a) League gave him special treatment. Game 6 against the Leafs, 1993 Western Conference Finals, Gretzky high-sticks Dave Andreychuk and causes him to draw blood. Should result in 5 minute major (back then), but referee Kerry Fraser turns a blind eye and ignores Andreychuk's bleeding face. Gretzky didn't get a penalty and then he scored the tying goal to send the game into overtime and even the series at 3-3. Eventually they'd win Game 7 and go on to the Stanley Cup Finals.
b) The betting scandal. Both himself and his wife were acquitted of charges and they both threw Rick Tocchet under the bus to take the blame. It's obviously more damaging to the game to have someone with a legacy like Gretzky to get busted in a betting scandal than it is for someone like Rick Tocchet, I guess.
c) He doesn't want Phoenix to move to Hamilton, basically where he was born. He's losing money like crazy in Phoenix, and Balsillie will offer him some sort of cash relief with his bid for the team. He still refuses to get behind the bid to give Canada another hockey team. His dad Walter does some great charitable work in Hamilton, God bless him. Too bad Wayne would rather shit on his roots and live out in the desert.
d) Wayne called me on the phone and told me I was a faggot, so I killed his dad, Walter, whom I just spoke highly of in the last paragraph. I killed him and I burned him.
As you can see, it's all very personal, Tahir.