Just what the NHL needed?

[VonErich Lives]

Suprised no one had posted this yet.

Stories all over, but some links.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=2322762

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2323292

Wow... this will be huge...

the summary, he was the money man behined a betting "services" that had MOB ties and was taking bets from NHL players, coaches etc...

Wayne Gretzkey wasn't named, his WIFE was...

Apperently this has been a Sting NJ has been working for a couple of years.

I have a feeling this could destroy the NHL, they're having enough problems... lack of coverage, fans, etc.... start taking the embasadors to the game such a Wayne Getzkey and drag them through the mud, even worse, have them do jail time? or plead to stay out of jail?

While in the grand scene, I personally feel gambling should be legal, it isn't and just seems like some people should have known better.

[Rob]

Gambling should be legal in the States. Gambling on sports you have control in is still wrong.

[VonErich Lives]

Gambling should be legal in the States. Gambling on sports you have control in is still wrong.

It's legal if it's placed in person at a "legal sports book" the only ones I know about are in Vegas, the other casino's have horse/dog racing "sports books" but not sporting events.

The first question is going to be did anyone bet on Hockey.

Also, who else was tied to organized crime, was it just Toccet or were others in or knew?

If it comes out Gretzkey was betting and he used his wife to his name wouldn't be tied "just in case" I find that worse then if he had just been caught using his own name.

[McDoogle]

I highly doubt the people who actually placed the bets will be charged with anything other than maybe a misdemeanor charge. Also this won't destroy the game of hockey.

[VonErich Lives]

Rob as for "it should be" Well, a lot of people think many things should be, the facts remains it isn't.

McDoogle - Well, Destroy is a moot term considering the shambles the sport is still in. If it comes out it was just a few people and no one ever bet on hockey that's one thing, but if you get a Pete Rose situation, where you had active players, coaches, gm's betting on NHL games... it's going to get ugly.

Also, what influence did toccet have, that guy is screwed, he appears to be the money man and main contact and he was coaching (possible playing? 2001?) at the time...

Also, what if a bet was called in by a player who was in canada at the time? They were talking that could increase the charges...

I just see this getting really ugly.

[road doggy dogg]

Yeah it's been on the radio all day here. It's kinda messed up. LOL though it was hilarious, on Stony & Wojo some female hockey player called in and was saying how one time her coach asked her to throw a game so she filled her water bottle with beer and played the entire game wasted and they lost 25-0 (she was the goalie)

[McDoogle]

You're making it out to be like half the league was in on it. Apparently it was less than a dozen active players and no gms or anything (as heard thousands of times on the radio). Though they haven't ruled it out completely, I seriously doubt the players betting made bets on hockey games.

Having said that, Tocchet is absolutely fucked cause apparently there was an undercover informent that caught him redhanded.

[MoRcHeEbA]

:shifty:

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

I don't see what the big deal is. So many people bet on sports, the lines are posted everyday in every single paper. Who cares if Gretzky's wife is an idiot (why Wayne Gretzky's wife needs to make more money makes no sense to me) it's not like she was betting againest him on his games or something.

[RoXer]

Gretzky's daughter is totally fuckable btw

[Gertner]

this is kinda stupid but when i first heard of this Roenick's name popped in my head

[YOUR Hero]

Hockey isn't in shambles, VEL. Fuck you're stupid.

[VonErich Lives]

Hockey isn't in shambles, VEL. Fuck you're stupid.

Oh yeah, raitings and ticket sales are just where they were before the lockout and rule changes.

Just because you see some kids playing on a pond up in 'ol Canada doesn't mean the sport is doing well financially and at the NHL level it's a business, not a sport/game.

[VonErich Lives]

I don't see what the big deal is. So many people bet on sports, the lines are posted everyday in every single paper. Who cares if Gretzky's wife is an idiot (why Wayne Gretzky's wife needs to make more money makes no sense to me) it's not like she was betting againest him on his games or something.

Does it make more sense if she was placing the bets for Wayne?

Does it make more sense that they claim to have tape of Wayne talking on the phone about the gambling ring...

Who knows, we'll have to wait and see it all come out first.

[Joey Slugs]

Report: Gretzky knew about gambling ring (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2324402&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines)

:nono:

Just imagine if this turns out to be one huge Pete Rose situation (especially if includes some goaltenders).

[VonErich Lives]

they're saying at least 14 current players will be called in, most likely they will all get nothing for testimony.

If one of them is a Goalie, that would be a lot bigger then any other player.

