So Cal's All-Time Roster: No. 99
No. 99:
Our pick:
==Wayne Gretzky, Kings (1988-'96)
The story goes that he idolized Gordie Howe, who wore No. 9. As a teenager, Gretzky tried No. 19, but it didn't fit well. Finally, as a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, he made it a pair of 9s. Thus became the legend.
On the NHL.com website, there's a link to 99 reasons why Gretzky has been named the greatest player in hockey history.
The league says he still holds or shares 61 records listed in the Official Guide and Record Book.
He's even got a decent restaurant in Toronto.
The band Goldfinger wrote a song about him. The lyrics include:
Wayne Gretzky
The only man I'd have sex with.
Wayne Gretzky
I'd be intimate with
Wayne Gretzky
I think hes kinda sexy
Wayne Gretzky
I wonder what he looks like naked
I wonder what it would be like to have sex with the great one
I wonder what it would be like to have sex with the league's leading scorer
Wayne Gretzky
What more needs to be said.
Did he bring a Stanley Cup to Los Angeles. No. He got 'em to the finals.
Did he set the record for career goals while in a Kings' jersey? Yes, on March 23, 1994, and you can relive it in the video above.
Did he influence the growth of hockey in the Pacific Time zone without him? Kings analyst Jim Fox, a former teammate, talks about it on this Yahoo! Sports video Q-and-A.
Did he become part of pop culture history when Vince Vaughn made "Gretzky's head bleed" in an EA Sports NHL 94 video game during a scene in "Swingers"? Check out the video here (note: Roenick scores for Chicago), with Sue wearing Gretzky's jersey:
We could go on and on. But we've reached the end at about as good a place as any.
Other No. 99s:
==Mike Patterson, USC football ('01-'04)
==Tim Ryan, USC football ('86-'89)
==Ricky Hunley, Raiders ('89-'90)
==Mitch Williams, Angels ('95)
==Kenyon Coleman, UCLA football ('97-'01)
Sports Illustrated's pick for the all-time No. 99: You need to guess? (True, it's Gretzky ... did you expect George Mikan?)
Did we miss anyone?
You've got our vote, now let's see yours: