Kash Patel Announces 31 Suspects In Huge NBA/Mafia Sports-Betting Operation

I didn't cover this yesterday because I thought it was a Pete Rose situation. IIRC, Rose was accused of betting on baseball, but not the games he played in. So this was a violation of the rule but not evidence he was throwing games for money.

But apparently, NBA players did throw games for money, and told their mafia partners which games they'd be throwing. Specifically, some players left the games early or claimed an injury to not play, and tipped off the mafia that they'd be doing so, thus either throwing the game or cutting down on points scored (which is a big area of sports betting).

So, belatedly, I'll mention the story now.

With my apologies -- I thought it was some bullshit about players betting on online poker against league rules or something.

FBI Director Kash Patel on Thursday morning announced a sweeping federal investigation alleging at least 31 defendants -- including an NBA player and an NBA coach -- were involved in illegal gambling schemes.
"You hear a lot about our work of defending the homeland and crushing violent crime. Well, this work is also representative of a colossal portion of the FBI's mandate to keep America safe and to keep our entertainment industry fair and secure," Patel said at a press conference in Washington, D.C., announcing the probe.
He and other federal prosecutors said the probe is, in fact, two cases: one related to the NBA and the other to illegal, rigged poker games.
Patel and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella, Jr., said the overall probe was "years-long," across 11 states and involved tens of millions of dollars.
"Your winning streak has ended," Nocella said.
He and Patel also confirmed reports from earlier in the morning that Miami Heat player Terry Rozier and Portland Trailblazer coach Chauncey Billups were arrested earlier in the day in connection with the probe.
Prosecutors also said Mafia crime families were involved in the rigged poker games, which included X-ray machines to see face-down cards. They said members helped collect debts for a cut of the winnings.
Regarding the NBA games, he alleged Rozier was involved in a scene in which players didn't play or left games early, in an attempt to influence scores and betting.

LeBron James is tangentially involved (but not implicated -- not yet, anyway).

Knowing the extent of players' injuries -- if they can play, if they can't play, or if they can play but with a diminished capacity -- is important information when you're betting. Teams generally keep this stuff as secret as possible and only disclose what they absolutely have to, by league rules.

Knowing in advance if a big play-maker will or won't play, or can play but will be impaired, is valuable information in betting.

One NBA player passed information about LeBron James' injuries to his mafia partners.

Details of LeBron James' injury status were sold by his pal and former Los Angeles Lakers coach Damon Jones as part of a massive prop betting scheme, according to court docs and law enforcement sources.

Prop bets -- "proposition bets" -- are bets made about a proposition other than who will win or lose. Like, "Will LeBron James score at least 30 points in tonight's game?"

Normies mostly bet on the outcomes of games. More serious gamblers put a lot of money on these proposition bets.

Jones, an ex Cleveland Cavs player and "unofficial assistant coach" for the Lakers during the 2022-2023 season, sent a message to one of the betting ring members on Feb. 9, 2023 urging him to place a large bet on the Lakers' opponent the Milwaukee Bucks, because James would be out with an injury that night, the sources told The Post.

"Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out!," Jones texted, according to the indictment.
The player, whom sources identified as James, did not play after reporting a lower body injury, and the Lakers lost.

Jones is a longtime friend of James who played with him on the Cavs earlier in James' career.
Jones also separately received $2,500 for hawking a supposed injury tip -- which turned out to be bogus -- about another Lakers star player before a Jan. 15, 2024 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

$2,500?

Shaq was asked about this and made the obvious point: "You're making nine million a year -- how much more do you need?"

And committing a serious crime that can get you banned from a lifetime of lucrative work for twenty-five hundred bucks?

Risk-reward, fellas. Risk-reward.

I can't really think of any political angles here. The media is talking up the perils of allowing sports betting out of Las Vegas and into everyone's laptops and phones. As a billion dollar business turns into a trillion dollar business, the opportunities for graft skyrocket.

I guess that's a decent take, though I don't know if the answer should be betting prohibition.

I don't like seeing sports betting commercials every other minute and I guess I think it's pretty sad that this vice is now so popular, but I'm not sure I really care enough to care.

I'm certainly happy to see another woke sports league take another fat shiner to the eyes.

How are you doing? I don't know if you've checked the calendar, but it's all Friday up in this piece.

Posted by: Ace at 12:10 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1
As a Portlander, I can say that Chancey Billups is following the long tradition of felonies for the Portland Jailblazers.

Posted by: Frank Barone at October 24, 2025 12:11 PM (IifOV)

2 I'll bring the beer. Can someone get the popcorn?

Posted by: NR Pax at October 24, 2025 12:11 PM (OPGS/)

3 Time to settle all family business.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at October 24, 2025 12:12 PM (abIsI)

4 Shaq was asked about this and made the obvious point: "You're making nine million a year -- how much more do you need?"

---------

NBA wives and girlfriends soak up a lot of dough. Not including the ladies on the side.

Posted by: Frank Barone at October 24, 2025 12:12 PM (IifOV)

5 Afternoon, Ace. I'm doing OK.

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:12 PM (77rzZ)

6 Happy Friday, Ace.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at October 24, 2025 12:13 PM (F2xQR)

7 How are you doing? I don't know if you've checked the calendar, but it's all Friday up in this piece.

Posted by: Ace at 12:10 PM
---
Doing fine. Thanks to an extra long day yesterday, I get to take this afternoon off. Just after I'm done teaching class right now.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 24, 2025 12:13 PM (RnixX)

8 "Chauncey Billups" would be a great name for a character in a novel.

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:13 PM (77rzZ)

9 I'm totally sure it's just basketball that's doing this.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 24, 2025 12:13 PM (Q4IgG)

10 How long before this type of foolishness starts happening in the NHL?
Most of their streaming is on Fanduel.

Posted by: Shaftoe at October 24, 2025 12:14 PM (Rvxb7)

11 Just after I'm done teaching class right now.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel

What is it that you teach, again, Perfessor?

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:14 PM (77rzZ)

12 Hi, Ace

I hope you are well. Nice day here in Jersey

I don't really understand why if they make so much money in their career in professional athletics, they have to cheat to get more money, but then the love of money is the roots of all kinds of evil.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 24, 2025 12:14 PM (ix8EF)

13 The usual aphorism is big risk equals big rewards and these thugs are point shaving for 2500?

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 24, 2025 12:14 PM (TmEds)

14 Sites catering to a specific vice are odd...

On the one hand they really, really want you to participate and get sucked into their world.

But then they have a disclaimer in their advertising pointing users to Gambler's Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 24, 2025 12:15 PM (RnixX)

15 Hell, they're all crooked! The Leagues themselves are partnered with gambling outfits, so there's no hiding the connections anymore.

There's lot of money to launder out there!

Posted by: Brewingfrog at October 24, 2025 12:16 PM (4dF4v)

16 What is it that you teach, again, Perfessor?
Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:14 PM (77rzZ)
---
Freshman composition. Fridays are "work days" where they can come in and just work on their homework for the week or work on another class.

Doesn't give me much to do other than comment here.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 24, 2025 12:16 PM (RnixX)

17 I'll bet this kind of stuff doesn't happen in the WNBA.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 24, 2025 12:16 PM (mC4Jq)

18 Betting on green dildos was more fun... and less corrupt.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 24, 2025 12:16 PM (Q4IgG)

19 Has anyone cried "racism!" because NBA?

Posted by: Josephistan at October 24, 2025 12:17 PM (y9ksN)

20 17 I'll bet this kind of stuff doesn't happen in the WNBA.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 24, 2025 12:16 PM (mC4Jq)

=====

It surely does, it just manifests differently.

"I'm going to try really hard tonight!"

"Thanks. Mark you down for a loss, then."

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating dreamlike horrors with Mario Bava at October 24, 2025 12:18 PM (GBKbO)

21 Color me unsurprised that the Jailblazers' coach was in on something like this.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at October 24, 2025 12:18 PM (yy9ow)

22 210 "You say energy is a small part of your budget. Hate to break it to you, it is bigger than you know."

Fine, I understand that! I am a petroleum energy investor, for cripes sake. And I've taken all the economics courses you have.

So when does the true rate of price inflation, as measured in our household expenses, start to drop? It hasn't yet.

Posted by: gp at October 24, 2025 12:02 PM (7imtn)

Willowed: Man, I thought we had smarter posters here...

The true rate of price inflation HAS dropped. It's at 3%. If we had not had prior years of wild price inflation, we'd all be happy with that number.

What you want is actual widescale price deflation, and that almost never occurs across the economy proper, but tends to only occur sporadically in specific types of products.

But on one thing, you're right...those prior years continue to bring pain til wage growth catches up. With illegals around depressing wages for so long, that wage growth will take awhile to kick in and then catch up.

Posted by: Nova Local at October 24, 2025 12:18 PM (tOcjL)

23 The US used to be a serious, almost spartan nation. Now there are legal drugs, gambling, easy divorce, gay stuff, abortion, euthanasia, satanism, communism.
It is not the same country as 100 years ago.

Posted by: PG at October 24, 2025 12:18 PM (uX4U2)

24 I'll bet this kind of stuff doesn't happen in the WNBA.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 24, 2025 12:16 PM (mC4Jq)
--------
No one wants to take their payoff in dildoes.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at October 24, 2025 12:19 PM (yy9ow)

25 Prop bets -- "proposition bets" -- are bets made about a proposition other than who will win or lose. Like, "Will LeBron James score at least 30 points in tonight's game?"

Or, "will a green dildo hit the court in the third quarter?"

