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gmoney
Dwight 'Superman' Howard
Joined: 24 Sep 2005
Posts: 13771
Location: Vegas Baby!
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Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 3:28 pm
Post subject: Wayne Gretzky in a world of trouble
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Caught on wiretaps,wife betting $500K over a 40 day span,including $75K on the Super Bowl, $5K on the coin flip,but Wayne has no idea 
From the Newark Star Ledger:
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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.
The sources said authorities are considering whether to issue a subpoena ordering Gretzky to testify before a state grand jury. Gretzky is the head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes and Tocchet is one of his assistant coaches.
As the fast-moving investigation continued yesterday, State Police detectives also were checking into the possibility that at least one trooper may have known about the gambling operation and not reported it to division brass, the sources said.
The State Police charged Tocchet and Trooper James E. Harney on Monday with money laundering, promoting gambling and conspiracy for taking big-money bets on football and basketball games from NHL players and Gretzky's wife. Harney, who was suspended from his $75,477 a year job, also was charged with official misconduct for accepting wagers while patrolling the southern end of the New Jersey Turnpike.
Richard Nairn, vice president of communications for the Coyotes, declined to comment yesterday on Gretzky's knowledge of the case.
"Wayne spoke (Tuesday) night and we are done speaking at this time," Nairn said.
During a news conference Tuesday night, Gretzky said he had no knowledge of any gambling allegations until Tocchet called him Monday night. He also said his wife would speak to reporters at some point about allegations against her.
"The reality is, I'm not involved, I wasn't involved and I'm not going to be involved," Gretzky said. "Am I concerned for both of them? Sure there's concern from me. I'm more worried about them than me." |
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chadjaja
Mark Spitz
Joined: 26 Sep 2005
Posts: 7489
Location: Australia/Melb
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 10:18 am
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Gretzky has always come across so clean cut and guy next door from what we see. I'm sure they have hid their tracks mostly though as they should have expected this to blow out if it got out.
What is it with all these guys and big gambling?? Jordan for another.
Although I'm sure they don't miss any of the losses and still sleep on a giant pile of money each night.
If his wife made the bets is that still illeagal???
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gmoney
Dwight 'Superman' Howard
Joined: 24 Sep 2005
Posts: 13771
Location: Vegas Baby!
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 3:36 pm
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Any bet made with your corner bookmaker is illegal. If she had wins,she will get punished on not paying taxes on any of them. They'll threaten her with that and go from there.
As for your mega millionaires gambling,I think they do it for the rush,and to still be involved,in some way with the sport or sports they are not involved with.
The teams GM is even involved in this,as he admitted to place bets with Tocceht as well.
So his wife,his GM, and his assistant coach all involved in illegal gambling,but pretty boy Wayno knew nothing about it.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight 
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Joey Quickkey
Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards
Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 1
Location: Oh Canada
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:50 pm
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No offense, but he pretty well said he knew about it, just didnt place any bets on it, guy is an Icon, constantly giving things for kids and everyone looks up to him, same old story everyone loves to see a Hero fall. If he did know about it, what was he supposed to do, report his wife, divorce her?? Come on if you love your wife you try and get her to stop somehow, but ya dont report her to the IRS. 
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gmoney
Dwight 'Superman' Howard
Joined: 24 Sep 2005
Posts: 13771
Location: Vegas Baby!
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:55 pm
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Welcome to the boards Joey
My problem with Wayne,whether he knew or not,is how stupid does he think we are? Janet Jones movie career was nothing to justify her having her own secret cash stash,let alone $500K. Cannot tell me that Wayne didn't notice he was missing an amount of money greater than some countries GNP dollar amount
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Thumbboy
David Boon
Joined: 24 Sep 2005
Posts: 10582
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:56 pm
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heya joey quickkey welcome to the forum man! 
and I totally agree with ya, he shouldn't have reported her, that was a pretty shitty thing to have done.
