Former NBA MVP Charles Barkley focused on Canadians who were critical of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky in recent weeks.
Gretzky was examined of Canadians for his friendship With President Donald TrumpAnd the wife of the Hockey Great has said that the criticism has left Gretzky ‘deeply sad “.
Barkley called these Canadians ‘fools’.
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Wayne Gretzky arrives for the inauguration ceremony before Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States in Washington, DC, January 20, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Pool via imagna images)
“You fool them in Canada with a difficult time,” said Barkley during a segment on Thursday “Inside the NBA”. “Wayne Gretzky is the biggest hockey player ever. He is the nicest person.”
Trump has become one of the most controversial figures in Canada since his return to his office in January after he suggests that the country should become the 51st state of America and threatens rates About Canadian import in the US
Gretzky attended a victory party after Trump President Kamala defeated Harris Harris in the 2024 elections. Gretzky was seen shortly thereafter in a Maga hat and attended Trump’s inauguration.
“Fools Up in Canada made it difficult for him because of the rate with Trump and everything,” said Barkley. “He has nothing to do with that. He played hockey. He is the biggest hockey player ever. He got no control over what these fools do here in our government.”
Center Wayne Gretzky of the New York Rangers in action during a pregame skate for the start of the Rangers game with the Florida Panthers in Miami Arena in Miami, Fla., 8 October 1996. (Zoran Milich/Allsport)
Trump said he asked Gretzky to become the next “Governor of Canada” after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had announced that he would resign. But after Gretzky had expressed support for “Canada who remained a separate country, instead of becoming a cherished and beautiful 51st state”, Trump declared Gretzky a ‘free agent’.
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“I don’t want anyone in Canada to say anything bad about him. He supports Canada as it is, as he should, although it is not nearly as good as it could be as part of the largest and most powerful country in the world, the good Ole ‘USA!” Trump wrote in a social social post.
Gretzky’s friendship and interactions with Trump During the controversy led to hard recoil against the hockey legend of Canadians, although he has been universally loved in the country since his play career.
Wayne Gretzky of the New York Rangers celebrates a goal in the third period of a match against the Dallas Stars in Dallas on November 7, 1997. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
In response, colleague Canadian hockey legend Bobby orr wrote a column in the Toronto Sun Misituation when he criticized Gretzky.
“How fickle people can be when someone who has done so much time and effort is treated in Canadian hockey in such a way,” said Orr’s column. “Listen, we all have our personal beliefs when they relate to things such as religion and politics. Wayne respects your right to such beliefs – why can’t you respect his?”
Gretzky’s wife, Janet Gretzky, then shared Orr’s column on social media, indicating that the criticism ‘had broken his heart’.
‘Thank you, Mr. Bobby orr. Your words mean the world for Wayne and his family, I have never met anyone who is more proud to be a Canadian and it has broken his heart to read and see the mean comments … He would do everything to make Canadians proud, with his love for hockey and his country, ‘Janet’ wrote in an Instagram message The column of Orr share.
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