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 24, 2025 12:19 PM (mC4Jq)

26 Has Ace seen the clip of Rozier(sp?) throwing a game?

It's pretty funny stuff.

Last 60+ Degree Day here.
Going to head out today and get a final warmish ride in before my season ends.

Posted by: garrett at October 24, 2025 12:19 PM (FCi/W)

27 NBA wives and girlfriends soak up a lot of dough. Not including the ladies on the side.
Posted by: Frank Barone

You get caught fucking ONE hotel maid, and BOOM! $4 million dollar ring for the wife. Pussy be EXPENSIVE.

Posted by: Zombie Kobe Bryant at October 24, 2025 12:20 PM (ycI94)

28 Doesn't give me much to do other than comment here.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel

WHAT??!! There are other things to do than comment here????

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:20 PM (77rzZ)

29
IIRC, Rose was accused of betting on baseball, but not the games he played in.

__________

Bzzzzt! WRONG!

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 24, 2025 12:20 PM (tgvbd)

30 “ How are you doing? I don't know if you've checked the calendar, but it's all Friday up in this piece.”

How are YOU doing Ace?? Not under the weather anymore??

Posted by: tubal at October 24, 2025 12:20 PM (PCK5/)

31
Now there are legal drugs, gambling, easy divorce, gay stuff, abortion, euthanasia, satanism, communism.

PARTY!

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at October 24, 2025 12:20 PM (63Dwl)

32 Doing well, Ace. I hope you are doing the same.

I would love to see LaBron caught up in this and his reputation (further) tarnished. Eff that douche bag.

Posted by: Curly Shuffle at October 24, 2025 12:21 PM (5yDGQ)

33 >>"Well, this work is also representative of a colossal portion of the FBI's mandate to keep America safe and to keep our entertainment industry fair and secure,"

Woulda been nice to see them investigate Jeopardy and "Amy" Schneider's"winning" streak.

Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at October 24, 2025 12:21 PM (GYGpZ)

34 All the micro wagers are what get me. Over/under on freethrows or rebounds by player X.

Posted by: toby928(c) at October 24, 2025 12:21 PM (jc0TO)

35 I would love to see LaBron caught up in this and his reputation (further) tarnished. Eff that douche bag.

Maybe Obama really does have game like LeBron.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 24, 2025 12:21 PM (mC4Jq)

36 The NBA died for me during the coof. Screw em. I used to be a huge Spurs fan. Yeah, and before you say anything, I know...Pop pissed me off too. Sucks that he retired due to recovery from a stroke though.

The NBA was one of those ways I would get away from politics. Once Steve Kerr and others started flapping their gums about politics, that took me right out of the game. I'd probably still be following the NBA and the Spurs if not for that. But I'm done.

Posted by: Cow Demon at October 24, 2025 12:21 PM (vwL3N)

37 I'll bet this kind of stuff doesn't happen in the WNBA.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 24, 2025 12:16 PM (mC4Jq)

The Babylon Bee has covered that - "WNBA assures fans they're not throwing games for gambling, they're just not very good at basketball"

Posted by: Josephistan at October 24, 2025 12:22 PM (y9ksN)

38 I'm pretty sure you can bet on whether the arena is 80 or 90% empty in the WNBA.

Posted by: Pay Us What We're Worth at October 24, 2025 12:22 PM (oftw2)

39 Can somebody explain to this non-gambler what "over/under" means?

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:22 PM (77rzZ)

40 34 All the micro wagers are what get me. Over/under on freethrows or rebounds by player X.
Posted by: toby928(c) at October 24, 2025 12:21 PM (jc0TO)

To me...betting on that is the clearest sign of a gambling addiction.

Posted by: Cow Demon at October 24, 2025 12:22 PM (vwL3N)

41
MLB will never go after Ohtani.

The NBA will never go after LeBron.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 24, 2025 12:22 PM (tgvbd)

42 Two truths:

- There are WAY more athletes and execs involved
- We will be told that only those arrested were involved

Bonus truth:
- this goes down the memory hole and everyone continues to watch these BS sports leagues like nothing happened.

Posted by: Unbelievable at October 24, 2025 12:22 PM (MTz2u)

43 Maybe the dollar amount doesn't matter to these people. Maybe they are into the rush it gives them like shoplifting does to rich ladies.

Posted by: pawn at October 24, 2025 12:23 PM (tqkKb)

44 Shaq was asked about this and made the obvious point: "You're making nine million a year -- how much more do you need?"

More than a few pro athletes are dead broke a couple of years after retiring. Those types wouldn’t likely turn down any revenue stream while still playing.

Plus, nobody ever does just one favor for the mob.

Posted by: Clay at October 24, 2025 12:23 PM (TVJQp)

45 And they haven't gotten to the NFL yet.

but, day by day, it's becoming clearer and clearer that the entire NFL is captured by gambling.

Especially via ref calls/no calls.
(look at any KC Chiefs game; and I say that at a Mahomes fan)

But, there are signs players are taking dives as well.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at October 24, 2025 12:23 PM (g1vDs)

46 Now I have to wonder about things in college football. Did that receiver drop the pass because of a prop bet?

Posted by: toby928(c) at October 24, 2025 12:23 PM (jc0TO)

47 The political angle is simply that the professors of moral grandstanding - the NBA, NFL, etc etc - are actually cheating, domestic abusing, bottomfeeding scum. People love a good "hypocrisy" story!

Posted by: ... at October 24, 2025 12:23 PM (ANbpg)

48 All the micro wagers are what get me. Over/under on freethrows or rebounds by player X.
Posted by: toby928(c)

Cheesecake or strudel?

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:23 PM (77rzZ)

49 ESPN made it political of course. The commentator Stephen Smith blamed Trump for investigating this, racism, etc

Posted by: fozzy at October 24, 2025 12:24 PM (zH2yS)

50 Seeing as the Polymarket thing has blossomed into "bet on anything and everything" it's no wonder there's.... hanky shit going down. And, to what extent is the entire on-line betting industry corrupt?

All of it.

Someone's making bank and it's not the clown making the bet.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 24, 2025 12:24 PM (Q4IgG)

51 Stephen Smith was all butt hurt about this, he says that now Trump is coming for the sports world.

Hey Stephen, why does the FBI cracking down on illegal gambling schemes scare you so badly?

Posted by: Tom Servo at October 24, 2025 12:24 PM (uWKK8)

52 23 The US used to be a serious, almost spartan nation. Now there are legal drugs, gambling, easy divorce, gay stuff, abortion, euthanasia, satanism, communism.
It is not the same country as 100 years ago.
Posted by: PG at October 24, 2025 12:18 PM

I'd say it's not the same country as 30 years ago.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 24, 2025 12:24 PM (TmEds)

53 Doan know nuthin bout no gamblin...

Posted by: Southeastern Conference Football at October 24, 2025 12:24 PM (4rtEq)

54 The poker game scandal almost seems worse for Billups. It sounds like he was luring high rollers into completely rigged games. The high rollers were joining the games to brag that they were playing poker with an NBA hall-of-famer

Posted by: Dave at October 24, 2025 12:24 PM (sbsMc)

55 "You hear a lot about our work of defending the homeland and crushing violent crime. Well, this work is also representative of a colossal portion of the FBI's mandate to keep America safe

America hasn't been this safe since the FBI cracked the caper of the third-tier actress greasing some palms to get her retarded daughters into a good school.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 24, 2025 12:25 PM (mC4Jq)

56 Ann Coulter (I know, I know) once had a quip about taking sledge hammers to the load-bearing walls of society without understanding their purposes (really just a dressed down version of Chesterton's fence metaphor). Weird how as we get more libertine/lax, more things seem to go wrong. (Also wolf/rabbits/wolf cycle applies here too).

Posted by: Farmer Bob at October 24, 2025 12:25 PM (hlNLQ)

57
I don't like seeing sports betting commercials every other minute and I guess I think it's pretty sad that this vice is now so popular, but I'm not sure I really care enough to care.

Glenn Beck and Clay and Buck are hawking for gambling.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at October 24, 2025 12:25 PM (63Dwl)

58 Astros flagrantly cheated and nobody went to jail.

Posted by: Yankee Fan at October 24, 2025 12:25 PM (oftw2)

59 Doesn't give me much to do other than comment here.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel

WHAT??!! There are other things to do than comment here????
Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:20 PM (77rzZ)

*Looks outside at bushes what need trimming and lawn what needs raking*

Perish the thought!!

Posted by: Count de Monet at October 24, 2025 12:25 PM (wVcYX)

60 >Normies mostly bet on the outcomes of games. More serious gamblers put a lot of money on these proposition bets.

I don't think this is true anymore. Almost all of the gambling tv ads I see are enticing normies to place prop or in game bets.

Further, the first things I see when I open the Hard Rock gambling app are about a dozen prop/parlay bets.

Posted by: mr tmz at October 24, 2025 12:25 PM (rJ48h)

61 I've long contended the NBA is the most riggable and rigged of the major sports.

Betting is a suckers game and if you want to make money on gambling, become a bookie.

But I like the occasional flit because the world is a barren place.

Posted by: ... at October 24, 2025 12:25 PM (ANbpg)

62 4 NBA wives and girlfriends soak up a lot of dough. Not including the ladies on the side.
Posted by: Frank Barone at October 24, 2025 12:12 PM (IifOV)

As Patrick Ewing once said, "NBA players make a lot of money, but NBA players also SPEND a lot of money"

Posted by: Ian Faith at October 24, 2025 12:26 PM (0bjKf)

63 Doesn't the NBA have a gambling scandal like every 12-14 years or so?

I remember at least 2 involving refs in the 80s/90s.

