Why Can’t Wayne Gretzky Be Like Jesse Marsch?

Since winning the presidential election in November, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that Canada should become America’s 51st state, threatening the use of “economic force,” such as the implementation of crippling tariffs on all Canadian products, energy and minerals entering the U.S., in order to make it happen. Asked whether his push to make Canada the 51st state is a "real thing" during a taped interview with Fox News' “Special Report” that aired ahead of the Super Bowl, Trump doubled-down saying "Yeah, it is." Last week, flanked by his Cabinet appointees and special government employee Elon Musk, Trump stated “If we don’t support them (Canada), they don’t subsist as a nation.”?

These coercive remarks and threats by the U.S. President don’t sit well with Canada’s Wisconsin-born national soccer team coach Jesse Marsch.

Marsch is a highly respected and decorated soccer coach and manager, having led teams in the Austrian Bundesliga, the English Premier League and in North America, often with outstanding success.? He was selected as Canada’s national team’s coach last May following an intense international competition among many countries for his services.????????

Although he’s been Canada’s national team’s coach for less than a year, Marsch blasted President Donald Trump. “I’d like to address the 51st state discourse, which I find unsettling and frankly insulting,” said Marsch while recently speaking to the press in Los Angeles.? “If I have one message to our president, it’s lay off the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st state… As an American, I’m ashamed of the arrogance and disregard that we’ve shown one of our historically oldest, strongest and most loyal allies,” continued Marsch.

“Canada is a strong, independent nation that’s deep-rooted in decency,” said Marsch, who at one time was touted to take over the U.S. national men’s soccer team. “It’s a place that values high ethics and respect, unlike the polarized, disrespectful and often now hate-fueled climate that’s in the U.S.”?

In an interview with Marsch on TSN following his defence of Canada, sports anchor Jay Onrait called him “my favourite American.”

While Marsch has vehemently expressed his disgust about President Trump’s threats to Canada, Wayne Gretzky, arguably Canada’s greatest sports icon, has instead chosen to visit Trump at his Mar-a-Lago Florida residence, attend his inauguration and stay conspicuously silent on Trump’s insulting comments about Canada.?

Some have suggested that Gretzky’s silence is further proof of his gradual, yet targeted, move away from his Canadian roots.? For instance, Gretzky became a naturalized United States citizen. In 2009, he was awarded the Companion of the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honour, but has not travelled to Ottawa to receive it.? At the recent championship game of the 4 Nations Face Off in Boston that pitted Canada against the United States, Gretzky, as Canada’s honourary captain, emerged from the American side of the tunnel, gave an eager thumbs up to the US players and, unlike the honourary American captain who wore a USA hockey jersey, wore no Canadian colours to the game.

Gretzky’s silence is perceived as being disloyal to Canada by many Canadians.? For instance, Grant Prete, a 31 year old hockey fan from Edmonton, lamented that “I feel like it reaches a point where his silence on this topic (the US annexation of Canada through economic force) becomes a response in itself.”? As a result, Prete launched a petition to remove Gretzky’s name from a highway in Edmonton. So far, it’s received more than 10,000 signatures and counting.

While Gretzky chooses to remain silent, he has allowed (and perhaps orchestrated) others to speak on his behalf.? The negative reaction by many Canadians led Trump, fellow hockey legend Bobby Orr and Gretzky’s American wife, Janet, to defend his national pride and lament the treatment he has been receiving.???

Perhaps Gretzky’s silence on the punishing Trump tariffs can be best summed up by Toronto Star columnist Heather Mallick:? “Gretzky was born in Canada.? Canada made him.? Then Canada made him rich, famous and beloved.? But America made him ultra-rich.? He lives in Arizona now.? We’re a memory.”? ?

Whatever the case may be, it is in times of duress when one realizes who you can truly rely upon for support and on what side of the border people stand.?