Wayne Gretzky's wife in gambling ring

[YoFuggedaboutit]

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.

[Philly Fin Fan]

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".

[YoFuggedaboutit]

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?

[Sunstroke]

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

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. 

[Denver_Bronco]

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....

[Sunstroke]

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

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

[Philly Fin Fan]

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 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.

[wyvernmcd]

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.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

[Denver_Bronco]

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

Sounds like personal issues.

[Sunstroke]

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.

[Denver_Bronco]

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......

[Phishfan]

  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. 

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.

[Denver_Bronco]

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

[Denver_Bronco]

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