NHL Betting Scandal

[ChileMass]

Oh man - how'd you like to be Wayne Gretzky right about now? His best friend and wife are placing bets backed up by a crooked state trooper and one of the most violent crime families in America, and he doesn't know anything about it??????? Are you kidding me? The mighty may fall in this one.....

WEEI in Boston is reporting right now that in addition to the active NHL players already mentioned (Jeremy Roenick, etc), there may be as many as 12-15 more players involved, including some of the goalies. Yikes!!! I used to love the NHL, but between the over-expansion, the lockout, and now this gambling scandal, I fear for its future.....

 

[NYDrew]

I gave up on the NHL a long time ago (right around when Milstein the crooked scum hole bought the Islanders and put that useless peice of crap Milbury in charge who traded Healy for HEEEEEXXTAAAAALLLL, he let more through his legs then a Los Angeles prostitute).

However I went to my first AHL game last night, Binghamton Senators v Portland Pirate. Wow, its like old school hockey. There is hitting and slap shots, none of the puss finesse garbage that has taken over the NHL back in the late 90's. And the best part it, these guys don't get paid a lot, their out there playing because thats what they love to do. It's like Bode Miller with a stick times 12.


Check out the AHL, if more people go to the not-crooked league, then perhaps the NHL will fold and the Stanley Cup will be back in the hands of hard working semi-pros like it was meant to be.

Random Trivia Question - Who is the only player in the NHL to ever play all 6 positions in one game?

 

[ChileMass]

I gave up on the NHL a long time ago (right around when Milstein the crooked scum hole bought the Islanders and put that useless peice of crap Milbury in charge who traded Healy for HEEEEEXXTAAAAALLLL, he let more through his legs then a Los Angeles prostitute).

However I went to my first AHL game last night, Binghamton Senators v Portland Pirate. Wow, its like old school hockey. There is hitting and slap shots, none of the puss finesse garbage that has taken over the NHL back in the late 90's. And the best part it, these guys don't get paid a lot, their out there playing because thats what they love to do. It's like Bode Miller with a stick times 12.


Check out the AHL, if more people go to the not-crooked league, then perhaps the NHL will fold and the Stanley Cup will be back in the hands of hard working semi-pros like it was meant to be.

Random Trivia Question - Who is the only player in the NHL to ever play all 6 positions in one game?

Drew - Milbury was a minor god to me in the 80s when he was only the 3rd or 4th nastiest player on the Bruins (behind Jay Miller, Lyndon Byers, Terry O'Reilly and later Cam Neely), but you're right - when he went to Islanders he took them to the bottom. I still have no idea what his strategy was. And this is coming from a guy who HATED the #!%##!!$$#@! Islanders when they were on top. I fkg hated that team. Even when Butch Goring spent his last couple decent seasons on the Bruins, I still hated him.

The AHL is terrific hockey. I used to watch the Binghamton Whalers all the time back in the day. I grew up watching the Adirondack Red Wings when they won 2 Calder Cups in 5 years which was big fun. Never thought my little hometown of Glens Falls could really rock like a bigger town, but we did OK on those nights.

I fear the NHL could be over. It may survive but it could morph into something fake like the WWE or gimmicky like arena football, which would truly suck.

And I have no idea who the answer to your trivia question is. It would have to be a really athletic goaltender.....

 

[BeanoNYC]

Reports are saying that a wiretap conirms that Gretzky knew about the gambling and was conspiring to try to keep his wife from being implicated! Wow Wow Wow! I can't belive this.

 

[NYDrew]

i dont know why wang is still letting milbury stick around at all, but at least his business no longer affects the islanders as a hockey team.

 

[skibum1321]

For the record, the AHL isn't semi-pro hockey. They're professionals, it's just not the "major leagues". AHL is a fun time - I used to go to alot of Providence Bruins games when I lived in RI. If the NHL ever did fold (which I don't think would happen), I think the AHL would go down with it.

 

[Brettski]

Why is this an NHL scandal and not about the people involved? So they busted a gambling ring. What does that have to do with Hockey?

