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Gretzky rejected overture, Suzuki says

MATTHEW SEKERES

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 7:06 AM EST 16/12/07

Great One was already involved in green issues, spokesman says ...Read the full article

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  1. D. Patrick from Canada writes: This is really lame--if Wayne Gretzky chose not to partner with Suzuki on one of his own pet schemes, that is his business, and Suzuki should not inpugn his motives for doing so. The entire basis for this article is a complaint (Suzuki venting that someone did not do his bidding) combined with an assertion for which he offers no proof. It is absurd that this weak premise has made it all the way to a full article. Shame, Globe and Mail, shame.
  2. Frank Black from Vancouver, Canada writes: I never did like Suzuki anyhow, way to go Wayne...
  3. Frank Black from Vancouver, Canada writes: Gretzky rejected overture, Suzuki says

    Hey Suzuki: which overture was that EH ?
  4. poida smith from Canada writes: Yes, Wayne, the great Canadian (ego), married to an American, American kids, permanent residence, USA, paying US taxes, but likes coming up here to make $$$$$$$$$.................hey, it's the Canadian way!.......make it big, go south!

    protecting the environment is not big deal obviously for Wayne boy! glad he's gone south! just like the team he coaches!
  5. g h from Canada writes: What's really lame is people like D. Patrick and Frank Black who spend their energy in negative ways, attacking others. What have either of you done for the environment or in any other walk of life that can hold a candle to what David Suzuki has done?
  6. D W from France writes: Poida, this just in -- Wayne Gretzky , forcibly traded to a US team by a Canadian businessman, managed the 2002 Team Canada to the first Olympic gold in 50 years, defeating the USA USAs!! with a wonderful display of all-Canadian team talent; first, non-stop pro-CFL cheerleading, now this!! Wayne is a patriot and he cannot do evrything, so leave him alone, eh? ...
  7. Billy Z from San Diego, United States writes: Poida, you're an idiot. Wayne has done a huge amount for this country, Team Canada Gold and 4 Stanley Cups in Edmonton. You should be ashamed of that mouth of yours.
  8. Popeye Dillon from North Vancouver, Canada writes: But of course Poida wants to kill the CFL a Canadian institution so he can watch an American NFL team in TO. You've got more than a few loose bolts pal!
  9. Robert Kagan from Not a Leaf fan, Canada writes: these enviro geeks are real pieces of work. They act like social conservatives who insist we live by their rules. Suzuki is a creep and should keep his trap shut up because it is emitting too much carbon dioxide
  10. J.C. Davies from Canada writes:
    Another reason to love Gretzky.
  11. Midtown Bob from Toronto, Canada writes: I agree with Robert Kagan, DS is creepy, geeky academic who seems to have a difficult time with rejection. Kinda reminds you of your old high school days trying to get a date or dance Davey boy?
  12. Harry Chappell from Alberta, writes: I suspect that Wayne, like most Canadians now, believe that our once loved host from the Nature Of Things, has become a scary enviro-fanatic.
  13. Owen Jones from Calgary, Canada writes: G&M stick to sports. This article is drivel.
  14. Kevin Cochrane from Ft. McMurray, Canada writes: It's funny, after reading Duhatschek's blog on Sid the Kid and his Gretzky-like duties I was thinking about the whole betting scandal that Rick Tocchet(sp?) was convicted for and how the good ol' Canadian media tried to smear Wayne and Janet all over the road for it. Here we go again, although hopefully this is as far as it goes. Wayne Gretzky has done so much for the game and consequently Canada, how Suzuki can even begin to think of begrudging the Greatest One for not taking part in his latest campaign is abhorrent, to say the least. The prevention of global warming is a noble and worthy cause however do not try to shame a Canadian celebrity into taking part in your campaign, that's pathetic. When Wayne say's he's too busy, he's too busy and I believe him, I'd believe him if he told me we were going to be playing hockey on Mars next week.
  15. Bill G from Calgary, Canada writes: As a matter of fact G and M, this article borders on character assassination. Your usually low standards are slipping further....
  16. garlick toast from Canada writes: the fact remains that the outdoor rinks so many kids enjoyed are becoming a thing of the past.
  17. William Borlase from Canada writes: Suzuki has become a shameless charlatan. Global warming on the sports pages? Give us a break. Incidently there is not a single outdoor rink in my community and and there used to be at least a half dozen. The climate has not changed. It is cold and snowy in the winter. My view is that perhaps the kids are waiting for the zamboni and in the meantime playing their video games. Wayne is way too intelligent to be caught up in Suzuki's self-serving nonsense.
  18. J G from Toronto, Canada writes: ..."I actually contacted him and he turned me down," Suzuki said, adding that he never spoke with Gretzky. "I think it was because he was doing ads for Ford and [Esso]. I got a very polite 'Sorry, can't do it.' "...

