When will hockey just go away and die already?

For the record, my company holds season tickets to the LA Kings and I enjoy the games at the Staples Center.....

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As if it's not bad enough:

A yearlong strike because they cant get their collective **** together....

Some goon can break another man's neck and still be playing....

Now we have:

An illegal gambling ring run by a NHL coach....

Janet Jones allegedly betting 500K on games where she had inside info....

The kicker.....WAYNE GRETZKY (ICON) on wire taps which completely discredit his recent statement that he had no prior knowledge!!!!!!

What is it gonna take?

See ya!

 

ya...but, but....it's still hockey!

 

At least it's real!!

I can think of a bunch of other sports that's nothing but a bunch of pre-madonas!!

 

dude,

Don't get me wrong, I love the hockey.

Unlike Pete Rose, They did not bet on their own sport, Hockey, they bet on Baseball and Football. Granted their office pool has more disposible income then most, I don't think it's a big deal.

 

Cool!.............I agree.

 

Hockey rocks! every sport has it's personalities, so what. it's more fun to watch than most other sports.

so...take off!

 

Probably more to follow......

This may be the tip of the (center) iceberg!

 

I doubt the great one was involved.
If he needed money he could sit home and autograph stuff all day long
and make a lot of $$$

 

...DUDE....THIS IS NOT A GOOD THREAD YOU MADE

YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL....

NEXT TIME, BATTERIES ARE NOT GRATIS

 

He's just as greedy as the next guy!

 

Pretty sad but I'm going to have to go with everybody else:
I love the hockey

 

I hope GRETZKY is not involved.
Michael Jordan a few years back lost alot of money as well.

 

They were gambling on sports other than what they make their prospective livings at.

Inside track or not.

What's the BIG DEAL................

 

hockey will NEVER die!

real men play hockey, girly men play football

 

So which one do you play? I'd love to see Gretsky get out of the backfield in a college game.

 

Bring on the Bullsh!t! We haven't had a good scandal this month yet!

 

who's "Gretsky"

 

Bertuzzi playing is the one that bothers me the most.

Where did you hear this?

 

LOL, Bruce....was wondering when you were going to chime in on this one!

 

All well and good, until somebody gets in over their head and can't repay their debts with cash, so they have to throw a hockey game.

 

Top story on radio.....

But Brucey, the story came out of New Jersey!!!!!

 

this is the article taken from ESPN. I just hope Gretzky didn't have his wife make bets for him. The timing of this is brutal. Canada is supposed to be concerned with winning a gold medal. Now they have to deal with this. If Gretzky did in fact know about this and wasn't involved he should have tried to distance himself from Tocchet.

ESPN.com news services

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.

Tocchet is expected to be arraigned in the next two weeks, and Gretzky could be subpoenaed to testify before a New Jersey grand jury, the Star-Ledger reported.

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

Coyotes vice president of communications Richard Nairn declined to comment to the Star-Ledger about Gretzky's knowledge of the case.

The NHL Players' Association posted a message on a secure Web site Wednesday advising any player who is contacted by law enforcement authorities or the league to contact his lawyer "before talking to anyone," the Toronto Star reported.

Tocchet and his new attorney met with Bettman on Wednesday and officially informed the commissioner of the pending charges Tocchet is facing.

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

Bettman agreed to the leave as long as several conditions were met. Tocchet must immediately cease all contact and communication with 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 reserved 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."

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

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 league games. None of the players were identified in the complaint.

"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.

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

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."

In an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Marino criticized state police for speaking so extensively to the media.

"I have never been involved in a case where the prosecution has engaged in such inappropriate conduct in terms of making investigators available to the press, appearing on nationally syndicated television," Marino said. "It's improper, it's unwarranted and I will not tolerate it."

"We are not going to try this case in the press and we're not going to let them either," he said.

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

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.

Lewis said authorities also were exploring links between the gambling and Philadelphia-area mobsters. He said the investigation so far has turned up only that there might be some links, but authorities are unsure.

He also declined to reveal which players will be interviewed.

The NHL prohibits its players from making wagers, legal or otherwise, on NHL games. League rules do not forbid players from betting legally on other sports (for instance, with an established Las Vegas book). But the charges against Tocchet are for illegal gambling per New Jersey law.


The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

IM COOL ERIC

DARTH IS MY FRIEND...HE IS ONLY REPORTING IT AS ITS COMING OUT.....

PEOPLE DONT TALK ABOUT....

ROD CAREW BETTING
PETE ROSE BETTING
GERRY COONEY BETTING
MARGE SCHOT BETTING AGAINST HER OWN TEAM
STEVE HOWE BETTING AND HIS DRUG HABIT
SCOTTY PIPEN BETTING.......
JOHN RIGGINS FROM THE REDSKINS BETTING

ETC ETC ETC ETC......................

 

He's obviously busting chops...

Genuis comment though... Wait, GretZky at 180lbs wouldn't be able to play college football? Thanks; any other enlightening comments that you have for us? This would be akin to me replying with "I'd love to see Reggie Bush score on Dominik Hasek"... which would be ridiculous, and pointless... get my point?

Fwiw, the new rules have made hockey a lot better to watch (and play, more like pond hockey). It was getting too clutch and grab in recent years, and going the baseball/football route of almost unbearable lack of action. Rick Tocchet is a stand-up guy, obviously Gretzky is... If you've never gotten in an office pool then throw stones all you want, but I think ESPN, etc. should take it easy until the details are out.

 

It's certainly sad, the things that are going on with the sport. I also have season tickets and hockey is about the only sport I follow. I guess I picked the wrong town. LOL. If hockey ends, where will I get to release all my anger and frustration? What other sport can you beat the snot out of someone and return 5 minutes later? I love hockey.

I guess it was a good thing they waived the time limits for the Hall of Fame for Wayne or we could have another Pete Rose thing going?