Wayne Gretzky Not many people can argue that Wayne Gretzky dominated the game every
time he stepped on the ice. No player is rewarded the name, "The Great
One", for no reason, and he has proven that since his first year in
the NHL. Wayne Gretzky is by far, the greatest Canadian hockey player
of all time. He holds the record for the most goals, assists, and
overall points for both the regular season and the playoffs; he has
won over 20 trophies throughout his career, and within his team(s)
brought home four Stanley Cup wins, and three Canadian Cup
championships.
Even when he was a tyke, Wayne was playing in leagues several years
older then him and he was still racking in the points. When he was
only 10, he played in his hometown hockey league in Brantford and
parents could see this little boy had a talent. Scoring over 350 goals
and over 100 assists (www.upperde
ck.com/athletes/waynegretzky/profile) in that single season, it seemed
he would be setting records for the rest of his life. Gretzky played a
very short year of junior hockey, before being drafted into the NHL
where he started his astonishing career and began collecting goals,
assists, and his many unbeatable records. After his rookie year with
the Edmonton Oilers, Wayne had already held a record; "Most assists by
a player in his first NHL season", and more and more followed as he
played out his career. Gretzky holds the most goals in regular seasons
at 89...
... middle of paper ...
...ing his many years in the NHL he played for
Team Canadaat the Canadian Cup Championships, winning in 1984, 1987,
and in 1991.
Just reviewing all the achievements, accomplishments and awards
Waynehas received, you can truly understand why Gretzky has received
the name "The Great One", and why he is the greatest Canadian hockey
player to play the game. He has set just about every record in the
NHL, or gave the holder a good fight, and has skills in every aspect
of the game, not just those of a forward. Wayne has received countless
amounts of awards from most goals scored in a season, to the most
gentlemanly player award, which no other player has even come close to
obtaining, and he has won more championships and Stanley Cups than
anyone has ever needed to. He is, and always will be, "The Great One",
Wayne Gretzky.
Jackie Robinson was born on January 31, 1919 in Georgia. On this day, a legend arrived. Jackie was raised by his mother, and his mother alone. His father left before Jackie was born, and he didn’t remember one thing about him. Jackie had many siblings, brothers and sisters. Jackie had an older brother named Matthew, who was also very athletic. Jackie’s mother tried the best she could to raise these boys right, and teach them that no matter what the whites called them...they were special.
He hit 600 home runs (5th most all time), won 10 gold gloves, and made 13 All Star Games. In almost 150 years baseball history, only the great Willie Mays can match Ken Griffey Jr. in these statistical categories. However, despite these extraordinary stats, Ken Griffey Jr. may be the ultimate “What Could Have Been” player. An incredibly promising career was derailed in the latter half by chronic injuries that robbed him of hundreds of games. If not for these injuries, Griffey was well on his way to becoming the Home Run King (Stark, 2010) and possibly the greatest player ever. Despite these setbacks, Griffey is still revered as one of the greatest and most popular MLB players ever. The savior of baseball in Seattle and the lone star to stay above the darkness of the steroid era, Griffey will go down in history as a legendary athlete.
Cal Ripken, Jr., was the perfect baseball player. He would play when he had the flu and even when he had a sprained ankle.
Maurice Richard was the hero of the French Canadian people and his dedication to his game was no different from the dedication to his family and his work and his love for the French Canadian people. He went on to win many awards in hockey and in his personal life that honored him as the role model for all French Canadian.