    Hardly sounds like a "smear campaign". Suzuki asked Gretzky and Gretzky said no.

    Most of you responding are pathetically going ga ga over an athlete (even if he is one of the best). And as for those of you whining "Gretzky has done so much for Canada" What does winning Stanley Cups and a gold medal in hockey actually "do" for Canada? Oh yeah, it makes all you athlete/celebrity worshippers feel good about yourselves.

    David Suzuki has become more vocal and aggressive because he sees governments and society not waking up to the reality of Global warming/climate change. He thought all you athlete lovers would understand the simple imagery of a backyard ice rink - but reading some of these postings - I'm not sure you would even be able to understand that.

    Wake up people (especially those who don't believe in climate change)!
  19. Westcoastser from Delta from Canada writes: Sounds like Suzuki isn't content with mere scaremongering, he wants to rub shoulders with the celebrities. What Al Gore not sexy enough?
    Way to go Wayne!
  20. b mac from Canada writes: I laugh at Suzulki. I saw him on CBC talking about the pine beetle and how they were devastaing the pine forests, as aresult of climate change. Suzuki knows full well the pine beetle has been decimating pine forest for 100's of years. In the past forest fires, caused by nature, controlled the spread of the pine beetle and every 50 years or so a cold weather snap would diminish them even further. Environmentalist avoid the truth, when convenient, and are focussed on fund raising and their own foundations. THREE CHEERS FOR GRETZKY. I suspect he knows, as well as anyone, what Suzuki and his band of merry men are up to.
  21. Howard Beale from Canada writes: Goes to show that not only is Gretzky a better hockey player than Andrew Ferrance, he's smarter too.
  22. ... ... from Stockholm, Sweden writes: Hello Canadian hockey fans, why you hate our countryman Daniel Alfredsson (Krusty the clown for his big haircut).

    Don't hate hit-from-behind Krusty for shooting the puck after the whistle at Scott Niedermayer, the NHL's most respected defenceman. Don't hate Krusty's hitting from behind. Don't hate Krusty's diving. Hate him for playing for the Senators, that's why Swedes hate him.

    Sweden's favourite hockey players:
    1) Borje Salming
    2) Mats Sundin
    3) Peter Forsberg
    4) Anders Lundquist
    5) Markus Naslund
    6) Sedin twins
    7) Sedin twins that play for Vancouver
  23. Dirty Burger from Canada writes: Hey Suzuki- I think I saw an ice cube melting somewhere
  24. CD W from Canada writes: Silent spring, silent suzuki. Could we please have your take on the millions dead due to malaria, based upon leftards of the silent spring groups who got ddt banned for use in africa, and now want it on nets. And not hockey nets either. Someone has to answer for the dead of africa based upon north american hippies taking the only thing they had to stop this disease. And yes I am talking to you.
  25. Kyle L from T., Canada writes: Has anyone ever questioned Suzuki about how he gets about all over the world? I doubt it's by bike...
  26. Jake ---- from Canada writes: Gretzky is the worst coach in the NHL. He should be fired and return to promoting crap cars. And big oil. Good hockey player in his day though.
  27. Frank Black from Vancouver, Canada writes: Has anyone ever questioned Suzuki about how he gets about all over the world? I doubt it's by bike...

