To be fair, this was in 2003. But I find it interesting to wonder what would happen if Gretzky ever decided to get involved in Canadian politics. Sure, the country votes him one of the ten greatest Canadians in history and gets all giddy when he agrees to be final torchbearer, but would opinions change if he were to try to be something other than an ex-hockey player?

Campaigns have been waged against Harper for supporting the same war, and the Tories in turn attacked Ignatieff for living abroad and referring to the United States as “his” country. I wonder if being the Great One would be enough to override the above quotations?

I don’t know if I should start accusing this country of having double standards when it comes to our attitudes towards hockey player and politicians, because they play decidedly different roles in our society, but it does sometimes bother me how much adulation we give Gretzky for essentially playing hockey well, getting rich, then moving south and taking part in promo deals.

Nothing against him, he can do what he wants. But can we please stop acting like he’s done anything in particular for us as a country? It kind of makes it look like we don’t have a lot going on.

OK, rant over.