The Great One on Cardboard: # 99

It is play-off time in the NHL. The expanded series from the coast of California to the shores of Atlantic, the puck is dropping. If you are a reader of this blog, you know I love to wax nostalgic.

When it comes to NHL records - one name, one great name, appears over and over. WAYNE GRETZKY. So when I saw that one of the toys from the 1980's was up for auction recently,  it flooded back memories from the glorious collecting of everything Gretzky.

I had as many cards as I could get my hands on in the 1980's - Canandian, American, food issue and special issues - I had them all. And then there was the Mattel doll figure. Yes - the same people who make Barbie and G.I. Joe.

I happened to be at a summer fireman's carnival around 1985-86. The "carnies" had their usual games of shooting and hoop tosses. There was a gambling tent in which you would throw a little red ball and try to get a "Bingo". It was called "I got it" - which you shout out if you had a winning pattern.

Well, I sad down with the chain smoking geezers and gray haired ladies to play the game. Not by choice, but rather because among the cigarette lighters, pocket knives and stuffed animal prizes - was a Mattel Gretzky doll.

To make a long boring story short - I got it ! So these days, during the play-offs, ol' Gretz is propped up in the corner with my sticks and Canadian touques to see who can come close to his records.

As far as I am concerned - No one can.