FTA Lawyer Posted February 11, 2006 Report Share Posted February 11, 2006 Is this really that big of a story on it's merits? Seems to me the biggest impact is going to be felt when the IRS gets finished levying back-taxes and penalties. I say let the rich play with money like it's going out of style...who are they hurting? As far as "The Rocket" Rick Tocchet, I'm sure he'll let this all roll off like cocaine off a whore's back...oops! I mean, water off a duck... FTA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
August1991 Posted February 11, 2006 Report Share Posted February 11, 2006 State wiretaps in the unfolding NHL betting scandal caught Wayne Gretzky discussing the multimillion-dollar gambling operation run by his friend Rick Tocchet before the ring was dismantled Monday, according to law enforcement sources. New Jersey Star-LedgerI will admit to an abject ignorance of sports and sports players. I have heard of some names such as Gretzky and Bertuzzi, but I may have some details wrong. (Ignorance has never stopped me from expressing an opinion.) Some thoughts: 1) Why do sports players get such a free pass? I recall once being in a hotel elevator with some big guy who turned out to be a baseball player or something. To me, he was just some big guy but later I was told that he was X Y of the A Bs. (This information went in one ear and out the other.) If Washington is Hollywood for ugly people, then sports is Hollywood for big people. Gretzky gives a press conference, says aw shucks, this has been the roughest three days of his life, and everybody says, poor Gretzky - such a decent guy. Huh? 2) Does nobody figure that a bookmaker would really, really like to have someone like Gretzky's wife as a client? Would this not be worth a lot of money to the bookie? Whatever the truth, the perception is valuable. I'm sure the bookie kept her happy in different ways. 3) Why do ordinary taxpayers like me pay money for big guys to go to Europe and play games? To be crude, I couldn't give a good Goddamn whether Canada wins 20 medals or 200 medals in the Olympics. The money should stay in my pocket or go to subsidize a day care spot. 4) I have always been irritated by the nationalism of the Olympics. (Why does this Bertuzzi guy who tried to kill somone get to represent Canada abroad?) I prefer the international mix of North American professional sports. I recall a speech of Trudeau to the US Congess in which he said, "Where else in the world do you see American fans supporting a sports team composed almost entirely of foreign Canadian hockey players and then Canadian fans yelling their support of a sports team composed almost entirely of foreign American baseball players." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theloniusfleabag Posted February 11, 2006 Report Share Posted February 11, 2006 Dear FTA Lawyer, I say let the rich play with money like it's going out of style...who are they hurting?It sounds like you advocate the legalization of 'victimless crimes', which is a can of worms unto itself. The Jersey Mob makes gruesome examples out of 'welchers'. This is why they are saying the punters weren't breaking the law, only those that profited from said illegal gambling are being named and prosecuted. Is this really that big of a story on it's merits?Well, the NHL has been relatively untainted by scandal like the rest of the major sports, and with the wife of the most recognizable hockey name in the world being involved (amongst his vast number of trophies and records held, he won the 'Lady Byng' Trophy aka. Most Gentlemanly Player Trophy, 5 times) stories like this tend to have at least artificial legs. Quote Would the Special Olympics Committee disqualify kids born with flippers from the swimming events? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theloniusfleabag Posted February 11, 2006 Report Share Posted February 11, 2006 Dear August1991, 1) Why do sports players get such a free pass? I recall once being in a hotel elevator with some big guy who turned out to be a baseball player or something. To me, he was just some big guy but later I was told that he was X Y of the A Bs.The Cult of Personality. It is also the 'consumerist society and it's idol worship. Celebrities are feted by the consumers of their product and they are actively and daily coerced to do so by every available and (almost always) legal means.I will admit to an abject ignorance of sports and sports players.I admit the same of television and 'popular culture'. I have watched about a weeks' worth of television in the last 10+ years, and of that mostly select DVDs that I own. (The entire 'Yes, Minister' series, Some old Abbot and Costello Shows, Red Skelton, Jesus Christ, Superstar and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Aslo, Ichi the Killer, Meet the Feebles, South Park, Bigger, Longer and Uncut, and Team America. Oh, and an incredible cinematography bit called 'Powaqqatsi'.) Quote Would the Special Olympics Committee disqualify kids born with flippers from the swimming events? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanie_ Posted February 11, 2006 Report Share Posted February 11, 2006 No Fawlty Towers or Monty Python? No Mel Brooks? (My favourite is Space Balls.) You're missing out, man! Quote For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. Nelson Mandela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Concerned Posted February 11, 2006 Report Share Posted February 11, 2006 Is this really that big of a story on it's merits? Seems to me the biggest impact is going to be felt when the IRS gets finished levying back-taxes and penalties.I say let the rich play with money like it's going out of style...who are they hurting? As far as "The Rocket" Rick Tocchet, I'm sure he'll let this all roll off like cocaine off a whore's back...oops! I mean, water off a duck... FTA The story is way over blown. The words Gretsky and dirt just do not fit that well together. The press simply got tired of Emmerson and Islam and had nothing better to do. Quote If everybody agrees with what you have to say, you really aren't saying anything, are you ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerrySeinfeld Posted February 11, 2006 Report Share Posted February 11, 2006 Is this really that big of a story on it's merits? Seems to me the biggest impact is going to be felt when the IRS gets finished levying back-taxes and penalties. I say let the rich play with money like it's going out of style...who are they hurting? As far as "The Rocket" Rick Tocchet, I'm sure he'll let this all roll off like cocaine off a whore's back...oops! I mean, water off a duck... FTA The story is way over blown. The words Gretsky and dirt just do not fit that well together. The press simply got tired of Emmerson and Islam and had nothing better to do. I take The Wayner at his word. I can't think of anyone in public life whose word I'd believe moreso than his. The Wayner's word trumps a new jersey cops anyday and is gold until proven otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Concerned Posted February 11, 2006 Report Share Posted February 11, 2006 Is this really that big of a story on it's merits? Seems to me the biggest impact is going to be felt when the IRS gets finished levying back-taxes and penalties. I say let the rich play with money like it's going out of style...who are they hurting? As far as "The Rocket" Rick Tocchet, I'm sure he'll let this all roll off like cocaine off a whore's back...oops! I mean, water off a duck... FTA The story is way over blown. The words Gretsky and dirt just do not fit that well together. The press simply got tired of Emmerson and Islam and had nothing better to do. I take The Wayner at his word. I can't think of anyone in public life whose word I'd believe moreso than his. The Wayner's word trumps a new jersey cops anyday and is gold until proven otherwise. Hey, maybe its just a bit of anti-Canadianism. After all we did kick their butts in the last Olympics. And we pretty much embarassed their juniors here in Vancouver....Funny this "ring" has been around for over 5 years, but suddenly it is an issue just before Torino. Quote If everybody agrees with what you have to say, you really aren't saying anything, are you ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theloniusfleabag Posted February 11, 2006 Report Share Posted February 11, 2006 Dear Melanie, No Fawlty Towers or Monty Python? No Mel Brooks? (My favourite is Space Balls.) You're missing out, man!Back in the days of VCRs, I had all the Fawlty Towers (and Yes, Minister) episodes taped. As to Monty Python, I had The Holy Grail memorized, and copies of The Life of Brian, and Yellowbeard (which had most of the Python crew). I also have a book called "Monty Python's Flying Circus: Just The Words", which has all of the dialogue from all of the episodes.Mel Brooks' History of The World (part one) was Brooks at his best, Blazing Saddles was a close second. Quote Would the Special Olympics Committee disqualify kids born with flippers from the swimming events? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FTA Lawyer Posted February 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Dear FTA Lawyer,I say let the rich play with money like it's going out of style...who are they hurting?It sounds like you advocate the legalization of 'victimless crimes', which is a can of worms unto itself. The Jersey Mob makes gruesome examples out of 'welchers'. This is why they are saying the punters weren't breaking the law, only those that profited from said illegal gambling are being named and prosecuted. Is this really that big of a story on it's merits?Well, the NHL has been relatively untainted by scandal like the rest of the major sports, and with the wife of the most recognizable hockey name in the world being involved (amongst his vast number of trophies and records held, he won the 'Lady Byng' Trophy aka. Most Gentlemanly Player Trophy, 5 times) stories like this tend to have at least artificial legs. Well, there was a bit of tongue-in-cheek in my post...just trying to fire up some discussion. I like the anti-Canada just before the Olympics angle...seems to me the NJ Police press conference was a story about nothing...a big chart with Tocchet's face connected to a whole bunch of unnammed co-conspirators...hardly the way a law-enforcement agency "breaks a story". No stack of arrests, no naming of names...just innuendo and supposition from the authorities which has led to an embarrasing media "firestorm" of speculative "reporting" about rumours, leaks, maybes and we don't knows. But it has had the convenient side effect of totally consuming the head of the Canadian Olympic Hockey team in the days just before the games... FTA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazymf Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 I didn't figure this was a serious post, but I wasn't able to come up with a coup de grace of wittiness to tie your lawyerism to NHL greediness and abuse of status as media heros. See if you can come up with something and perhaps sign my name to it. thanks Quote The trouble with the legal profession is that 98% of its members give the rest a bad name. Don't be humble - you're not that great. Golda Meir Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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