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poocano
Peter Brock
Joined: 24 Sep 2005
Posts: 12423
Location: Indy
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:57 pm
Post subject: Re:
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| Joey Quickkey wrote: |
| No offense, but he pretty well said he knew about it, just didnt place any bets on it, guy is an Icon, constantly giving things for kids and everyone looks up to him, same old story everyone loves to see a Hero fall. If he did know about it, what was he supposed to do, report his wife, divorce her?? Come on if you love your wife you try and get her to stop somehow, but ya dont report her to the IRS. |
good post. He had to of known. If this thing is as big as their making it out to be it would of been impossible not to know. Some wives blow their husbands money on shopping and some I guess gamble it away!
Also welcome to the boards!
hockey fan? we need a few more of them around here. 
feel free to visit this thread if interested and enjoy your stay.
http://www.121s.com/viewtopic.php?t=561
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gmoney
Dwight 'Superman' Howard
Joined: 24 Sep 2005
Posts: 13771
Location: Vegas Baby!
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 5:02 pm
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And,if she really had the itch to make bets,why do it illegally? Between the internet and being an hour away from Vegas,where they do spend alot of time,at the MGM Grand,it would have been both easier & smarter to do it that way.
Wayne has a $250K credit limit at the MGM Grand,Janet has a $50K limit,both play alot of blackjack,and lose alot
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Cold Dog
Jack Nicklaus
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 14372
Location: Montreal
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 5:03 pm
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Just in from USAtoday:
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Gretzky arrives at Torino Olympics
TORINO — Looking tired and drawn, Wayne Gretzky arrived at the Olympics with Team Canada on Tuesday, and while the New Jersey gambling investigation linked to him was a continent away, the questions surrounding it were still present.
Gretzky did not speak with reporters after Team Canada's plane from Toronto touched down at Torino's airport, but he was scheduled to appear at a team news conference later in the day.
Serving again as the team's executive director after assembling the country's gold-medal hockey team in Salt Lake City, Gretzky was accompanied by his wife, Janet Jones. She is alleged to have placed bets with a gambling ring led by Rick Tocchet, a former NHL player who has taken a leave from his job as a Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach under Gretzky.
Gretzky, the NHL's all-time leading scorer and arguably Canada's best-known public figure, is in his first year as Phoenix's coach and also is part owner of the team.
At a news conference Monday in suburban Toronto, Gretzky repeated he did not place any wagers with any betting ring and there was no reason for him to leave his job with the Olympic team. Canada's players have fully supported him, and several said the investigation will not be a distraction as they try to repeat as gold medalists.
However, Gretzky's link to the gambling ring has taken a visible toll. He looked tired and drawn after arriving in Torino following an overnight flight, and he acknowledged Monday the gambling questions are wearing on him.
"It's been a hard week for my family and the only focus I have right now is this hockey team," Gretzky said Monday.
Gretzky looked nervous during Monday's questioning, and he could be heard sighing before and during the news conference.
A New Jersey state trooper, another New Jersey man and Tocchet have been charged with running a nationwide sports gambling operation. State police said wagers exceeded $1.7 million in the five weeks leading to the Super Bowl, and were mostly on pro football. Authorities said Tocchet financed the ring.
Charges came following a six-week police investigation called Operation Slap Shot.
Gretzky's wife, a film actress, hasn't been charged, but she is expected to be subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury investigating gambling activity, attorneys said. |
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TimM846
Michael Johnson
Joined: 13 Nov 2005
Posts: 4399
Location: Tempe, Arizona
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Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 1:33 am
Post subject: Re:
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| Joey Quickkey wrote: |
| No offense, but he pretty well said he knew about it, just didnt place any bets on it, guy is an Icon, constantly giving things for kids and everyone looks up to him, same old story everyone loves to see a Hero fall. If he did know about it, what was he supposed to do, report his wife, divorce her?? Come on if you love your wife you try and get her to stop somehow, but ya dont report her to the IRS. |
Good post...I couldn't agree more. Welcome to the boards by the way, Joey Quickkey, hope to see you around often.
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RattMan
Jonah Lomu
Joined: 24 Sep 2005
Posts: 3685
Location: Tempe and Peoria, AZ
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Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 5:11 am
Post subject: Re:
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| Joey Quickkey wrote: |
| No offense, but he pretty well said he knew about it, just didnt place any bets on it, guy is an Icon, constantly giving things for kids and everyone looks up to him, same old story everyone loves to see a Hero fall. If he did know about it, what was he supposed to do, report his wife, divorce her?? Come on if you love your wife you try and get her to stop somehow, but ya dont report her to the IRS. |
Welcome to the boards Joey...
