June 23, 2008

Predicting Sports Is Hard

Ex-City Paper editor and Johnny Doc spokesman Brian Hickey made his picks for Euro 2008. Let's see how he did in the first round:

Portugal vs. Germany [Already complete 2-3]

Croatia vs. Turkey (2-2, Croatia advances on PKs)
Netherlands vs. Russia (3-1)
Spain vs. Italy (1-0)

Not to be nitpicky or anything, but the only one he got right was the one he picked after the game was over. Predicting sports is hard, which is why I like to stick to betting on sensible things where you can get good odds, like American Gladiators.

Photo by gereg, Creative Commons license

Posted by D-Mac at 10:33 AM | Comments (3)

March 21, 2008

Problem Gambler Can't Use New Chips

Back in 2004, a man only identified as S.D. lost money in Atlantic City. He did the only sensible thing: He went to the Casino Control Commission and asked he be banned from gambling in Atlantic City for life.

Whoops! Turns out he loved to gamble, and since New Jersey shares its list of banned gamblers with other states, now S.D. can't really gamble anywhere. Yesterday, a state appeals court ruled the Commission didn't have to reverse the ban when S.D. asked.

It's a shame for our mysterious problem gambler, since Atlantic City has introduced a new chip that's worth $25,000. (We bloggers call that "a day's pay.") The $25K chip is the highest denomination the state offers, but Caesars notes they have special plaques for its customers who make single bets of $50,000 or $100,000. You may begin weeping now.

Court: Casino panel doesn't have to lift voluntary lifetime ban [The Star-Ledger]
High rollers raise stakes with new $25,000 chip [AP/Courier-Post]

Posted by D-Mac at 10:56 AM | Comments (0)

March 17, 2008

Brackets Make Sports Worthwhile Again

There are a couple of lulls in sports fandom throughout the year, but none worse than the post-Super Bowl drought. Most of the subplots of February after the big game involve off-the-field stuff: Free agency signings, trade rumors and the great NCAA at-large bid vs. Not In Tournament question. Most of the games are tired regular season teams playing out the string or resting for the playoffs or exhibitions, in the case of baseball.

But once March rolls around, college basketball's Championship Week begins and we get to celebrate what might be the two best sports days of the year: Days 1 and 2 of the NCAA Tournament. Not only do you have a vested rooting interest -- your bracket -- but everybody also gets together and roots for the underdogs to win.

This year, we even get to root for the local teams, as Temple, Saint Joseph's and Villanova all got in. Joe's has the highest seed, an 11, despite Temple finishing 2nd in the Atlantic 10 and beating the Hawks in the finals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. TU and Villanova are No. 12 seeds. Temple kicks things off Thursday afternoon at 12:30 against Michigan State (winnable); Joe's plays Oklahoma at around 6 p.m. Friday (very winnable!) and Villanova has a late-night Friday game at 10 against Clemson (not as winnable as the other ones).

I suggest you go print out a bracket and fill it out in pen first, as that makes it easier. And if you do that, please use the one from the NCAA's website, which has this disclaimer: "The NCAA opposes all sports wagering. This bracket should not be used for sweepstakes, contests, office pools or other gambling activities."

The NCAA opposes all sports wagering and, therefore, does not want me to bet on pro football. Does the NCAA lobby Congress to ban casinos? You know, if the NCAA was so concerned about people betting on games, maybe every game can just end in a tie instead. That seems like a better idea. Until there are three-hundred national champions, things just aren't fair.

Posted by D-Mac at 12:55 PM | Comments (0)

January 25, 2008

Legalized Sports Betting In A.C.?

Earlier this year, several people in New Jersey were arrested for allegedly running a casino out of a Borgata poker room. While we here in this country do simply love sending people to jail for activities between consenting adults, apparently some people in New Jersey feel otherwise: They'd like to legalize sports gambling in Atlantic City!

Two former assembly members, senators Jim Whelan and Jeff Van Drew -- who you may remember from attack ads that made them out to be child-rapists last year -- are at the forefront of the push to legalize sports gambling in Atlantic City. Sports gambling is regulated by federal law, and New Jersey missed its previous chance to legalize it, so it could become a messy states' rights issue that will no doubt be decided in favor of the federal government.

But, hey, who knows? I don't know who would gamble in AC when Internet sports gambling is plentiful and no doubt has better odds. But, hey, if horse racing is the sport of kings and that's base on killing horses and betting on it, who's to say Atlantic City shouldn't get a piece of the action? Well, the National Football League, paragons of virtue and holiness and sponsors of fantasy football, doesn't think so!

