30 FOR 30: KINGS RANSOM (TV)
Summary
One in this series of sports documentaries presented by ESPN about important figures and events in athletic history. This film examines the circumstances and impact of legendary hockey player Wayne Gretzky’s 1988 trade from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky and others discuss the paramount importance of hockey to the people of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, particularly in the 1980’s. The Oilers make history by winning the Stanley Cup several times, first in 1984, after only a few years as an established NHL team. Gretzky plays an integral role in securing these victories and breaking numerous records during his time with the Oilers. The team enjoys astounding levels of popularity during this time. Starting in 1985, Los Angeles Kings owner Bruce McNall attempts to court Oilers owner Peter Pocklington into trading him Gretzky for increasingly large sums on behalf of Jerry Buss. In 1988, Gretzky’s contract is renegotiated, stating that he would become an unrestricted free agent in two years. Pocklington becomes aware that Gretzky’s worth as a player is likely far greater than his salary on the Oilers, and faced with mounting financial difficulties he agrees to trade Gretzky to the Kings for $15,000,000, among other concessions.
Before the trade is finalized, Gretzky has the opportunity to speak with McNall about it. At this time, Gretzky is recently married and living in Los Angeles. McNall recalls Pocklington calling during a meeting with Gretzky and apparently attempting to rationalize his own motives for trading him. This incident seems to convince Gretzky to go forward with the trade, feeling abandoned by the Oilers. Gretzky’s wedding to actress Janet Jones becomes a subject of intense media attention and scrutiny. Rumors about the trade to the Kings abound in the week after their marriage, particularly infuriating Oilers head coach Glen Sather, who works to try to prevent it from occurring. The trade officially takes place on August 9th, 1988. Gretzky is given several opportunities to call off the trade himself, but chooses to go through with it, delivering a tear-filled press conference to announce the trade.
Fan reaction in Edmonton is extremely vitriolic, particularly towards Pocklington. The day after the trade, Pocklington is reported as having made disparaging comments about Gretzky, stoking the anger of the people of Edmonton. Many also blame Jones for supposedly influencing Gretzky’s decision, although she did not do so. Gretzky’s arrival in Los Angeles signals a change in the culture of how hockey is perceived in the city, and the Kings’ popularity explodes. Games sell out frequently and media attention becomes focused on the Kings. Gretzky, looking back, understands why the Oilers management did what they did, believing that it was necessary for them to maintain the integrity of their franchise. On October 19th, 1988, the Kings play the Oilers in Canada, attracting much fanfare. Gretzky goes on to lead the Kings to five playoff seasons, but they do not win the Stanley Cup during his time with them. The Oilers win one more Stanley Cup in 1990 before Pocklington sells the team in 1998. The NHL expands in the years since the trade, with two more California-based teams emerging. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ESPN
- DATE: October 6, 2009
- RUNNING TIME: 0:53:09
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 114746
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries; Sports
- SUBJECT HEADING: TV - Public affairs/documentaries; TV - Sports
- SERIES RUN: ESPN - TV series, 2009-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Steven Michaels … Executive Producer
- Jonathan Koch … Executive Producer
- Keith Clinkscales … Executive Producer
- John Dahl … Executive Producer
- Joan Lynch … Executive Producer
- Connor Schell … Executive Producer
- John Skipper … Executive Producer
- Bill Simmons … Executive Producer
- John Walsh … Executive Producer
- Eric M. Johnson … Coordinating Producer
- Tiffany Reis … Coordinating Producer
- Shelley Storm … Coordinating Producer
- Alex Piper … Producer
- Mitch Wright … Producer
- Cory Schwartz … Associate Producer
- Kristen Rocky … Associate Producer
- Deidre Fenton … Associate Producer
- Mike Tollin … Consulting Producer
- Peter Berg … Director
- David Arkenstone … Music by
- Peter Berg … Interviewee
- Wayne Gretzky … Interviewee
- Rod Phillips … Interviewee
- Peter Pocklington … Interviewee
- Glen Sather … Interviewee
- Bruce McNall … Interviewee
- Janet Jones Gretzky … Interviewee
- Jim Matheson … Interviewee
- Walter Gretzky … Interviewee
- Luc Robitaille … Interviewee
- Marty McSorley … Interviewee
- Bob Miller … Interviewee
- Jerry Buss