's Keith Olbermann reported last night that Gretzky will
"probably" announce his retirement on Saturday (FSN, 4/14).
Gretzky, on his wife Janet: "She wants me to play. She
spent four hours with me yesterday -- she wants me to play"
(N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/15). But Larry Brooks calls Gretzky's
decision to retire "irrevocable," and writes that Gretzky
was "scheduled to meet last night" with Rangers President &
GM Neil Smith to inform him of his plans (N.Y. POST, 4/15).
Gretzky: "Nobody is bigger than the NHL and no one ever is
going to be bigger than the game. I'm not bigger and I
never will be. ... It's a great game" (TORONTO SUN, 4/15).
In Toronto, Al Strachan writes that an NHL "without Gretzky
would still be a tremendous spectacle, but it would be
lessened." One of the "main reasons" Gretzky is considering
retirement is that he "doesn't want next season ... to turn
into a final-salute tour" (TORONTO SUN, 4/15).
FAREWELL TO CANADA? In Toronto, Tim Harper noted that
Gretzky arrived in Ottawa yesterday with a police escort for
what could be his final game in Canada, tonight against the
Senators (TORONTO STAR, 4/15). Senators Dir of Media
Relations Morgan Quarry said that more than 200 media
members were accredited for tonight's game, "necessitating
the construction of temporary risers in the press box." As
of last night, the team had not planned any special
presentation for Gretzky. The game will be televised on
five networks, with ESPN "the latest to join" CTV SportsNet,
MSG, RDS and the Senators' local carrier CHRO (Toronto GLOBE
& MAIL, 4/15). Fans placed ads in yesterday's OTTAWA
CITIZEN offering to sell regularly-priced C$50 and C$65
third-level seats for C$200 for tonight's game at the Corel
Centre (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 4/15).
IS IT THE YANKEES OR GOODBYE TO THE GREAT ONE? WNYW-FOX
is "still planning" on televising Sunday's Yankees-Tigers
game at 1:00pm, but the execs "stressed yesterday that the
situation was in flux and could be altered if Gretzky
announces before the weekend that he is retiring."
NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay reports that Fox Sports "is likely to
increase coverage" of the Penguins-Rangers game at 3:00pm ET
from 14% to 75% of the U.S. The Stars-Avalanche game was to
be the No. 1 game, but that will "likely" be carried just in
the CO area and the Bruins-Flyers game will be seen "only in
those two markets." Fox Sports VP/Media Relations Lou
D'Ermilio: "If we know before the weekend that it's his last
game and there's a pregame ceremony, the league will push
back the faceoffs of the other two games to allow us to
cover the ceremony nationally" (NEWSDAY, 4/15).