Posted by: garrett at October 24, 2025 12:26 PM (FCi/W)

64 but, day by day, it's becoming clearer and clearer that the entire NFL is captured by gambling.

Especially via ref calls/no calls.

I'm sure the college level is, too. There was a pretty egregious situation with SEC officiating recently that got a ref kicked out from handling SEC games. Not to mention other eyebrow-raising incidents in recent years.

Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at October 24, 2025 12:26 PM (OUMaO)

65
NBA,pffft!
I only bet on professional wrestling.

Posted by: Speller at October 24, 2025 12:26 PM (pSotA)

66 17 I'll bet this kind of stuff doesn't happen in the WNBA.
Posted by: Cicero

I wouldn't have thought so, but now it makes sense...the mob put a hit out on Clark. That's why so many other players tried to kill her on the court.

Posted by: Moron Analyst at October 24, 2025 12:26 PM (ycI94)

67 Trump hits another 80/20 issue - actually this is probably 90/10. Most Americans either approve of cracking down on gambling rings or just don't give a shit. Those who are intensely involved in sports gambling are going to pissing and moaning for a long time.

Posted by: Tom Servo at October 24, 2025 12:26 PM (uWKK8)

68 There's a video going around X of sports commentator Stephen Smith pontificating on how evil Trump is for picking on his sports pals; try to find it and watch it with the sound off. The 'Do you FEEL me' looks into the camera when Smith pauses for emphasis are HILARIOUS!

Really, funniest thing I saw today.

Of course, I didn't bother to watch it with the sound on; that would have just ruined it.

Posted by: William F. 'Buck' Dharma at October 24, 2025 12:26 PM (Ft5W9)

69 How are you doing? I don't know if you've checked the calendar, but it's all Friday up in this piece.

===

Every day is a Saturday now.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating dreamlike horrors with Mario Bava at October 24, 2025 12:26 PM (GBKbO)

70
The NBA was one of those ways I would get away from politics. Once Steve Kerr and others started flapping their gums about politics, that took me right out of the game. I'd probably still be following the NBA and the Spurs if not for that. But I'm done.
Posted by: Cow Demon at October 24, 2025 12:21 PM (vwL3N)

I haven't paid attention to the NBA since Jordan was playing and I'd rather watch old games between the Bulls and the Celtics than these thugs.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 24, 2025 12:26 PM (TmEds)

71 Hillary found a way to make a buck.

Hillary Clinton@HillaryClinton
If you're hopping mad about Trump destroying the White House, we've got a new hat or sticker for you.
Your purchase supports progressive groups working to build a fairer, more inclusive America for everyone—and win elections!

https://is.gd/WK1gO7

Also Hillary.

"I always had the sense that the Bush family, like mine, understood that we are all merely passing through, even while our parents were shaping American history. It was the same sensibility I had when meeting Presidents Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon as well as first ladies Jacqueline Kennedy and Lady Bird Johnson, and others who had, for a time, called the White House home."

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, OMGWTFBBQ! at October 24, 2025 12:26 PM (L/fGl)

72
Astros flagrantly cheated and nobody went to jail.
Posted by: Yankee Fan at October 24, 2025 12:25 PM (oftw2)

___________

Gonna give back all those home runs A-Rod hit?

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 24, 2025 12:26 PM (tgvbd)

73 > I've long contended the NBA is the most riggable and rigged of the major sports.
------------
The ponies would disagree.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 24, 2025 12:27 PM (Q4IgG)

74 Vandy taking a knee three times on the 1 yard line against LSU cost people a lot of money. And this from a team that hasn't hesitated to run it up.

Posted by: toby928(c) at October 24, 2025 12:27 PM (jc0TO)

75 So when does the true rate of price inflation, as measured in our household expenses, start to drop? It hasn't yet.

Posted by: gp at October 24, 2025 12:02 PM (7imtn)

Willowed: Man, I thought we had smarter posters here...

The true rate of price inflation HAS dropped. It's at 3%. If we had not had prior years of wild price inflation, we'd all be happy with that number.

What you want is actual widescale price deflation, and that almost never occurs across the economy proper, but tends to only occur sporadically in specific types of products.

But on one thing, you're right...those prior years continue to bring pain til wage growth catches up. With illegals around depressing wages for so long, that wage growth will take awhile to kick in and then catch up.
Posted by: Nova Local at October 24, 2025 12:18 PM (tOcjL)

gp wants inflation to end NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW. And he's pissed that this isn't instantaneous.

The economy of this country CANNOT turn on a dime. Inflation CANNOT evaporate immediately, no matter how much he expected it to at 1200 EST 20 January 2025. We are headed in the right direction.

Posted by: Cow Demon at October 24, 2025 12:27 PM (vwL3N)

76 America hasn't been this safe since the FBI cracked the caper of the third-tier actress greasing some palms to get her retarded daughters into a good school.
Posted by: Cicero

I was framed! From Full House to the Big House!

Posted by: Aunt Becky at October 24, 2025 12:27 PM (oftw2)

77
I'm pretty sure you can bet on whether the arena is 80 or 90% empty in the WNBA.
Posted by: Pay Us What We're Worth

Bet on the color of the dildo.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at October 24, 2025 12:28 PM (63Dwl)

78 I'm certainly happy to see another woke sports league take another fat shiner to the eyes.

This.
But also, professional sports in this country is fairly grotesque in many other ways than being woke.
We'd be better off without them.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at October 24, 2025 12:28 PM (guCHD)

79 *I don't like seeing sports betting commercials every other minute and I guess I think it's pretty sad that this vice is now so popular, but I'm not sure I really care enough to care.*

Wanna buy some gold?

Posted by: Every talk radio host ever at October 24, 2025 12:28 PM (4rtEq)

80 I like the high-stakes poker games. That's some crazy stuff.

Not the Sopranos in a dingy motel room fleecing some dufuses.

Oh no--"big name NBA star will be there, with a million, you'll be able to easily take all his money!"

And the mafia was bankrolling the player.
And rigging the deck via the shuffle machine.
And using marked cards.

Crazy.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at October 24, 2025 12:28 PM (g1vDs)

81 Hillary found a way to make a buck.

Hillary Clinton@HillaryClinton
If you're hopping mad about Trump destroying the White House, we've got a new hat or sticker for you.
Your purchase supports progressive groups working to build a fairer, more inclusive America for everyone—and win elections!

Is her OnlyFans site not doing well?

Posted by: Archimedes at October 24, 2025 12:28 PM (Riz8t)

82 Hillary Clinton@HillaryClinton
If you're hopping mad about Trump destroying the White House, we've got a new hat or sticker for you.

*digs deep into pocket for sticker money*

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 24, 2025 12:28 PM (mC4Jq)

83 ESPN made it political of course. The commentator Stephen Smith blamed Trump for investigating this, racism, etc
Posted by: fozzy at October 24, 2025 12:24 PM (zH2yS)

That's why we have to make it political first. This is not a quality look for the arbiters of what is holy and good and moral and right - and the Right needs to rub that in like my three magical minutes with Karen Gillan.

Posted by: ... at October 24, 2025 12:28 PM (ANbpg)

84 Compromising the integrity of competition is offensive.

It's truly a shame not every program is as honest and pure and amazing as us.

Posted by: University of Michigan Football Team at October 24, 2025 12:28 PM (8AONa)

85 I don't have a problem with gambling per se, but when you have an app that you can gamble with 24/7 and is linked up to your bank account, that's asking for trouble.

Posted by: Josephistan at October 24, 2025 12:29 PM (y9ksN)

86 I haven't paid attention to the NBA since Jordan was playing and I'd rather watch old games between the Bulls and the Celtics than these thugs.
Posted by: CaliGirl at October 24, 2025 12:26 PM (TmEds)

I never get tired of watching highlights from Game 5 of the NBA Finals in 2014.

Or Game 6 of the 2003 NBA Finals...a game I was watching in the stands.

Posted by: Cow Demon at October 24, 2025 12:29 PM (vwL3N)

87 Gambling as a limited vice in Vegas or having to really seek it out through an illegal bookie kept the damage limited. Because let's be serious: gambling ruins lives and families, and today gambling is now an extension of on-line addition, just another on-line game to play. It is harmless fun until some guy gambles away junior's college fund and then decides to start skimming at work to support his habit. With it being so available, the number of people finding themselves addicted is growing far beyond when it had to be seriously sought out.

So yes, it should be severely limited - keep it to win/lose and over/under and outlaw these horrible "parley" bullshit. The problem is that sport leagues - losing share as they go hopelessly woke - are pushing gambling as a way to keep and grow market share, and they in turn are throwing that money at politicians along with the on-line gambling companies.

To say "you don't care" is just letting this problem grow and destroy lives, sort of like being for legalized heroine. Sure some people can take it and not have a problem, but there is a serious percentage that can't shake the problem and ruins their life.

Posted by: whatever at October 24, 2025 12:29 PM (bXloC)

88 Good time to sell gold, not buy. Know any Chinese? They’re interested.

Posted by: tubal at October 24, 2025 12:29 PM (PCK5/)

89
$2,500?

Shaq was asked about this and made the obvious point: "You're making nine million a year -- how much more do you need?"

-----

This looks a lot like mental retardation.

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at October 24, 2025 12:29 PM (PquBa)

90 83 ESPN made it political of course. The commentator Stephen Smith blamed Trump for investigating this, racism, etc
Posted by: fozzy at October 24, 2025 12:24 PM (zH2yS)

=====

Smith says all the normal Democrat things, but he sometimes says that Democrats act crazy.

