NFT: Gretzky knew about the gambling ring

[chefsos]

Gretzky talked about betting ring on wiretap
NHL legend discussed the operation but didn't place wagers, sources say

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1139473046103140.xml&coll=1

Thursday, February 09, 2006

BY RICK HEPP
Star-Ledger Staff

State wiretaps in the unfolding NHL betting scandal caught Wayne Gretzky discussing the multimillion-dollar gambling operation run by his friend Rick Tocchet before the ring was dismantled Monday, according to law enforcement sources.

There is no evidence Gretzky made any bets, the sources said, but the secretly recorded phone calls show the hockey hall-of-famer knew about the gambling ring, and investigators are looking into whether he placed any wagers through his wife, Janet Jones.

Jones was among the gamblers who placed more than $1.7 million in wagers in the past six weeks with the ring allegedly run by Tocchet and a New Jersey state trooper. Jones put down $500,000 on games during that period, including $75,000 on last weekend's Super Bowl, sources said. She even wagered on which team would win the opening coin toss -- winning $5,000 with that bet.

[JBucc]

of course he knew, he's not gonna rat out his wife and friends

[Smed1065]

Look at all the illegal offshore internet gambling sites, probably ran by terriost. :)

[Sully]

Unless they bet on hockey, I can't bring myself to care.

[morphius]

Unless they bet on hockey, I can't bring myself to care.
unless they bet against themselves I really don't care.

[58-4ever]

Good, I hope hockey will finally die and quit taking up time on sportscenter

[Garcia Bronco]

Unless they bet on hockey, I can't bring myself to care.

I mean really...espin is trying to play this for all it's worth..it's just a non-story. They've called it a "nationwide" "Widespread" "Massive" gambling ring...and it's just not true. Espin becomes more and more a joke as the earth turns.

[unlurking]

unless they bet against themselves I really don't care.
bingo!

[BIG_DADDY]

This is a whole lot about nothing. Casinos and gambling are spreading across the country but you have to go online or to Vegas in order to do sports gambling. This is all stupid as hell. Make it legal and move on. This isn't about fixing so what's the issue?

On cops the other night they went into to 70 something year olds house to bust his son for something. They saw a parlay card the table and then answered his phone to find out he was running a very small time gambling operation from the little hole he lived in. The cops cuffed him and arrested him. When they were taking him out one of the cops made this comment like the guy had just committed murder "This guy is getting exactly what he deserves" Whatever. ROFL

[chiefqueen]

Good, I hope hockey will finally die and quit taking up time on sportscenter

Unfortunately, the NHL will probably get more air time during the Olympic break than they have all season, especially if Gretzky's involved.

[jspchief]

I mean really...espin is trying to play this for all it's worth..it's just a non-story. They've called it a "nationwide" "Widespread" "Massive" gambling ring...and it's just not true. Espin becomes more and more a joke as the earth turns.I don't entirely agree. It is a mulit-million dollar illegal gambling ring. There will be some people doing jail time most likely. It is newsworthy in that sense.

I don't think it's a big issue in regards to pro athletes/organizations betting on sports (as long as it isn't the sport they play in).

[teedubya]

pete rose is innocent!

[foxman]

I mean really...espin is trying to play this for all it's worth..it's just a non-story. They've called it a "nationwide" "Widespread" "Massive" gambling ring...and it's just not true. Espin becomes more and more a joke as the earth turns.

I agree. They have gotten a lot worse it seems the last couple years or so. They create the story almost out of not much more than a strand of hair and lint from Dan Patricks pocket

[jidar]

Uh the Ring was ran by Rick Tocchet, who we are finding out is a guy with apparent ties to the Mafia and is an assistant coach to Wayne Gretzky over the Phoenix Coyotes.

So... a Mafia guy running a gambling operation while coaching an NHL team.
Yeah that's nothing all right! Not much of a story! I wonder why the news organizations are even talking about it. I mean why are we even talking about it?

[chefsos]

Uh the Ring was ran by Rick Tocchet, who we are finding out is a guy with apparent ties to the Mafia and is an assistant coach to Wayne Gretzky over the Phoenix Coyotes.

So... a Mafia guy running a gambling operation while coaching an NHL team.
Yeah that's nothing all right! Not much of a story! I wonder why the news organizations are even talking about it. I mean why are we even talking about it?
Yeah, I kinda figured the real life Sopranos involvement was a pretty significant detail. The question of whether players bet on hockey games or not is somewhat irrelevant.

[Garcia Bronco]

I don't entirely agree. It is a mulit-million dollar illegal gambling ring. There will be some people doing jail time most likely. It is newsworthy in that sense.

I don't think it's a big issue in regards to pro athletes/organizations betting on sports (as long as it isn't the sport they play in).

That's the thing...they've in a sense implicated the NHL, the Great One, His Wife, other "players", a story from 10 years ago in philly and Eric Lindross' seats.....as long as these guys aren't betting on the games they're playing in that's fine.

[jidar]

Yeah, I kinda figured the real life Sopranos involvement was a pretty significant detail. The question of whether players bet on hockey games or not is somewhat irrelevant.

Actually I've got a real problem with professional athletes betting on sports. It undermines all professional sports when that becomes common place. Even if the athlete doesn't bet on his own sport, what happens when he gets in over his head and needs cash? The temptation is there for him to fix his own games, and I'm sure the encouragement from his bookie as well.

[Garcia Bronco]

Uh the Ring was ran by Rick Tocchet, who we are finding out is a guy with apparent ties to the Mafia and is an assistant coach to Wayne Gretzky over the Phoenix Coyotes.

So... a Mafia guy running a gambling operation while coaching an NHL team.
Yeah that's nothing all right! Not much of a story! I wonder why the news organizations are even talking about it. I mean why are we even talking about it?

"ties to the Mafia" WTF does that actually mean...and then in the next paragragh...you say the Tocchet is a "mafia guy"....it's ridiculous. They netted 1.7 mill...that's nothing for a "widespread, national, massive" gambling "ring"...you can spend that all in one place.

[Garcia Bronco]

Actually I've got a real problem with professional athletes betting on sports. It undermines all professional sports when that becomes common place. Even if the athlete doesn't bet on his own sport, what happens when he gets in over his head and needs cash? The temptation is there for him to fix his own games, and I'm sure the encouragement from his bookie as well.

In Jidar's world...you're guilty until proven innocent...and if someone makes an acquisition against you...it must be true.

[jidar]

In my world, your mom and I are running a gambling ring. We have ties to the Momia

[jspchief]

That's the thing...they've in a sense implicated the NHL, the Great One, His Wife, other "players", a story from 10 years ago in philly and Eric Lindross' seats.....as long as these guys aren't betting on the games they're playing in that's fine.You mean besides the whole "it's against the law" thing, it's fine.

[Demonpenz]

unless your a goaltender it would be hard to throw a hockey game subtely