Conference quark::mennotes-v1

        The Gretsky move to LA is a business matter.  I suspect that
    his wife has nothing to do with it. 
    
        I am open to discuss the transaction that occurred between the
    2 teams.
    
        Let's leave the baloney out of it.
    
                                                    Russ

    	Considering that the two of them appeared on the Today Show
    	and openly admitted his move was somewhat due to her show-
    	biz career, I'd hardly say the "baloney" can be left out of
    	it!  When asked if she had to persuade him to move to L.A.,
    	Janet turned to Wayne and futilely emphasized, "Not *too* 
    	much."
    
    	Sounds to me like she was a driving force in his decision.

    						Carla
    

       The 'Today Show' is not the same as 'The Boardroom.'
    
       Gretsky was underpaid in Edmonton and a huge payhike for him
       there would have created a considerable amount of pressure
       to substantially increase other Edmonton players' salaries.
    
       The modern convenience of jet flights would make a hop to LA
       a breeze in any event.
    
       Unless the rules have changed, Gretzky's bosses made the deal
       and 'spreading the blame' around would take some pressure off
       of the Edmonton organization.
    
       If it wasn't for the money, Gretzky would never have left.
    
    
                                                      Russ

    So what if his wife's career was a motivating force in his move? 
    Anything wrong with that? 
    
    Anyway, this has to do with professional sports, and hence is of no 
    actual value whatsoever.

    This is one of the difficult decisions facing a couple who
    lives in different towns.  
    
    Do they live apart?  We did that for six months and I wouldn't
    wish it on anyone, no matter how good the jet transportation is.
    (And I'll bet it's at least six hours from Edmonton to LA.)  Do
    they move to the same town?  If so, which one?  What advantages
    are there to living in each town? What disadavantages to each
    partner's career?  That's how we wound up in New England -- Neil
    could have had a better job in Houston, but technical writing
    opportunities in Houston were limited.  Here we could both find
    good jobs. 
    
    Gretzky and Jones likely went through a similar decision: he can
    play hockey in LA, but there aren't many acting jobs for her in
    Edmonton. 

    --bonnie    

    
        I hope the people in this notesfile aren't the ones paying the
       outragous ticket prices that support these glorified, over-paid,
       spoiled pro athletes.
    
                                                                  MATT
    
    

    
    If Gretsky was a VP from a major company who would really care that
    he moved to be closer to his family, and, make more money in the
    process. The fact he is such a mamoth star in hockey just gives
    the press something to play with. He really seems to be a nice sincere
    guy who has a knockout of a wife and a family on the way. I just
    hope she is as sincere about him.
    
    Best of luck to both of them...........
    
    JMB
    
    P.S. I'll be willing to bet that the NHL won't fold because of this
    trade.

    I'd be willing to bet double Gretzky's new salary that
    he'd be insulted to hear a comment such as .0

    People think for themselves and decide for themselves.
    To say that a WOMAN runs his life is an insult to a 
    talented athlete, nothing less. He runs his life,
    without a doubt. So let him live it, without his
    "fans" telling him what to do.

    Would you (.0) stay in Edmunton because a few thousand
    people wanted you to stay there becasue that's where 
    THEY want you? 

    a stranger's comment...

    
    > To say that a WOMAN runs his life
    
      I wonder what this comment says about how 
      you regard women..?

    
    I think this is a double standard in reverse.  For many years,
    if a husband was transferred to another local the wife and kids
    were expected to go no questions asked.  Isn't this the same
    issue only it is the husband now following the wife?  Is what
    is good for the goose not good for the gander???

    
    
    Now, it's not like Mrs. Gretsky can't be an actress in Edmonton.
    It might even be better than if she were trying to be an actress 
    in Tinsel-town, imagine how much more competition there is in L.A.
    than Canada.  And it isn't like Canada has no opportunities for
    actors, either.
    
    Which leaves me with a shaky thought.  Was the *real* reason why Gretsky
    left because of money?

    
    	GCA/
    
    

    re: .11
    
    Can't buy it.  Surely you're not equating the TV/film opportunities
    of L.A. with Edmonton.  The hockey opportunities are, however,
    identical (in number; each has one pro hockey team).  The move
    seems to me to be only logical.
    
    Steve
    

    
    
    RE:.12
    
    	I'm not equating L.A. with Edmonton in film opportunities. 
    I can't imagine that it could be any easier to *get* film opportunities
    in L.A. than Edmonton or even Canada, that's all.  Sheer numbers
    of roles in Hollywood has to take into account the sheer numbers
    of people *wanting* those roles.
    
    	In L.A., Mrs. Gretsky would be just another actress.  In Canada,
    however, I think she would have a better shot of establishing herself.

    
    	GCA/
    
    

    re: .13
    
    Janet [Mrs. Gretsky] Jones is already a fairly well established
    young actress who starred in the popular but not very profound
    _American Anthem_. 
    
    She's at the stage of her career where she has to be available to
    hear about, and take, parts on fairly short notice.  
    
    --bonnie

    
    .4 Pro sports....no value whatsoever......
    
     you joke right. i would say there is no dispute that multi-million
    
     dollar contracts and a 15 million dollar deal is more something 
    
     than any of us get. Whether you like pro sports or not it is still
    
     something with great value.
    
     
     The base note is not meant to insult Gretsky for not making his
     own decision. I believe that a mutual decision to move is ok.
     But there are compromises in everything I don't see this one.
     
                           Ken P.

    re: .13
    
    As a musician, in the Boston area I can assure you I understand 
    your assertion about the ease of getting the gig with less 
    competition (oh, my aching, uh, heart, do I understand).  I believe
    though that the overall ratio of jobs to people (in film) is much
    better in L.A. than almost anywhere.  Yes, the competition is
    fierce, but the number of opportunities tilts the ratio towards
    the "media center" cities.  BTW, I'm working on limited empirical
    knowledge here - mostly extrapolations, so if anyone has numbers
    either way, perhaps they could lend a hand.
    
    Also, since Jones is already established, she'll have better
    opportunities for growth in the U.S. as the "high end" (monetary)
    in the Canadian film/tv industry is lower than here.
    
    Steve
    

    
    
    hope i'm not stopping anything here, but from what i've heard
    the owner of the edmonton is having financial difficulties and
    he was looking to trade Gretzky for the money.  When Gretzky
    knew he was going to be traded, he asked to go to L.A. if that
    was possible.  so saying he asked to be traded because his 
    wife wanted him closer isn't right from what i hear.
    
    Bob

    Then there was the Pepsi Commercial ...

    I notice that the topic (here and in the news) deals a lot
    with "the" reason.  I have a notion that, if asked for detail,
    this couple would say that the move decision was made by 
    weighing a number of factors.
    
    Steve

    Newsweek had an article on the trade this week that seemed to lay
    out a more complete story.
    
    1)  The Oilers owner had been trying to work up a trade for
        quite a while behind Gretsky's back.  The guy needs the money,
    	and Gretsky would fairly soon become a free agent, meaning he'd
    	have to be paid a *lot* more.
    
    2)  When Gretsky found out, he worked a deal that he'd go quietly
        with a cover story that he wanted the trade, if he got to choose
    	where he'd go.  (Since the owner would become a target for
    	assassination in Edmonton if it looked like Gretsky was pushed.)
    
    3)  When the family (don't think they specified who) saw the flack
    	Gretsky and wife were getting, they leaked #2 to put the heat
   	back on the Oilers owner.
   
    Modern soap opera.
    
    /Dave