Who is “The Great One?” Is it Wayne Gretzky or Jackie Gleason? Although Wayne Gretzky is known as “The Great One” in hockey circles, I just found out that he is not the original “Great One.” Long before Gretzky laced up his first pair of skates an actor and comedian named Jackie Gleason was known as ”The Great One.” I will now compare Wayne Gretzky to Jackie Gleason and we can decide for real who is the best “Great One.”
Status:
Wayne Gretzky – Alive
Jackie Gleason – Dead
First round goes to Gretzky…..for now!!!
Famous Quotes:
Jackie Gleason: “To the moon Alice,” was a threat that Gleason’s character Ralph Kramden always said to his wife Alice on the Honeymooners comedy sitcom.
Wayne Gretzky: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” A great quote indeed but the Jackie Gleason quote is way funnier.
Round Two goes to Gleason
Hockey Stats:
Wayne Gretzky: Played 20 seasons of professional hockey scoring 894 goals with total points of 2,857.
Jackie Gleason: Didn’t even get drafted.
Round three goes to Gretzky
Legendary TV shows:
Jackie Gleason: The “Honeymooners” is a classic black and white sitcom from the 50’s. With only 39 episodes shot it remains, through syndication, one of the most popular shows of all time. With co-stars Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph, Gleason created one of the most memorable comedic character casts to this day. Watch it……it’s funny.
Wayne Gretzky: No TV show yet.
Round four goes to Gleason
Sidekicks:
Art Carney was Gleason’s sidekick on the Honeymooners. He played Norton, a guy that worked in the sewer and played kind of a nice dummy. It was a great character. Gleason’s character Ralph Kramden and Norton would hang out together, go bowling, go to men only meetings at the Lodge and generally do stupid shit that got them into trouble with their wives Alice and Trixie.
Dave Semenko was Wayne Gretzky’s sidekick in a little show they had called the Edmonton Oilers. Semenko aka “Cement Head,” hung around with Gretzky and looked after him by pounding out anybody that came near him. Semenko ended up with about 70 fights in his NHL career.
Round five is a tie. Dave Semenko and Art Carney are both great sidekicks.
In conclusion, both Jackie Gleason and Wayne Gretzky are iconic figures in their respective fields. Although they may seem like an unlikely pair to be compared, both of them have left a profound impact on popular culture. Gleason was a pioneer in comedy and entertainment, known as “The Great One” for his larger than life personality that charmed audiences worldwide. On the other hand, Gretzky revolutionized the game of hockey with his impeccable skills and unparalleled talent that also earned him the title of “The Great One.”
Both individuals have left lasting legacies that continue to inspire generations, which is why it’s important to remember their contributions to our society. Whether you’re a fan of comedic genius or sports excellence, there’s no denying the impact that Jackie Gleason and Wayne Gretzky had on the world around them. They are “The Great Ones.”
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