He can't set himself apart from random Dem governor.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating dreamlike horrors with Mario Bava at October 24, 2025 12:29 PM (GBKbO)

91 Good afternoon Ace and everyone

Posted by: Skip at October 24, 2025 12:29 PM (xatjc)

92 Fair and balanced.

ABC News@ABC
New York Attorney General Letitia James is scheduled to appear in federal court in Norfolk, Virginia, Friday to be arraigned on charges of alleged mortgage fraud after she was indicted earlier this month by President Trump's handpicked U.S. attorney.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, OMGWTFBBQ! at October 24, 2025 12:29 PM (L/fGl)

93
I've long contended the NBA is the most riggable and rigged of the major sports.
------------
The ponies would disagree.

Take a dive in the third round.

Posted by: Every boxing movie at October 24, 2025 12:30 PM (63Dwl)

94 83 ESPN made it political of course. The commentator Stephen Smith blamed Trump for investigating this, racism, etc
Posted by: fozzy at October 24, 2025 12:24 PM (zH2yS)

This investigation started before Trump was elected

Posted by: It's me donna at October 24, 2025 12:30 PM (VE6XX)

95 Haven't read the comments yet, but how many of you are saying "please please please let Lebron be involved in this?"

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 24, 2025 12:30 PM (LioqX)

96 Gonna give back all those home runs A-Rod hit?
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh

Mere vitamins and supplements. Totes legal!

Posted by: Bronx Bomber at October 24, 2025 12:30 PM (oftw2)

97 I have zero problem with gambling. But when gambling starts to effect the integrity of the game, and threatens fixed outcomes, THAT is a problem.

Posted by: Cow Demon at October 24, 2025 12:30 PM (vwL3N)

98 I only bet on professional wrestling.
Posted by: Speller at October 24, 2025 12:26 PM (pSotA)
----
That is, sadly, a real thing. I've seen WWE advertising Draft Kings or some other betting site during their PPV/PLE matches.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 24, 2025 12:30 PM (RnixX)

99 "Knowing the extent of players' injuries... is important information when you're betting. Teams generally keep this stuff as secret as possible and only disclose what they absolutely have to, by league rules."

------------

Pretty sure league rules about injury disclosures tie into official availability status that are parts of contracts / collective bargaining agreements, not as much related to secrecy for gambling purposes. Otherwise the reason teams keep injury statuses secret is more to prevent the opponent for preparing for them than anything gambling related. It doesn't matter in the betting environment whether or not someone plays / is injured. It matters IF JUST ONE SIDE OF THE BET knows if someone plays or is injured. But if the injury is public and both sides of the bet know, the bet is inherently fair. Hence the big deal here. Guys were colluding to lie about performance and availability and only tell the mob.

And as #44 mentions above, as to the incentive, I think the lower paid guys, and probably some higher paid, are vulnerable for the mob, got in over their head, and that's that...

Posted by: bearski at October 24, 2025 12:30 PM (Bhsk7)

100 after she was indicted earlier this month by President Trump's handpicked U.S. attorney.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, OMGWTFBBQ! at October 24, 2025 12:29 PM (L/fGl)

No slant there...

Posted by: It's me donna at October 24, 2025 12:30 PM (VE6XX)

101
how many of you are saying "please please please let Lebron be involved in this?"

__________

*hand shoots up*

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 24, 2025 12:30 PM (tgvbd)

102 93 The ponies would disagree.

Take a dive in the third round.

Posted by: Every ~~boxing~~ horse racing movie at October 24, 2025 12:30 PM (63Dwl)

====

We can dream.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating dreamlike horrors with Mario Bava at October 24, 2025 12:30 PM (GBKbO)

103 "You're making nine million a year -- how much more do you need?"

You know cocaine isn't getting any cheaper with the new "missile tariffs".

Posted by: DaveA at October 24, 2025 12:31 PM (FhXTo)

104 "Astros flagrantly cheated and nobody went to jail."

Cheating in sports isn't illegal. The leagues are classified as "sports entertainment" not competitive play. Gambling, however, involves true misrepresentation if the odds are not actually what is communicated.

If you haven't read "The Fix Is In" by Brian Tuohy, now is a good time.

Posted by: Unbelievable at October 24, 2025 12:31 PM (MTz2u)

105 If you're hopping mad about Trump destroying the White House, we've got a new hat or sticker for you.

Use of the phrase "hopping mad" would seem to indicate that she herself is not "hopping mad" and that this is just another grift.

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:31 PM (77rzZ)

106 The best thing about the "ball room" is watching the outrage move from "Trump is A Genocidal Lunatic Who is Going to Enslave The Blacks and Slaughter the Browns" to "Muh Precious Building".

Next they will get in a lather about how he eats his pizza and onlookers will 👀.

Posted by: ... at October 24, 2025 12:31 PM (ANbpg)

107 58 Astros flagrantly cheated and nobody went to jail.

Posted by: Yankee Fan at October 24, 2025 12:25 PM

In fact, one of the cheaters from that Astros team was on the BlueJays and is on his way to the World Series against the Dodgers.

Posted by: Frank Barone at October 24, 2025 12:31 PM (IifOV)

108 Hell, they're all crooked! The Leagues themselves are partnered with gambling outfits, so there's no hiding the connections anymore.
Posted by: Brewingfrog at October 24, 2025 12:16 PM (4dF4v)

my favorite comment so far on this:

tonight's coverage of the nba betting scandal is brought to you by fan duel, here at the draft kings studio, during the bet365 intermission on espn...

Posted by: Sturmtoddler at October 24, 2025 12:31 PM (nXhwP)

109 Come see me.

Posted by: Lost Wages, Nevada at October 24, 2025 12:31 PM (4rtEq)

110 Players think proposition bets arent that bad to cheat on because it doesnt throw the game. So you only get 9 rebounds instead of ten. Or your first pitch in the ninth inning is a ball not a strike. Big deal. They tell the gamblers who then kick back to them. But frankly i think most of the players involved are likely being blackmailed. They dont need an extra 10,000 here or there. They are being extorted....

Posted by: My hunch at October 24, 2025 12:31 PM (rbAIK)

111 I want antitrust exemptions for the NCAA and Nick Saban as the Kennesaw Mountain Landis of college football.

Posted by: toby928(c) at October 24, 2025 12:32 PM (jc0TO)

112 And committing a serious crime that can get you banned from a lifetime of lucrative work for twenty-five hundred bucks?

He assumed the risk of getting caught was negligible.

And if you don't have an honor based or heavily religious culture plenty of people will make these sorts of decisions...

Posted by: 18-1 at October 24, 2025 12:32 PM (sKqQm)

113 Remember:

The NFL--in moving to dismiss the fan lawsuit for failing to deliver a fair and honest contest over the Patriots manipulation of the ball pressure--stated that they are only providing entertainment.

That they have and never will promise to deliver a fair and honest contest.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at October 24, 2025 12:32 PM (g1vDs)

114 Afternoon Ace.
Like hearing Stephen Smith chirping about this as being because of Trump. The investigation started under Biden you dolt

Posted by: Smell the Glove at October 24, 2025 12:32 PM (8RjCi)

115 I don't really gamble, other than betting a meteor won't hit me if I leave the house, so this sort of stuff is kind of alien to me.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at October 24, 2025 12:33 PM (WPL6O)

116 ABC News@ABC
New York Attorney General Letitia James is scheduled to appear in federal court in Norfolk, Virginia, Friday to be arraigned on charges of alleged mortgage fraud after she was indicted earlier this month by President Trump's handpicked U.S. attorney.

Sounds like something Jimmy Kimmel himself would have written. Mainly because it isn't funny.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 24, 2025 12:33 PM (mC4Jq)

117
If it pisses off Stephen A. Smith, it must be good.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 24, 2025 12:33 PM (tgvbd)

118 To say "you don't care" is just letting this problem grow and destroy lives, sort of like being for legalized heroine. Sure some people can take it and not have a problem, but there is a serious percentage that can't shake the problem and ruins their life.
Posted by: whatever at October 24, 2025 12:29

I know two girls who were so into gambling at the local Indian casino that it ruined their lives. One girl was a branch manager at the bank and she went to jail for embezzlement, another one lost her house. It's a very destructive hobby.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 24, 2025 12:33 PM (TmEds)

119 I'm indifferent to the NBA.

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 24, 2025 12:34 PM (kGJnt)

120 Joey: Wait a minute. I know you. You're Kareem Abdul-
Jabbar. You play basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Roger Murdock: I'm sorry, son, but you must have me confused with someone else. My name is Roger Murdock. I'm the co-pilot.

Posted by: Count de Monet at October 24, 2025 12:34 PM (wVcYX)

121 110 Players think proposition bets arent that bad to cheat on because it doesnt throw the game. So you only get 9 rebounds instead of ten. Or your first pitch in the ninth inning is a ball not a strike. Big deal. They tell the gamblers who then kick back to them. But frankly i think most of the players involved are likely being blackmailed. They dont need an extra 10,000 here or there. They are being extorted....
Posted by: My hunch at October 24, 2025 12:31 PM (rbAIK)

Yeah, but there's a sentence I grew up with as an officer: Perception Is Reality. I don't think they get that. I DO see what you are saying...but players should take that into account. Hell, just stay away from Vegas altogether even if all they want to do is hit the blackjack tables, just to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

Posted by: Cow Demon at October 24, 2025 12:34 PM (vwL3N)

122 I wonder if NFL refs ever try to steer outcomes

some of their calls do strain credulity

Posted by: Don Black at October 24, 2025 12:34 PM (AOsQT)

123 I'm not a sportsball fan so I'm meh on this.
I will observe that stupid and ghetto behavior is why people who have otherwise got it made do stupid crimes for low amounts.

