When Wayne Gretzky, often referred to as The Great One, reached New York at the later stage of his career, he was candid about not playing his best. “I wasn’t the 22-year-old Wayne Gretzky anymore,” he reflected, looking back at his time with the Rangers when he was 35 and working at Madison Square Garden. “I was aware of it. The fans knew it too.”
Gretzky chuckled at the memory. “And Larry definitely knew it,” he added.
He and Larry Brooks, a long-time hockey writer for the Post who passed away at 75, had a long history. Brooks had penned countless articles about Gretzky, essentially chronicling one legend as another. They shared laughs and drinks after games, building a friendly rapport.
“We were friends,” Gretzky said. “Back then, players and writers could be friends. We all wanted to talk hockey all the time, and nobody knew the game better than Larry did.”
However, being friends didn’t dull the impact of reporting. Brooks eventually had to tell his readers when Gretzky had a bad game, which was something he was used to. But reading about it over coffee? That could sting.
The following day, Brooks was at practice, as expected. This was Rule No. 1 that he imparted to younger reporters: show your face and give players a chance to respond. It wasn’t about confrontation; it was about professionalism.
As they shook hands, Gretzky said, “Larry, I was bad, but not that bad.”
“Wayne,” Brooks countered, “you were that bad.”
They both laughed. “Yeah,” Gretzky admitted, “I think so.”
The essence of Brooks’ work lay in celebrating the game and its stars, rather than criticizing them. He once quoted former Chief Justice Earl Warren, saying, “I always turn first to the sports page. It records the accomplishments of men. The front page is filled with failures.”
Reflecting on Brooks’ passion, Gretzky noted, “Larry was a huge Rangers fan. He wanted the team and the players to succeed. For him, the Rangers’ success meant more interest in hockey, especially during playoff seasons.”
Gretzky’s time as a Ranger had its challenges, but he still managed to score the last 57 of his 894 professional goals, along with the last 249 points of his career. Having veteran writers like Brooks around made his transition smoother.
“I knew I would retire someday, and I aimed to do it in New York,” he shared. “I told them in Ottawa but didn’t want to make a big fuss about it. I asked them to hold off on the news for a day, which they graciously did.”
In the world of hockey, many had felt the sting of Brooks’ commentary but also understood his approach. “Fans picked up on what players knew,” Gretzky said. “They trusted what he wrote was credible, not just a rant.”
Before the end, Gretzky texted Brooks to share warm memories. “I wanted him to know that as a hockey fan, I always enjoyed reading his work,” he said.
