Wayne Gretzky Came to Know About His Wife’s Strange Act Through a Newspaper Headline in 1989: “Don’t Tell Me You Called”

Published 12/23/2022, 5:30 PM EST

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Married for more than 30 years, it was a rare moment when Wayne Gretzky’s wife amazed him. The unforgettable incident took place in the year 1989. 1989 was a significant year when Gretzky surpassed Gordie Howe’s record to become NHL’s lead scorer. This fact along with the reality that Gretzky already had significant hockey records was responsible for a very special offer. This proposal was about a specific job role which Gretzky refused. 

 

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However, his wife turned the tables on him. Realizing his wife’s decision through a newspaper when he was airborne, Gretzky gave an epic reaction. He also went on to reveal how his wife helped him to change his attitude and convince him of an important decision. 

Wayne Gretzky’s unexpected decision 

‘The Great One’ had received an offer to host Saturday Night Live in Season 14. After deliberating for a while, Gretzky refused the offer. This did not mean that the matter was done yet, which Gretzky realized on a flight to Louisville, where the couple were to see the Kentucky Derby. As Gretzky opened a newspaper, his eyes fell on a sports headline. 


The newspaper’s headline was ‘Wayne Gretzky to Host Saturday Night Live.’ Gretzky immediately turned to his wife Janet to confirm what he already thought. “Don’t tell me you called’, he said. On this statement, Janet replied in the affirmative, justifying that she knew he’d be happy. After his wife’s gentle nudging, Gretzky agreed to do the show. 

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Gretzky elaborated, “Once my wife did commit me to it, I was really excited to do it.”  Looks like a good partner, can truly change your perspective.

Gretzky’s experience at SNL 

As per reports, Gretzkyy went to see Lorne before the dress rehearsal who told him not to worry. However, later, the director revealed that 20 million people would be viewing him live. “And so, for a split second, I was a little bit nervous”, Gretzky admitted. This nervousness was however temporary and Gretzky did some great sketches like “Celebrity Hockey Ideas.” 

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Watch Now: A Quick Look at Top Homes Owned by NHL Players 

The incident shows Gretzky’s wife’s crucial role in making him agree to host the Saturday Night show. Do you think Gretzky made the right decision by agreeing to host the show? Let us know in the comments below. 

 

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Written by:

Priya Hinduja

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Priya Hinduja is a US Sports author for EssentiallySports. Post pursuing her Master's Degree in English, she worked as an English language trainer at Osmos Club and also dabbled with marketing at Debugee Technologies Pvt Ltd for a year. With a keen interest in playing chess and badminton in her leisure time, she also follows the activities of Michael Phelps, whose story motivates and inspires her.
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Edited by:

Anupama Ghosh