Wayne Gretzky Wanted To Be A Detroit Tiger

You didn't read that wrong. Wayne Gretzky wanted to play shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. With Tigers single game tickets on sale today (Wednesday at 10am) -- we started looking up stories about the 1984 Tigers (40th anniversary). In the midst of Gibby and Sparky and Trammell, the name Wayne Gretzky came up...wait. what?

Back in 2017 Wayne Gretzky appeared on the Dan Patrick show when he started about playing other sports besides hockey. The conversation quickly turned to his love of baseball - and towards the end of the conversation he talks in detail about his love of the Detroit Tigers. Wayne Gretzky wanted to play shortstop for the Detroit Tigers.

Wait. What? Here's what he said: "My favorite sport, believe it or not, was baseball." Asked whether, talent notwithstanding, he would've chosen to be a baseball player or a hockey player, he didn't hesitate: "I would've taken baseball all day long. I would've loved to have been the shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. I grew up such a big Tiger fan, Ernie Harwell and listening to Tiger games."

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As we try to process the vision of Gretzky wearing the old english D for the Tigers - what about joining the Red Wings? In the ESPN 30 for 30, Gretzky talked about Edmonton letting him choose a team for the trade...and it was down to two: Los Angeles and Detroit (his wife wanted him to come here BTW). Can you imagine him on the ice wearing the 99?

Are we the only ones really excited to see what this team has in store for the AL Central in 2024? Gearing up for opening day on April and this team has a real chance to win the division. And have you seen some of the tech upgrades at Comerica Park? 

When the news came out the Sports Illustrated was laying off their employees after being in business since 1954, I started thinking about my favorite Michigan Sports Illustrated covers. So many of them came to mind when you start thinking about Magic, The Bad Boys, Barry Sanders, Gordie, Yzerman, The 84 Tigers, JV...I can keep going. But Sports Illustrated was so much more than that:

If you're of a certain age you'll remember knowing the day your Sports Illustrated would show up in the mail. I'd read it front to back, letters to the editor to Rick Reilly in the back (I always thought he was cool). S.I. was so much more than just great pictures - it told me wonderful stories about the players, teams and coaches.

The annual preview editions for any league (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) were a must read and I'd take them to school to argue rankings with my friends: "How the hell did they put the North Stars in front of the Wings?".

You felt a closer connection to sports because of S.I. - I'd even save them for at least six months and then keep the ones I loved (the U.S. Hockey Gold Medal in the 1980 Olympics cover - forever).

There was also a mythology to the athletes back then. We didn't know EVERYTHING about them, and when you saw photos of Magic jumping over Larry Bird you were convinced he was the greatest college player ever (at least I was). Or Bo Jackson breaking a bat over his knee or running over "The Boz" - he was the stuff of myth. He didn't look human and I'd marvel at the pictures and stories.

Sports Illustrated was a big part of my life growing up. And I'm grateful for it (even if they did kiss Jordan's ass for a couple of years). I wish they were around today to document the Lions season and this fan base.

If you were in Detroit you loved him. Outside of Michigan, he was probably the most hated player in the NBA...and we didn't give a sh*t. The Bad Boys were exactly that - they'd knock you on your ass and complain to refs if a foul was called. Bill Laimbeer was our pain the butt, and we love him.

Where were you when these two giants squared off in 1979? Magic and Bird changed the way we watched basketball..the entire country wanted to see who'd win the game (and the game within the game between these two).

Calvin Johnson was a man playing among boys. I still laugh at some of the catches he made in the NFL (even when defenses tried everything to stop him). This catch against Dallas just a reminder of how amazing Megatron was...and what a blessing to have him in Detroit.

This was a tough one. So many great Red Wings covers - but something about these two on the cover of Sports Illustrated back in the early days makes me smile. How many hockey players saw that picture and said "I want to be in the NHL"...or said "there's no way in hell I'm messing with them"

When it comes to Michigan football it's all about the swagger. And NO ONE backed it quite like Desmond Howard - scoring the game winner against Notre Dame back in 1991. Wolverine legend.

The 1984 Tigers (love this pic of Trammell going yard against the Padres in the World Series). I hope everyone in Detroit understands how amazing this team was, and how Sports Illustrated captured so many pics of Trammell and the gang during that season. One of the greatest teams in MLB history.