Published 12/27/2022, 12:15 PM EST
When it comes to life outside the field, athletes often know how to party hard. Some of the greatest players across different sports would come together to socialize and indulge in some entertainment. One such incident involved hockey GOAT Wayne Gretzky and NBA superstar Michael Jordan.
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Both the stars now boast of a lavish retirement. While they go forth partying, golfing, and living their lives, an incident once brought stereotyped Gretzky to his Canadian nature. This is a story of tips and generosity in Vegas, that got a lot of reactions from fans of both legends.
So, What Happened in Vegas?
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The incident took place at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, where Gretzky and Jordan were having a blast. When it came to tipping the servers, however, Jordan reportedly tried cutting some corners. The legendary basketball professional tipped the server with a $5 chip. This felt unacceptable to Gretzky, who was used to being generous, especially at an extravagant place like Vegas. Jordan’s gesture prompted the hockey legend to make an extreme move to teach the NBA player a thing or two.
PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 07: Former NHL player Wayne Gretzky reacts during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Monterey Peninsula Country Club Shore Course on February 07, 2019 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
The hockey star took matters into his own hand, stole a $100 chip from Jordan’s side of the table, and offered the server that instead. He then went on to taunt Jordan that one should be tipping generously when in Vegas. Although it’s been a while since this incident took place, it recently resurfaced on Facebook, and fans had a lot of opinions.
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Fans had a lot to say about Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan’s interaction
People took a dig at the Canadian and American cultures, where the former didn’t have a traditional tipping system. Comments like “When a Canadian teaches an American how to tip in America” invoked some laughter. Fans appreciated Gretzky’s gesture with comments like “For how great a player he was, I don’t think Wayne Gretzky gets enough credit for being a class act as well”, “That was mighty generous of Gretzky”, and “The “Great Tipper” ?”. One even took a dig at Jordan with their comment, “Best teams sport athlete of all time teaching the second best how a man should behave. Perfect”.
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Whether or not Gretzky did the right thing, the incident is iconic. It has often invoked a lot of opinions and debates about both the legends’ personalities. What do you feel? Do you think Gretzky did the right thing?
Watch this story: The Great One: What is Wayne Gretzky’s golf handicap?