Hockeydirt has an awesome take on “Operation Slapshot”. This is the best part…

Step back for a second and ask yourself…if it was L.A. Kings coach Andy Murray’s wife and assistant coach (or the wife and assistant of any other NHL coach) who were originally implicated by the New Jersey State Police, do you think this story would be such a big deal. Do you think the New Jersey State Police would have had a news conference if it was a bunch of no-names who were the alleged organizers of this $1.7 milliion gambling ring?

No. It wouldn’t be. But the fact is, it is Wayne Gretzky’s assistant coach, and Wayne Gretzky’s wife. And that is why this story has made it into the national media and will stay in the national media until their (sic.) is a conviction.

And the New Jersey State Police know it. And they are milking it for all that it is worth.

Do I think Gretzky has anything to do with this? I don’t know. I’m not passing judgement.

I do know that very little attention seems to be paid to hockey in the press–more so, it seems, in the US, because, supposedly, the only sports us USicans are supposed to pay attention to with any fervour are basketball (NBA and college), football (NFL and college (and if you watch ESPN, they’ll imply that you’re supposed to worship at the altar of the USC Trojans)), and Major League Baseball. But when hockey does get press in the US, it’s usually not good: either there’s a lockout or someone’s been busted for something (e.g., Todd Bertuzzi). Tsk, tsk.