LOS ANGELES -- Former Los Angeles Kings owner Bruce McNall, who served jail time, doesn't think he could ever own a major sports team again.

"I was probably a dinosaur at that time,'' he said. "Looking around now with the big corporate ownership, I think the days of private ownership are really gone. I don't think it's really valid anymore to have a single fan own a sports franchise.''

McNall was booed upon being introduced at the Kings' season opener Wednesday night, when the team retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 jersey. McNall was responsible for bringing Gretzky to Los Angeles from Edmonton in 1988, and they have remained close.

McNall served nearly four years in prison for bank and wire fraud and conspiracy. He was desperate for cash after Gretzky led the team to the Stanley Cup finals in 1993, and was forced to sell a majority stake in the team the following year.

By 1995, the Kings had fallen into Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a result of McNall's misdeeds.

"Sadly, I went overboard and I tried to do something to keep things running in a way that I shouldn't have, and that's definitely wrong,'' he said.

Gretzky had vowed not to participate in a ceremony in Los Angeles until McNall was out of prison and could attend.

"That's Wayne. He's loyal, he's a friend forever,'' said Barry Melrose, who coached Gretzky in Los Angeles before being fired in 1995. "He's a friend when times are tough.''