European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 11, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday. Amin list 11.1988 the stars and stripes Page 17 sports historic Swap sends Gretzky to los Angeles Wayne Gretzky tries on the Jersey of the team to which he asked to be traded. Edmonton Alberta a thereat one figured in one of the greatest deals in sports history tuesday. Wayne Gretzky the Best hockey player of his time was traded at his request to the lowly los Angeles Kings by the Edmonton oilers. The blockbuster Trade involved four other players three first round draft choices and More than $ 10  leaves a City that among sports fans at least has become virtually synonymous with his name and Jersey number 99. I Felt i was still Young enough an capable enough to help a new franchise win the Stanley cup Gretzky told Ajam packed news conference. He also said he wanted the Trade for personal reasons for the Benefit of Wayne Gretzky my new wife and our expected child in the new  then Gretzky was overcome with emotion. There comes a time when he said before pausing. He rubbed bleary eyes in an Effort to regain his composure but then seemed to give up. Without continuing he stood up and walked away from the microphones. Oilers president Glen Sather who was also teary eyed said in a shaky voice he hated to Trade Gretzky but it was Good Deal for Wayne the oilers and the National hockey  with Gretzky were Forward Mike Kru Shelyski and Forward de Senseman Marty Mcsorley. Sent to Edmonton were Center Jimm Carson who at 19 last season set league records for an  player with 55goals and 107 Points left Wing Martin Gelinas who was the Kings first round draft pick in june three no. 1 draft picks to be dispensed every other Yea starting next year. Kings owner Bruce Mcnall told Tholos Angeles Herald examiner the Deal was in excess of $10  said he Felt compelled to seek the Trade despite the heavy Price he  be got to do something Radical to sell hockey in l.a., and there s no name in hockey like Wayne Gretzky he said. Gretzky s marquee value As hockey biggest name could make the Kings perennial losers the hottest ticket in a Star crazy town. There have been other blockbuster trades in sports history but never one involving an athlete As dominant a Gretzky in the prime of his career. The smooth skating Center led the Oil ers to four Stanley cup championships in the last five years and holds or shares49 nil scoring records. He is generally regarded As the greatest hockey player of see Gretzky on Page 22 loss of notional hero stuns canadians by the associated press within hours of the stunning announcement that hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky had been traded by the Edmonton oilers a member of the Canadian parliament urged government intervention to prevent the loss of a National Symbol. The Edmonton oilers without Wayne Gretzky dislike Apple pie without ice Cream like Winter without Snow like the wheel of Fortune without Vann White it s quite simply unthinkable Nelson Riis a member of parliament from British Columbia said tuesday evening. The Bottom line Riis said is that we have to keep Wayne in Canada where canadians can see their greatest hockey player Ever on a regular  during an emotional news conference at Edmonton the newly married Gretzky confirmed that he had sought the Trade in order to live and work in the Sam City As his wife actress Janet Jones. The office of Canadian prime minister Brian mul Roney had no comment on the Trade which sent Shock Waves across Canada and throughout the National hockey league. I m surprised Gretzky s Mother Phyllis said Ashe watched the nationally televised news conference in the family s Brantford Ontario Home. I never thought he would leave Edmonton. I never thought Peter Pocklington owner of the oilers would do that but you never know. It would be scary to be out there. I m glad i m Notin Edmonton she added. Indeed tempers flared in the City where the oilers have won four nil championships in five years. The team s 21 phone lines were jammed throughout the Day by callers protesting the Trade. Many threatened to cancel season ticket subscriptions. I think that Wayne Gretzky made the Edmonton oilers and if they re going to Trade him we should Boycott the hockey team Larry Eskelson an oilers fan said. Edmonton mayor Laurence Decore said he was shocked. It s like taking All the Bridges away and saying Edmonton this is what you re going to look like " said Decore who called Gretzky Edmonton s greatest ambassador. The Trade was the top Story on Edmonton radio stations. Some callers blamed Gretzky s wife for taking him away from the City. Jones was compared by Soweto Yoko Ono whose marriage to John Lennon was blamed by Many music fans for the breakup of the beatles. It was a shocker said Bob Plager director of player personnel for the St. Louis blues. To me it s the biggest Trade of All  Plager said he and others had been hearing the talk for quite a while. I Don t think too Many people believed what happened. For what he s done for hockey and the City of Edmonton he deserved anything he wants. Maybe that s their Way of saying thank you for everything you redone and Good Luck " just As oilers fans and canadians in general were upset Kings fans were thrilled at the Prospect of Wel coming Gretzky to Southern California. There has been Little Joy with the Kings said Elliott Porter a longtime fan of the nil club that has gone 20 years without Ever winning so much As a Divi Sion title. The Only Joy in watching the Kings was if you appreciate Good hockey going to see other teams like the oilers come in to play them. It really makes me Happy that the Kings got Gretzky. I did t think it was possible. It shows that the owner Bruce Mcnall is serious about bringing a win Ner to los Angeles and i think that s great. Where do i get my tickets cubs make lights official by dumping mets by the associated press Chicago the Chicago cubs May have started a new tradition by breaking an old one. The cubs those lovable losers for Romany seasons won the first official night game at Wrigley Field by beating the first place new York mets 6-4 tuesday. I can take my lineup card Home to night and Tell my kids we won it cubs manager Don Zimmer. It was a Good no Roundup i i i i game an exciting game and we finally got some two out hits which we Haven been  one Day after rain washed away the cubs first try under the lights at the 74 year old Ballpark and doused a lot of the fanfare it looked like any other night game in the major leagues. Last night was special. Tonight everything Felt natural cubs second base Man Ryne Sandberg said. It was a fun game but it did t have All the pregame  echoed Zimmer the atmosphere was Good but not like last night. Last night was  but the lights the object of decades of debate worked Fine. No Fly balls or pop ups were lost and the shadows cast in the Corners did not affect  had no problem with the lights said mets left fielder Kevin Mcreynolds who tripped on the warning track trying to catch a  asked whether the lights were the worst in the majors Mcreynolds said in the big leagues no doubt. It kind of reminded me of playing in the  the party atmosphere was gone tues see no on Page 22