Did you know that Wayne Gretzky holds more records than any other hockey player that is currently playing or has played?? According to Gretzky, Wayne started playing hockey at just six years of age. Biography.com states that Gretzky was ready to play in the NHL but his age created a problem in the beginning. Gretzky confirms that Gretzky holds the most records compared to any other player and had many capabilities on the ice. Gretzky states that Wayne has won many awards throughout his career, some he has won multiple times, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame after retirement. According to Biography he couldn’t stay away from the sport, he became a coach and part owner of a team. Biography states that Gretzky now has a restaurant and winery, along with information from Gretzky saying he has a youth camo and a foundation. Wayne Gretzky was an impressive hockey player that has
James Cleveland Owens otherwise known as “Jesse” was an Olympic long jumper and sprinter whose speed and inspirational defiance of Hitler shocked the world. The 1936 Olympics were held in Berlin and Adolf Hitler of the Nazi party believed that these Olympic Games would showcase the great skill of the Aryan (Caucasian) race, and the last person he would expect to show him up would be an African-American man (Barnes 1). With sixty-six U.S. Olympic contestants competing in the Games, the American race was really put on the spot in front of Hitler, the most powerful man in the world (Smith 1). Jesse Owens was one of these men, and while being laughed at by Hitler during his one hundred meter sprint against six other Caucasian sprinters, he won by a landslide. With that victory and his other three Olympic gold medals the Owens name was able to be remembered and looked up to for eternity. Jessie Owens is such a great athlete and individual because he defied Adolf Hitler, achieved more than expected of himself, and broke records with ease.
Joe DiMaggio was one of the best baseball players of all time. He set many records, including the longest wining streak in Major League Baseball history, it lasted 56 games. He came to America as the son of poor Italian immigrants, but grew up to be an American Icon.
Pete Maravich was one of the greatest basketball players of all time. His spectacular moves and awesome footwork helped him to get better everyday. His incredible passes and being able to control the court caused his teammates to like him even more. “His playground moves, circus shots, and hotdog passes were considered outrageous during his era” (NBA Encyclopedia Playoff Edition). His love for basketball was instilled by his father Peter “Press” Maravich.
Jackie Robinson was born in Cairo. The year Jackie was born was 1919 to a family of farmers. His Mother name is Mallie Robinson. She raised Jackie and four other of her children. They were the only black family around and people gave them a hard time about living around them since they were the only black family on the block. Jackie was the very first black baseball player ever to join the white man’s league.
Jackie Robinson, born Jack Roosevelt Robinson, is known for being the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball. He was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia as the grandson of a slave. He was the youngest of five children and at six months old his father left them. At this time, because it was so hard for African-Americans in the south, his mother Mallie Robinson decided to move them to Pasadena, California where it was easier for African-Americans to live and find jobs.
Babe Ruth was a reckless, abandoned child who became America's biggest hero. Babe Ruth's parents did not have the time to take care of him, but little did George Ruth Sr. know that when he was shipping his son off to boarding school, he was pushing one of America's greatest idols out of his life (http://www.baberuth.com). Ruth never received strict parenting until he attended St. Mary's where he began to straighten out. After he became a main stream ball player he began to attract the attention of many fans with the frequency of his homeruns. Ruth hit his prime just after a time of crisis for professional baseball (http://www.baberuth.com). Now Babe is still praised for his accomplishments and for his contribution to the game of baseball and life of Americans. Ruth became America's greatest hero because he gave Americans hope in times of scandal and hardship, he reignited excitement in baseball, and he embodied the American Dream, where anyone can work his way from humble beginnings to great success.
The Duke takes his place in history. John Wayne, one of America’s greatest actors and directors of all time. His fame and superstardom led to many problems in his career. His image as an icon of American individualism and the frontier spirit has overshadowed his career to such an extent that it is almost impossible for the fans and writers to separate Wayne the legend from Wayne the actor and Wayne the man.
Back Back Back Back Back and GONE. This is what people heard many times when Jackie Robinson was up to bat whether they liked it or not. Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the MLB in 1947 which changed the game of baseball forever (America’s). Jackie Robinson faced many hardships such as fans treating him harshly saying folderol while playing on the field, players treating him bad, and not having anywhere to sleep even though he was very athletic even at a very young age.
“The way I figured it” said Jackie Robinson, “I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I had done much for it” (Robinson). Many people will not publically stand up for what they believe in due to fear of retribution. Jackie Robinson stood up for what he believed in even though people didn’t agree with him. Jackie Robinson is still famous today due to his outstanding baseball skills, his love for the game, and breaking the color barrier.
When talking about hockey greatness of recent past, two names usually come up Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. Their greatness was validated with inductions into the National League Hall of Fame where only the elite of the hockey world is considered. They did share some similarities; however it is some of the differences that made them each great in their own way.