We had Chicago trash come to play sportsball at ISU with full ride scholarships. More than one got busted for robbing Burger King or mugging students.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at October 24, 2025 12:34 PM (xcxpd)

124 But then they have a disclaimer in their advertising pointing users to Gambler's Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel
=====
Laws make them do it.

Posted by: whig at October 24, 2025 12:34 PM (WDjG6)

125 America hasn't been this safe since the FBI cracked the caper of the third-tier actress greasing some palms to get her retarded daughters into a good school.
Posted by: Cicero

Not. Aunt. Becky!

Posted by: rickb223 Acehole Extraordinaire coined by JSpicy at October 24, 2025 12:35 PM (UjDHi)

126 As (IIRC) the late, great Rush Limbaugh used to say, "the only difference between boxing and professional wrestling is that wrestling doesn't pretend it's real."

All sports, including all NIL college games, now are rigged.

Betting real money on them is a stupid as betting on who will win the Intercontinental Heavyweight Title belt at Halloween Havok.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at October 24, 2025 12:35 PM (g1vDs)

127 I've long contended the NBA is the most riggable and rigged of the major sports.
------------
The ponies would disagree.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 24, 2025 12:27 PM

Dogs are the worst. I dated a woman who worked at dog tracks. The things they could do to influence a race were, um, interesting.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at October 24, 2025 12:35 PM (0sNs1)

128 The only time I gamble is when my wife and I go to a horse track. We each put $20 down on a horse. Then, win or lose, we're done, and only out $40 if we both lose.

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:36 PM (77rzZ)

129 Leticia James pled not guilty. I wish she had done a Samuel Jackson and said "not guilty, motherf*cker"

Posted by: Smell the Glove at October 24, 2025 12:36 PM (8RjCi)

130
I know two girls who were so into gambling at the local Indian casino that it ruined their lives.[,,,]
It's a very destructive hobby.
==========

Gambling is an addiction. Addictions are destructive.

Posted by: Speller at October 24, 2025 12:36 PM (pSotA)

131 New York Attorney General Letitia James is scheduled to appear in federal court in Norfolk, Virginia, Friday to be arraigned on charges of alleged mortgage fraud after she was indicted earlier this month by President Trump's handpicked U.S. attorney.

I guess "No one is above the law" is no longer operative?

Posted by: 18-1 at October 24, 2025 12:36 PM (sKqQm)

132 Roger Murdock: I'm sorry, son, but you must have me confused with someone else. My name is Roger Murdock. I'm the co-pilot.
Posted by: Count de Monet

Going to be a lot of "Thurston Honeywell III" pilots in the next few years who look suspiciously tall and athletic. I mean, right? All those players went to college

Posted by: gKWVE at October 24, 2025 12:36 PM (gKWVE)

133 One of the things I learned the hard way regarding gambling addiction is that it can affect you, even if you don’t gamble. Ex wife had, besides all of her other psychosocial stressors, 3 maxed out secret credit card accounts. Pretty sure one of the major reasons she left was because she felt the walls closing in.

Posted by: Farmer Bob at October 24, 2025 12:36 PM (hlNLQ)

134 Boxing and horseracing aren't the major sports I was talking about and both were seemingly invented for gambling.

Posted by: ... at October 24, 2025 12:36 PM (ANbpg)

135 That's nice. Let's focus on crime in this century, such as money laundering trillions in taxpayer funds through NGOs.

Posted by: Ray Patriarca at October 24, 2025 12:36 PM (wBaIH)

136 I was listening to an attorney who has defended athletes accused of this, and he said it seems dumb when they are making millions, but there is something sexy and irresistible to them about getting a bag of $20,00 in cash as opposed to a $1 million wire transfer.

Posted by: Lex at October 24, 2025 12:37 PM (l5xX+)

137
NBA players throw games

WNBA players throw bricks, and Angel Reese is their Prophet

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at October 24, 2025 12:37 PM (xG4kz)

138 58 Astros flagrantly cheated and nobody went to jail.
Posted by: Yankee Fan

Yeah! Yankees and Astros both cheat to high hell!

Posted by: Red Sox fan at October 24, 2025 12:38 PM (gKWVE)

139 23 The US used to be a serious, almost spartan nation. Now there are legal drugs, gambling, easy divorce, gay stuff, abortion, euthanasia, satanism, communism.
It is not the same country as 100 years ago.

Posted by: PG at October 24, 2025 12:18 PM (uX4U2)

Because the US is the wealthiest nation in the world, collectively and at the individual level. Most things and experiences/entertainment we can't seem to live without nowadays (me included) are luxuries, luxuries unattainable in their equivalents by most 100 years ago.

Luxuries - most everything beyond water, food, warmth, non-sunlight light of some sort, basic medical care - make people and societies soft, relatively speaking. This nation's wealth provides the means to support tens of millions doing luxury, non-essential for basic life jobs: Gender studies and other ultra-soft studies teachers, gender-crap and the like jobs, community organizers, people running and staffing the zillions of government commissions and agencies at all levels, that layer rules and regulations on the real workers, jobs working at the zillions of environmental and social work groups, associations, foundations, etc. No useful physical products.

Posted by: The AMA and FDA at October 24, 2025 12:38 PM (5rh/l)

140 127 I've long contended the NBA is the most riggable and rigged of the major sports.

sure cos it's racist to question the players and coaches for the most part

ANYWAY sports betting has been around as long as sports. and it's always been rigged.

you do it, you should know that at least, with all your studies into history and whatnot. and the gamblers generally do. they just enjoy it so much they convince themselves it's not happening.

Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 24, 2025 12:38 PM (emBoF)

141 Once they legalized pot I got to see pot shoppes next to all the check cashing and liquor store business in my nearby blue shitty. The sports gambling is all online so I guess that's why I don't *see* it there.

My libertarian side says people should be able to throw their lives away on this stuff if they choose but...it is apparently *a lot* of people that will.

Posted by: 18-1 at October 24, 2025 12:38 PM (sKqQm)

142 Yeah, but there's a sentence I grew up with as an officer: Perception Is Reality.
Posted by: Cow Demon at October 24, 2025 12:34 PM

Even I was told this.

Posted by: zombie Caesar's Wife at October 24, 2025 12:38 PM (0sNs1)

143 Wonder if the mob will have the NBA players hit so they don't testify.

Posted by: Smell the Glove at October 24, 2025 12:38 PM (8RjCi)

144 "That's nice. Let's focus on crime in this century, such as money laundering trillions in taxpayer funds through NGOs."

There is a high probability that money laundering is exactly why this was targeted. I'd *wager* that the sports leagues are funneling a serious amount of illicit cash to celebrities and owners for off-books favors and free campaigning. The equivalent of the Kamala Harris "book deal" but for a different subset of society.

Posted by: Unbelievable at October 24, 2025 12:38 PM (MTz2u)

145
One of LeBaron's lesser known betting lines is "How many Tables of Contents will he read this week?" It doesn't get much action.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at October 24, 2025 12:38 PM (xG4kz)

146 crap - off old AMA and FDA sock!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Gref at October 24, 2025 12:39 PM (5rh/l)

147
To say "you don't care" is just letting this problem grow and destroy lives, sort of like being for legalized heroine. Sure some people can take it and not have a problem, but there is a serious percentage that can't shake the problem and ruins their life.
Posted by: whatever at October 24, 2025 12:29 PM (bXloC)

OK, but here's the problem: I've gambled, and now that I think on it, I haven't gambled on anything in about...15 years. I think I can understand getting addicted to it, but not everyone will. Do we hammer EVERYONE because some may get addicted to it?

This gets into the philosophical question of how much of a nanny do you want to be, and over what. I don't think you or I or...anybody really has a good answer to that question that will work for everyone.

Posted by: Cow Demon at October 24, 2025 12:39 PM (vwL3N)

148 Its been an open secret the NBA rigs games for quite some time. "The league tells refs how to call a game"...and that alone can, and often DOES, determine the outcome.

Posted by: 18-1 at October 24, 2025 12:39 PM (sKqQm)

149 Woo hoo! Just got the first frost advisory of the year. Fall is finally here!

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:39 PM (77rzZ)

150 The US used to be a serious, almost spartan nation. Now there are legal drugs, gambling, easy divorce, gay stuff, abortion, euthanasia, satanism, communism.
It is not the same country as 100 years ago.
Posted by: PG at October 24, 2025 12:18 PM (uX4U2)

But we can still go to jail if we advertise raw milk for sale, so we still have that!

Posted by: Kindltot at October 24, 2025 12:39 PM (rbvCR)

151 REPORTER: “Mr. President, if you are declaring war against these cartels and Congress is likely to approve of that process, why not just ask for a declaration of war?”

PRESIDENT TRUMP: “Well, I don't think we're going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war. I think we're just gonna kill people that are bringing digs into our country. Okay? We're gonna kill them. They're gonna be, like, dead.

-
But they were turning their lives around!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, OMGWTFBBQ! at October 24, 2025 12:39 PM (L/fGl)

152 Chelsea Clinton has a face only Webb Hubble could love.

Posted by: whoseurdaddy at October 24, 2025 12:39 PM (lJYOV)

153 Posted by: Cow Demon at October 24, 2025 12:21 PM (vwL3N)

*fist bump*
Might be the only team not throwing games this year are the Jets.

Posted by: gKWVE at October 24, 2025 12:39 PM (gKWVE)

154 actually with how easy it is to gamble now - on your phone!!! - I'm surprised the situation isn't far worse

gambling is one hell of an addiction

Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 24, 2025 12:39 PM (emBoF)

155 77 Bet on the color of the dildo.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at October 24, 2025 12:28 PM (63Dwl)
---

Some offshore sportsbooks did offer this bet during the dildo-throwing craze. Neon green was the big favorite every game.

