Wayne Gretzky was not only the best hockey player to ever lace `em up. He was also hockey's greatest ambassador.

His skills were what made him great, but his humility was what made him special. He will be remembered for more than just the magic he weaved on the ice, but also what he did off it.

Gretzky was known as being one of the most gracious, polite stars of any sport. In a day of Dennis Rodman and Mike Tyson, Wayne was still down to earth and behaved like a gentleman, always saying the right thing.

He always had time for an autograph and time to visit with his admirers. And that's what made him stick with the fans. Wayne was always one to think about others first and himself second.

That even translated onto the ice, where he became the best passer the game will ever see. He passed the puck unselfishly to teammates as well as the credit. Gretz always remembered who helped make him who he was.

Even at the end, Wayne was diplomatic. He acknowledged that his success was magnified by the team around him, the Edmonton Oilers of the 1980's. Players like Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey, Mark Messier and even Dave Semenko helped shape his career. He admitted he owed parts of his success to these players and his coaches, Glen Sather and John Muckler.

Gretz was the centrepiece to hockey's greatest team -- the Oilers were the most dominant team of the eighties. They could win at will. You'll never see a team like that again.

As he rewrote the NHL's record books, Gretzky still never felt that the game of hockey owed him. He did his part for the NHL and gave his team and the league 100 percent.

That's what separates Gretzky from Lemieux. Gretzky never thought of himself as bigger than the league. That's why people love him.

Of course, Gretz did have luck on his side. Unlike Lemieux, Gretzky never had to battle significant injuries. Lemieux did. For the most part, Wayne had a healthy career. And who knows, could that be attributed to luck?

He was always considered too small to play the game and succeed. Many hockey pundits didn't think the Great One had what it took to make in the NHL due to his lack of size. But smarts and of course bodyguards (like Dave Semenko and Marty McSorley) helped keep Wayne from being bullied and injured.

Sememko, of course was kindly thanked about 12 years ago at an All-Star game when Wayne won the game MVP and a new car. He had so many cars, he gave it to Semenko.

Even now, Gretzky downplays the significance of his career and said that were today's stars (Paul Kariya, Jaromir Jagr, Eric Lindros and Peter Forsberg) playing in the high-scoring mid- eighties that they would surely challenge his point totals.

That forever typifies Wayne Gretzky's attitude to life and to hockey. The NHL, the hockey world and the fans (especially in Edmonton) forever owe him for what he's done for the game and his impact on our lives.

For that, thank you, Wayne. Thanks for the Cups, the beautiful goals and the beautiful moments.

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