Free Republic

Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo, seated next to first lady Laura Bush and proudly flashing his familiar broad smile, was honored by President George Bush Tuesday at the State of the Union Address in Washington. Mutombo, working almost daily, raised $29 million (donating $15 million himself) for the construction of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mutombo plans to open the hospital — Kinshasa's first new one in 40 years — this summer. It is named for his mother, who died nine years ago when civil unrest and...

Wayne Gretzky's wife (Janet Jones) will be subpoenaed to testify when a grand jury looks at charges in the case involving a betting ring allegedly run by an NHL assistant coach, New Jersey's attorney general said in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday. In her first major interview since being sworn in as attorney general six weeks ago, Zulima Farber said that Janet Jones would be called to testify about the high-stakes gambling ring as soon as a grand jury convenes. Farber said authorities would convene a grand jury to hear evidence in the gambling case relatively quickly.

For over a week now, I have been hoping that “the Great One” and his wife had not done anything illegal. Our wonderful media has spun this completely out of control and basically gave the Gretzky’s a public rectal exam. We now know that they has a 2 million credit line in Vegas and they have been made out to be complete gambling addicts. They can play blackjack at a $25,000 per hand level and only usually play $1000 a hand. Maybe they are… maybe not… but who’s business is that anyway?? Now the news of the morning says oh...

Investigators suspect that at least six New Jersey state troopers were recorded on wiretaps, calling in bets to a bookmaking ring allegedly run by a National Hockey League coach and another trooper, a source familiar with the probe said Friday. The state police also suspended a trooper for allegedly failing to report the illegal betting ring to his superiors, a law enforcement official said. Michael Kaiser, a sergeant assigned to the Garden State Parkway, was suspended late Thursday for violating the agency's rules. He was not charged with any crimes, officials said. State police investigators are now trying to determine...

NEWARK, NJ, United States (UPI) -- New Jersey wiretaps in the unfolding NHL betting scandal indicate Wayne Gretzky knew of his friend`s alleged multimillion-dollar gambling ring. Gretzky said earlier in the week he had no knowledge of any gambling allegations until his friend Rick Tocchet called him Monday night. There is no evidence that the hockey hall-of-famer made any bets, the Newark Star-Ledger said. But, investigators are looking into whether he may have placed wagers through his wife, Janet Jones. Jones was among the gamblers who placed more than $1.7 million in wagers in the past six weeks with the...

Turin, Italy -Tell me you didn't cringe when you read it. The New Jersey State Police's press release on Operation Slap Shot mentioned an illegal high-rollers gambling operation with connections to the mafia, and an investigation that could well drag down a National Hockey League coach, up to a dozen or more players ... and an owner. Please, tell me it's not that owner. Please tell me it's not the owner whose employee and close friend is Rick Tocchet, the Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach who is in deep trouble as the financier of the gambling ring, allegedly with a little...

EWING, N.J. (AP) - Wayne Gretzky's wife and about a half-dozen NHL players placed bets - but not on hockey - with a nationwide sports gambling ring financed by Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet, authorities said Tuesday. Gretzky, hockey's greatest player, is in his first season coaching the Coyotes and is a part-owner of the team. Actress-wife Janet Jones was among those implicated, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because no bettors have been publicly identified.

Wayne Gretzky's wife and about a half-dozen NHL players placed bets -- but not on hockey -- with a nationwide sports gambling ring financed by Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet, authorities said Tuesday. Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images Two law enforcement sources told the AP that Janet Jones, who is Wayne Gretzky's wife, placed bets with the gambling ring. At the request of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Tocchet did not attend the Coyotes' game against the Blackhawks on Tuesday night. In a statement, the Coyotes said Tocchet "was flying back East this evening to address the allegations in a meeting with...

Please forgive if this is in the wrong place... Bob Miller, longtime voice of the hockey Los Angeles Kings, just announced on Fox Sports Net that Wayne Gretzky's mother, Phyllis, has passed away. Gretzky, the highest scoring player in NHL history, and coach of the Pacific Division Phoenix Coyotes, had taken an indefinite leave of absence just days ago, to attend to his mother. Assistant Rick Tocchet, himself a former hockey player and King, was to assume the reins until Gretzky's return. The Kings have extended their organization's thoughts, prayers and condolences to the Gretzky family.

<p>Granted, there is upheaval in the world and there are battles where a great deal is at stake -- life itself. All the more precious, then, the minor skirmishes on the home front that mean a great deal in a small way and remind us of how lucky we are to feel innocent hatreds, from summer to summer, at the ballpark.</p>

Wayne Gretzky praised the efforts of U.S. President George W. Bush in the war against Iraq but shied away Monday from criticizing Canada's decision to stay out of the conflict. "All I can say is the president of the United States is a great leader, I happen to think he's a wonderful man and if he believes what he's doing is right I back him 100 per cent," said Gretzky, in Calgary for a news conference for Ronald McDonald Children's Charities. "If the president decides to go to war he must know more than we know, or we hear about....