Posted by: Ian Faith at October 24, 2025 12:40 PM (0bjKf)

156 When I heard about this and that there were mafia entanglements, I had to wonder how many of the players were going along with it and how many were "going along with it".

Posted by: ScottM at October 24, 2025 12:40 PM (snrH4)

157 And to think, NBA players are the smartest, most educated upstanding citizens. How could this happen to such fine examples of society? Dey musta be framed.

Posted by: Indy Bill at October 24, 2025 12:40 PM (iKLKd)

158
Wonder if the mob will have the NBA players hit so they don't testify.
Posted by: Smell the Glove

How would we know if that were the case, given the players' spotless reputations?

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at October 24, 2025 12:40 PM (xG4kz)

159 Watching basketball sucks. Basketball was something you do between Football and Baseball to kill time. Oh, and fuck soccer, too.

Posted by: Pudinhead at October 24, 2025 12:40 PM (jFCkp)

160 Yeah I can't imagine why big rich stars would want multi thousands of dollars in untraceable untrackable funds, separate from their income streams. Can't imagine.

Nothing comes to mind at all.

Posted by: ... at October 24, 2025 12:40 PM (ANbpg)

161 152 Chelsea Clinton has a face only Webb Hubble could love.
Posted by: whoseurdaddy at October 24, 2025 12:39 PM (lJYOV)

Even he wouldn't claim her.....

Posted by: It's me donna at October 24, 2025 12:40 PM (VE6XX)

162 This gets into the philosophical question of how much of a nanny do you want to be, and over what. I don't think you or I or...anybody really has a good answer to that question that will work for everyone.

I don't think we need to nanny it at all

eventually if you're a reprobate gambler, you run out of fingers

Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 24, 2025 12:41 PM (emBoF)

163 58 Astros flagrantly cheated and nobody went to jail.
Posted by: Yankee Fan

Cheating is only cheating if you're caught. What's cheating about deflated balls anyway?

Posted by: Tom Brady at October 24, 2025 12:41 PM (IifOV)

164 For the record, I do think Chelsea is Bill's kid, he's the one girl he didn't try to have sex with...

Posted by: 18-1 at October 24, 2025 12:41 PM (sKqQm)

165 What can rich people do with secret untraceable funds that they cannot do with their regular income? Anyone? Anyone?

Posted by: ... at October 24, 2025 12:41 PM (ANbpg)

166 148 Its been an open secret the NBA rigs games for quite some time. "The league tells refs how to call a game"...and that alone can, and often DOES, determine the outcome.
---------------
Methinks this is true of football as well.

Posted by: Pudinhead at October 24, 2025 12:41 PM (jFCkp)

167 When I heard about this and that there were mafia entanglements, I had to wonder how many of the players were going along with it and how many were "going along with it".
Posted by: ScottM at October 24, 2025 12:40 PM (snrH4)

I heard they were being lured into poker games with rigged up x-ray tables and shuffling machines, being taken *badly* and then fixing games to clear the debt.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 24, 2025 12:41 PM (BI5O2)

168 How did Chelsea end up with Hillary's looks AND charm?

Posted by: Duncanthrax at October 24, 2025 12:42 PM (0sNs1)

169 These are the ones they caught cheating. There are many many more.

Posted by: fd at October 24, 2025 12:42 PM (vFG9F)

170 @174 are you sure he didn't?

Posted by: Smell the Glove at October 24, 2025 12:42 PM (8RjCi)

171 165 What can rich people do with secret untraceable funds that they cannot do with their regular income? Anyone? Anyone?

well, not pay taxes but I'm becoming convinced that many people just don't pay taxes nowadays anyway

Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 24, 2025 12:42 PM (emBoF)

172 Once a player gives the mob a prop bet, like allegedly clase and ortiz did, throwing a ball first pitch in a designated inning, tben the mob owns them. Neither of those guys had gotten the big payday yet. Clase was due to get millions upon millions. They had something on him.

Posted by: My hunch at October 24, 2025 12:42 PM (rbAIK)

173 Norm MacDonald said it best: “Yeah man, they call gambling a disease, but it’s the only disease where you can win a bunch of money.”

Posted by: Ian Faith at October 24, 2025 12:42 PM (0bjKf)

174
We're about to get an "atmospheric river" dump on us here in Oregon. Time to blow up the raft and man the oars.

Posted by: Frank Barone at October 24, 2025 12:42 PM (IifOV)

175 I was assured that Rudy Giuliani RICO'd the NYC Five Mafia Crime Families out of existence.

They're probably propped up by and puppets now of The Cartels ...

Posted by: ShainS -- Bury My Heart At a Texas MoMe at October 24, 2025 12:43 PM (TuuEq)

176 November is coming. Foo stamps not so much.

Posted by: Boss Moss at October 24, 2025 12:43 PM (UoKhB)

177 eventually if you're a reprobate gambler, you run out of fingers

This is one answer - legalize most things that are only self-destructive and let the people that throw their lives away over them by the example for everyone else.

But...

We have a "safety net" that means that these people only fall so far. And for plenty of them an EBT card and some under the table money to indulge in their vices is enough for them

Posted by: 18-1 at October 24, 2025 12:43 PM (sKqQm)

178 I heard they were being lured into poker games with rigged up x-ray tables and shuffling machines, being taken *badly* and then fixing games to clear the debt.

some illustrative imagery on that can be found on X. it's actually fascinated how they were doing that.

X-ray Specs!

Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 24, 2025 12:43 PM (emBoF)

179 But when gambling starts to effect the integrity of the game, and threatens fixed outcomes, THAT is a problem.
Posted by: Cow Demon
======
It always will and the wider the number of things that can be bet upon involving games ensures someone has a big incentive to pay off players to make it happen.

Jai Alai, Thoroughbred racing, dog racing, sportsball, etc. have all had gambling scandals in the past and by increasing the the amount of money involved (part of it is actually money laundering too see Pritzker and his amazing 'poker' winnings) you will see more of it.

Same as drugs--remember how marijuana legalization was supposed to cause less crime--except it is not true and now you have Chinese marijuana growers in the US using human slavery just cause some guy wants to light up a spiffer.

Portland is an example of what happens when you legalize most drugs and it was so bad that even progressives had to roll it back.

Lesson is that any vice, when given sanction by the state, increases to its maximum sized market and inevitably brings in more crime and disorder as an ancillary. All because people get addicted to dopamine hits from those vices.

Posted by: whig at October 24, 2025 12:43 PM (WDjG6)

180 >We had Chicago trash come to play sportsball at ISU with full ride scholarships. More than one got busted for robbing Burger King or mugging students.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at October 24, 2025 12:34 PM (xcxpd)

1. Dindu nuffin'
2. If we had midnight basketball we wouldn't have to jack wypipo, yo.

Posted by: Heavy Meta at October 24, 2025 12:44 PM (GTqXr)

181 164. 168
how do you know bill didnt ?

she looks like a female Webb

Posted by: swell at October 24, 2025 12:44 PM (lJYOV)

182 1
As a Portlander, I can say that Chancey Billups is following the long tradition of felonies for the Portland Jailblazers.

Posted by: Frank Barone at October 24, 2025 12:11 PM (IifOV)

Heh. My brother, a long-time Portland resident, was saying the same thing...

Posted by: Tex Lovera at October 24, 2025 12:44 PM (wtvvX)

183 I can't tell you how much I enjoy the left trying to manufacture outrage over the Big Beautiful Ballroom.

It's so fake and gay even Talcum X is defending ... Trump.

And really, how stupid of a country are we that the only way we can hold State dinners is in tents on the lawn?

"Oh but it's a very nice tent. With heaters and plastic windows and everything. Costs millions to set up and take down."

AYFKM.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at October 24, 2025 12:44 PM (g1vDs)

184 I'm indifferent to the NBA.
Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at October 24, 2025 12:34 PM (kGJnt)

I'd be indifferent but I don't care enough.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 24, 2025 12:45 PM (ExV1e)

185 Hoolly macaroni and chesse Ace. What are some of the fun activities the the elite do for kicks.

Must frustrating trying so hard to have some fun.

Posted by: dreamingrobot at October 24, 2025 12:45 PM (EyfuW)

186 "IIRC, Rose was accused of betting on baseball, but not the games he played in"

Rose bet on games he managed, and there's evidence that he managed differently based on his bets.

Posted by: Lyford at October 24, 2025 12:45 PM (gb+vr)

187 [io]Wanna buy some gold?
Posted by: Every talk radio host ever at October 24, 2025 12:28 PM (4rtEq)

Now, imagine that you had bought some when encouraged a year ago. Would you be so pissy today over the disgrace of someone who sells advertising time for hawking goods for a price, or pissy because you didn't sell your dog to buy more?

Posted by: Kindltot at October 24, 2025 12:45 PM (rbvCR)

188 I'm not going to make mock of sports gamblers when I day trade the market most days. Sure, it's more like poker than slot machines but, it is still gambling.

Posted by: toby928(c) at October 24, 2025 12:45 PM (jc0TO)

189 179 Betting on ja alai? Effing jai alai? WTH?

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:45 PM (77rzZ)

190 I heard they were being lured into poker games with rigged up x-ray tables and shuffling machines, being taken *badly* and then fixing games to clear the debt.

You should suspect something when the pit boss comes up and whispers in your ear that you have a black spot on your lung and you should get it checked out.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 24, 2025 12:45 PM (mC4Jq)

191 They thought, "If only Casey could but get a whack at that—

We'd put up even money now, with Casey at the bat."

