Operation Slap Shot Scores

Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet is under indictment for gambling promotion, money laundering and conspiracy. Although the gambling ring he is alleged to have financed focused on football, the charges are a serious threat to the integrity of the NHL and other sports.

Tocchet in happier times.

Judging from the media release issued by Operation Slap Shot, an expanding ring of celebrities will soon be taken down:

The State Police investigation paints a picture of a highly organized sport betting system, which in a forty day period processed more than 1000 wagers exceeding 1.7 million dollars on professional and collegiate sporting events. Many of the rings clientele included past and present professional athletes and celebrities who are being interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.

Beyond the bookmaking and corruption charges the investigation has revealed alleged ties to the Bruno-Scarfo Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra, operating in Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.

So far, Janet (Gretzky) Jones is the only "celebrity" named: by "two law enforcement officials...speaking on condition of anonymity" (such courage!). Another official said on the record that a "movie celebrity" was one of the bettors.

Among the conspirators is an eight-year State Police veteran, Trooper James J. Harney. He looks to be just the sort of pack-rat that takes down the mob inadvertently:

Starting Monday night, authorities seized property from Harney and Ulmer. State police seized $27,000 in currency, "voluminous" amounts of sports betting information and bank accounts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, Fuentes said.

More entertaining is news that "A search of Harney's house recovered more than $250,000 worth of Rolex watches and nine plasma-screen televisions including two from his bathroom."

This guy had bigger problems than a gambling ring.

UPDATE I - SEE NO EVIL: Wayne isn't talking. But he sounds like a man who might have known something was going on. Asked about Janet's involvement, he replied: "You'd have to ask her that...Listen, first of all, my wife is my best friend, so my love for her is deeper than anything. The reality is, I'm not involved. I wasn't involved. I'm not going to be involved."

UPDATE II - NICE IF YOU CAN GET IT: State troopers do pretty well in New Jersey. NYT reports that Harney's income was $89,000 a year

UPDATE III - WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE: Scott Stevens doesn't help diminish the whiff of La Cosa Nostra when he says of Tocchet: "He's one of those old-school guys who makes things better for the young guys."

UPDATE IV - RECCHI FIRST OF THE SIX NAMED: Mark Recchi's name is now circulating as one of the six NHL players who bet through Tocchet's ring. Sports Illustrated is at the head of the pack, demanding that Tocchet be suspended indefinitely, and the dirty half-dozen immediately be suspended for the season. This is spiralling out of control quicker than a Danish cartoon.