Like him or not, he is the best ever

If he's "got me," I'll be the first to say I stand corrected. But it's not listed on Retrosheet, so unless you guys can show me anything but anecdotal memory, I remain skeptical.

EDIT: Fine. I'll do it myself.

From the AP notebook that appeared in the Daily Herald (Ill.) on Oct. 15, 1992:

I stand corrected. ;D

 

Should have never listed those other athletes. Just kidding.

And I thought Mean Joe would have gotten more backlash.

 

Mario Lemiuex --- .75 goals per game for his career.....
Wayne Gretsky -- .6 goals per game for his career....

And their points per game for their career -- 1.92 for Gretsky and 1.89 for Lemieux -- is close enough that I'd argue that it is mostly due to the the talent Gretsky had around him in Edmonton all those years -- he had six seasons of 180 points or more and all of them came with the Oilers and all of those scorers -- as compared to the crap Mario played with for much of his career in Pittsburgh (I mean he made Warren Young a 40-goal scorer for christ's sakes).

Further, when Gretsky left Edmonton, they still won the Cup. Pittsburgh went from one of the best teams to one of the worst when Mario wasn't in the lineup.

So, again, Mario was a better offensive player than Gretsky and Messier was a better all-around player than Gretsky.

 

Again, Gretzky has more assists than anybody else has goals, but thanks for playing. Goals aren't everything.

EDIT: Fuck you, zag, for spelling Grezky's name wrong and fuck me for copying it

 

And Gretsky played in about 575 more games than Mario Lemieux or Buck's statement (now echoed by sportschick) wouldn't be true.......

 

Zag --

If you're going to make an idiotic argument, at least spell Wayne Gretzky's name right.

Lemieux was great.

Gretzky was the best, by any indicator.

 

Zeke -- Nice, once again playing grammar/spelling cop because your argument is slip, sliding away as we bring more and more numbers out. Soon I am sure you'll say "I'm done with this" and run away.......

But nice try....

 

Lemieux was also about four inches taller, forty pounds heavier and could go in front of the net and battle for the puck and score. He was the one handing out the punishment half the time.

Gretzky was a great passer, may have had the best vision of any hockey player, but he needed other players to finish for him to be successful and score all of those points. Lemieux was a goal scorer first and a great passer second.

 

If my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle.

Yes, Mario had health problems. Doesn't make Gretzky any less of a player.

You gotta stay on the ice to be the best player. Mario couldn't, sadly. Mickey Mantle was always hurt in baseball; doesn't really matter what everyone knows you can do ... if you're not out there to do it.

Gretzky was out there ... 572 more times.

 

Ok, so according to your logic Pete Rose is the best hitter of all time because he has the most hits? Forget for a moment that at some point he was more of a compiler of stats than a star simply because he played in 80 million games -- he had the most hits, so he's the best hitter........

 

Gretzky has more goals than anyone in the history of the game.

Tell me again how Lemieux is a better goal-scorer ...

 

Even Ruth struck out every once in a while. You're still the Bambino on this board!