It was an honest strikeout, not a dive.

Posted by: Ernest Thayer, 1888 at October 24, 2025 12:45 PM (wVcYX)

192 We have a "safety net" that means that these people only fall so far. And for plenty of them an EBT card and some under the table money to indulge in their vices is enough for them

it won't be nearly enough

you don't know any really bad gamblers

I knew a guy in AC - great guy! - down to one finger on each hand. he would look at me, show me his hands, and say "honey never ever gamble."

it was honestly worse than seeing a throat-hole person and then thinking about smoking

you BLOW THRU money gambling. gamblers do not self regulate! they lose track. they get in deep and then deeper

there's always WORSE

Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 24, 2025 12:45 PM (emBoF)

193 Astros flagrantly cheated and nobody went to jail.
Posted by: Yankee Fan

Cheating is only cheating if you're caught. What's cheating about deflated balls anyway?

Cheating to win is less evil than cheating to lose

Posted by: Chuck C at October 24, 2025 12:45 PM (0GLZr)

194 well, not pay taxes but I'm becoming convinced that many people just don't pay taxes nowadays anyway
Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 24, 2025 12:42 PM (emBoF)

Thought experiment: If it costs 20 large to get to Epstein Island for a weekend is it better or worse if that comes from your bank account or from "other"?

Posted by: ... at October 24, 2025 12:46 PM (ANbpg)

195 Vince is saying the ballroom is also cover for WH bunker renovations.

Posted by: fd at October 24, 2025 12:46 PM (vFG9F)

196 I guess "No one is above the law" is no longer operative?
Posted by: 18-1 at October 24, 2025 12:36 PM (sKqQm)

In fairness, Leticia James is NOT a one.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 24, 2025 12:46 PM (ExV1e)

197 I haven't paid attention to the NBA since Jordan was playing and I'd rather watch old games between the Bulls and the Celtics than these thugs.
Posted by: CaliGirl at October 24, 2025 12:26 PM (TmEds)
_______________________

Same with me. And, concerning Jordan. They tried to get him to endorse a couple Democrat politicians in Illinois while he was playing. He famously said, "Why would I do that? Republicans buy sneakers too."

Posted by: Orson at October 24, 2025 12:46 PM (dIske)

198 Was this some kind of bust?

Posted by: banana Dream at October 24, 2025 12:46 PM (3uBP9)

199 wildly OT

I watched Weird Al "I Lost On Jeopardy" and can't for the life of me remember the original song he was spoofing

anyone?

Posted by: Don Black at October 24, 2025 12:47 PM (AOsQT)

200 Pete Rose agreed to a lifetime ban if they stopped investigating him. They stopped investigating him and he immediately started complaining about his ban. Scum.

Posted by: ... at October 24, 2025 12:47 PM (ANbpg)

201 I'd be indifferent but I don't care enough.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic

Ugarte: "You despise me, don't you Rick?"
Rick: "Well, if I gave any thought I probably would."

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:47 PM (77rzZ)

202 188 I'm not going to make mock of sports gamblers when I day trade the market most days. Sure, it's more like poker than slot machines but, it is still gambling.
Posted by: toby928(c) at October 24, 2025 12:45 PM (jc0TO)

In "random walk" theory, the stock market is a casino where the odds are actually in your favor.

Posted by: Cow Demon at October 24, 2025 12:47 PM (vwL3N)

203 Our Love's In Jeopardy, Don

Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 24, 2025 12:47 PM (emBoF)

204 I was in the car for a good part of yesterday and heard the whole press conference. The most striking thing to me wasn't the NBA angle, I always knew there was shady shit going on with sports gambling and athletes altering their performance for money. Been going on forever, ask the Black Sox.

The most striking part was the resurgence of the mafia. 4 out of the 5 major mafia families in the NY area were involved. How long has it been since the mafia were even talked about? I think this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 24, 2025 12:47 PM (viF8m)

205 [Joke heard yesterday:]

"The Portland Trailblazers had a tough schedule to open the season this year, going up against the Golden State Warriors, the LA Clippers, The LA Lakers, and the FBI."

Posted by: ShainS -- Bury My Heart At a Texas MoMe at October 24, 2025 12:47 PM (TuuEq)

206 Sell your dog to buy more.

Who wrote this fine art?

Posted by: dreamingrobot at October 24, 2025 12:47 PM (EyfuW)

207 I'm way late to this and it's probably been said already but when it comes to rigged "games" I don't GAF about sports. What I do GAF about is the government being rigged to where taxpayers pay for every fucking leftist fetish in the fucking world. Why are people not in prison for the rigged game that USAID was?...for all the NGO's and their funding?...for all leftist "Foundations" that support nothing but leftist Democrat Party causes?

Posted by: Chairborne!...Desk From Above! at October 24, 2025 12:48 PM (F4p3X)

208 I watched Weird Al "I Lost On Jeopardy" and can't for the life of me remember the original song he was spoofing

anyone?
Posted by: Don Black

I think it was "Our Love's in Jeopardy."

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:48 PM (77rzZ)

209 >anyone?

Posted by: Don Black at October 24, 2025 12:47 PM (AOsQT)

Our love's in jeopardy
Greg Khin - Greg Khin Band

Posted by: Heavy Meta at October 24, 2025 12:48 PM (GTqXr)

210 Greg Kihn band

Posted by: Farmer Bob at October 24, 2025 12:48 PM (hlNLQ)

211 How did Chelsea end up with Hillary's looks AND charm?

==

There was a time period where Cankles, when she had her hair and makeup done, didn't look too bad. Like during the WH years. Chelsea, otoh, never even had her mother's momentary not too horrible looks. Now that's saying something.

Posted by: Lady in Black at October 24, 2025 12:48 PM (qBdHI)

212 All because people get addicted to dopamine hits from those vices.

I can quit hitting "Post" anytime.

Posted by: DaveA at October 24, 2025 12:48 PM (FhXTo)

213 Al Czervik: ...I bet ya slice into the woods! A hundred bucks!

Judge Smails: Gambling is illegal at Bushwood sir, and I never slice.

[the judge hits the ball, and it goes flying into some trees, in response, he shouts in frustration]

Al Czervik: Okay, you can owe me!

Judge Smails: [mad] I owe you nothing!

Posted by: Count de Monet at October 24, 2025 12:48 PM (wVcYX)

214 I can quit hitting "Post" anytime.

Posted by: DaveA at October 24, 2025 12:48 PM (FhXTo)

215 Norm MacDonald said it best: “Yeah man, they call gambling a disease, but it’s the only disease where you can win a bunch of money.”
Posted by: Ian Faith at October 24, 2025 12:42 PM (0bjKf)

"End up fabulously wealthy" I believe it was.

Posted by: ... at October 24, 2025 12:48 PM (ANbpg)

216 "missile tariffs" - I like that.

Have been wondering what hardware is being used for these operations. Non-armor-penetrating version of Hellfire, from Predators? Been so long that I stopped following the hardware side closely that I have no idea.

Soft, easy targets - softest and easiest I can think of. Discriminating target very easy - contrast with environment, no cover or concealment or obstructions, and of course no non-targets adjacent to avoid. And soft - just fiberglass and metal.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 24, 2025 12:49 PM (U/Byj)

217 ok thanks all
I'll go to yewtewb and refresh my memory

Posted by: Don Black at October 24, 2025 12:49 PM (AOsQT)

218 This is one answer - legalize most things that are only self-destructive and let the people that throw their lives away over them by the example for everyone else.

But...

We have a "safety net" that means that these people only fall so far. And for plenty of them an EBT card and some under the table money to indulge in their vices is enough for them
Posted by: 18-1
=======
We tried that with street people by essentially allowing them exemptions from the law for a whole host of crimes that would get you or I long jail or prison sentences. End result, what you get is shitheads like Brown in Charlotte killing that innocent girl.

It is impossible to wall off disorder from the rest of society. Whether the secondary and tertiary effects of drugs, gambling, prostitution, trannyism, gay marriage, pron, etc. And in turn, when society turns, as it inevitably will, you suddenly flip into authoritarian mode when people get sick of the decadence and want a dictator to whack the decadents.

Welfare net can make it worse, but even without them, vices destroyed fortunes, families, and happiness while spreading harmful disorder to people outside of the decadent perp.

Posted by: whig at October 24, 2025 12:49 PM (WDjG6)

219 Have been wondering what hardware is being used for these operations. Non-armor-penetrating version of Hellfire, from Predators? Been so long that I stopped following the hardware side closely that I have no idea.

Soft, easy targets - softest and easiest I can think of. Discriminating target very easy - contrast with environment, no cover or concealment or obstructions, and of course no non-targets adjacent to avoid. And soft - just fiberglass and metal.
Posted by: rhomboid at October 24, 2025 12:49 PM

I like that slap-chop warhead.

Posted by: toby928(c) at October 24, 2025 12:50 PM (jc0TO)

220 My assumption is that more money is made and spent on gambling over professional sports than is made on ticket sales and licensed gear.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 24, 2025 12:50 PM (0U5gm)

221 Porterhouse: Fifty bucks says the Smails kid picks his nose.

Lou: You're on.

Porterhouse: All right, kid, take your time.

[Spaulding picks his nose]

Lou: Double or nothing he eats it.

Porterhouse: Don't do it, kid!

[Spaulding eats it]

Porterhouse: That kid will eat anything!

Lou: He was hungry.

