McNall: Life and the NHL All-Star Game Go On

BOSTON —  To play or not to play. That seems to be the major question as NHL officials convene in Chicago today for Saturday’s scheduled All-Star game.

Wayne Gretzky said Wednesday he would cancel the game in light of the continuing crisis in the Persian Gulf, and he reiterated that point Thursday night after the Kings had lost to the Boston Bruins.

“It’s a serious situation,” Gretzky said. “But I don’t have a lot of say. I’m just one of the players. I’ll go there, and I’m sure everybody will enjoy the weekend. But it’s kind of hard for all the players. Normally, they’re talking about how other teams are doing, how other players are doing. Now, they’re just talking about what’s going on over there.”

While Gretzky, an all-star center for the Campbell Conference, doesn’t have a say in the fate of the game, which was still a go as of Thursday night, King owner Bruce McNall does.

McNall was scheduled to attend a Board of Governors meeting in Chicago early this morning.

“If there was some sentiment (for a cancellation),” McNall said, “we would follow it. But, I wouldn’t expect anything. It would be easier if there was more lead time. If television made a move, there might be a change.”

The game is scheduled to be shown on NBC.

“You can’t stop all of life,” McNall said. “It’s just a game, but so is all of life. You would have to stop all entertainment and all businesses.

“I would rather see some sort of symbol (of patriotism) at the game itself, something people would see and feel.

“Sports has has been a useful outlet in cases like this. We went through World War II and didn’t stop baseball.”

Gretzky expressed an opposite sentiment and took it a step further.

“Maybe all sports ought to shut down for a few days,” he said. “It’s a tough time for all America.”