Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Item?
Item: Tocchet faces gambling ring charges
Hmmm...
Worth pointing out - maybe - that the NHL and the Coyotes are private organizations, and the U.S. Constitution applies to the U.S. government, not them... if it did, they probably couldn't fine people ten grand for saying "the reffing sucked".
Anyway, particularly since hockey gambling was not uncovered, I think most of our contempt here ought to be reserved for the State of New Jersey. The troopers' press release
is sub-titled, "OPERATION SLAP SHOT" UNCOVERS NHL LINK":
Point One: how fortunate for them that Operation Slap Shot uncovered an NHL link; otherwise, people would have been awfully confused by the name. Point Two: $1.7M in wagers? Oooooh, wow! Annual revenues in Alberta only, from ticket lotteries which include Sports Select, are presently sitting at around $200M.
And Point Three: if you're New Jersey, you gotta have some brass balls to charge people with promoting gambling:
The press release contained this little nugget...
...but I think it's plently clear who the racketeers are here, protecting their turf.
Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet is accused of financing a U.S. sports gambling ring in which about a half-dozen current NHL players placed bets - but not on hockey - authorities said Tuesday.
Hmmm...
"Everyone in the world is innocent until proven guilty . . ." [Wayne Gretzky] added. "He's a great guy and he's a good friend. He's just going through a tough time right now. Obviously we've got to let it run its course."
Worth pointing out - maybe - that the NHL and the Coyotes are private organizations, and the U.S. Constitution applies to the U.S. government, not them... if it did, they probably couldn't fine people ten grand for saying "the reffing sucked".
Anyway, particularly since hockey gambling was not uncovered, I think most of our contempt here ought to be reserved for the State of New Jersey. The troopers' press release
is sub-titled, "OPERATION SLAP SHOT" UNCOVERS NHL LINK":
The State Police investigation paints a picture of a highly organized sport betting system, which in a forty day period processed more than 1000 wagers exceeding 1.7 million dollars on professional and collegiate sporting events.
Point One: how fortunate for them that Operation Slap Shot uncovered an NHL link; otherwise, people would have been awfully confused by the name. Point Two: $1.7M in wagers? Oooooh, wow! Annual revenues in Alberta only, from ticket lotteries which include Sports Select, are presently sitting at around $200M.
And Point Three: if you're New Jersey, you gotta have some brass balls to charge people with promoting gambling:
N.J. Casino Revenues Top $5B for First Time
"Thirty years ago when we were debating casino gambling in the Legislature, no one could have imagined a $5 billion industry," Governor Richard J. Codey said.
The press release contained this little nugget...
Beyond the bookmaking and corruption charges the investigation has revealed alleged ties to the Bruno-Scarfo Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra, operating in Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.
...but I think it's plently clear who the racketeers are here, protecting their turf.
# posted by Matt @ 3:02 pm 
Comments:
As if Gretzky hasn't aged enough in the last 2 years.
I anticipate that his face will morph into Voldemort within the next 3 months.
You know what's funny? Until today, I never suspected myself of having any of that anti-Yoko-type antipathy for Janet. But damn if there isn't actually a little bit of it left in me. Bizarre.
A bunch of well paid NHL players wagered what amounts to "loose change" on football and basketball, not hockey. Big deal!
The New Jersey gov't is less concerned about gambling as getting their cut. And just as an aside....is there anything to the timing of this announcement, right before Team Canada gets ready to spank Team USA again?
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As if Gretzky hasn't aged enough in the last 2 years.
I anticipate that his face will morph into Voldemort within the next 3 months.
You know what's funny? Until today, I never suspected myself of having any of that anti-Yoko-type antipathy for Janet. But damn if there isn't actually a little bit of it left in me. Bizarre.
# posted by 
: February 08, 2006 2:56 am
: February 08, 2006 2:56 am A bunch of well paid NHL players wagered what amounts to "loose change" on football and basketball, not hockey. Big deal!
The New Jersey gov't is less concerned about gambling as getting their cut. And just as an aside....is there anything to the timing of this announcement, right before Team Canada gets ready to spank Team USA again?
# posted by : February 10, 2006 7:53 pm
: February 10, 2006 7:53 pm Post a Comment
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