If you’re going to party, party with the right people. That is a lesson that has served Paul Bissonnette well. He told Pat McAfee that it lead directly to a relationship with Wayne Gretzky and to a job on TNT’s NHL studio show.
Before he broke through as the host of Barstool’s Spittin’ Chiclets podcasts, Bissonnette played six seasons in the NHL. Most of that time was spent with the Arizona Coyotes. He got to the team a year after Wayne Gretzky was the coach.
Even after he was fired, Gretzky kept his home in the Phoenix area. His sons Ty and Trevor lived there with another friend while they attended Arizona State University. Bissonnette described the home as a mansion and said he attended a lot of parties there.
“Let’s put it this way, I was batting 1.000 at this place,” he told McAfee. “The girls were like everywhere.”
Partying with the Gretzky sons opened the door to gaining Wayne’s trust. Paul Bissonnette said that Ty and Trevor reached out to their dad shortly after they heard that he was going to part of TNT’s NHL plans.
“That was an easier transition to meeting him because they actually vouched for me and told him, when he got the TNT gig, ‘Hey, you’ve gotta get Biz on. He does Spittin’ Chiclets. I think it would help the broadcast.’ Wayne ended up putting in a good word and then it all worked out.”
Co-host AJ Hawk asked Bissonnette what it was like to now be friends with someone that was an icon to him in his youth. Bissonnette described Wayne Gretzky as a “guy’s guy” and said he values time spent in The Great One’s dressing room drinking beer and telling stories.
“Buddy, it’s a dream come true, and that alone is incentive enough for me to fly out here once a week or twice a week and do this gig.”
The interview was a lot of fun and ended with Paul Bissonnette acknowledging that there are two unsung heroes of his personal and professional lives.
“I really gotta thank his kids Ty and Trevor for the introduction and for helping me get laid.”
Biz is the best!! Tear ‘‘em up Biz!
We want to here more behind the scenes Wayne-O stories!
Come on AJ, let loose man. Guess I’m used to Bobby C’s
erratic nonsense…..hahaha
Graciously,
– Your Hockey Buckeye