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The Hockey Hall of Fame has enough Wayne Gretzky memorabilia to outfit a small nation. Jerseys, sticks, gloves, skates, pucks.
Now it has the real thing.
Hockey's all-time everything was inducted into the Hall of Fame just seven months after retiring, becoming the 10th member to bypass the three-year waiting period.
Sports Illustrated's Kostya Kennedy says retirement is a relative term, seeing as Gretzky is as active as ever. Ceremonies on both coasts, league appearances, fashion shows and a column in a Canadian paper have made The Great One as visible as ever. And, of course, the impact he had on the game will reverberate forever.
On that note, CNN/SI's Jim Kelley dispels the myth that Gretzky overstayed his welcome in the NHL. Even though his skills had declined and his quest for another championship was met with disappointment after disappointment, Gretzky remained the fabric of everything the NHL wanted to be.
Reactions: What now for Wayne?
CNN/SI on Gretzky's Retirement
• SI's Rick Reilly: Wayne's world has always been down to earth
• SI's Leigh Montville: I want to be like Wayne
• Sports Illustrated Memories: Our staff writers recall the things that made Gretzky great
• CNN/SI Q&A: Nick Charles raps with Michael Farber
• CNN/SI Profile: A meteor that forever changed hockey
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