"It's bad policy because it turns human players into roulette chips with the sanction of the state," said NFL attorney David H. Remes.

What the hell does that even mean? Oh, no, the big 'roided-up men and their spying coaches might have their integrity ruined, wah wah wah. Human-roulette chip hybrids! What ever will we do? The NFL's lawyer might as well as it's bad policy because it turns human players into zombies that will overrun the earth, a la Resident Evil. Hey, we should be able to gamble on video games, too!

Bid renewed to bring sports betting to A.C. [AP/Philly.com]

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January 11, 2008

Turtles, Redcoats Delay Casino

It appears nature and the past are banding together to attempt to stop SugarHouse Casino from opening in Fishtown. The Bulletin reports environmental activists want to check if the red-belled turtle lives at the proposed casino site, because that's a threatened species.

The paper talks to the Casino's communications director, Leigh Whitaker: "We did an investigation during the turtles' normal, natural nesting season. Our study found there was no evidence of turtles nesting or living on the site." Oh. That's not going to work. Let's get to the other one, then.

Daniel Rubin reports American history could stop the casino from building on the site, as a bunch of history nerds think there was a British fort there and want to get a chance to excavate the site first. Nerds are always getting in the way.

Rubin, by the way, also reports this: "If a Revolutionary War fort can't slow the SugarHouse casino, it surely can slow it." Indeed it can.

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January 03, 2008

2008 Brings Triumphant Return Of Milton

Ohh, Milton! After dropping out of the public eye for many months after defeating only two candidates in the Democratic City Council At-Large primary, Milton Street is back!

By "Milton's back", of course, I mean the federal government is preparing for the fraud and tax evasion trial of the mayor's brother. But, hey, same thing!

Friday, prosecutors filed court papers detailing their plan to nab Ol' Uncle Milty. They're prepared to call 47 witnesses, including Milton's son (Thomas Milton Street Junior!) and a "woman familiar with Street's wagering practices at Philadelphia Turf Club," according to the Daily News. (You see? Barbaro is involved with this case, too.)

Connie Little, a former top aide to the mayor, could testify about money paid to Milton Street from Mayor Street's campaign! All in all, it's going to be a great little trial, and you can expect Philadelphia Will Do to cover it with the furor of an Alycia Lane uppercut.

Posted by D-Mac at 12:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

December 03, 2007

Gambling, The Way We Want You To

Late last week, Vice cops busted up an illegal video poker stash in a store that was simply called Variety Store. "It's a quality-of-life issue, and obviously was a nuisance to people in the community," said Chief Inspector William Blackburn, who is quickly being the go-to-guy for awesome news quotes. ("This product in itself glorifies the drug trade in the city of Philadelphia," he said of a breath mint.)

From who else but Drew Carey comes another story, asking why veterans can't play poker in the VFW but states can run lotteries, which are almost a sure bet for the house to win. (During the Dallas' cops raid, some woman wet her pants, the report says.)

Carey, who also is totally for medical marijuana (AK-47, I bet).

The situations aren't really the same, of course: Cops heard underage gambling was going on at good ol' Variety Store, while the other dudes were veterans. Anyway, the state still has Gus, the second-most famous groundhog in Pennsylvania to sell lottery tickets so there's not much anybody can do about their gambling stranglehold.

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November 20, 2007

Eagles Getting Lines Usually Reserved For Temple

The Philadelphia Eagles are twenty-two point underdogs to the New England Patriots, which Vegas Vic says could be the biggest 'dog the Eagles have ever been.

Twenty-two point underdogs at home on the road. Are the Eagles that bad? Are the Patriots that good? Either way, Sunday night probably won't be much fun.

Birds epic 'dogs against Pats [Daily News]

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November 14, 2007

N.J. Takes Strong Stance Against Gambling (Unless You're Betting At A Casino. Or On Horse Racing. Or The Lottery.)

Investigators are probing an illegal sports gambling ring in New Jersey, concerned that Atlantic City's reputation will be sullied with betting on sports.

A source told the Associated Press more than 18 people have been arrested and a press conference is scheduled for the top of the hour. Some of the arrested have ties to organized crime! And probably Al-Qaeda!

Meanwhile, in actual crime fighting news, a six-hour standoff outside a casino ended peacefully. Also, there was near nudity! " The man, who was not identified, was ordered by FBI agents on the scene to strip down to his inner clothing and complied at about 4:45 a.m., said state police Sgt. Stephen Jones."

