Gretzky steps down as Coyotes coach

[Forkboy]

Wayne Gretzky has resigned as coach and director of hockey operations with the Phoenix Coyotes.

"This was a difficult decision that I've thought long and hard about," Gretzky wrote in a post on his official Web site. "We all hoped there would be a resolution earlier this month to the Coyotes ownership situation, but the decision is taking longer than expected. Since both remaining bidders have made it clear that I don't fit into their future plans, I approached General Manager Don Maloney and suggested he begin looking for someone to replace me as coach.

"I've loved the four years I spent coaching the Coyotes. Not a day went by when I took it for granted, and I will miss the competition of the NHL dearly. It was an honor to hold the position, and I will always consider myself especially fortunate to have had this opportunity."

There was no word on if Gretzky would continue with the club in any other role. He has been managing partner and a part-owner since 2000. The club currently is at the center of a bankruptcy hearing.

Gretzky was named coach in August 2005, but in four seasons the club went 143-161-24, and missed the playoffs all four seasons.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=499636

[joeybee12]

1. I know nothing about this, so take my comments as gospel truth...

...the talking heads on espn were going on about this, basically saying Wayne just isn't a good coach. Is that true? It would seem so by his record.

[Forkboy]

2. They're right, he isn't.

If he didn't quit the new owners were going to fire him anyways. Neither group with a bid on the team said they had plans to keep him as coach. Just goes to show that no matter how awesome you are as a player, in any sport, that doesn't automatically mean that coaching is going to be just as easy. It's one thing to worry about you prepare for a season or a game, it's quite another to worry about how 25 guys will prepare, and get them to do it right.

[joeybee12]

7. Yeah, i'm having trouble thinking of one great player in any sport

who went on to be a good coach.

[Forkboy]

8. Hmmm...you should make that a thread.

We can rule Isiah Thomas out.... :)

[joeybee12]

10. There'd be a few people who'd put some baseball guys in like

Mike Scosia, but let's face it, the Angels would be a shoe-in for the WS this year without him.

Isiah who?

[JonLP24]

11. Larry Bird

He never won the big game but took Chicago in a very exciting 7 game series. I had NBA League Pass for the 1999-2000 season and watched every Pacers game and that was a really good team. They ended the Lakers first big win streak and split the season series with Portland as well as having the East's best record as well as having the highest team FG %. However no one could beat the Lakers that year. Those Larry Bird Pacers were good.

[joeybee12]

13. Interesting...the talking heads on espn mentioned him as the

exception to the rule.

[LisaM]

14. Ditka?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Ditka

[JonLP24]

15. I was thinking the NFL

through the years has had a number of great players that became good coaches.

[joeybee12]

17. Was he considered a great player?

A great, major flaming a-hole, but I'm unsure about his playing days.

[LisaM]

18. He was on a Super Bowl winning team and he was Rookie of the Year

I'd heard he was a good player, so I looked it up.

Here, from Wikipedia:

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears drafted Ditka fifth overall in the 1961 NFL Draft. His presence was immediately felt. In his first season, Ditka had 56 receptions, introducing a new dimension to a tight end position that had previously been dedicated to blocking. His success earned him Rookie of the Year honors. He continued to play for the Bears for the next five years, earning a Pro Bowl trip each season. He played on the 1963 NFL championship team. Many of the players from that team, including Ditka, were drafted by assistant coach George Allen, a future Hall of Famer, who was then in charge of the Bears drafts.

[joeybee12]

19. Phooey!

Does it give his views on women?

Remember how he considered running for US Senate on the Insane Party Platform when Ryan dropped out and the Insane were trying to get someone to run against Obama?

[LisaM]

20. I don't LIKE him. And I'm not sure he fits the paradigm anyway

I don't think he was all that great a coach - I think that even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while. Then he lost the acorn when he drafted just that one guy (Ricky Williams?) and no one else.

[LisaM]

16. OK, I have another one. Carol Heiss.

Figure skating.


http://www.lifeskate.com/skate/2009/01/carol-heiss-jenkins-parker-pennington-clip-of-the-week.html (warning: obnoxious ad at the beginning)

OK, ducking, but you did say ANY sport! And Carol Heiss was a gold medallist (before my time, but when we were growing up we had a book about her, and read it to pieces).

[JonLP24]

4. I think Phoenix has rarely ever had a good record

Not that I follow it closely but one thing you rarely hear about is Phoenix is winning a playoff series. Even though I can't tell you who the last 10 Stanley Cup winners are (Pittsburgh last year, Detroit, I think Denver, maybe Dallas:shrug:) but I can say for certain Phoenix hasn't won. I know they used to be the Winnipeg Jets but I can say the Phoenix Coyotes never won a Stanley Cup, I don't think they even won a playoff series.

I know Phoenix had popular players such as Roenick, Tkachuck(spelling?) and were pretty good then but I don't think Gretzky or any coach since then could have save this team.

[Forkboy]

6. No playoffs for the team since 2002.

Not a good way to keep your job. :)

[LisaM]

3. Wayne Gretzksy is NOT a good coach.

He's never really been able to make it work. Of course, the style of play has changed vastly since his glory days.

[Forkboy]

5. Nope, not at all.

Great player, lousy coach.

I haven't seen a single Detroit preseason game (yet I've already seen 4 of Vancouver's...go figure). How are the Wings shaping up so far?

[LisaM]

9. Of course I get zero information on the local news, being in Washington

But I understand today that they're talking to Brad May. And they re-signed Bertuzzi (:puke:) which I wish they hadn't.

And it looks as if they've picked up Cloutier - I like that!

http://www.freep.com/article/20090923/SPORTS05/909230375/1053/Wings--Cloutier-makes-most-of-exhibition-time

[Forkboy]

12. Ah, sorry, I thought you were right there.

I hope Cloutier can stay healthy. He was a solid player when he was, but it's been a long time since he wasn't battling some kind of injury.