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MEDIA..Globe and Mail writer Stephen Brunt has penned a classic with “Gretzky’s Tears”. The book details the circumstances surrounding the Great One’s trade from the Edmonton to the Los Angeles Kings in August of 1988 (about one month before Ben Johnson was stripped of his Olympic Gold; tough time for Canadians). The trade played into Canadians darkest fears of American arrogance, the ability of the rich and imperious country to snatch away a Canadian asset on a whim. Brunt’s suggests Gretzky was far more involved and accepting of the trade than most believe, though the debt of Oiler owner Peter Pocklington was the driving force in the move (Pocklington received 15 million dollars for Gretzky, money that certainly did not go to the team and also was not enough to forestall his long slide to bankruptcy and criminal sanction).

The most intriguing character in the book, and one of the architects of the trade, is former Kings owner and convicted felon Bruce McNall. A veritable con man, McNall used his gregarious nature and all encompassing confidence to create huge stakes in diverse fields, including film, coins, horses and hockey - all the while wracking up debts that roared into the hundreds of millions of dollars. One has to pause when reflecting on the NHL’s decision to promote him to the head of their Board of Governors; what kind of organization is that gullible? Or desperate?

McNall’s plan was to acquire Gretzky for his Los Angeles Kings and then parlay the newly created interest into a series of franchises in American markets (he later bought the Toronto Argonauts with the same plan, expansion southward, in mind). He personally hired Gary Bettman to expedite this process. Gretzky’s move is the linchpin for the creation of teams in places such as San Jose, Anaheim, Florida and Tampa. The desire to create a national footprint and score a lucrative TV deal (thus sending franchise values into the stratosphere a la the NFL) also is the force that drags teams from Quebec and Winnipeg south. It’s a stunning hypothesis, and one that also would enable McNall to line his pockets at every turn. It’s mind boggling to think this plan is being created and implemented by an inveterate liar and flim-flam man. How do you like them apples, Winnipeg?

The plan falters when, as always, the great American stampede to hockey fails to materialize (though Brunt is careful to point out the gross stupidity of the 1995 lockout when, after Mark Messiers stirring Stanley Cup win with the New York Rangers in 1994, hockey seemed to be creating viable momentum in America. After the lockout, not so much). We are still seeing the detritus of the grand plan clogging the hockey landscape today. Getzky was meant to be the saviour, the man that would leave Canada and create an insatiable deamand for hockey in American markets. In an act of unparalleled irony, Gretzky becomes coach of a dead-in-the-water franchise in Phoenix, the former Winnipeg Jets, a team languishing in the desert, according to Brunt, as a result of his fateful decision all those years ago…

GRID IRON..the Denver Post is describing Bronco’s Chris Simms performance in relief of Kyle Orton last week as “wretched”. Simms will start today for Denver against the red hot San Diego Chargers…the New York Jets desperately need to pull an upset over New England at Foxboro this afternoon. At 4-5, and with dates against Indianapolis and Cincinnati remaining, the Jets drop out of playoff contention with a miraculous return to form by rookie Mark Sanchez a few hours hence…

ICE..the San Jose Sharks have created a line with Joe Thornton centering Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley. The results have been sensational, with Heatley racking up four goals in two games and Thornton notching six points. We do note, however, the line is comprised of three infamous (legendary?) playoff “chokers”, making the future of the trio very interesting when spring brings games of real importance…key to future Toronto Maple Leafs success; face teams missing seven starters who are also playing the second night of a back-to-back…just kidding! Go Leafs Go!…

PUG LIFE. Showtime’s Super Six Super Middleweight tournament may have unearthed boxing’s next superstar. Olympian Andre Ward (21-0, 13 KO’s) won the Gold for the United States at light heavyweight in 2004. He was handled very cautiously before scoring a mild upset in May of 2009 when easily decisioning Edison Miranda. Last night Ward stopped Mikkel Kessler, the top rated super middleweight in the world, and he did it with style. The tournament continues and should wind towards a final battle between Ward and Arthur Abraham. Ward must now be viewed as a prohibitive favourite…tough night at Casino Rama for Orion promotions. Marvin Somsona, their current headliner, barely escaped with a draw while fighting the local groundskeeper. It gets worse. Steve Molitor, fighting a washroom attendant, was put on the canvas before winning a decision. Orion flaunt its trademark approach, matching their talent with stiffs while blitzing the mainstream media with misleading information. Somsona was fighting an opponent who had lost three of his last six fights (obtaining his last win against a fighter with a 1-5 win-loss record). Molitor was scrapping with a lad who had two wins in his last seven. It’s farcical. These are fights that only serve to demonstrate the fundamental lack of confidence Orion has in its purported stars…