Conspicuously absent from the Phoenix Coyotes pre-season, Wayne Gretzky’s status as head coach was called into question. Well, the question has been answered; Gretzky quit today.
It’s been a long time coming. The Coyotes — plagued with problems ranging from their bankruptcy to their typically poor performance on the ice — endured a nearly decade-long relationship with the NHL’s greatest player.
During Gretzky’s tenure, they have not known any semblance of success. While the Great One potted the puck throughout his career like every net was empty and racked up assists like the pro game was shinny, he couldn’t muster from behind the Phoenix bench even a shadow of those accomplishments … yet he never saw fit to step down.
Until now.
Now that the organization is foundering worse than ever. With its future in doubt and its finances a mess, Gretzky is skating off into the desert but no one’s going to say “Come back, Shane!” … in the Glendale circus that is this “professional” organization, “Good riddance” may be the phrase more apt.
Ulf Samuelsson may get the call as head coach if recently hired Dave King doesn’t nab the promotion. King’s health may be the issue to make Ulfie the heir apparent.
Gretzky and Michael Jordan have very much in common. Now, being a lousy executive can be added to the list. Neither of them have shown the acumen to run a club, despite their indisputable reign as the best of their respective sports. It’s a tired old axiom but great players don’t make great coaches … neither front-office execs.
With the Great One gone from Glendale, one ill-fitting puzzle piece was mercifully withdrawn from the picture. Maybe sanity will set in down there and the whole outfit will get shipped back to Manitoba.
But let’s not hold our collective breath.