# GretzkyGate (NHL Betting Scandal) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 9, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gretzkygate-nhl-betting-scandal/343740 "2006-02-09T21:18:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gretzkygate-nhl-betting-scandal/343740/21 "2006-02-11T00:04:52Z")
> [@percussion](#): > > Im with you on this one, everyone is so fast to cast a stone at Gretzky on this issue. The guy is THE Canadian role model for Christ sakes, and everyone is dying to see him go to shambles. People - and media personalities as well - love to create heroes, and then they love to tear them down. > [@Rysto](#): > > Yeah, I understand the issue with that. But commentators all over have been decrying any gambling whatsoever by hockey players, which I don’t understand. No, that doesn’t make sense. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gretzkygate-nhl-betting-scandal/343740/22 "2006-02-11T01:45:47Z")
> [@percussion](#): > > Its really frustrating and i hope it does not overshadow the amazing work he has put into team Canada for this Olympics. But I think that’s almost inevitable. Even today in the Globe and Mail there were articles calling for him to not go to the games. Its very sad Definately. The thing of it is, if he DIDN"T go to the games all of the focus would be on how Gretzky didn’t go to the games so he can’t win either way. I’m glad he’s going. > [@Marley23](#): > > People - and media personalities as well - love to create heroes, and then they love to tear them down. No doubt. That doesn’t make it right though. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gretzkygate-nhl-betting-scandal/343740/23 "2006-02-11T05:26:13Z")
> [@drm](#): > > No doubt. That doesn’t make it right though. Not at all; I’m just describing it. If you want excuses, I do think human nature (and the nature of our media) plays a part in the way this always happens. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gretzkygate-nhl-betting-scandal/343740/24 "2006-02-11T05:35:29Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > I really don’t get the stigma behind athletes betting on games. Ok, there’s an obvious conflict of interest if they’re betting on their own sport. But hockey players betting on football? The only substansive argument against that I’ve heard goes like this: “Well, what if they run up gigantic debts, and then to pay them off, they agree to throw games?” It’s totally ridiculous. It’s not ridiculous at all-that’s exactly what happened in the 1919 World Series-the White Sox threw the game because of gambling. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gretzkygate-nhl-betting-scandal/343740/25 "2006-02-11T05:41:01Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > It’s not ridiculous at all-that’s exactly what happened in the 1919 World Series-the White Sox threw the game because of gambling. Though **Rysto** believes (incorrectly) that his theoretical substantive argument is not persuasive, the Black Sox did not throw the games due to gambling debts, but to bribery. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gretzkygate-nhl-betting-scandal/343740/26 "2006-02-11T05:45:59Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Not at all; I’m just describing it. If you want excuses, I do think human nature (and the nature of our media) plays a part in the way this always happens. You’re definately right. As someone who has worshipped The Great One since I knew what hockey was, I suppose I can be thankful this hasn’t hit (and won’t hit) Michael Jackson territory in terms of falling from grace… ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gretzkygate-nhl-betting-scandal/343740/27 "2006-02-11T05:53:47Z")
That’s what you call a small favor, I guess. Michael Jordan had his betting scandal, too. It’s hard to be as public as these guys are and never do anything that draws negative attention. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gretzkygate-nhl-betting-scandal/343740/28 "2006-02-11T12:03:17Z")
What the hell? Like, what the bloody hell? THIS is going to make even the tiniest dent into his reputation, his accomplishments, let alone bring him down? This penny-ante drivel? Being related to someone who bet on something other than hockey, yet might have been kinda illicit, somewhat, maybe? Not even being the person, just being related to the person? He was guilty of AT MOST being unwilling to make a very difficult decision. BFD. Even something as minor as obstruction of justice seems totally trumped up, and good luck convincing a judge of it in court. Forget it, guys, it ain’t happening. You can’t sink a battleship with a BB gun. As for what _should_ happen: Let the investigators do their job. Gather up the evidence and bring up charges agains the assistant coach and anyone else implicated (unless Janet actually dealt with mob figures, I think it’ll be tough to make anything stick; at any rate, It’s not my lookout). Try the accused. Send a message to the league that organized crime is not to be tolerated in any form. Acknowledge the fact that love and loyalty can cause good people to make questionable decisions. Sheesh…a rush to crucify Wayne Gretzky. What the hell. [Don’t even bring up Michael Jordan; that “scandal” was dead before it was born. Start with the hyperlame initial revelation…dropped $5,000 in Atlantic City, IIRC…which was laughed into oblivion in about three seconds. Then some random dirtbag with about as much credibility as Bill O’Reilly on a bad day takes the ball and runs with it, claiming that Jordan owed him a hillion jillion dollars for some thing, but rather than quietly ask for the money, he decided to reveal it to the whole world. Because…well, just because, all right? And never you mind coming up with some, oh, EVIDENCE of this supposed massive debt. If a steaming load of tripe like this is a scandal, I’m Scottie Pippen.] ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gretzkygate-nhl-betting-scandal/343740/29 "2006-02-11T19:16:59Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > [Don’t even bring up Michael Jordan; that “scandal” was dead before it was born. Start with the hyperlame initial revelation…dropped $5,000 in Atlantic City, IIRC…which was laughed into oblivion in about three seconds. Then some random dirtbag with about as much credibility as Bill O’Reilly on a bad day takes the ball and runs with it, claiming that Jordan owed him a hillion jillion dollars for some thing, but rather than quietly ask for the money, he decided to reveal it to the whole world. Because…well, just because, all right? And never you mind coming up with some, oh, EVIDENCE of this supposed massive debt. If a steaming load of tripe like this is a scandal, I’m Scottie Pippen.] I never said it was credible, just that it happened. (In the end, people may end up saying the same thing about Gretzky and this investigation.) As I remember, the NBA did look into the whole thing. I think the most anybody could say he was guilty of enjoying gambling and hanging out with some shady characters. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gretzkygate-nhl-betting-scandal/343740/30 "2006-02-11T19:24:04Z")
If it were to be found that Gretzky bet on hockey, it’d be a disaster. If it’s not, then quite frankly it’s much ado about nothing, insofar as Gretzky is concerned. Who gives a crap if he or his wife bet on the Super Bowl? It’s not even illegal to place such bets. (It is illegal to run the operation, though. Rick Tocchet’s in deep shit.) ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gretzkygate-nhl-betting-scandal/343740/31 "2006-02-11T19:46:12Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > It’s not ridiculous at all-that’s exactly what happened in the 1919 World Series-the White Sox threw the game because of gambling. Yeah, in 1919. How much were players being paid back then? > [@Frank](#): > > Though Rysto believes (incorrectly) that his theoretical substantive argument is not persuasive, the Black Sox did not throw the games due to gambling debts, but to bribery. It doesn’t make any sense. Players have too much to lose and too little to gain. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gretzkygate-nhl-betting-scandal/343740.md?page=1)