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February 13, 2006
Gretzky: The Family Reputation - Hot Water Melts Ice
PHOTO: Wayne Gretzky at a recent press conference
"I’ve felt like the last three days I’ve defended myself over something that absolutely, unequivocally, I was not involved with."
Wayne Gretzky, reiterating that he never bet with the gambling ring allegedly financed by friend and Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet. Gretzky’s wife, Janet, allegedly made many bets in the gambling ring.
According to AP, Phoenix Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky will subject himself this afternoon to another round of questions from reporters about an alleged illegal gambling ring that police say was financed by his assistant coach, Rick Tocchet. The gambling ring had a connection with organized crime in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey. Gretzky, considered hockey's greatest player, is in his first season coaching the Coyotes and is a part-owner of the team.
"First of all, my wife is my best friend," Gretzky said in a recent interview. "My love for her is deeper than anything. The reality is, I'm not involved, I wasn't involved and I'm not going to be involved. Am I concerned for both of them? Sure there's concern from me. I'm more worried about them than me. ... I'm trying to figure it all out."
Gretzky, also the executive director of the Canadian men's Olympic hockey team, is expected to join the team in Toronto this morning. But rather than lay low in an airport hotel, the Great One plans to attend the team's practice, making himself available to the media for the third time since the Tocchet story broke last Tuesday.
His decision was made amid reports over the weekend that he was visited at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, before the start of the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 by two New Jersey police officers and a local law enforcement official to discuss the alleged involvement of his wife, Janet, in the alleged betting ring.
Gretzky was speechless when police informed him of the allegation, the reports say, and he told them that he had no knowledge of the alleged gambling operation in a conversation last Monday. Later that day, it is believed, he telephoned Tocchet to see whether there was any way his wife could avoid being implicated. Sources have said the Gretzky-Tocchet conversation was recorded during a New Jersey state police wiretap, the day after Gretzky’s wife allegedly won money betting on the Super Bowl, sources said.
“Published reports that Gretzky had spoken to Rick Tocchet about his concern for his wife prior to police appearing at Gretzky’s house last Monday are completely ludicrous,” said Gretzky’s attorney, Ron Fujikawa. “It’s absolutely balderdash.”
PHOTO: Operation Slapshot chart from NJ State Police sting
The wife of hockey Hall-of-Famer Wayne Gretzky said she never placed bets for her husband, while her spokesman said she may have to testify about a $1.7 million sports-gambling ring with alleged ties to organized crime.
The NHL is also taking the allegations very seriously. "We understand that Mr. Tocchet's conduct in no way involved betting on hockey," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. "And, while betting on football or other sports may be the pervasive issue, it in no way justifies poor judgment or otherwise alleged inappropriate conduct."
Gretzky’s wife, actress and dancer Janet Jones, said in a statement that "at no time did I ever place a wager" on behalf of Gretzky, the National Hockey League's all-time scoring leader and now coach and part- owner of the Phoenix Coyotes. "Other than the occasional horse race, my husband does not bet on any sports,'' Jones said in the statement, released by Evan Jenness, her Santa Monica, California-based attorney.
The Newark Star-Ledger, citing unidentified law-enforcement officials, reported that Jones placed $500,000 in bets with the ring over the last six weeks -- including $75,000 on the Feb. 5 Super Bowl -- and that Gretzky spoke of the ring on a wiretap. There is no evidence Gretzky placed any bets, the newspaper said.
Jones' statement didn't say if she placed bets herself.
PHOTO: Gretzky and wife in Sports Illustrated photo
Janet Jones has been spending a lot of time in Los Angeles with her daughter, while her husband, Gretzky, has been spending much of his time in Arizona with his new team. As a result, his wife, Janet, had a lot more time without her husband and one of the ways she spent that time seems to be gambling.
A few reputation management tips from the Reputation Doctor for the Gretzkys:
• Hot water melts ice.
The NHL is still trying to come back from its strike crisis and now the Great One and his wife are in crisis. Bad for pro hockey, bad for the Canadian Olympic team and bad for the Gretzky family. Hot water melts ice and these hockey crises are causing reputation problems for everyone in the sport.
• Gambling is highly addictive.
Janet needs help to kick her habit. The needs to find the best gambling anonymous program in the country. It is a disease and she is definitely addicted. She likes the gambling rush and she needs help to kick it and she needs help now. She will need the consistent support of her husband, family and friends.
• We all need accountability.
Janet Jones is not exempt from accountability and transparency. In fact, because of her famous husband, the public demands the truth and it will come out sooner rather than later. The only way to repair the family name is with honesty, transparency, accountability and consistency in changed behavior and then with humble communication.
• The court of public opinion is much more important than the court of law in this situation.
If your attorney leads in the court of public opinion, you will lose in the end. Attorneys are not trained to handle the media onslaught in a situation like this. Hire a seasoned crisis PR pro with a lot of experience dealing with public crises. If your attorney helps prevent you from going to jail or paying a price for your misdeeds, but your reputation is still in the gutter, you're still in crisis. Think O.J. Simpson. Your reputation is everything!
• Sins of the wife will damage a public husband’s reputation and all audiences associated with them.
The Gretzkys need to understand any misdeeds within their family are open to public scrutiny. I always tell my clients when you first sign a contract in sports, entertainment, as a top executive in corporate America, elected to public office or a leading post with a top nonprofit, your personal life is now public and that includes your entire family.
Remember, do the right thing when your reputation is in crisis and seek the counsel of an experienced reputation management expert. It will be difficult, but ultimately the rewards will be great. Why? Because Your Reputation Is Everything! ™
About Mike Paul
Mike Paul is editor of The Reputation Doctor blog. The Reputation Doctor is a nickname given to him by various clients. Mike's blog is located at www.ReputationDoctor.com. He appears regularly on Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, Court TV, ABC News, ESPN, CBS News, BBC, and others as a weekly contributor and expert in the global news regarding leaders, celebrities, corporations and other organizations with reputations in crisis. Mr. Paul is also president and senior counselor of MGP & Associates PR (www.mgppr.com), a leading strategic public relations and reputation management firm based in New York. For interview requests, speeches or business opportunities with Mr. Paul, call 212-595-8500.
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