2006年VOA标准英语-Gambling Scandal Overshadows Men's Olympic

By Parke Brewer¹
Turin
15 February 2006

As the men's 2006 Winter Olympics hockey tournament began Wednesday, much of the focus has been on former star Wayne Gretzky, the executive director of the Canadian Olympic ice hockey team.  That is because of a gambling² scandal.

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Wayne Gretzky looks up during hockey practice at 2006 Winter Olympics, Feb. 14, 2006  
  

The legendary³ Wayne Gretzky, considered by most to be the best ice hockey player of all time, told a throng⁴ of international reporters here that he did not want to be a distraction⁵ at these Olympics.

But everyone wants to know about his links to a U.S. sports gambling ring allegedly run by compatriot Rick Tocchet, a former NHL player and one of Gretzky's own assistant coaches with the National Hockey League's Phoenix⁷ Coyotes in the western U.S. state of Arizona.

Gretzkys wife, former actress Janet Jones, is alleged⁶ to have placed bets with the gambling ring, which is being investigated in the eastern state of New Jersey⁸.   Gretzky himself has not been implicated⁹ in the gambling ring, but Tocchet has been charged and authorities say he financed it.

The 45-year-old Gretzky told the media here at the Winter Olympics the same thing he has told Hockey Canada President Bob Nicholson.

"It doesn't involve me," he said. "I'm not involved.  I called Bob Nicholson seven days ago to explain to him that I wasn't involved.  I've said it for seven days.  It's over and done with."

But not in the eyes of the media.  People want to know how Wayne Gretzky could not have been aware of something this serious involving his wife and Tocchet, his long-time trusted associate.  He has not addressed that.

Gretzky said he only wants to think about the Olympics now that he is here.

"The concern is to worry about playing hockey.  The concern is for these athletes, not just the hockey players but all the other athletes here who have worked their rear ends off to get to the Olympic Games," he said

Gretzky knows that as the executive director of Canada's Olympic Ice Hockey team that he would be under the microscope even without questions regarding the gambling scandal.

"If we don't win a gold medal, obviously I'll get blamed, but I've been blamed for losses before," he said.  "I'ts not going to change my life.  I said what I said a week ago.  I'm not involved.  And quite frankly¹⁰ that's the last time I'm going to talk about it."

Canada is one of the top ice hockey contenders here, and will try to defend its gold medal from the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. 

Canada opened its campaign in Turin with a 7-2 victory over Italy Wednesday in Group round robin¹¹ play.

1 brewer   

n. 啤酒制造者

参考例句：

• Brewer is a very interesting man. 布鲁尔是一个很有趣的人。
• I decided to quit my job to become a brewer. 我决定辞职，做一名酿酒人。

2 gambling   

n.赌博；投机

参考例句：

• They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
• The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

3 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

4 throng   

n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集

参考例句：

• A patient throng was waiting in silence.一大群耐心的人在静静地等着。
• The crowds thronged into the mall.人群涌进大厅。

5 distraction   

n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐

参考例句：

• Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。
• Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

6 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

7 phoenix   

n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生

参考例句：

• The airline rose like a phoenix from the ashes.这家航空公司又起死回生了。
• The phoenix worship of China is fetish worship not totem adoration.中国凤崇拜是灵物崇拜而非图腾崇拜。

8 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

9 implicated   

adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的

参考例句：

• These groups are very strongly implicated in the violence. 这些组织与这起暴力事件有着极大的关联。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Having the stolen goods in his possession implicated him in the robbery. 因藏有赃物使他涉有偷盗的嫌疑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

11 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。