[McDoogle]

IT DOESN'T MATTER....they didn't bet on hockey games. The focus is just being shifted from Tocchet being fucked to all of a sudden the NHL is screwed. The NHL will not be destroyed or anything.

[VonErich Lives]

IT DOESN'T MATTER....they didn't bet on hockey games. The focus is just being shifted from Tocchet being fucked to all of a sudden the NHL is screwed. The NHL will not be destroyed or anything.

Really? No one bet on Hockey games? you're sure? Wow, you must for the task force in NJ that made the bust, or maybe the DA making the charges...

No one knows if they did or didn't.

At best, it hurts their image, having an assistant coach getting busted for mob ties, and it's being reported players and even a GM placed bets.

at worst, it becomes a Pete Rose gone wild, players betting on own games, maybe a goalie? Tochett influcing decisions to help betting lines? and let's not forget one of the "Gods of the game" getting his clean name dragged through the mud, or selling out his wife.

He's already been caught in 1 lie according to reports, he tried claiming to the Press he didn't know anything about it, and had no idea his wife was doing it, and they already leaked they have Wayne on tape talking about it.

No matter what, this is a PR nightmare the NHL did not need, especially now!

[YOUR Hero]

VEL, have anymore theories you'd like to throw out there?

[Kapoutman]

"Gretzky can be heard on wiretaps made within the past month discussing with Tocchet how his wife could avoid being implicated, a source told The Associated Press, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing."

"Janet is merely one of a number of witnesses and there is no allegation whatsoever that Janet has violated any law," he said.

Just calm down. Gretzky knew about the betting, but discussed about how his wife could avoid being implicated. Maybe he was just aware of his wife's betting and wanted to get her out of the mess, maybe he did bet himself, we do not know.

It has also been confirmed that there were no bets about hockey. Mostly about Football and Basketball, pro as well as college leagues.

[BCWWF]

I kind of get the impression that nobody really cares, but the media outlets are doing everything they can to try to make people care. Wayne is seemingly innocent, and from what it looks like it is just a case of illegal
gambling that has absolutely nothing to do with hockey or its integrity.

Quit ruining Waynes name.

[CNM]

I think people need to stop jumping to conclusions on both sides. We really don't know much of anything right now.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Even though its bad press, atleast its making people talk about the NHL. Before this I didn't hear anything about it, except for the fact that I could get Bruins tickets for 10 dollars on Thrusday nights but I am a college student haha

[Gertner]

for the NHL right now, any publicity is good publicity

[Joey Slugs]

for the NHL right now, any publicity is good publicity
Very true

[Lara Emily]

Really? No one bet on Hockey games? you're sure? Wow, you must for the task force in NJ that made the bust, or maybe the DA making the charges...

No one knows if they did or didn't.

At best, it hurts their image, having an assistant coach getting busted for mob ties, and it's being reported players and even a GM placed bets.

at worst, it becomes a Pete Rose gone wild, players betting on own games, maybe a goalie? Tochett influcing decisions to help betting lines? and let's not forget one of the "Gods of the game" getting his clean name dragged through the mud, or selling out his wife.

He's already been caught in 1 lie according to reports, he tried claiming to the Press he didn't know anything about it, and had no idea his wife was doing it, and they already leaked they have Wayne on tape talking about it.

No matter what, this is a PR nightmare the NHL did not need, especially now!


You are a sensationalist moron, you know that?

SInce the day this story broke it was always said that no bets on hockey were ever made, period. Thus who gives a fuck really.

[The Outlaw]

SInce the day this story broke it was always said that no bets on hockey were ever made, period. Thus who gives a fuck really.

Yeah who cares that they engaged in illegal activity.

[BCWWF]

I don't. It's sensationalized. A random assistant coach has been illegally gambling. Deal with it. It has nothing to do with hockey. Don't waste my time and don't ruin Wayne's rep over something so trivial in terms of it's affect of hockey or the great one.

[The Outlaw]

Haha, I never said anything about Wayne, don't get your panties in a wad. If he was directly or even indirectly involved, then yeah his image will be ruined. Should it? Dunno, but if he did have any involvement in it he shouldn't have been stupid.

But yeah, any press is good for the NHL IMO...

[Gertner]

this is my concern. professional athletes especially at the level of popularity of Gretzky are very close, even though they are in other sports. They frequently do golf tournaments and appearences with each so the idea of Gretzky receiving information on a football game from a football player is not that far fetched