Report: Sports Betting Ring at Borgata Busted [AP/6 ABC]
Standoff Outside A.C. Casino Ends Peacefully [6 ABC]

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November 05, 2007

There Are Apparently A Lot Of Asians In Atlantic City

No, really. Just ask this guy:

On a recent Saturday night, Kevin Yu played a few hands of baccarat at the Trump Taj Mahal, then headed to the casino arena to catch the Hong Kong singing sensation Twins.

To Yu's surprise, the postmidnight concert was sold out. "Wow, so many Asians!" said Yu, 45, a Hong Kong native and truck driver who lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Asians are way more likely to be compulsive gamblers than anybody else, so the casinos are doing the only sensible thing: Marketing to them as much as possible!

A.C. RIDES ASIAN TIDE [Inquirer]

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October 29, 2007

Bigfoot Enthusiast Says Photo Is Bigfoot

Hey! A Pennsylvania hunter, Rick Jacobs, says he has a photo of Bigfoot (at right). He apparently snapped the photo with a camera with an automatic trigger he set up in order to get snapshots of deer.

But, instead, he got a photo of an animal of indeterminate origin, which means it must be Bigfoot! "It appears to be a primate-like animal. In my opinion, it appears to be a juvenile Sasquatch," Paul Majeta told the Associated Press. Paul Majeta, incidentally, is a member of the Bigfoot Research Organization, and is therefore an impartial judge of a creature's Sasquatchness.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission says there is "no question" the animal is a bear with a severe case of mange, but that doesn't make for a good headline.

But there is even better news. The Online Gambling Paper reports: "An online sportsbook once offered odds on the existence of Sasquatch, but the prop was canceled due to lack of interest. Now with Jacob's Bigfoot, we may see those weird odds pop up again." The OG Paper also has a report on the odds for the 2007 World Hamburger Eating Championship.

Update: In the comments, "michele" draws us a picture, literally. I really couldn't make any sense of the photo -- other than knowing it's not Bigfoot -- so it was helpful.

Hunter Rick Jacobs claims Bigfoot photo [OG Paper]
Pa. Hunter Stirs Bigfoot Debate [AP/Time]

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September 25, 2007

Authorities Keep Gambling In Safe Hands Of Multinational Corporations And Indian Tribes

If you like losing your money like I do, you've no doubt wandered into a bar sometime and wondered, "Well, why can't I gamble here? It's a much more efficient way to lose your money than buying drinks for a girl who isn't going to go home with me anyway!" Unfortunately for us, the law prohibits gambling except in cases where already rich people can make even more money from it.

Fortunately, though, a group of not quite as rich men in Montgomery County figured out they should be able to deliver what the public wants; the authorities quickly moved in to shut down the public's fun. KYW 1060 reports a video poker ring was busted in Montgomery County. On the criminal scale of one to Al Capone, "video poker ring" weighs in somewhere around -15.

Sources say prosecutors executed search warrants at more than a dozen bars including one owned by a prominent elected official in Montgomery County. Sources say the major player is Connelly Vending which owns the machines and at least one arrest is expected and nearly two million dollars in cash was seized along with several machines.

The offenders will be quickly taken away from their families and thrown in jail along with the million other non-violent criminals and Steve Wynn will be safe to buy another 30 private jets. Ain't America grand?

Sources: Illegal Video Poker Ring Busted in Montco [KYW 1060]

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January 16, 2007

Soon An Eagles Loss Can Hurt Twice As Much

As disappointing as Saturday's Eagles game turned out to be in the end, think how much worse it would have been had you also bet $1000 on the Birds. Actually, you would have won, with the 5 or so points the Birds were getting. So it wouldn't have been so bad, actually. Hmm.

Anyway, the point is: Had the Eagles lost and also not covered, it would have been a doubly worse day. But pretty soon you're going to be able to do it, as it appears it's only a matter of time before Atlantic City legalizes sportsbooks, CasinoGamblingWeb.com -- isn't that part of the Wall Street Journal? -- reports.

Currently, horse racing is the only legal sports gambling in A.C., perhaps because the horses can't accept money to shave points. CasinoGamblingWeb.com talked with a lawyer who said that the casinos are actively lobbying to add sports books by 2008 -- to help stave off the loss in customers from slots parlors in Philadelphia. Basically, all it'll take is a bit more lobbying and one state legislator who loves casino lobbyists. Give it time.

