Tom Cochrane and the Gretzky Trade

Published April 21, 2009 @ 16:18 in Sports

RewindShuffling my tunes, I just heard "Big League" by Tom Cochrane. I loved that song. Hearing it now, it made me think of Wayne Gretzky.

I was heavy into Tom Cochrane's Victory Day back in 1988. When the heart breaking news of the Gretzky Trade came down the wire that summer, the song "Big League" somehow became my theme song of sorts for the Oilers ~ Kings deal. From August 9, 1988 to the present day, "Big League" brought me back to that moment.

As if you need a refresher, the trade saw Oilers owner Peter Pocklington send Gretzky, Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski to the Kings for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three first-round draft picks and $15 million. As a 14-year old hockey and Gretzky freak, I saw it as something more significant. I saw it as the selling of The Great One, not to another team, but to another nation.

It's still a great song. Here's "Big League" from 1988.

8 Responses to "Tom Cochrane and the Gretzky Trade"

Annemarie
April 21, 2009 / 16:52

I have always loved this song. So sad. *sniff*

Ron
April 21, 2009 / 17:13

How about when Lanny McDonald was traded to Colorado?

Great song though, lost potential and tragedy.

stephanie Wilkinson
April 21, 2009 / 18:32

Big League makes me cry....

twins from bolton
April 21, 2009 / 20:20

A great song but a sad story.
We as parents always want more than our kids abilities.
My 1 son loves baseball & has played for 10 years - the last 3 years with players 2-3 years older than him. He was one the best on the team with playing 3-4 positions & batting 2nd best on the team
We all dream.

Steve
April 22, 2009 / 08:13

Who did the 3 1st rounders end up becoming?

Argie
April 22, 2009 / 12:15

The worst trade in the entire history of the leafs: Trading away Kenny Jonsson and a 1st round pick for Wendy Clark. Guess who became that #1 pick (Roberto Luongo).

Done by Cliffy Fletcher, the genius.

Jon
April 22, 2009 / 12:16

From Wikipedia

"On August 9, 1988, in a move that heralded significant change in the NHL, the Oilers traded Gretzky, along with McSorley and Krushelnyski, to the Los Angeles Kings for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, $15 million in cash, and the Kings' first-round draft picks in 1989 (later traded to the New Jersey Devils—New Jersey selected Jason Miller), 1991 (Martin Rucinsky), and 1993 (Nick Stajduhar)."

Doesn't say anything about who they got from New Jersey.

Leave a Reply



« Where Do I Go From Here? Or Am I Ruined For All Eternity? The Promise - When In Rome »