    FREELOADER IMO...
  28. b mac from Canada writes: These environmentalist must live like kings as environmental fund raising is a big, big business.
  29. Joe Gopher from Canada writes: Why did David Suzuki use a 54 passenger bus with only 8 people on it to tour to promote his religion of global warming?
    Shouldn't he have had two people in a smart car if he really cared?
    Why didn't they burn bio diesel in the bus instead of regular diesel? He said it was because it would violate the warranty. What about the warranty on my diesel engine, doesn't that count as well?
    Why does David have more than one house, why doesn't he live in a hut if he is so concerned about the environment?
    These eco-nuts are getting sooooo predictable.
  30. Clark The Mighty from Canada writes: Wayne's been all VEGA$ for 20 years.

    So what! He helped when the gold in Utah.

    Go Wayne Go!!!!!!!!!!
  31. Robert Kagan from Not a Leaf fan, Canada writes: funny you should say that b mac....I saw Suzuki riding like a king in first class on an Air Canada flight from Boston to Toronto 3 weeks ago. He and his entourage must be important or buy full fare tickets destroying the environment! What a pile of hypocrisy
  32. Cyrus Ofpersia from Canada writes: Suzuki is a prima donna
  33. James C. from Chaozhou, Guangdong, China writes: "J G from Toronto, Canada writes: Most of you responding are pathetically going ga ga over an athlete (even if he is one of the best). And as for those of you whining "Gretzky has done so much for Canada" What does winning Stanley Cups and a gold medal in hockey actually "do" for Canada? Oh yeah, it makes all you athlete/celebrity worshippers feel good about yourselves."

    ----------

    you can file gretzky's achievements under culture. you can continue to believe gretzky has done nothing for canada, but you'd be in the minority.
  34. b mac from Canada writes: From Google
    Czech President Calls Man-Made Global Warming a Myth, Questions Al Gore’s Sanity

    By Noel Sheppard | February 12, 2007 - 11:30 ET

    As the media, the left, and the United Nations become more and more strident about a supposed scientific consensus surrounding anthropogenic global warming, more and more dissenters speak out against the junk science involved in this mythology.
    The most recent was Vaclav Klaus, the President of the Czech Republic.
    In an interview with "Hospodárské noviny," a Czech economics daily, Klaus made the following observations (emphasis mine throughout):

    Global warming is a false myth and every serious person and scientist says so. It is not fair to refer to the U.N. panel. IPCC is not a scientific institution: it's a political body, a sort of non-government organization of green flavor. It's neither a forum of neutral scientists nor a balanced group of scientists. These people are politicized scientists who arrive there with a one-sided opinion and a one-sided assignment.
  35. Counterspinner tells the truth from Canada writes: Good to see Gretzky has the common sense not to get involved with Suzuki. If you think Suzuki is getting rich by jetting around to talk about the environment, think how much more he could have made with Gretzky by his side. Suzuki is miffed because he won't make as much money now!
  36. martha stewart from Canada writes: Thank goodness. But Suzuki trying to "shame" Gretzky on this is simply too much. Unbelievable arrogance, as usual.
  37. Jeff S from Canada writes: don't give into the fruit fly man wayne, he's in it for the money.
  38. Frank Black from Vancouver, Canada writes: Suzuki is in the game for the $$$$ IMO...
  39. Mike McFae from Canada writes: I think Suzuki is losing it. Very soon I expect to hear him say he is more popular than John Lennon :-)
  40. Robert Kagan from Not a Leaf fan, Canada writes: Mike McFae...but would he have climbed in bed naked with him? hmm, he kinda looks like Yoko

    Ha ha
  41. usually write from Canada writes: more environmental blackmail......good for you Wayne
  42. The Mangemeister from Canada writes: I'm not surprised by most of the posts about "The Great One" being a Canadian hero.In reality he is nothing more than a self serving corpoarate whore.
  43. Ivan Rand from Canada writes: Ivan from Callander - I checked out the premise of Suzuki's proposed illustration of how outdoor rinks could not exist today in the same way as in the past, by going to Environment Canada's website and looking at actual temperatures. My methodology may be a bit crude, but at least it uses real data and not anecdotal evedence that Suzuki is using!
    I took the Mean Jan. temp from 1954 to 1963 (when I was a kid growing up near Brantford) and compared it with the period 1996 to 2005 and found the average has not changed - actually the recent temps are slightly colder!
    (-3.6 C vs -4.2 C)
    Feel free to check my math - it may be a bit off - but for those global warmers out there, have a look at the historical weather data on any location you like and you may just find that the weather hasn't really changed at all!(I use this site to win bets with Suzuki-ites all the time!)
    http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climateData/canada_e.html
  44. b mac from Canada writes: Emissions by country.
    USA 21.44%
    China 18.80%
    Russia 5.69%
    Japan 4.47%
    India 4.23%
    Germany 3.00%
    Canada 2.02%
    United Kingdom 1.95%
    Italy 1.67% 41
    Korea, Rep. 1.65%
  45. George BrownIII from Christmas Island writes: BM ack please express it per capita. (if you can)
  46. j c from Canada writes: Not sure about global warming or the motives behind David Suzuki's statements, but I can assure you there is ice in my backyard right now and I live in Brantford. Over the past twenty years, I've built several rinks for my kids and been hampered by doing it in some years only by demands on my time. Wayne's family still lives here, so perhaps they advised him that the premise behind the commercial Suzuki wished to involve him in was not entirely accurate.
  47. Robert Kagan from Not a Leaf fan, Canada writes: George BrownIII - per capita is useless measurement if your objective is to measure the real damage each country or system has on the earth's ecosystem. If you are looking to put pressure on your own country as long as they are smaller populations (Canada) or defend inaction for country's of big populations (China), the per capita is the way to go.

    Mangemeister - agree suzuki is a bit of a leech but a whore..? That's a little strong.
  48. woof woof from Canada writes: Suzuki is a self-righteous t**d who has make a grand living milking the public purse.
    Attaway Wayne, as usual you did the right thing by rebuffing this goof.
  49. Christopher Prout from Canada writes: All David said was that Wayne said in a very polite manner "Sorry, can't do that." Wayne is in contract with these other companies who pay him top dollar to do so. If you were paying Wayne millions to advertise for your company would you want him to advertise against your company or companies like yours, probably not. Even the Great One collects a pay cheque from someone, so when he signed with Ford and Imperial Oil, I am sure somewhere in one of those contracts they had him sign there was something about not negatively advertising they products. Wayne has done a great job promoting Project Planet Challenge and I am sure does his part in trying to reduce, reuse and recycle, like everyone else. I think we are looking at this the wrong way. The commericals sound like a great idea and I would have liked to see them, but really why do we need anyone to tell us about climate change, we know its going on because of us and we know we have to try to stop it. Maybe by making the commerical it would have helped or maybe it wouldn't, who cares! The products we need to make a change are out there, except the electric car unless you built it yourself. we should be really asking questions about why the electric car was pulled from the market when everyone who owned one loved it. Watch "Who killed the electric car?" Don't say anything negative about either of these two, they both have done more with their lives than probably any of us have or will every do to help others, whether it be a cash donation or information, both should be thanked for what they have done everytime you mention their names.
  50. Robert Kagan from Not a Leaf fan, Canada writes: Christopher Prout - nice try linking Suzuki to Gretzky as he already failed to do. I suppose you go on wikipedia and fix the bad press for suzuki too. The Great One didnt get his nickname by accident.
  51. Just The Facts from Canada writes: Gretzky is my all-time hockey hero... & probably my all-time Cdn culture hero, too. However, as thrilled as I was with the Oiler Cup wins & the Canada Cup wins & the Olympic win... what does it matter if the Earth goes to total s*&t in the next 50 yrs due to global warming? The vast worldwide scientific opinion agrees that it's coming if we don't do something serious about the problem.

    Saying you have ice in your backyard - therefore there is no global warming - is as intelligent as saying the Leafs won, therefore they are Cup favourites.
  52. Just The Facts from Canada writes: Oh yeah, & back in the early days Wayne also came out in support of Bush's invasion of Iraq... something about 'trusting the President's judgement'... oops.

