Place your bets

Gretzky's Wife Cited in Gambling Ring
By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Wayne Gretzky's wife and about a half-dozen NHL players placed bets _ but not on hockey _ with a nationwide sports gambling ring financed by Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet, New Jersey authorities said Tuesday.

At first, Gretzky expected Tocchet to be on the bench for the Coyotes' game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night. But at the request of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Tocchet did not attend the game. Gretzky said after the game that Tocchet would meet with Bettman in New York on Wednesday.

"The sad thing about this whole scenario is that Rick is a wonderful person and a great guy, so I hope everything works out in his favor," Gretzky said. "It's hard because I love the guy. He's a great guy, you know. I just hope it all works out for him."

Gretzky, considered hockey's greatest player, is in his first season coaching the Coyotes and is a part-owner of the team.

Actress-wife Janet Jones was among those implicated, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because no bettors have been publicly identified.

Gretzky said his wife was in California. The two talked, he said, but she did not speak about her involvement.

"We didn't get into it other than she was concerned about Rick and she felt it was a tough situation with him," Gretzky said, "and she would sit down at some point and answer questions that everybody has for her and be her own person."

Gretzky said "absolutely not" when asked if she had placed bets for him.

Except for trips to Las Vegas, Gretzky said, he's no gambler.

"I'm standing here trying to answer questions and it's not even me this is about," Gretzky said to reporters. "It's the frustrating hard part for me but I understand. I'm a big boy and you guys have a responsibility and a job to do and that's fine."

State police Col. Rick Fuentes said an investigation _ named "Operation Slapshot" _ into the New Jersey-based ring discovered the processing of more than 1,000 wagers, exceeding $1.7 million, on professional and college sports, mostly football and basketball.

The developments came at a sensitive time for the NHL, which is trying to win back fans after a season-long lockout and just days before many of its best players will showcase their talent at the Turin Olympics.

Tocchet was served with a criminal complaint Monday and was expected to travel to New Jersey to answer charges of promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy, Fuentes said.

A criminal complaint informs Tocchet of authorities' intention to formally charge him and the need for him to arrange to travel to New Jersey for formal charging, or face arrest.

"It's not a hockey-related issue, it's a football thing. And at this time I can't comment any further," Tocchet said after the Coyotes practiced earlier Tuesday.

Gretzky had said Tocchet would work Tuesday night, and it would be "business as usual." But Bettman changed that plan, summoning Tocchet to New York.

The Coyotes lost 3-1 to the Chicago Blackhawks without Tocchet.

Tocchet acknowledged that a New Jersey state trooper arrested in connection with the gambling ring case is his friend. Tocchet said he would cooperate with the investigation but didn't answer when asked if he'd surrender to authorities.

"We understand that Mr. Tocchet's conduct in no way involved betting on hockey," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. "And, while betting on football or other sports may be the pervasive issue, it in no way justifies poor judgment or otherwise alleged inappropriate conduct."

Daly said the NHL was conducting its own internal investigation.

Authorities said Tocchet and state police Trooper James Harney were partners in the operation, with the ex-NHL forward providing the financing.

"Tocchet received illegal sports bets from wagers and funneled money back to New Jersey," Fuentes said.

Tocchet, one of three associate coaches on the Coyotes' staff, took over the head coaching duties for 10 days in December while Gretzky was with his dying mother.

The 41-year-old Tocchet played 18 years with six teams, including three seasons with the Coyotes from 1997-00. He is one of only four players in NHL history to collect 400 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes.

Tocchet was a fan favorite during his two stints with the Flyers (1984-92, 2000-02). Flyers star center Peter Forsberg on Tuesday described Tocchet as "a good guy, a funny guy."

"I think everybody is surprised," Forsberg said. "It's definitely not good for the sport to hear something like that."

Harney, 40, was arrested Monday and has been suspended from the force. The eight-year police veteran was charged in an arrest warrant with official misconduct, promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy. Another man accused of taking bets is James Ulmer, 40, who was charged with promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy.

Both men were free after posting 10 percent of their bail. Harney had $100,000 bail; Ulmer had $50,000 bail. The two men were expected to be arraigned in state Superior Court in Burlington County within two weeks.

