NHL , TSN , most hockey sites strangely quiet on Tochet fiasco ....

Forum Fan · Veteran Member

NHL , TSN , most hockey sites strangely quiet on Tochet fiasco ....

Trapper John · Member

I agree wholeheartedly. Especially after the whole "Who us? Using Steriods?" response, this leaves the average person thinking that ours is just another tainted sport. To that point, NBC's Anne Curry announced to the world today that the "NFL" was dealing with a gambling scandal.

I am terribly dissapointed by the allegation that Ms. Gretsky is involved. If it is true, I will have a hard time buying an "It was just harmless fun" argument. Like it our not, she is a public figure connected at the hip to the game. If she wants to gamble for "fun" (surely it isn't because she needs the money) there are venues other than sports betting for consideration.

Why does it seem that those who apparently have the most going for them have to have still more? I guess that's in part what makes us human. But one would think (shades of Pete Rose) that reasonably intelligent people would get a handle on things.

Nil d · Guru

Trapper John wrote:

I agree wholeheartedly. Especially after the whole "Who us? Using Steriods?" response, this leaves the average person thinking that ours is just another tainted sport. To that point, NBC's Anne Curry announced to the world today that the "NFL" was dealing with a gambling scandal. I am terribly dissapointed by the allegation that Ms. Gretsky is involved. If it is true, I will have a hard time buying an "It was just harmless fun" argument. Like it our not, she is a public figure connected at the hip to the game. If she wants to gamble for "fun" (surely it isn't because she needs the money) there are venues other than sports betting for consideration. Why does it seem that those who apparently have the most going for them have to have still more? I guess that's in part what makes us human. But one would think (shades of Pete Rose) that reasonably intelligent people would get a handle on things.

My take on this is just like yours, Trapper. And should Janet Jones get implicated, can a tainted Saint Wayne be that far off? This could be huge!

mdmrules · Member

Placing a bet in the US is not the illegal part so Janet wouldn't be in trouble anyways. Tocchet on the other hand is in pretty deep.

And the truth is that it isn't really a big deal for hockey, it is a big deal for rick tocchet. He is the one that allegedly committed a crime and even the investigators said that there were no known NHL bets made. The NHL can ban Tocchet and just wash their hands of this if he is convicted, so far he is the only NHLer involved. The NHL can't be responsible for the actions of every player or coach in the league and what they do outside the rink.

And I think that there has been a lot of coverage on the news. TSN made a really neat "OPERATION SLAP SHOT" graphic and everything... I think the media is making this into a big deal.

-- Edited by mdmrules at 03:43, 2006-02-09

heet_150 · Guru

mdmrules wrote:

Placing a bet in the US is not the illegal part so Janet wouldn't be in trouble anyways. Tocchet on the other hand is in pretty deep.

If Ms. Jones-Gretzky wagered the kind of money that it is rumoured (in the neighbourhood of $500,000), and won some of those bets, the government considers it an income. If there were substantial winnings and she didn't pay taxes, she would be considered a tax evader (a la Al Capone). Obviously, for a hard nosed criminal like Janet (), she would probably be ordered to pay back taxes and a fine.

As far as not being a big deal for hockey, I disagree. The biggest concern isn't just whether or not they wagered on hockey games, it is the possibilty that someone involved in this 'ring' would owe so much that they may be asked offer insider information (like injuries) or even to not play to their full potential in order to pay off some of their bets. I think that this is highly unlikely in this case, but, if the allegations are true, the NHL can't condone the actions of these individuals and run the risk of others down the pike getting involved in a situation like the scenerios I mentioned above.