vel, its a big responsibility to stay there. But he wants to, and he has all the tools to do it.Reserve guard Lou Williams l

TORONTO -- Just about every Canadian kid of a certain vintage has a Wayne Gretzky spot memory: his 50th goal in 39 games, his first Stanley Cup, his trade from Edmonton to Los Angeles that broke our countrys collective heart. Somewhere, not so deep in the recesses of our now-adult brains, some moment in Gretzkys life and some moment in ours have been tied together like a knot.I was 7 years old in the summer of 1981. I went to a movie with some friends. My family did not have a lot of money, but I somehow managed to get a Mr. Big chocolate bar out of the deal.Inside the wrapper, there was a number for a contest. If Gretzky scored that same number of points the following season, you could mail in your wrapper and be entered into a drawing for a fabulous prize. In my head, that prize has become the sum of the known universe. It was probably an Oilers sweater.I opened my chocolate bar as carefully as Charlie Bucket, and I can picture it as clearly now as I could then. In stamped blue numbers, inside a little black box: 212.Now I need to impress upon you how gullible a child I was. I believed in everything. I am 42, and I still believe in magic. I believe that the human spirit can conduct electricity. I believe that love can be transmitted across space as surely as a satellite signal.But even back then, I didnt believe for a millisecond that a hockey player could score 212 points in a single season. I tossed my Mr. Big wrapper.Gretzky collected 92 goals and 120 assists that season. Later I had a pennant that commemorated that season, so I could look at those otherworldly totals whenever I turned my head toward that spot over my bed. Combined with that lost Mr. Big wrapper -- I still wonder if any dreamer out there kept his long enough to claim the prize -- those numbers made an impression on me that I carry to this day: Never underestimate greatness or our capacities for it.On Tuesday at the World Cup of Hockey, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman introduced Gretzky as the official ambassador for the leagues centennial. On Nov. 22, 1917, five men met at the Windsor Hotel in Montreal. Four days later, they founded the NHL. Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, the league will stage a yearlong celebration of its sometimes surprising longevity. Gretzky will preside over it, less as the man he is than as the symbol he has become.Gretzky hasnt been involved in hockey in any real capacity since his failed coaching tenure with the then-Phoenix Coyotes ended in 2009. The fallout of that franchises bankruptcy was ugly, with the league eventually cutting Gretzky a check for more than $7 million in unpaid salary in 2013. In his semi-exile since, Gretzky has been seen more often on golf courses, watching his son-in-law, Dustin Johnson, compete, than in hockey rinks.Now hes back. Bettman wasnt shy in his introductions. Entering this season, he said, 7,435 players have played at least one NHL game. Through all the years, hockey has elevated us, he said. One player in particular truly was transformational, a player who made the impossible commonplace on the ice and who off the ice transcended hockey and transcended sport.How has hockey lived without such a man, and how has he lived without it?Listen, a relaxed and well-looking Gretzky said. Ive always said this thousands of times: Its the greatest game in the world. Everything thats happened in my life is because of the National Hockey League and the game of hockey. So when the commissioner called me a couple of months ago and asked me if I wanted to be involved, I said, Absolutely.The 2017 Winter Classic will be in St. Louis. The All-Star Game will be in Los Angeles. Given his connection to those cities, Gretzky probably would have been at those events anyway. But to have him there in an official capacity, the face of the game once again, seems like a necessary correction. Its a great thrill for me, he said.For us too. Hockeys future, like all futures, is foggy. A questionable expansion to Las Vegas, the dearth of Stanley Cups for Canadian franchises, the less-than-grand success of this World Cup and the state of the international game -- each raises more questions than answers.Wayne Gretzky has never left our memories. In some ways, hes been here all along. But if hockey is going to find the solutions required to last another 100 years, it wont hurt to have the magician who made 212 the right answer around.Jay Novacek Womens Jersey . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Taco Charlton Youth Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. http://www.shoptheofficialcowboys.com/Elite-Larry-Allen-Cowboys-Jersey/ . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. Bob Lilly Cowboys Jersey . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands. Leighton Vander Esch Youth Jersey . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game.CHICAGO -- A thin backcourt keeps getting thinner for the Los Angeles Lakers.Last week, the Lakers lost 20-year-old point guard DAngelo Russell to a left knee injury that could sideline him for a couple more weeks. Now, shooting guard Nick Young will miss 2-4 weeks with a strained calf muscle Tuesday in a loss against the New Orleans Pelicans.Young underwent an MRI on Wednesday before the Lakers (9-10) visit the Chicago Bulls (10-6). In the meantime, look for Jose Calderon and Jordan Clarkson to lead the backcourt during the second road game in as many nights for Los Angeles.You do your best -- I know its a cliche -- but literally trying to take it one game at a time, first-year Lakers coach Luke Walton told the Los Angeles Times.Meanwhile, the Bulls are grateful to wake up in their own beds after a grueling six-game road trip that spanned the West Coast before crisscrossing the country to Philadelphia. Chicago won four of six games on the trip and surpassed 100 points in each of its past three contests.The Bulls return to their home court for the first time since Nov. 12. The team is 4-1 at the United Center this season, with its only setback coming against the New York Knicks.The Lakers and Bulls meet for the second time in the 11 days. Chicago outlasted Los Angeles 118-110 on Nov. 20 at the Staples Center as guard Jimmy Butler erupted for 40 points.Butler has played like a superstar in his first season alongside free-agent addition Dwyane Wade. Butler is averaging 25.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his first 16 contests.The buoyant 27-year-old told reporters he looked forward to competing againstt the Lakers and veteran forward Luol Deng, Butlers friend and former teammate.dddddddddddd. Deng served as a mentor for Butler, whom the Bulls drafted with the final pick of the first round in 2011.The way I look at it, I owe him a little bit, Butler said with a sly smile to the Chicago Tribune. Thats why Im going to show him the protege is doing it.Wade said Butlers emergence was real.This is not a facade, Wade said to the Chicago Tribune. This is not luck. This is the way he can play night in and night out. He understands that now. Once you reach that level, its a big responsibility to stay there. But he wants to, and he has all the tools to do it.Reserve guard Lou Williams led the Lakers with 25 points against the Bulls in the teams first meeting. Forward Larry Nance Jr. added 18 points off the bench.Los Angeles lost five of its past seven games to slip below .500. Waltons team is searching for its first win against the Bulls since Jan. 29, 2015.Lakers forward Julius Randle returned Tuesday after missing the previous three games because of a hip-pointer injury. Randle scored 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in 22 minutes.I dont have to be pain-free, (but) Im just trying to figure out a way around it, Randle told the Los Angeles Times. But the biggest thing is I dont want it to get worse.Bulls guard Doug McDermott is expected to miss his seventh consecutive game as he recovers from a concussion. He returned to practice this week but has not been cleared for contact drills. ' ' '