I just got a text message from my buddy Steve Gelbs, who along with my friend Eric Rothman writes a blog and does a podcast on NYRangerscast.com. It read: "Yo check my blog if you want a great story for BERNing. You need to write something up on this!"
Now that I have seen the story, I agree. Thanks Gelbsy.
If you haven't seen this yet, it's likely because you're not a hockey fan. But hockey fan or not, this story is interesting because once again it involves athletes and bad behavior. And we can't get enough of those, can we?
It started when the Montreal Canadiens ordered All-Star Game MVP Alex Kovalev take a two game sabbatical last week to clear his head after playing poorly. Last year Kovalev had 35 goals and 84 points. This year his production has dropped dramatically, as he has scored 13 goals in 57 games. He was reportedly angry by the team's decision to banish him for a couple contests, and rumor has it he spoke out about his teammates' bad behavior off the ice.
Kovalev denied those rumors. However, apparently he was right. It appears now that brothers Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn were partners in an organized crime ring in Montreal. A man arrested connected to them apparently also has ties to street gangs connected to the "Hells Angels".
Pasquale Mangiola was apparently seen often with the Kostitsyn brothers at bars and restaurants all over Montreal. Mangiola has ties to many Montreal street gangs, including the "Syndicate", which apparently is linked to drug trafficking conspiracies. In 2000, Mangiola was charged with fraud, and three years earlier was charged with credit card forgery.
The Kostitsyn brothers have yet to comment on the allegations. But now we've got two hockey players allegedly involved in organized crime. And what an opportune time for more bad news in sports.
Thanks again to NYRangerscast for the tip.
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