I agree with you. A man stands behind his wife and defends her, even if she did wrong....and I think that is what WG did here...
It has been reported that for 8 months out of the year, Wayne and his wife dont even live in the same house (let alone the same state) and dont share the same bank account. So I can see how he wouldnt notice his wife's actions in this matter...
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Cold Dog
Jack Nicklaus
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 14372
Location: Montreal
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 10:44 am
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Here's an update from slam.canoe.ca:
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The sports media owes Gretzky a huge apology
By AL STRACHAN -- Toronto Sun
Where are all the apologies?
Less than two weeks ago, the sports media were falling all over themselves excoriating Wayne Gretzky, Janet Gretzky, Mike Barnett, Rick Tocchet and a dozen unnamed National Hockey League players.
Now, lets do the roll call.
It is clear Wayne Gretzky did nothing wrong.
Janet Gretzky bet on football -- wow, what an unusual activity -- but also did nothing wrong. In New Jersey, where all these alleged crimes were committed, betting, either legally or illegally, is not against the law.
Mike Barnett reportedly made one Super Bowl bet (see above comment re: Janet Gretzky) and is of no interest to the investigators.
As for Tocchet, his scheduled day in court has been delayed, probably to give the state time to justify a decision to drop all charges against him.
And the dozen unnamed players? They still are unnamed and almost certainly will stay that way.
So let's now hear it from all the radio, TV and newspaper people who were so quick to jump on Gretzky et al.
Say it loudly, clearly and often: "I was wrong."
But even if that happens -- which isn't likely -- the matter deserves further examination. It goes far beyond the mere exoneration of innocent victims.
It is an unfortunate example of what the media has become, and more importantly, what Canada has become.
We are a nation so insecure that we can't wait to join the American media wolfpack and tear our greatest sports hero to shreds.
The Americans said it, so the Canadian media assumed it must be true. But how many reasons were there for the attackers to make these assumptions about Gretzky? Has he ever let down his game before?
After a lifetime in the media spotlight, has he ever done anything reprehensible, illegal, or even embarrassing?
And how many of the Canadian media who were vilifying Gretzky had actually talked to him in person to hear his side of the story?
Pick a number between one and minus-one.
Many of these detractors weren't even in the country. They were in Italy sending back assurances of guilt, and demanding Gretzky quit his Team Canada post.
But what if someone said to them, "Come back from the Olympics. Someone on this side of the ocean says you might have done something wrong."
You can just hear the howls of protest: "I'm innocent."
Well so is Gretzky, but you wanted him out of his job.
One of the national papers ran a major feature about a hockey player who was suspended for gambling in 1948. The implication was clear.
Another national paper railed against Gretzky's "apologists" -- the people who had the facts -- and gravely assured the world the media had done nothing wrong. If you don't count false accusations as anything wrong, that's true.
Then there are all the radio people who assumed the worst, again without any first-hand knowledge. They, too, should apologize.
Gretzky has represented this country with class and grace for as long as he has been in hockey -- and not just on the ice. When Canada needed a presence to help swing the decision on the 2010 Olympics, for instance, it was Gretzky who went to Europe to woo the delegates -- with success.
But why are we, as Canadians, so quick to assume the worst? How many people gave him the benefit of the doubt? Is it because we are so insecure as a nation, or is it because we are basically small-minded people who resent any glory that might flow to one of our number?
Whatever it is, the Gretzky "gambling" saga has not been our finest hour.
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poocano
Peter Brock
Joined: 24 Sep 2005
Posts: 12423
Location: Indy
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 3:59 pm
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nice read CD
best line in the whole thing...
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| We are a nation so insecure that we can't wait to join the American media wolfpack and tear our greatest sports hero to shreds. |
All the media wants is controversy as it means ratings. You can do 1,000,000 things right and get no attention paid to you, you "allegedly" do something wrong and everyone is on your nutts.
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