Kanye West and Oprah Winfrey’s Names on Wayne Gretzky Statue Caused a Massive Controversy in 2013

Hall of Famer, Wayne Gretzky‘s ice-hockey career was the epitome of achievements. He captained the Edmonton Oilers from 1983 to 1988 and led them to four Stanley Cup wins. Nicknamed The Great One, he was indicted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, in the same year he retired in 1999. 

Owing to his prominence, two sculptures were erected in his hometown of Brantford, Ontario in 2013, per Yahoo! Sports. One depicted his younger days with Gretzky’s parents, while the other showcased an elite-level Gretzky holding the mighty trophy at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre. However, the grand figures were soon wrecked which was followed by controversy. 

Wayne Gretzky’s Stanley Cup had odd engravings

In a recent article by the sources it was revealed that after a month of the installment, a kid noticed something unusual about the Cup’s engravings. The oddest etching was, that it listed Oscar Wilde, Oprah Winfrey, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Rocky Balboa as hockey players. Secondly, the legend’s name was spelled as “Gretzsky” in addition to listing his name as a Detroit Red Wings player in 1998-99. 

Additionally, there was an error with the year Edmonton Oilers won the Cup, stating it to be in 2003. If that wasn’t enough, Kanye West and Muddy Waters were also added to the index of unrelated names. 

The Chief Manager, Len Offless who led the $500,000 project stated he had no idea of the inaccuracy. According to the Brantford Expositor, “(The artist) told us he was putting gobbledygook and hen-scratching” where the team names and players would be,” he said. Nonetheless, the artist, Oldham guaranteed a replacement and implied, “no disrespect was intended.” Yet. this was no match for The Great One’s most critical controversy, paced up after his NHL team trade in 1988.

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Gretzky’s heartbreaking transfer from Edmonton Oilers

The 62-year-old athlete was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on 9th August 1998. In the five-player and three-draft pick, Mike Krushelnyski and Marty McSorley were also transferred along with Gretzky. This deal came to be a huge controversy in NHL history. 

Thus, Canadian Parliament member, Nelson Riis said, “The Edmonton Oilers without Wayne Gretzky is like apple pie without ice cream, like winter without snow, like the Wheel of Fortune without Vanna White. It’s quite simply unthinkable.” Whereas, Washington hockey athlete, David Poile stated, ”If there was such a thing as an untouchable in this business, you’d think it was Gretzky. But we all find out differently. It’s still a shock.”

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Despite the numerous controversies Gretzky encountered, through the course of his legendary hockey career, he dealt with them in a kind and amiable nature. And the world salutes him for that. What did you think of his statue controversy? Let us know in the comments.