Craig Mitnick, a lawyer representing Harney, said his client hadn't decided whether to contest the charges in court.

The police investigation into the ring started in October 2005 after authorities received a tip on Harney's sports wagering from his Marlton home, and taking phone calls during his patrol job based out of the agency's Moorestown station, Fuentes said.

Fuentes did not disclose the bettors' names and said charges against more individuals were possible. He described one of them as a "movie celebrity."

The gambling ring had a connection with organized crime in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, Fuentes said.

Starting Monday night, authorities seized property from Harney and Ulmer. State police seized $27,000 in currency, "voluminous" amounts of sports betting information and bank accounts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, Fuentes said.

A search of Harney's house recovered more than $250,000 worth of Rolex watches and nine plasma-screen televisions, including two from his bathroom.

In 1,144 NHL regular-season games, Tocchet had 440 goals, 512 assists and 2,972 penalty minutes with Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington and Phoenix. Tocchet won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992 and appeared in the Stanley Cup finals with Philadelphia in 1987. He appeared in four NHL All-Star Games: 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993.

The NHL veteran was also hired by the Colorado Avalanche as an assistant coach in 2003.

If we're placing bets, my money goes on Tocchet at 3-to-1 against beating the charges.

What do you want to bet that those bets were made in Janet's name only.........smooth Wayne......

Last edited by Moe Bandits on Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:40 pm; edited 1 time in total

Are professional athletes not allowed or supposed to bet on sporting events?

I got this explanation about the issue from another board

First, there iis nothing wrong with athletes going to Vegas and putting some $ down on other sports - its legal. In this case, assuming no bets were on hockey (and we don't know this), the manner in which the bets were made was illegal. Although in some places its not illegal to place a bet but illegal to take one...

What's wrong is the potential for betting on hockey - there is certainly potential that those making illegal bets may bet on what they know best...or the potential for them getting in the hole and being "approached"

Throw in the alleged organized crime element here and the potential for problems gets pretty severe.

The fact that an Assistant Coach in the league was financing the operation is also a "big deal" with enormous potential issues.

Although I agree that some guys placing bets on other sports is not a big deal but it certainly is a huge PR issue for a league that doesn't need it.

Irrespective, the NHL needs to act quickly and harshly.

-Jim

I keep reading about 6 NHL players also being involved but haven't seen any names yet. Anybody know who these six are?

This is terrible -- people should not gamble, it is morally and ethically wrong!

I don't think gambling is so much "wrong" as it is just plain stupid. It's a waste of money.

As far as names involved in this, I have heard Theodore and Roenick as a couple. We will see as it continues to evolve, eh?

NEW YORK (AP) - Rick Tocchet was granted an indefinite leave of absence Wednesday night by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, a day after the Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach was accused of financing a nationwide gambling ring that took bets from about a half-dozen current players.

Tocchet met with Bettman and requested the leave, which the commissioner agreed to as long as several conditions were met by the former all-star player.

Tocchet, who works under Coyotes head coach Wayne Gretzky, must immediately cease all contact and communication with all NHL and team personnel and stay away for the duration of his leave. He will not be allowed to return without Bettman's consent.

The commissioner also reserves the right to change the terms of Tocchet's absence at any time.

''We view the charges against Mr. Tocchet in the most serious terms,'' Bettman said in a statement. ''We have pledged our full cooperation to the New Jersey State Police and the New Jersey Attorney General's Office.

''While we are conducting our own investigation, we have made clear to the law enforcement authorities in New Jersey that we will do nothing to interfere with their ongoing investigation.''

The NHL hired former federal prosecutor Robert J. Cleary, who headed the Unabomber case to investigate Tocchet.

Tocchet, a Toronto native, came to the meeting with his new lawyer, who officially informed Bettman and Cleary of the pending charges that Tocchet is facing.

On the advice of lawyer Kevin Marino, Tocchet wasn't prepared to respond to specific questions about the allegations, the NHL said in a news release. It was at the end of the meeting that Tocchet requested the leave of absence.

New Jersey authorities told the NHL on Wednesday that nothing has come to their attention that indicates the gambling activities relate in any way to NHL games.

