Charles Barkley on Wayne Gretzky criticism from Canadians: 'Fools!' | Fox News
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Canada

Charles Barkley calls Canadians 'fools' for breaking Wayne Gretzky's heart over Trump friendship
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'He’s the greatest hockey player ever. He got no control of what these fools do down here in our government,' Barkley said of Gretzky
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By  

Published March 7, 2025 9:12pm EST

     


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Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy has the latest on President Donald Trump's tariffs on Mexico and Canada on 'Special Report.'

Former NBA MVP Charles Barkley took aim at Canadians who have been critical of NHL legend  in recent weeks.

Gretzky has come under scrutiny from Canadians for his friendship , and the hockey great's wife has said the criticism left Gretzky "heartbroken."

Barkley called these Canadians "fools."



Wayne Gretzky arrives for the inauguration ceremony before Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Pool via Imagn Images)

"You got them fools up in Canada giving ‘The Great One’ a hard time," Barkley said during a segment on Thursday’s "Inside the NBA." "Wayne Gretzky is the greatest hockey player ever. He’s the nicest person."

Trump has become one of the most controversial figures in Canada since returning to office in January after suggesting the country should become America's 51st state and threatening to  on Canadian imports into the U.S.





The New York Rangers' Wayne Gretzky celebrates a goal in the third period of a game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas Nov. 7, 1997. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

In response, fellow Canadian hockey legend Bobby Orr wrote a column in the  expressing disappointment when he read criticism of Gretzky.

"How fickle can people be, when someone who has given so much time and effort to Canadian hockey is treated in such a way," Orr’s column said. "Listen, we all have our personal beliefs as they pertain to things such as religion and politics. Wayne respects your right to such beliefs – why can’t you respect his?"

Gretzky's wife, Janet Gretzky, then shared Orr's column on social media, indicating the criticism had "broken his heart."

"Thank you Mr. Bobby Orr. Your words mean the world to Wayne and his family, I have never met anyone who is more proud to be a Canadian and it has broken his heart to read and see the mean comments… He would do anything to make Canadians proud, with his love for hockey and his country," Janet  sharing Orr's column.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

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