Subject: Wayne Gretsky
Director: Peter Berg
Last night Kings Ransom kicked off the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary series. The doc focuses around the 1988 Gretzkey trade. Wayne Gretzky was traded along with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings for $15 million in cash and LA’s 1st round picks in 1989, 1991, and 1993. In other words the Oilers were dumping salary. The reason; the owner needed money for other business venture. In the end, the LA Kings made out with… well you understand.
First of all, I didn’t even know that Jerry Buss owned the Kings at one point before selling them off. Although I am not a b
ig hockey fan I feel like I should have known that Buss bought both the Lakers AND Kings.
Peter Pocklington was the Oilers owner of the Kings. He knew that no matter what he got back, it was never going to be even close to enough in exchange for Gretzky. He needed cash though so the deal was done.
Bruce McNall was the owner of the Los Angeles Kings. He knew just want he had on his hands. Pocklington was a desperate man who needed money.
One of the more interesting things that the film sheds light on was the Janet Jones marriage. How Pocklington basically started the whole Yoko Ono comparison to justify his actions.
Just as interesting is the revalation that Janet Jones Gretzky was in Police Academy 5.
In conclusion, if you are a fan of documentaries and you are a fan of sports these 30 for 30 docs are going to be quite a treat.
