Gretzky speaks up...

[yyz]

Wayne Gretzky Puts Odds At 5-To-1 He'll Avoid Gambling Charges
2/16/2006 - Matt Myford

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Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, talking candidly about the gambling controversy swirling about him, told reporters "there's a 5-to-1 chance I'll get out of this mess," NHL insiders said yesterday.
Gretzky, currently head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, and his assistant coach, Rick Tocchet, are under investigation by New Jersey State Police. State officials are close to indicting Tocchet for running an illegal gambling ring ? a network that allegedly includes Gretzky's wife, the actress Janet Evans.

"For Janet, I'd put her odds of jail time at 3-to-2, so it's obviously not looking as good for her," Gretzky told reporters.

Gretzky's "Vegas-jargon" has officials puzzled, to put it mildly. "For a guy trying to avoid gambling charges, he has a funny way of distracting attention," said a New Jersey State Trooper.

Gretzky also said a "trifecta" of his wife, himself, and Tocchet seeing "significant" jail time could possibly pay "something like 500-to-1 odds."

When exasperated reporters asked The Great One to "get serious for a minute" and respond to a question about how much court time he was looking at, Gretzky said, "Oh, definitely take over 3 months. Take the over, baby!"

 

[DBLMUTZ]

TRENTON, N.J. - Wayne Gretzky will not face criminal charges in connection with a multimillion-dollar sports betting ring busted in New Jersey last week, and he is unlikely to be called to testify against others in the case, his lawyer said Thursday.

Attorney Ron Fujikawa said he received assurances from New Jersey authorities last week that the hockey great was not in any way a central figure in the criminal investigation. That's not surprising, Fujikawa said, because Gretzky did nothing illegal.

"He is not a person of interest," Fujikawa said Thursday. "We have received no indication he is somebody who will be called before a grand jury. We have received assurances that he is at most a fact witness."

A fact witness is someone interviewed informally by authorities, the lawyer said.

Gretzky's wife, Janet Jones, also is unlikely to face criminal charges in the case, her lawyer said Thursday. Jones wagered more than $100,000 through the ring, a person with knowledge of the investigation has told The Associated Press; her husband was not directly implicated.

If correct, the attorneys' statements indicate that the first family of hockey at most placed wagers with the ring but had nothing to do with its operations.

Under New Jersey law, it is not a crime to place a bet, even if the wager is with a bookie. People who place bets for others can be prosecuted, however, as can people who profit off someone else's bets.

Jones' lawyer, Evan A. Jenness, said she expected Jones to be subpoenaed to testify in the case. She said no documents had been served as of Thursday.

"I've been told she's just a witness," Jenness said Thursday. "I'm quite confident that's the case."

Jones and Gretzky are in Italy for the Winter Olympics. Gretzky, head coach and a part owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, is executive director of Team Canada, the defending hockey champions.

John Hagerty, a spokesman for the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, did not return phone messages left Thursday. ESPN.com reported that Hagerty on Wednesday said Jones and others could be called as witnesses but indicated she would not be charged.

Al Della Fave, a spokesman for New Jersey state police, said he could not comment on the investigation.

Jenness did not say whether Jones, an actress who lives in California, planned to cooperate with authorities.

The gambling operation allegedly was run by Gretzky's friend and Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet, along with two New Jersey men, including a state trooper. All three are scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 21 on charges of promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy.

 

[DBLMUTZ]

obviously for him to make light of the situation he has been informed that he an his wife are in the clear


Under New Jersey law, it is not a crime to place a bet, even if the wager is with a bookie. People who place bets for others can be prosecuted, however, as can people who profit off someone else's bets.

 

[dawgball]

I think it's freaking hilarious that he took this stance. I'm tired of people being forced to cower under media pressure.

Life really isn't as serious as people make it out to be.

 

[Franky Wright]

Gretzky's "Vegas-jargon" has officials puzzled, to put it mildly. "For a guy trying to avoid gambling charges, he has a funny way of distracting attention," said a New Jersey State Trooper.

:fingerc: Screw that stupid cop :scared Who the hell is he, Judge, Jury, and Baliff! moon1 Oh, Ok, maybe Baliff, but F**k him anyway. Tell him to work on the thugs taking down innocent people in that shithole he patrols................
Franky