Gretzky Takes a Jab in the Media, and Jabs Back

Wayne Gretzky has taken center stage in the hockey gambling story:

"Wayne Gretzky was recorded on a wiretap talking to the alleged financier of a gambling ring, discussing how the hockey great's wife could avoid being implicated, a person with knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press on Thursday."

Talking to the Toronto Globe and Mail (reg. required) on Thursday night, Gretzky denied it all:

"(Gretzky) said he had no knowledge of Tocchet's involvement in gambling prior to this week's news," reports David Shoalts.

"If I did one thing that would embarrass Team Canada or the country or hockey I would resign," he said. "It didn't happen."

What did Wayne know and when did he know it is a legitimate question. But keep in mind also that hockey's golden boy makes for much better headlines than big, burly Rick Tocchet, who kind of resembles a Sopranos' extra.

As stated before, this story is already a public relations horror for the NHL. But as an earth-shaking, movie-of-the-week scandal it falls short so far.

It would really help if a few folks in the army of unnamed sources were willing to go on the record. In following this story, several media outlets have already been embarrassed by supposedly reliable sources.

And until someone turns up evidence that NHL people were betting on NHL games, or helping others bet on NHL games, this isn't a story of corruption. It's a story of stupid, reckless rich people.