''While there is speculation as to which other NHL personnel may have been involved in this matter, we continue to await guidance in that regard from the New Jersey law enforcement authorities,'' Bettman said.

Pittsburgh's Mark Recchi, a former teammate of Tocchet's, forced a Philadelphia TV station to retract a story on its Web site that said he was connected to the ring. He and John LeClair, another Penguins player and past member of the Flyers, hired a lawyer to potentially sue the station and other media outlets.

''Mark Recchi and John LeClair categorically deny any wrongdoing and are outraged that their names have been associated with the Operation Slap Shot investigation,'' lawyer Bob Del Greco said. ''While each has maintained a personal and business relationship with their friend and former teammate Rick Tocchet, neither have any involvement whatsoever in any gambling operation.''

Recchi and LeClair said they haven't been contacted by authorities and don't expect to be.

Cleary was the lead prosecutor from 1996-98 in the case against Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski, who was sentenced to four lifetimes in prison on charges related to three deaths and the maiming of two scientists.

Cleary was the U.S. Attorney in New Jersey from 1999-02 and in the Southern District of Illinois in 2002.

New Jersey State Police Lt. Gerald Lewis said police investigators will interview other hockey players to get a sense of the scope of the gambling ring and to determine whether others should be charged.

Tocchet was publicly implicated by New Jersey authorities on Tuesday. He was not behind the bench for Tuesday night's home game against Chicago.

Tocchet is expected to be arraigned within 10 days, said John Hagerty, a spokesman for the New Jersey division of criminal justice.

''None of us would have any idea about something like this, no, absolutely not,'' Penguins forward Mark Recchi, Tocchet's friend and former teammate, told WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh. ''I was just as surprised as everybody else was and, you know, I think it was shock throughout the whole league, really.''

Marino called the state's charges against his new client ''false and irresponsible.''

''Mr. Tocchet is one of the most well-respected men ever to play in the NHL, and he's respected for his integrity, his determination and his strength,'' the Newark-based lawyer said. ''We deeply regret the attorney general's precipitous charges and are appalled at the ensuing media frenzy.''

Gretzky's wife, actress Janet Jones, was also implicated, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because no bettors have been publicly identified.

She hasn't made any public statements, and Gretzky said Tuesday that she would answer questions at some point.

''The integrity of the game is obviously very important. And betting on hockey is obviously something we don't want,'' Ottawa forward Daniel Alfredsson said. ''Until you know all the facts, you don't know how it's going to affect the game or put a black mark on it.''

Lewis said authorities also were exploring links between the gambling and Philadelphia-area mobsters. He said the investigation so far has only turned up that there might be some links, but not exactly what they were.

He also declined to reveal which players will be interviewed.

''Obviously when you're watching the news and it's on CNN and FOX, it's pretty major,'' Alfredsson said. ''I think to everybody it was a shocker. It was the talk for everybody on the bus yesterday and also today. We want to find out as much as we can.''

Hockey players are prohibited from making NHL wagers, legal or otherwise. There are no rules that forbid them from betting on other sports.

The substance abuse and behavioural health program jointly run by the league and the players' association addresses gambling during team-by-team training-camp meetings every year.

Current NHL scoring leader Jaromir Jagr of the New York Rangers said he ran up a $500,000 debt in 1998 betting on sports events on the Internet during his days with the Washington Capitals.

Jagr said Wednesday that he didn't place any bets with Tocchet and wasn't contacted by authorities. He also didn't expect to be called.

I was just about to mention Jagr as a potential one. Roenick wouldn't surprise me.

As for sports betting, athletes are allowed to bet on other sports. However, betting on games in your own league is usually punishable by a 1-year ban, while betting on games you have a stake in (playing, coaching, working with the team, etc.) is punishable by an outright lifetime ban.

This is why Pete Rose's lifetime suspension is such balderdash. There is proof he bet on baseball-- he admitted to it and it's in his betting slips. However, there is no proof he bet against his own team. But that's a debate for another thread at another sport's board.

Gotta love wiretaps...........

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11219916/


This is all they're talking about on espnradio.

Roenick is involved.