The Prince George Citizen — Thursday, August 11, 1988 — 13 MARK ALLAN S p o r t s Sports editor DID HE FORCE GRETZKY FROM EDMONTON? Pocklingfon target of fan outrage EDMONTON (CP) - Public out­ Edmonton Sun reported more than rage grew Wednesday as three of600 callers jammed the newspa­ Wayne Gretzky’s former team­per’s switchboard to complain. mates insisted the hockey super- Fans also swamped telephone KINGS star was forced into a trade to the lines at Oiler offices, some Los Angeles Kings. threatening to cancel season ti­ INVITE Oiler owner Peter Pocklington ckets. vehemently denied the comments, Gretzky, 27, cried in front of a saying he’ll swear an oath that packed media audience at a news BOSSY Gretzky initiated the National conference Tuesday when the deal Hockey League trade. was announced. But he told report­ EDMONTON (CP) — Hockey But while insisting he didn’t ers he asked to be traded because star Mike Bossy said Wednesday force Gretzky to surrender hisof his new family, including a child night the owner of NHL’s Los Oiler sweater, Pocklington admit­expected next year. Angeles Kings has asked him to ted he would likely have traded the Pocklington said Wednesday he’djoin the Kings and form a super hockey legend in the next few“swear on a court document, linea with Luc Robitaille and newly- years. statutory declaration, anything youacquired centre Wayne Gretzky. “Gretzky never initiated anywish, that Wayne wanted to be Bossy, the New York Islanders’ deal,” said Eddie Mio, a long-time traded.” all-time leading goal scorer, said friend and best man at Gretzky’s Pocklington said he gave Gretz­Bruce McNall contacted him two July 16 wedding in Edmonton ky to one last chance to change hisweeks ago with the proposal. Hollywood actress Janet Jones. mind before the trade was “He called me and asked me if I “Wayne loves Edmonton,” announced, Mio but was unaware would be willing to play for the said during an interview on CBC Gretzky had said in Los Angeles Kings,” said the Islanders’ right television. ‘It’s really important that he was “forced to be sold.” winger in a telephone interview people know this wasn’t Wayne According to the Edmonton fromown­ his cottage in Quebec. and Janet’s idea.” er, Gretzky’s departure was inevi­ “Obviously, with Gretzky there Former Oiler Paul Coffey, alsotable. and with Mr. McNall certainly in the Gretzky wedding party, “I’d just as soon have a hot teamlooking like he wants to build a lashed out upon hearing the news 10 years or seven years or winnerfive fast, and with me being a of the blockbuster trade. from now, rather than get zero freein agent, it does make a lot of “I talked with Gretz after the compensation if he’d become sense.”a Stanley Cup and he said, ‘I’m hap­ free agent.” Bossy also said McNall indicated py, I’ll play here forever,’” CoffeyAn Oiler spokesman said man­ at the time he was “95 per cent said. agement should decide this week sure” he would get Gretzky from Along with Gretzky, Mike Kru-what to do with season-ticket hold­the Edmonton Oilers. shelnyski, Marty McSorley anders demanding refunds. Bossy admitted liking the idea of John Miner have been traded to The Kings’ box office faced quiteplaying on the same line with Los Angeles for Jimmy Carson, another dilemma. While the Los Gretzky and left winger Robitaille, Martin Gelinas and Craig Red­ Angeles team anticipated there the 1986-87 NHL rookie of the year. mond. The Oilers also get three would be some increase in busi­ But he said a lower-back ailment first-round draft picks and more ness, team spokesmen admitted prevents him from making any than $10 million US. they never expected the rush forcommitments. He said he has one Gretzky was “just a piece ofseason’s tickets. more back specialist to see this meat” traded for hard cash by Meanwhile, Jones has rejected summer. Oiler management, charged Cof­accusations she influenced the fey, the defenceman traded to the trade. “I don’t feel I did,” she said “My back still hurts, so I’m basi­ Pittsburgh Penguins from Edmon­in Los Angeles. “Maybe in callyhis not making any plans. ton last season after a bitter con­ heart he was doing something for“If I were able to come back, I’d tract fight. me. certainly think of that situation Gretzky asked to go to the Kings“It’s scary. I know a lot of peo­(joining the Kings) very highly.” only after discovering the Oilersple in Edmonton think I brought Meanwhile, the Oilers have final­ were talking trade and he made him here.” ly confirmed that defenceman the request so he could have a say The uproar over Gretzky’s Craigde­ Redmond will join them as in his future, Mio said. parture spread all the way to the part of Tuesday’s trade. Alberta legislature. The Oilers sent defenceman John Those comments were echoed byA debenture held by government- Miner to the Kings in exchange for another former teammate, Dave run Alberta Treasury Branches in­ Redmond, a club spokesman said Lumley, who said he heard from dicate Pocklington was not free lateto Wednesday afternoon. several sources that Pocklington trade him without the bank’s per­ asked Gretzky to say he requested mission, contended Ray Martin, The Kings first denied Tuesday the trade. leader of the opposition New De­that Redmond was included in the Gretzky — who has shattered do­mocrats. multi-player, multi-million-dollar zens of records and led the Oilers The debenture shows Pocklington deal, but later said the defenceman to four Stanley Cup victories pledged in Gretzky’s personal-ser- was being traded to Edmonton. five years — is widely acclaimed vices contract in return for some The Oilers had not confirmed Red­ as the greatest living hockey play­$42 million in loans, Martin said at mond was involved. er. a press conference Wednesday. The deal sends Gretzky to Los Since coming to Edmonton a dec­But Pocklington told a CBC radioAngeles along with Mike Krushel- ade ago The Great One, as he is program the clause in the deben­ nyski, Marty McSorley and Miner called, has become the city’s best­ ture was dropped three years ago for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas loved son. and is no longer in effect. And heand Redmond. The Oilers also get Shocked after the deal was said the amount is for a line ofthree first-round draft picks and announced, angry fans blistered credit, not a loan. more than $10 million US. the airwaves of Edmonton radioAlberta Treasurer Dick Johnston Redmond and Miner were both talk shows Wednesday. The was unavailable for comment. free agents with compensation. Big Ben winner • McBride * ! SloPitch • Umpire Adolf Jede of Quesnel calls Jamie Fal­ past South Washington catcher John Downing coner of North Oregon safe as Falconer slidesin the second inning. Citizen photos by Dave Milnewith quick time • Tournament • • • SESTRIERE, Italy (AP) - Ca­ allowed two-metre-per-second limit• 8 Team s - C Level Ball • NO COMEBACK THIS TIME nadian Ben Johnson won the 100-during the sprints. J August 20th & 21st J metre dash in 9.98 seconds today In other Canadian results, Desai and American Roger Kingdom be­Williams of Toronto was fourth• be­ Entry Fee - $100 • came only the second man to runhind Johnson in the 100 metres, the 110-metre hurdles in less than Prizes - 1st - $300 # clocking 10.16 seconds. • Washington gets relief13 seconds, clocking 12.97 at aMark McKoy of Toronto finished 2n d -$200 # track and field meet in this Italian third behind Kingdom in the 110• 3j r r a d -- 3$> i 1 0u 0 u q by PAUL SMITH in the bottom of the seventh. with two out to bring La Grande Alpine resort. hurdles in 13.21, faster than the Kingdom’s performance was the • 5 men/5 women & • Sports Reporter Dell-Metro coach Jerry Ander­within one. best of the year for the event. 13.25 he recorded in winning the When you’re about to have son a admitted Wednesday he had Roche finally ended the free-for- event at the recent Canadian • Double Knockout • nightmare, it’s nice to have some­visions of another nightmare whenall. He scattered five hits in four Briton Colin Jackson, who fin­championships in Ottawa. • • one come and wake you up. Falconer’s homer cleared the innings, worked himself out of a ished second, set a European re­ Jillian Richardson of Calgary 0 To register contact # That’s exactly what Pat Roche right-field fence, but those visions jam in the fourth and kept La cord of 13.11 seconds. placed second to Petra Mueller ofm Graham Mervin at 569-3360 (w) ^ Kingdom, the 25-year-old 1984East Germany in the women’s 400 or 569-3239 (h), or Brian Taphorn did Wednesday night for South disappeared when Roche came in Grande off the board to earn the Olympic champion, was just off • 569-3221 (w) or 569-2406 (h). • Washington in the A-B final of theto put out the fire. save. metres. Mueller clocked 50.47 and • • the Pacific Northwest Regional “The key was Roche coming inLivsey was credited with the the world record of 12.93 set byRichardson Re- 50.59. Babe Ruth championship. with that curveball of his,” said win, allowing five hits. naldo Nehemiah in 1981. Anderson. “That really worked La Grande manager Larry Nice Carl Lewis also clocked a best Roche relieved in the third in­ well for us.