Turco Loses Bet at Habs Game

[RGM81]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puc...urn=nhl-wp1867


Chicago Blackhawks goalie Marty Turco(notes) hasn't started a game since Feb. 11 and hasn't appeared in a game since St. Patrick's Day, so the veteran has to find ways to keep himself amused on the bench.
Like, apparently, making wagers with opposing fans during games.
The photo above appears to depict Turco and a Montreal Canadiens fan passing a $5 bill through the glass at Bell Centre on Tuesday night, when the Blackhawks lost to the Habs, 2-1, in overtime. A Montreal season-ticket holder named Robert called in to "Game Points with Matthew Ross" on Team 990 after the game, and spun a humorous tale of Turco making bets with him (and eventually losing in overtime)

Robert claimed he bet Turco, after Michael Cammalleri's(notes) goal for Montreal made it 1-0 in the first period, that Chicago wouldn't score again. When Patrick Kane(notes) of the Blackhawks tied the game, he passed Turco a $5 bill with "Habs Rule" written on it.
They went double-or-nothing after the first period, and then triple or nothing for the third; and then, in overtime, he gave Turco 5-to-1 odds that the Canadiens would win the game.
"And he took the bet!" said the caller. "When the Canadiens scored in overtime, he handed me back a wad of $5 bills and inside was that $5 bill that I gave him. He crossed out 'Habs Rule' and wrote 'Turco Rules.'"
Via Moe Khan of Team 990, who also provided the audio, what he claims is that $5 bill:


Greatest fan story of the season? You bet your defaced Canadian currency it is.
As Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times writes, Turco probably didn't expect this interaction to go viral, and the NHL will probably frown upon it if the caller's claims are accurate. Fact is that the Exhibit 14.2 in the NHL CBA states: "Gambling on any NHL Game is prohibited."
Which is a shame, of course, because there isn't a hockey fan in North America with an ounce of joy in their soul that doesn't think Marty Turco is Capt. Awesome after hearing this story. If there was ever a "lighten up" provision in those regulations, now would be the time to use it. Because, as you can see, Turco Rules ...

[durangatang]

I hope the NHL lets this one go... I think they may not though. It's an awesome story.

[mugatu471]

Definitely funny. Still have to give a fine though...

[flemingc04]

This is such a great story of a player interacting with the fans that I sure hope Turco doesn't get punished for it. Gotta love how he crossed out Habs and wrote on his name though!

[durangatang]

Definitely funny. Still have to give a fine though...

He lost the bet, that is his fine....

[myersfan57]

Fine him $5, and make him write "Turco Rules" 100 times on the blackboard. Yes, I know, for the game's integrity they will probably fine him, but there was no ill-intent there. I love the game of hockey because the players still keep it real with the fans. I feel like I can relate to hockey players more than I can relate to other athletes. For the most part, hockey players stop to sign autographs, help out with charities and give back to the communities in which they play and live during the off-season. For all the negative press that hockey has gotten recently, something like this should be seen as "fun" and fan-friendly and not against the rules. Just my two cents (barely).

Alan

[bruinsfan12]

haha, thats great. I hope to see more of this in the future.

[TheBoxBreaker]

LOL, nice story! Hopefully he won't get a fine for betting on that game.

[mugatu471]

Where exactly was he keeping his wad of $5 bills?

[polacksrules]

I just saw it on the sports reporters on tsn this morning and laughed. This is an Awesome story, and its all in harmless fun.

No Fine!