The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

It looks like the "Great One's" family aint so great.  His wife, and one of his assistant coaches were found to allegedly have been involved in an illegal gambling ring.  Here's the article:

http://articles.news.aol.com/sports/article.adp?id=20060207123609990014&ncid=NWS00010000000001

The question is, did they bet on hockey?  If that's the case, then Gretzky might end up like Pete Rose.

They didn't bet on hockey. This story is huge on the news here right now. Rick Tocchet was the main money man, and since he is a former Flyer, its all over the news. It also involves some south Jersey cops, and has some ties to some Philadelphia "families".

Interesting, because isn't sports betting legal in New Jersey and Nevada?  If they didn't bet on hockey, then what's the big deal?

I had no idea that Pete Rose being shunned from the HoF was because "his wife" had a gambling problem...  I thought it was because Pete himself was a gambling junkie, a liar and an unapologetic biatch once the truth was thrown in his face.  ::)

Wayne must be shocked. I am sure he had no idea.... ::)

You're right...what wife would ever keep a secret from her husband?  ::)

I think its legal if you do it at a casino or sports betting place. I'm not sure since I don't gamble. I don't think its legal when you do it thru an alleged mafia bookie.

I had a chance to hear about this on "Hockey this Morning" (XM 204). I think the interesting point in all of this is do you believe that as a professional athelete that they can influence events on other games to tilt the scales in their favor to win a bet?

This was the example:
If I was a professional NHL athelete making millions of dollars and had a confirmed contract not to be traded and placed a friendly wager on the NCAA tournament,  If I knew I would have a huge payday, I could inform a NCAA athelete that i would give them money under the table just by telling them that who ever has the last second shot in a game to make sure to screw it up somehow so my team won. The question then would be, because I am from a different sport trying to do this does it make it more illegal or less illegal? The group (last i heard) was also being looked into for this accusation.
 
Another question that was raised was "Should professional atheletes be banned from gambling/betting on sports?" This I feel invades the person's privacy and they should be able to to bet on what ever they want. BUT when it comes to money laundering (one of the many charges being thrown around) that is against the law. That is why this is more than just a gambling arrest.

What you have described is flat-out sports fixing, which is highly illegal and can get people involved as long as 10 years behind bars.  There's a major difference between that and simply betting on a game (which Gretzky's wife and assistant coach allegedly did).   But like Philly said in an earlier post, betting on anything with a Mafia backed bookie is illegal. 




I agree with you there.  Professional athletes should be able to bet on sports EXCEPT THE SPORT THEY PLAY.  That way, there would be no conflict of interest.  That's why Pete Rose ended up where he is today.  He not only bet on baseball games, he bet on his team to lose, then he would purposely do just that.  It's a wonder he wasn't arrested because that also is a form of sports fixing. 

Sounds like personal issues.

Never been married, nor any plans along those lines... Apparently unlike you though, I do have a basic understanding of human behavior.

Must be a Gretzky homer...... ::)

To my knowledge this has never been proven. His claims are finally that he did bet them, but only to win. Then again he is a proven liar, but you can't arrest someone on speculation.

What a surprise. Your thoughts please, Stroke ?

Phoenix Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky knew about a gambling ring involving his wife and assistant coach Rick Tocchet, law enforcement sources who cited state wiretaps told the Newark Star-Ledger.

The Star-Ledger reported in Thursday's editions that there is no evidence that Gretzky placed bets, but investigators are looking into whether his wife, Janet Jones, placed them for him.

Gretzky has said that he had no knowledge of the gambling ring.

"The reality is, I'm not involved, I wasn't involved and I'm not going to be involved," Gretzky said Tuesday. "Am I concerned for both of them? Sure, there's concern from me. I'm more worried about them than me."

Law enforcement officials told the New Jersey newspaper that Jones bet $500,000 in recent weeks, including $75,000 in Super Bowl wagers.

Tocchet, Gretzky's friend and assistant with the Coyotes, was granted an indefinite leave of absence Wednesday night by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, a day after New Jersey police accused him of financing a nationwide gambling operation that took bets from about a half-dozen current players, among other bettors.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2324402

What were you saying again Sunstroke ? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ! Homer says what ?

My first thought is that you're a dumbass.
My second thought is that you're an overreactive dumbass.
My third thought is that you're an overreactive dumbass who doesn't read very well.

Those are my main thoughts, and when dealing with you, they seem to remain fairly consistent...go figure!

My quote, Senor Dumbass, was "You're right...what wife would ever keep a secret from her husband?" Unlike you, I gave the possibility of a wife keeping a secret from her husband its proper due. I never said "Wayne doesn't know anything," nor did I even say that his wife kept this a secret.

I allowed for the possibility...it's what sensible people do when dealing with a situation where much of the details are unknown.

And, since we're making things as clear as possible to account for your slow comprehension skills, I am not a Gretzky Homer. I hate the game of hockey completely. Almost as much as I hate when overreactive dumbasses jump the gun and assume things before the facts are known.

Now that those facts are "known," and not just "assumed," Gretzky should be sentenced to 75 years of hard labor, or sentenced to 10 minutes trying to explain logic to you. Both would seem like an eternity...

Next time you can just admit your ignorance and not waste so much 'internet space'.  I just wasted a good 15 seconds of my time reading your jibberish......Thank you.

Your problem obviously is that you read, but you don't comprehend. Instead of taking 15 seconds next time, slow down to a more comfortable pace for you and give it a good 30 seconds instead.

I've dealt with emotionally troubled school children who have the same issue. While I'd really like to try to help you with your personal growth, I think the therapy you need is beyond my basic psych skills.

Get a therapist, and best of luck to ya...  ;D

uh-oh......just read on Yahoo sports that they got Wayne on wiretaps!!! BYE BYE!!!!

They're saying he knew about it.  The fact that he didn't try to stop Touchet and his wife from doing it or report it to the authorities makes him guilty of aiding and abetting. 

You're right.  But consider why it was never proven.  He actually agreed to a lifetime ban from baseball in return for MLB and comissioner Bart Giamatti to end their investigation.  Although about a year later, he did end up in jail for tax evasion.  Turns out he didn't declare all of his gambling winnings. 

He agreed to the lifetime ban with the speculation that within two years he could apply for reinstatement.  The deal was that he would have a sit down with Giamatti after two years because he and Giamatti were close.  Unfortunately, three months later, Giamatti passed away, leaving the MLB Comissioner's chair to Fay Vincent, a hard-nosed type who hated what Pete Rose did. 

Gretzky has constantly dodged questions about the gambling ring.  Seems like he's got something to hide.  Aiding and abetting.  Anyone agree?

Although I find it hard to believe that he knew nothing, there is absolutely no evidence to prove otherwise. He is avoiding things because the NHL is on a break and he is at the Olympics. The Canadian Olympic Committee has had a policy since before Wayne got to Italy that this is a NHL issue and not an Olympic one. I think that is a perfectly valid point.