 

[ChileMass]

Why is this an NHL scandal and not about the people involved? So they busted a gambling ring. What does that have to do with Hockey?

An assistant head coach, possibly 12-15 active NHL players and the greatest player in the sport's history are involved. They claim they only bet on football and never on hockey, but that sounds like bullsh*t to me. If active NHL players and a coach are even suspected of throwing games, it's a big problem......

 

[Brettski]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/13839109.htm

 

[ChileMass]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/13839109.htm

I hope this article is right......

 

[Brettski]

I play hockey....I can't see how anyone can bet on hockey...except like it says people who know the sport. And you usually don't give up points/goals like football, it's usually an odds thing...

Like I put down 300 to get 100 if the devils play the bruins....

(listen's for stampeed)

 

[BeanoNYC]

I play hockey....I can't see how anyone can bet on hockey...except like it says people who know the sport. And you usually don't give up points/goals like football, it's usually an odds thing...

Like I put down 300 to get 100 if the devils play the bruins....

(listen's for stampeed)

I agree. I never put money down on Hockey. It's just never a good bet, either way.

 

[Jaytrek57]

play hockey....I can't see how anyone can bet on hockey...except like it says people who know the sport. And you usually don't give up points/goals like football, it's usually an odds thing...

Hockey is extremely profitable to the "book". Since ties have been eliminated, even more so.

Any "inside" information, esp. injuries, personal life, etc.. is valuable when making bets. That's why this situation could cripple hockey as we know it.

I'm waiting for all the information. The "damning" evidence against Gretzky, the wire tape phone call, now seems to be made AFTER his news conferance when he denied any knowledge. This seems to back up his story...at least for now.

I'll bet there is more... :wink:

 

[BeanoNYC]

I'm waiting for all the information. The "damning" evidence against Gretzky, the wire tape phone call, now seems to be made AFTER his news conferance when he denied any knowledge. This seems to back up his story...at least for now.

I'll bet there is more... :wink:

Yep, I heard on the radio today that Gretzky didn't find out about his wifes betting until the FBI raid on his house. The phone call was made following this. I really hope he's not involved. I Idolized him as a kid; I don't need another reason to become misanthropic.

 

[smitty77]

For Gretzky to be squeky clean for so many years... I sure hope he's innocent on this one. People say he had to have known his wife was wagering this much, but Wayne probably misplaced more money last year than the number showing in Box 2 of my W-2 form! She may have wagered over $500,000 but if she broke even or won it's conceivable that he never knew anything about it.

The betting activities of the players is what bothers me. Didn't anyone learn anything from Pete Rose?

Smitty

 

[Mike P.]

Remember, she had some of her own money but it sounds like she has a gambling problem. I stopped following hockey after Bourque got his ring.

Milbury & O'Connell, a good defensive combination when they played that are killing the teams they are associated with now that they are in the front office.

Talking about Bruin tough guys, lets not forget about little Stan Jonathan & the biggest tough guy they had (who couldn't play as Neely may have been the toughest) John Wesnick. The Hansons would have been afraid of him.

Time for Wayne to trade up, with Heather Locklear & Denise Richards available, It's time to dump that gambling fool who has not done anything since American Anthem. Okay she looked good in tights but that was 20+ years ago!

 

[KevinB]

how many chicks bet on sports? not many, from the looks of things, it would seem he used her to bet place bets with his money, on the surface anyway.But a recent wiretap report seems to back Wayne side of the story, so we'll see. I wonder if there is a love affair going on between Rick and Janet, that is an odd relationship. I know I wouldnt take bets from my friend's girlfriends or wives without telling them. The whole thing is a little strange.

 

[smitty77]

I'm with MikeP - I think she's got a gambling problem. It is an odd relationship, but so is the one between Tocchet and the crooked trooper and the mob. Why would he even have the need to get mixed up in something like that? When tied with "the family", there's a lot more at stake than just your coaching career and good name. I guess gambling also makes for strange bedfellows.

Smitty