I’ve never been much of a celebrity hound. I’ve always viewed “stars” as people who are just like me — except they have a lot more money and really good lawyers.

And most don’t drive 8-year-old Honda Civics.

But, I will admit to being something of a fanboy when it comes to Wayne Gretzky, who made his way to Greenville Friday for the second round of the BMW Charity Pro-Am Golf Tournament.

After playing at Bright’s Creek in North Carolina Thursday, he’ll visit Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg today.

I hope I can be forgiven for this slight case of hero worship — at least by the other four hockey fans who live in the Palmetto State. And besides, ol’ Wayne and I go way back.

Way, way back.

I first saw him play the sport that would make him famous back in 1978 when he strapped on the skates for the World Hockey Association’s Indianapolis Racers.

I can safely say I’m one of the few people who actually saw him play for the Racers, because the 17-year-old stayed with the club for only eight games before moving on to the Edmonton Oilers.

I saw him play for Edmonton that same season. I’d love to sit here and tell you that I immediately knew he would become the greatest hockey player who ever lived, but that wouldn’t be true.

My thoughts were simply, “Man, that guy’s a year younger than I am.”

Of course, it wouldn’t take long for the entire world to learn about The Great One, even those people who thought hockey was not a sport but merely a naughty word that makes school children giggle.

After just two seasons in the WHA, he went on to glory in the National Hockey League, where he is the only NHL player to score over 200 points in a single season (he did it four times), and had an amazing 13 consecutive seasons when he tallied 100 or more goals.

At the time of his retirement in 1999, he held 40 NHL regular season records and 15 playoff bests. Today, he is coach and part owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, a team he led to a winning record this year and one he hopes to guide to the postseason in 2008-09.

“Our goal this year was to bring the young guys along,” Gretzky said. “Our goal next year is to make the playoffs. We have a lot more stability this offseason than we did heading into the last offseason.”

Whether Gretzky winds up being half as good a coach as he was a player really doesn’t matter. His legacy in the sport is secure. In fact, on May 19 he’ll celebrate the 24th anniversary of the first Stanley Cup title he won with the Oilers.

And while it was cool to see The Great One break out the sticks in the Upstate, I feel even more fortunate to have seen him break out the sticks on a frozen pond 30 years ago.