Operation Slap Shot, Day 6: Wiretaps Support Gretzky’s Claim

Latest Report Supports Gretzky’s Claim Of Not Knowing About Gambling Ring

Coyotes coach & Managing General Partner Wayne Gretzky discussing whether his wife, Janet Jones, “could escape attention” in the gambling probe around Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet “was recorded in a wiretap a few days ago,” according to a source cited by Rankin & Westhead of the TORONTO STAR. That “contradicts news reports [last] week that suggested the alleged conversation had been recorded several weeks before the arrest.” The conversation “likely took place closer to Monday, when police made arrests and had served” Tocchet with a summons (TORONTO STAR, 2/11). Gretzky’s attorney, Ron Fujikawa, said, “Published reports that Wayne has spoken to Rick Tocchet about his concern for Janet prior to officers appearing at Wayne’s house on Monday are completely ludicrous.” In N.Y., MacIntosh & Grossman report the wiretap shows Gretzky “had no knowledge of his wife placing [bets] ... until cops told him about it” (N.Y. POST, 2/13). Coyotes Dir of Security Jim O’Neal said that Gretzky called him after the visit Monday from law enforcement officials “asking for help getting hold” of Tocchet. O’Neal: “He was totally surprised” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/13).

Ellman Offers Public Support For Gretzky

MORE DETAIL: Robert Cleary, who was hired by the league to conduct an independent investigation, said, “It does not appear to us that there has been betting on hockey games at all” (N.Y. TIMES, 2/11). In L.A., Chris Foster reports Kings C Jeremy Roenick “will meet with his attorneys on the East Coast today and then give an affidavit to New Jersey authorities investigating the NHL gambling scandal.” Bruins C Travis Green “is the only other current NHL player who has been reported to have placed bets” (L.A. TIMES, 2/13). Coyotes Chair Steve Ellman: “We are totally supportive of Wayne Gretzky as our partner and hockey icon. Wayne Gretzky will remain as managing partner and director of hockey operations.” Ellman said that he and co-Owner Jerry Moyes “also were supportive” of GM Mike Barnett, who placed a bet with Tocchet. Ellman said that “to his knowledge no one else in the Coyotes organization, including himself, placed a bet with Tocchet” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/11).

UNION RESPONSES: The TORONTO STAR’s Rick Westhead writes several agents and players “are worried Cleary and the league may be on a ‘witch hunt.’” Several agents and former NHLPA Player Relations Dir Steve Larmer contend that the NHL “ought to have hired an investigator with no pre-existing ties to the league.” One agent said, “The NHL hires a lawyer from its own firm [Proskauer & Rose] to do this, and the union is absolutely fine with that. I guess that’s the new NHL.” Former agent and Maple Leafs assistant GM Bill Watters: “There’s no way this would have happened if Bob Goodenow was still at the union.” But NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an e-mail, “This retention wasn’t about making a ‘politically correct’ or ‘politically acceptable’ choice. It was about getting the right person for the job. Firm affiliation is irrelevant to finding the right person.” NHLPA Dir of Media Relations Jonathan Weatherdon indicated that the union’s “opinion of whether Cleary was the right person ... was not given consideration” (TORONTO STAR, 2/13). NHLPA Exec Dir Ted Saskin, on whether the union would support a rule that prohibits players from betting on all sports, not just hockey, said, “Don’t think so. Certainly hasn’t been addressed with the membership or executive board, nor have players suggested such a thing” (N.Y. POST, 2/12).

OLYMPICS: NHL VP/Group Communications Bernadette Mansur said that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman “had not talked to Gretzky” about not attending the Olympics as Exec Dir of Team Canada because “that would be a matter between Gretzky and Canada” (N.Y. TIMES, 2/11). Canadian Olympic Committee President Michael Chambers said of Gretzky, “I look forward to his arrival [in Turin].” Chambers added the gambling scandal is “not an issue, no one connected to the Olympics have been charged. The gambling, that’s in North America, not [in Italy]” (N.Y. TIMES, 2/11). More Chambers: “It doesn’t compromise any ethical standard or Olympic standard” (TORONTO STAR, 2/11).

SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET: In N.Y., Thomas Zambito cited a source saying that Tocchet’s name “surfaced more than a year ago in a federal investigation into a gambling ring headed” by Genovese crime family member Lawrence Dentico, but it was “unclear what role, if any, Tocchet may have played.” Tocchet also “reportedly had a relationship with” crime boss Joseph Merlino (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/11). Tocchet’s attorney, Kevin Marino, appeared on ESPN2’s “Cold Pizza” today and said associating Tocchet to organized crime "has some sex appeal, so we can turn this case into an organized crime case. ... I've heard Operation Slapshot mentioned in the same breath as the 1919 Black Sox scandal ... Is that what this case is? I am afraid not.” Marino added, “I don't know how this becomes a hockey story. When all the facts are known, you're going to see that the relationship to professional hockey is tangential at best. It's really a simple and relatively small-time gambling case involving a state policeman who’s a bookie" (ESPN2, 2/13).