GOAT(s) of the Week

Alright, I missed the GOAT of the week last week and I have one this week so today I’m gonna write 2. So, without further adieu, last week’s GOAT of the Week is none other than coach Jay Wright, and this Week’s GOAT of the Week is the GOAT himself, Wayne Gretzky.

Last week, the long lasting, suit wearing, silver fox Villanova head Basketball Coach Jay Wright called it a career after 21 seasons at the helm. Shoutout Mama G (hi mom), who went to school at Villanova, so it gives me a legit excuse to root for Villanova basketball, because at this era, it was an awesome time to root for them. I vividly remember watching a ‘Nova game at The Pavillion when I was 10 in the student section (I don’t know how I got in with the students) with Coach Wright at the bench calling things out. I remember my entire family forcing my mom to go to Houston when the Wildcats made it to the final four, and she was there for the National Championship, when Ryan Arcidiacono handed the ball off to Kris Jenkins for a deep buzzer beater 3 to beat UNC for the ‘ship. Jay Wright got that team there. Lastly, I remember when Donte Divincenzo went red hot against the Michigan Wolverines 2 years later in the National Championship game to take the trophy back to school. Jay Wright got that team there.

Jay Wright has literally been the head coach at Villanova since I was born, and since then Villanova hasn’t been in the press for anything other then the success they’ve had on the court. Jay Wright did everything to the book and with class. Villanova basketball wasn’t flashy, didn’t have top NBA prospects, and didn’t have really anything super special. What they did have is the best culture in college basketball. Coach Wright formed a program of excellence and discipline, one that had made 16 tournaments, 4 total final fours, and won 2 National Championships in 3 years during his tenure. His success landed him among the greats in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Coach Wright, congratulations on a hell of a career and enjoy your well deserved retirement.

And now, on to The Great One.

99. Wayne. Gretzky. I’m writing this while listening to his interview on Spittin’ Chiclets and he’s just the literal GOAT. Looking back on his career is absolutely absurd. I’ll start with his childhood, where he said he played lacrosse in the summer and I had no idea that he played. It’s so damn cool. Then he said his first ever pro game he wore number 26 instead of 99, which is my number and that’s so cool (I’m gonna look around for that Gretzky 26 jersey). Looking at his career is like looking at a My Player on NHL ’22 on ameture mode. He finished his career with a 1.921 points per game average, which is just absurd in it of itself. 99 had 4-200 point seasons, which to put in perspective, only a few of the best players today barely go over 100 point seasons. He had 5 seasons where he lead in both goal scoring and assists in the NHL, which just means he was the most dominant player period for 5 years. The last stat, craziest of them all, is his grand-daddy point record of 2857. For context, combined, Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby have 2819 career points, 38 less than Gretzky. For more context, if you took away all 894 of Gretzky’s career goals, you’d get 1963 career points, still first by 42 points ahead of Jaromir Jagr. He was just so dominant for so long, there’s no wonder why he’s called The Great One. Only one record of his is in jeopardy of being broken, and that’s all time goals at 894. Alex Ovechkin is 114 goals shy of that record. 99 is truly the greatest player to dominate and impact their sport.