As Wayne Gretzky moved across the ice during the 1999 All-Star Game in Tampa, he definitely looked like a man two days away from his 38th birthday.

He was slower than every other player. He was breathing heavier. And his physical stature reminded people more of Mr. Burns instead of Mr. Hockey.

But then it would happen. Every now and then, Gretzky's brilliance would flash across the ice. An incredible no- look pass here, a perfectly placed slap shot there...the Gretzky of old returned to shine one more time on the national stage.

The 1999 All-Star Game could have been Gretzky's last. If it was, he made sure he went out in style by scoring a goal, assisting on two others, and winning the MVP award for the third time in his illustrious career.

His slapper past goalie Arturs Irbe was vintage Gretzky. He broke in down the right wing, and while in mid-stride wound up for a blast that sneaked under Irbe's left pad and into the net. His two assists were also vintage Gretzky, especially the one on Mark Recchi's goal. Gretzky made a seemingly impossible pass that found its way over a stick, between a defender's legs and to a streaking Recchi at the side of the net.

To put it simply, Gretzky was doing things that guys 10 to 15 years younger than him couldn't. That's why Gretzky's called the Great One. That's why he's still in the league after all these years.

After the game Gretzky commented on his ability to hang with the new-age players in the league and the next generation who are supposed to one day take the torch from him instead of all of the players that he faced in the early years of his career.

"I don't think there's much of a difference for me because the excitement that I still have is the same today as it was in 1980 when I played my first game in Detroit," he said. "The difference now is when I look over and see No. 9, it's Paul Kariya. When I looked over and saw No. 9 earlier, it was Gordie Howe. But I still have the same amount of respect for a guy like Paul Kariya who is a wonderful player. I've gone from being this young guy looking up to old guys from this older guy looking up to younger guys.

"I have the same energy and the same feeling on the bench today as I did in 1980. It hasn't changed."

That energy really showed through in the All-Star Game. There was a little extra jump in his stride when he skated on a line with Recchi and Theo Fleury. For Gretzky, playing on a line with two hard-working, unselfish players was an easy task. Fleury and Gretzky clicked from their first shift on. Often, the two would get so caught up in making tape-to-tape passes to each other they forgot to shoot the puck. But with this being an exhibition game, the two really didn't seem to care. They were just out there having fun and enjoying the moment.

And what could be better than finishing off a fun weekend of hockey in Florida than by winning a new car? Sure, Gretzky's won numerous cars and other awards in his career, but he's never been able to keep one for himself. He's either given them to friends, family, or former teammates like Dave Semenko in Edmonton. Would Gretzky give the new Dodge Durango away this time? Not a chance.

"You know, in my career I played 20 years and I have gone through winning awards, cars ... I don't know the exact number I've been fortunate enough to win," he said. "I've never kept one car. And I'm going to keep this one. It's like a memento to me. I want to keep it, I want to have it. It's kind of like a trophy to me."

Hmmm...so he's keeping this car as a memento? Does that give fans a hint of an imminent retirement?

"Oh, I have no idea," he said. "At the end of the year I'll sit down and decide what I'm going to do. I'm sure things will leak out before that time. But I haven't even thought about yes or no at this point."

Retirement or not, Gretzky proved during the 1999 All-Star Game that he can still play at a high level in this league. The players might be getting younger. He might be slowing down a bit, but that doesn't me he can't school those young whippersnappers trying to take his crown as the game's best.

"I would say I'm more proud today than I was when I was 20," Gretzky said. "I was really excited (to play in an All- Star Game at the age of 19 and 20, but there's something special about being two days from 38 and playing with the players that we have today.

"The players today are better than they were 20 years ago. I don't care what anybody says. That's not to be disrespectful, because in 10 years the players are going to be better than they are today. Our game is just growing and getting better all the time. So I'm very proud of the way I am today."

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