Then again, the website also reports that staff members watched the Giants beat the Raiders last month, an event that did not happen, so take what you will.

Sportsbooks Arriving in Atlantic City by 2008 [CasinoGamblingWeb.com]

Posted by D-Mac at 11:17 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

November 09, 2006

Rendell Is Going To Lose His Thumbs

Ed Rendell's 20-point win in the election is good for him, but not so good for his wallet:

The governor admitted yesterday that in a moment of weakness in February, he made a bet with his 26-year-old son, Jesse, while they were at the Philadelphia International Auto Show. Jesse Rendell said his father would win the election with more than 60 percent of the vote. Gov. Rendell said no way.

In front of them was "this beautiful teal Aston Martin convertible," Rendell said, so he took a gamble: if his son were right, he'd buy him the sleek British sports car.

Yesterday afternoon, with 99 percent of precincts reporting, the governor had 2,414,541 votes - or 60 percent. [...]

His wife, Midge - U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Marjorie O. Rendell - is currently negotiating a compromise.

Ohh, trying to get out of it, Ed? Well we're the Swift Boat Gambling Veterans For Truth, and we want you to hold up the end of your bet! Ahem. Real governors don't get their wives to negotiate a compromise.

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October 11, 2006

Leftovers: It Ain't Over 'Til Stallone Has 5 More Houses

• At right, the official poster for Rocky Balboa, which was apparently designed by looking at the original Rocky poster and then chopping off an arm. Then they spent five seconds on the "It ain't over 'til it's over" tagline. Did I mention how totally 100-percent awesome this movie is going to be? [The Movie Blog via Phillyist]

• A group of women who got "instant" facelifts are unhappy with the results after high-pressure sales pitches by non-doctors. Gee, who knew this could go wrong? [NBC 10]

• The Sands -- i.e. oh, you mean the casino I never go in? -- is closing after 26 years, meaning that Atlantic City's actual "Free Parking" is no more. Be sure to read the article, which features a heartbreaking interview with a woman who loves keno at the Sands so much her license plate is "ILUVKENO." [Inquirer]

• In honor of the baseball playoffs, the Associated Press -- well, their "Newz 4 Kidz" division, asap -- is running old newsreels of World Series past. The first one is the Athletics' Game 1 victory over the Cubs in 1929, and, whoo, just listen to that announcing. [NotYourMothersNews.com]

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August 15, 2006

Philly Teen Learns Valuable Lesson: Baseball Players You Meet In Gambling Parlors And Fuck On The First Date Are Not Always Faithful

Meet Christina Alisio. Alisio is -- or, rather, was -- Paul Lo Duca's "Philly chick." Yes, the 19-year-old Alisio was banging the Mets (and former Marlins) catcher when he came to town, but was shocked -- shocked -- when she found out that Lo Duca was married and had another 19-year-old in New York!

According to the New York Post, the two originally met last year at a gambling parlor (the Center City Turf Club, we suppose) where she works. Lo Duca passed her his phone number, invited her and some friends to a ballgame, then back to his hotel room, where he shooed her friends away for some time between the sheets. The Post also provides this detail: "[T]he pair had their romps exclusively at the Westin and the Hyatt, where he occasionally stayed."

But Alisio was shocked -- shocked! -- to find out her baseball loverboy not only had a wife, but also another 19-year-old girl on Long Island, allegedly. (Lo Duca denies all of this, of course, as well as the allegations that he has a huge gambling problem. Quote from a rep: "It's her one chance to be in The New York Post." Yes, Philly girls, dreaming of one day making the pages of the New York Post.)

Alisio, though, says she's heartbroken. To wit:

"I guess Paul likes young girls and has one in every city - I must be his Philly chick," said a stunned Christina Alisio.

"You never know how many are out there," the shattered 19-year-old said. "He put on a good show. [It seemed like] he cared about me. He was a nice guy. Now I know it was all a show."

On the straying slugger's sexual prowess in bed, Alisio then added, "He's all right but below what I expected." [...]

"I felt hurt. I felt used . . . I felt bad for his wife," Alisio said. "I was just a piece of ass for him.

"I don't really want to talk to him. He's a liar."

But let's not be too hard on her. After all, she's only 19, and what 19-year-old hasn't had a high-profile affair with a member of the New York Mets that ended in tragedy and a cover story in the New York Post?

