The quest for Wayne Gretzky's phone number did not go well, not at first.
I first tried last month. I was working on a story about how the Edmonton Oilers' sweep of the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1981 resembled the Blue Jackets' sweep of the mighty Tampa Bay Lightning last year.
Hard rule: If one is discussing the Oilers pre-dynasty, mid-dynasty, McDavidynasty or whatever, it behooves one to talk to the Great One.
General rule: It's a good idea to talk to Gretzky _ about anything. The man is eminently approachable. But the number I had was a bad one. So I got another number, and dropped Gretz a text the other day. I explained who I was and what I was doing and asked him if it'd be OK to give him a call. I got an answer in 30 seconds.
"No. I don't do interviews."