    I love you Wayne, but... yeeesh...
  53. j c from Canada writes: Implying I said something that I did not does is not too intelligent, is it. My point was that the the commercial Suzuki envisioned was misleading at best, as back ice rinks are still very much a part of Brantford life. To twist that into a statement that there is no global warming is a cheap shot that is equally misleading.
  54. D. Patrick from Canada writes: The issue here is not a gratuitous attack on Suzuki or "expending negative energy" as G.H. post's asserts, it is whether Suzuki behaved inappropriately in publicly attacking another celebrity who declined a request to work on his own venture. That, surely, is "negative energy".
    The validity of Suzuki's environmental views is not what is at issue, but methods and propriety is. One of the other posts (G.H.) underlines this, at least inadvertently, in pointing out that Suzuki has become "more aggressive and vocal". Those who believe themselves to be on the true path assume the right to bully and badger their critics (questionable in itself) but it is more an issue when that is extended to bystanders who are not involved in the debate (Gretzky). The environmental debate will be won on the intelectual merits of its arguments, not intimidation. Well wishers of Suzuki would do well to withold their endorsement when the guru strays into this territory.
  55. speaking for you from the centre of the universe, writes: Gretzky is selling cars and oil for profit to himself.

    That is your bystander?

    Otherwise, good post.
  56. D. Patrick from Canada writes: Well, we are all complicit in the car culture to some extent.

    We don't know why Gretzky said no, but it seems somewhat mean spirited to allege it is self-interest and slander him publicly on that basis. Like most celebrities, he probably faces constant requests for his time/endorsement. What Suzuki was asking for was a pretty significant time / other commitment. Plus, we have another post on this forum from someone in Brantford challenging the claim that the back yard rink is a thing of the past. I just don't think Suzuki serves his cause well by being shrill and slandering people.
  57. dan vanman from vancouver, Canada writes: Come on now people, open your minds a bit. Wayne would take this request, as he would with any, to his high priced advisers. A weekly meeting would be held. "Should we do this?", Wayne would ask.

    An adviser would remind him of the millions he pocketed from Ford and Esso, and they would move on. Its all a business. Wayne is a business as much as an individual.

    He should have had the stones to stand up for the planet five years ago. He didn't. Susuki called him on it. Minor story.

    But the way you people keep trashing Susuki is ridiculous. He has been saying what the world is realizing too late about global warming forever. Listen to him. He knows more about this subject than a bunch of addled hockey fans...myself included.

    I wish they would have made a difference 5 years ago, but they are now. Lets leave it at that.
  58. dan vanman from vancouver, Canada writes: As for D. Patrick. Ease up on the $5.00 words and say what you mean. You are just another global warming denier. There is no debate to be won on its intellectual merits. That time is past. The entire scientific world, with a few well compensated individuals, have agreed that man is responsible for this predicament.

    So, don't think yourself smarter than the rest of us hockey fans, and try to snow people. There is no debate. It is over. Your side lost.

    Please try to save the planet instead of abusing it anymore.
  59. John Stanton from Canada writes: Well said D Patrick.....especially about needing a car. Our cities are not built in a sustainable environment where one could actually live without a car. Sure if you lived in the city, you could do it but the price of entry is north of $ 800,000 in Toronto. The transit system is pitifully weak and should be taken away from the buffoon city managers and the inept mayor. It's not enough to get all self righteous and indignant and name calling when people dont immediately comply to the envirocons (cool, I get to use a name to stereotype a group!!) mandate.
  60. Just The Facts from Canada writes: Wayne needs to be a bit more like Steve Nash. Nash was one of the few brave (US-based) public figures who, early on, questioned the need to be in Iraq... even illustrating so at the NBA All Star game, live on US t.v.! Wayne was (is?) my sports hero, but taking those millions from Ford & Imperial Oil (among others) probably has compromised his ethic with respect to global warming.
  61. Mike Tes from Canada writes: I always wondered why Ford wasted money getting Gretzky to shill their cars rather than spend money improving their product. Since Ford is headed towards bankruptcy it didn't work.
    Obviously Suzuki wants to reach those high school dropouts(Gretzky being one himself) that worship Gretzky. They do not understand or care about global warming since it doesn't affect their small lives; as if your team winning turns you into a 'winner'.
    It's too bad since Grezky is very good at crying on camera ( a la Salt Lake,Edmonton) so he does have some acting potential - unlike his wife.

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