4B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NHL
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 8, 2006
V
Pro athletes make bad gamble
Betting puts players on thin ice
Janet Gretzky, the wife of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, claps and smiles before Wayne Gretzky's official induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto in 1999. Janet and about a half-dozen NHL players placed bets, but not on hockey, with a nationwide sports gambling ring financed by Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet, authorities said Tuesday.
Frank Gunn/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY CHRIS NEWMARKER
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
EWING, NJ. — Wayne Gretzky's wife and about a half-dozen NHL players placed bets — but not on hockey — with a nationwide sports gambling ring financed by Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet, authorities said Tuesday.
Gretzky, hockey's greatest player, is in his first season coaching the Coyotes and is a part-owner of the team.
Actress-wife Janet Jones was among those implicated, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because no bettors have been publicly identified.
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, on professional and college sports, mostly football and basketball.
The developments came at a sensitive time for the NHL, which is trying to win back fans after a season-long lockout and just days before many of its best players will showcase their talent at the Turin Olympics.
Tocchet was served with a criminal complaint Monday and was expected to travel from his Arizona home to answer charges of promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy, Fuentes said.
"It's not a hockey-related issue, it's a football thing. And at this time I can't comment any further," Tocchet said after the Coyotes practiced Tuesday.
Gretzky said Tocchet would be on the bench for Tuesday night's home game against Chicago, and it would be "business as usual."
"Everyone in the world is innocent until proven guilty," Gretzky said. "He's a great guy and a good friend. He's just going through a tough time right now, obviously, and we've got to let it run its course. It's a situation that's obviously a concern for the organization at this point."
Gretzky did not comment about his wife, and did not return a call from the AP.
Tocchet acknowledged that a New Jersey state trooper arrested in connection with the gambling ring case is his friend. Tochet said he would cooperate with the investigation but didn't answer when asked if he'd surrender to authorities.
"We understand that Mr. Tochet's conduct in no way involved betting on hockey," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. "And, while betting on football or other sports may be the pervasive issue, it in no way justifies poor judgment or otherwise alleged inappropriate conduct."
Authorities said Tocchet and state police Trooper James Harney were partners in the operation, with the ex-NHL forward providing the financing.
"Tocchet received illegal sports bets from wagers and funneled money back to New Jersey," Fuentes said.
Tocchet, one of three associate coaches on the Coyotes' staff, took over the head coaching duties for 10 days in December while Gretzky was with his dying mother.
The 41-year-old Tocchet played 18 years with six teams, including three seasons with the Coyotes from 1997-00. He is one of only two players in NHL history to collect 400 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes.
Tocchet was a fan favorite during his two stints with the
Flyers (1984-92, 2000-02). Flyers star center Peter Forsberg on Tuesday described Tocchet as "a good guy, a funny guy."
"I think everybody is surprised," Forsberg said. "It's definitely not good for the sport to hear something like that."
Flyers forward Simon Gagne played briefly with Tocchet in Philadelphia and called him "one of the best guys I knew."
conduct, promoting gambling, money laudering and conspiracy. Another man accused of taking bets is James Ulmer, 40, who was charged with promoting gambling, money laudering and conspiracy.
Both men were free after posting 10 percent of their bail. Harney had $100,000 bail; Ulmer had $50,000 bail. The two men were expected to be arraigned in state Superior Court in Burlington County within two weeks.
Harney, 40, was arrested Monday and has been suspended from the force. The eight-year police veteran was charged in an arrest warrant with official misa 72 percent increase over the number in Salt Lake City four years ago. The IOC is using systematic blood tests for the first time and saving doping samples for eight years.
Craig Mitnick, a lawyer representing Harney, said his client hadn't decided whether to contest the charges in court.
WINTER OLYMPICS
Officials urge antidoping regulations
BY STEPHEN WILSON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the IOC's annual session Tuesday, Rogge expressed concern at the "very slow rate" of acceptance of the World Anti-Doping Code.
TURIN, Italy — International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge urged governments to speed up approval of global anti-doping rules before the Turin Games open on Friday.
The code, adopted by all Olympic sports federations, sets out uniform rules and sanctions for all sports and countries in the fight against performance-enhancing drugs.
"We express the hope that the governments who have promised to adopt the code by the first day of the Olympic Games will accelerate their efforts," Rogge said.
The doping code was incorporated in a treaty approved by UNESCO member states in October. However, the accord doesn't formally go into force until at least 30 member governments ratify it.
So far, only seven countries have signed — Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Denmark, Sweden. Norway and Monaco.
World Anti-Doping Agency spokesman Frederic Donze said other governments are expected to ratify the code in coming weeks and months.
WADA and the IOC had hoped enough governments would have signed up by the end of December for the convention to be in place for the Turin Olympics. But Donze said the lack of approval doesn't affect the stringent anti-doping rules being applied at the games.
Rogge said the IOC will conduct 1,200 drug tests in Turin,
"For the thousands of athletes who compete cleanly and fairly, we have a duty to put in place the strongest measures to trap the small minority who cheat," Rooge said.
On other issues, Rogge praised Turin organizers and said the IOC expects games marked by "Olympic magic and Italian passion."
He thanked international federations for helping to improve judging and refereeing standards, and warned officials to guard against the danger of betting in sports.
"We owe it to ourselves and our event to ensure that such activities are contained within the appropriate framework and do not have an adverse impact on our values or undermine the credibility of the competition," Rogge said.
His comments came as U.S. authorities investigated allegations that Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet financed a nationwide sports gambling ring in which about a half-dozen current NHL players placed bets — but not on hockey.
Tocchet, a former NHL star, was served with a criminal complaint Monday on charges of promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy, authorities said.
"It's an international problem, it's not just the NHL," Rogge said. "There is a lot of betting where there is an influence on sports results ... There is a danger that competitions be manipulated because the ones who put a bet then bribe the athletes or the referees."
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