LO DUCA TRIES SOME PHILLYvCHEESECAKE [NY Post via Gawker]

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June 01, 2006

Quickies: Vito The Line And Rizzo The Rat

• A man named Vito the Line and Rizzo's son-in-law was charged with running a gambling ring yesterday in Montgomery County. Just set up an Internet gambling business offshore. It's much, much easier. Come on. Frank would have thought of that. [Inquirer]

• Democratic State Rep. Mike McGeehan had a polie report filed against him for cursing at a man who McGeehan said called the office and had previously used profanity. Ahh, Northeast Philly. [Daily News]

• Photoblogger Brad Maule takes a look at The Avenue -- Passyunk, not Frankford -- and finds that there's, uh, not much parking. [phillyskyline]

• O-U-T! (Yeah, yeah.) An Upper Moreland girl is out of the National Spelling Bee after missing on gueridon, a French word meaning a small, round table. French word? Boy, whoever made up that word list must hate America. [Doylestown Intelligencer]

Posted by D-Mac at 11:24 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 20, 2006

Born To Steal And Run

In case you haven't noticed, it seems like every other week now an indie band with a Myspace page has its equipment and/or van stolen in Philly.

Well the boys over at Badminton Stamps have noticed, and they're taking bets like they're Rick Tocchet.

Here's some of the odds and explanations:

4/23, Cold War Kids, 10-1: Hmm...a young left coast band playing at The Fire. Give these guys a van (and then steal it), and they're Film School.

4/27, Ghostface Killah, 25-1: Philly steps up its game, makes a trunk of those 24 karat dolls disappear from the TLA lot.

5/24, Film School, 7-2: Who says lightning can't strike twice? The ultimate hard-luck story gets mainstream coverage, briefly distracts the city from Phillies' 12-36 record.

6/11, Cat Power, 100-1: Those aren't the odds of a theft. They're the odds that the show doesn't get cancelled.

That's nice and all, but I think Philly's criminals are going to start looking bigger. They've feasted on the likes of Film School and Arab Strap. You know who's in town June 20? The Boss. And since Springsteen's playing in The Town That Law Forgot (Camden), something tells me the highway's going to be filled with broken heroes and a lot of stolen gear.

Rosie Thomas' Equipment Stolen In Philly [Her Jazz]
Hail To The Thief [Badminton Stamps]
Archives: Rick Tocchet

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April 10, 2006

Quickies: Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200

• You may have hotels on Park Place and Boardwalk, but you still have to trek outside of Atlantic City to find a supermarket. The only one on the island is closing soon. Isn't it nice how much casino gambling worked out for the city? [AP/6 ABC]

• Bryan Curtis at Slate says you should read Marley and Me, the doggy Inquirer columnist John Grogan -- and, remember, if you criticize him, you're just jealous! -- but only when the doggy's little. When he gets older, put it away and kick it to the curb. (The book, not your dog.) [Slate]

• Service journalism: How to recycle your computer so it doesn't end up in a landfill. Seriously, go to the front page of Salon and there's a photo of a kid surrounded by thrown-out wires and such in Asia, since apparently we outsource our computer trash removal, too. [Salon]

• A town councilman in Upper Darby is accused of shoplifting sneakers from a store. Let's see if we can get him in a cell with Rick Mariano. [Bucks County Courier Times]

Posted by D-Mac at 11:51 AM | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)

March 01, 2006

Lottery fever (for conspiracies)

If you were in New Jersey yesterday, you might've had the opportunity to buy a "Mega Millions" ticket. The jackpot was up to $267 million, and, unfortunately for us, the winning ticket was sold in Ohio.

Northwestern Ohio, huh? Sounds pretty rural. Seems like this letter in the Daily News a few days ago might be on to something:

If you look at large winnings in these mega-lotteries, why is it always a white person in a rural or suburban town who wins the big money? With today's technology, you can't make me believe that this isn't fixed.

Why is it that no one in an urban area like Philadelphia has ever won the huge jackpot? Blacks make up a large part of the participation in these mega-lotteries, and we never, ever win. Black America, we need to stop playing THEIR game and take our money and invest in our future the right way. Now, that's the big payoff!

The advice to stop playing lotteries is probably a good thing -- since the lottery is just a tax on people who can't do math. And our letter writer is correct, no one in the city has ever won the mega-lottery. With today's technology, you can't sway me with facts!

The mega lotteries [DN, fourth letter]
Philadelphia Retailer Sells Winning Powerball® Ticket Worth $52 million [PA Lottery]
Winning Mega Millions Ticket Sold in Ohio [AP/WSAV3]

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February 27, 2006

Also, it helps to be Donald Trump

Late Thursday night, police raided an illegal casino in Port Richmond, called the Philadelphia Players Club.

The casino was so brazen that it advertised on the Internet, which sort of makes me wonder how I was never there before. (I mean, had I known about it I totally would have visited. And my job is browsing the Internet all day! How did I not know about this?)

Anyway, the cops broke up the casino and arrested the proprietors. And they they sure showed them who's boss:

"This [raid and arrests] is sending a strong message to the community that gambling in this form is illegal," said Capt. Benjamin Naish, a police spokesman.

Indeed! If you want to open a casino in Port Richmond, you have to already be rich and place a complicated bid proposal and probably schmooze up to some politicians. How dare these people try to run a casino without politicians getting a cut of it!

Port Richmond 'casino' goes bust [DN]
Photo by Todd K

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February 23, 2006

Why don't you just kick Rick Tocchet's dog while you're at it, New Jersey lawmakers?

This would be in contrast to the previous system of New Jersey sports gambling, Toccherat.

NJ Lawmakers Mull Casino Sports Betting [AP/6 ABC]
PWD on Rick Tocchet

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February 08, 2006

Let the rumors begin!

Well, well, well. Yesterday Former Flyer Rick Tocchet -- who played with the team for two stints from the 1980s on -- was charged with financing an illegal sports betting ring.

What makes it more interesting is that reports have said ex-Flyer (and now Penguin) Mark Recchi and Janet Jones, who is the wife of Wayne Gretzky. If she's calling in bets, who is she calling them in for? Oh, also, in a shocker to no one, Jeremy Roenick might be involved.

And now anyone who's anyone is thinking of possible offenders with baseless speculation. Well, no, not baseless, but you think of how some players could be connected to this thing. You see, police said that some current NHLers placed bets, as well as a "Hollywood movie star." Ooh!

Nobody really knows who could be involved. But it could be anyone! Well, anyone connected to hockey. So we have like 500 white male suspects, all bulky and 6 feet and up.

Oh, and look how New Jersey State Trooper James Harney, who allegedly helped run the gambling ring:

Capt. Al Della Fave, a spokesman for the state police, said Tocchet had met Harney years ago when Harney was a bartender at a Holiday Inn near the sports complex in South Philadelphia. Tocchet was a regular bar customer there.

If you needed any evidence about how cool hockey players are, you just need to know that Rick Tocchet regularly drank at a Holiday Inn. Near the Spectrum.

In unrelated news, Eric Lindros was reportedly friends with Joey Merlino when he was in town. Zing!

Betting sting nabs ex-Flyer Tocchet, N.J. trooper [Inky]
Yesterday: All of Northeast Philly's childhood idol, exposed

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February 07, 2006

All of Northeast Philly's childhood idol, exposed

Ohhh, boy. Former Flyers prettyboy fighter and favorite-of-everyone Rick Tocchet has been charged with promoting a gambling ring tied to organized crime. Rick, how could you? (And by that, I mean run a gambling ring without giving me the chance to place a bet or two with it.)

Oh, and about 12 current NHL players placed bets with that syndicate, but it doesn't appear they gambled on hockey. (I don't even know how you could gamble on hockey, anyway. I guess you can gamble on anything, but who bets on anything but football anyway?)

Tocchet is currently an assistant for the Phoenix Coyotes. Two other men, James Harney (a state trooper from Marlton) and James Ulmer (from Swedesboro) were also arrested. The gambling ring allegedly took $1.7 million in bets on pro and college sports, mostly football and baseball, according to NBC 10.

Oh, and they're investigating players (current and former) and a Hollywood movie star as part of the ring.

As Matt Drudge says, DEVELOPING...

Update: Action News says that ex-Flyer Mark Recchi and Janet Jones are involved. Janet Jones is Wayne Gretzky's wife.

Ex-Flyer Tied To National Gambling Ring [NBC 10]

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February 06, 2006

Line of the year

And so early, too! Yeah, yeah, this would have made more sense to post it before the Steelers-Seahawks game, but I didn't see it until this morning. From Seattlest:

Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell have also made a bet with Pennsylvania's junior senator Rick Santorum. If the Steelers win, Santorum gets apples, salmon, and coffee. However, if the Seahawks win, his wife has to have an abortion.

Unfortunately, the Steelers won. Drag.

Political Fat Cats Wager on the Seahawks [Seattlest via Deadspin]

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