Posted by: Count de Monet at October 24, 2025 12:50 PM (wVcYX)

222 >>> There was a time period where Cankles, when she had her hair and makeup done, didn't look too bad. Like during the WH years. Chelsea, otoh, never even had her mother's momentary not too horrible looks. Now that's saying something.
Posted by: Lady in Black at October 24, 2025 12:48 PM (qBdHI)

Too much Hubble.

Posted by: banana Dream at October 24, 2025 12:51 PM (3uBP9)

223 Greg Kihn Band - Jeopardy?

Posted by: Boss Moss at October 24, 2025 12:51 PM (UoKhB)

224 There was a time period where Cankles, when she had her hair and makeup done, didn't look too bad. Like during the WH years.
Posted by: Lady in Black

I remember guys saying that Hillary had a nice rack, too, when she was FLOTUS. I never cared enough to check it out.

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:51 PM (77rzZ)

225 Not surprised Trump was "blamed" for this. Is there nothing he can't do...

Posted by: It's me donna at October 24, 2025 12:51 PM (VE6XX)

226 I know two girls who were so into gambling at the local Indian casino that it ruined their lives. One girl was a branch manager at the bank and she went to jail for embezzlement, another one lost her house. It's a very destructive hobby.
Posted by: CaliGirl at October 24, 2025 12:33 PM (TmEds)

I know a lady who I suspect is laundering money out of Mexico on video poker. suspect, only.

Posted by: Kindltot at October 24, 2025 12:51 PM (rbvCR)

227 As for my two cents, I don't think there should be legal sports betting and I certainly believe they shouldn't run commercials.
The 2018 court cases were decided wrong.

Posted by: gKWVE at October 24, 2025 12:52 PM (gKWVE)

228 Chelsea, otoh, never even had her mother's momentary not too horrible looks. Now that's saying something.
Posted by: Lady in Black at October 24, 2025 12:48 PM

She was cute as a kid with the cowardly lion locks.

Posted by: toby928(c) at October 24, 2025 12:52 PM (jc0TO)

229 Pete Rose bet on his team to win- sometimes.
Which means he was essentially betting against his team the other games.

Posted by: MikeN at October 24, 2025 12:52 PM (HVZOH)

230 215 Norm MacDonald said it best: “Yeah man, they call gambling a disease, but it’s the only disease where you can win a bunch of money.”
Posted by: Ian Faith at October 24, 2025 12:42 PM (0bjKf)

"End up fabulously wealthy" I believe it was.
Posted by: ...
=========
Except Norm forgot the golden rule--in the end, the house always wins. The people ending up fabulously wealthy from gambling are people that run the game--they get their vig up front in parimutuel betting and by rigging the odds in their favor in games like slots, roulette, etc .

Posted by: whig at October 24, 2025 12:52 PM (WDjG6)

231 Hello, Horde! 😊💕

Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, AoSHQ's "Plucky Wee One"- Eat the Cheesecake, Buy the Yarn. at October 24, 2025 12:52 PM (SRRAx)

232 People bet on sports?

Posted by: Squid at October 24, 2025 12:52 PM (HK3lZ)

233 People bet on sports?
Posted by: Squid at October 24, 2025 12:52 PM

It seems so.

Posted by: toby928(c) at October 24, 2025 12:53 PM (jc0TO)

234 Hello, Teresa! Great to see you, as always!

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:53 PM (77rzZ)

235 East Wing was originally in fact cover for bunker, I think. FDR era.

The truly absurd attempted hysteria over *privately donated* improvements to the WH is hugely redundant confirmation of what a dumbed down and collapsed civic culture we live in.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 24, 2025 12:53 PM (U/Byj)

236 Inspector "I'm shocked, shocked that there is gambling in this establishment "
Bellman "you're winnings sir "
Inspector"thank you"

Posted by: Smell the Glove at October 24, 2025 12:54 PM (8RjCi)

237 Posted by: whig at October 24, 2025 12:52 PM (WDjG6)

I'm pretty sure he was being ironic. Norm had a bit of a problem you see.....

Posted by: ... at October 24, 2025 12:54 PM (ANbpg)

238 In the olden days, we dealt with NBA players' gambling problems by making them play professional baseball.

Posted by: Oglebay at October 24, 2025 12:54 PM (GPa4z)

239 Gambling is not about how much money they are or are not making. It might be why someone starts but it is like any other addition: it takes on a life of it's own.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at October 24, 2025 12:54 PM (bss/y)

240 Chicago Black Sox.

Posted by: Boss Moss at October 24, 2025 12:54 PM (UoKhB)

241
"Patel and the Trump FBI are going after NBA/Mafia gambling to take attention away from the Epstein files"

-Heard in line while getting coffee

Posted by: Frank Barone at October 24, 2025 12:54 PM (IifOV)

242 Couldn't have happened to a more deserving POS "sport".

Posted by: Colonel Kernel at October 24, 2025 12:55 PM (i7s3K)

243 Chicago Sox of Color.

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 12:55 PM (77rzZ)

244 "Patel and the Trump FBI are going after NBA/Mafia gambling to take attention away from the Epstein files"

and the same people 1 year ago: There Epstein files are fake wingnuts, why do you think everyone you don't like is a pedo?

Posted by: 18-1 at October 24, 2025 12:55 PM (sKqQm)

245 Except Norm forgot the golden rule--in the end, the house always wins. The people ending up fabulously wealthy from gambling are people that run the game
===
Las Vegas didnt rise up out of the wasteland desert it is located in because the casinos lose money. Nope. Casinos win and win big. You will always lose in the long run.

Posted by: Math at October 24, 2025 12:55 PM (rbAIK)

246 215 Norm MacDonald said it best: “Yeah man, they call gambling a disease, but it’s the only disease where you can win a bunch of money.”
Posted by: Ian Faith at October 24, 2025 12:42 PM (0bjKf)
_______________________

Sandler said he found $50k in poker chips from AC in Norm's fridge when visiting. He asked him why he had it there. Norm said he was holding onto it until he could figure out how to cash it in without paying taxes. A week later Sandler asked him if he ended up paying taxes, and Norm shook his head. Nope. I ended up going down and playing again, and lost it all.

Posted by: Orson at October 24, 2025 12:55 PM (dIske)

247 Hockey is not very suitable for fixing. 20 skaters, lots of variables. And dogging it is too obvious. Goalies are a high-leverage position but again there throwing things would be fairly obvious, especially if done more than once, which is likely needed to affect outcomes.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 24, 2025 12:55 PM (U/Byj)

248 241
"Patel and the Trump FBI are going after NBA/Mafia gambling to take attention away from the Epstein files"

-Heard in line while getting coffee
Posted by: Frank Barone

Ayep. Dittos here. Ffs.

Posted by: nurse ratched at October 24, 2025 12:56 PM (Krwog)

249 The only way to win in sports betting is to bet on the browns to lose. Youll win more than you lose.

Posted by: Math at October 24, 2025 12:56 PM (rbAIK)

250 Dogs are the worst. I dated a woman who worked at dog tracks. The things they could do to influence a race were, um, interesting.
Posted by: Duncanthrax

No one ever cheated or lost a dime at a penguin race. Superior breeding and intelligence win out.

Posted by: Penguin Promotion Board! at October 24, 2025 12:56 PM (oftw2)

251 202 188 I'm not going to make mock of sports gamblers when I day trade the market most days. Sure, it's more like poker than slot machines but, it is still gambling.
Posted by: toby928(c)
======
Not quite the same because capital in markets>sportsball in economic influence but even you would get upset if you took a big loss because the stock you were betting on was rigged.

That is the reason for the SEC existing as it was common without it back in the day and even now, the existence of the SEC and the CFTC only deters some criminals wearing white collars, not all of them. Not much similar exists for online betting or even betting in person other than state regulators which are often notoriously weak (see the Mafia skimming operations going on for a long while in Vegas despite the Black Book, etc.).

Posted by: whig at October 24, 2025 12:56 PM (WDjG6)

252 244 "Patel and the Trump FBI are going after NBA/Mafia gambling to take attention away from the Epstein files"

and the same people 1 year ago: There Epstein files are fake wingnuts, why do you think everyone you don't like is a pedo?

Posted by: 18-1 at October 24, 2025 12:55 PM (sKqQm)

=====

What happens to the Epstein files line when Trump...isn't president anymore? He's never going to be on a ballot again in the future.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, navigating dreamlike horrors with Mario Bava at October 24, 2025 12:56 PM (GBKbO)

253 The Rockies must be making a fortune.

Posted by: Boss Moss at October 24, 2025 12:56 PM (UoKhB)

254 What happens to the Epstein files line when Trump...isn't president anymore? He's never going to be on a ballot again in the future.

2027: No one ever said Trump was on the list but we sure as hell know Rubio/DeSantis/Vance are!

Posted by: 18-1 at October 24, 2025 12:57 PM (sKqQm)

255 239 Gambling is not about how much money they are or are not making. It might be why someone starts but it is like any other addition: it takes on a life of it's own.
Posted by: Aetius451AD
=======
Yep. Had an uncle that gambled everything away back when millions meant something. Lost his family, health, and millions--he was a former successful HS football coach and when he retired from coaching, went wild with gambling.

Posted by: whig at October 24, 2025 12:59 PM (WDjG6)

256 >>The Rockies must be making a fortune.

It doesn't work as well when you always lose.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 24, 2025 12:59 PM (viF8m)

257 You will always lose in the long run.
Posted by: Math at October 24, 2025 12:55 PM

and yet there are people who make a living gambling. The House always winnings does not guarantee you losing, the odds, heh, are in their favor.

Posted by: toby928(c) at October 24, 2025 12:59 PM (jc0TO)

258 >>>it's all Friday up in this piece

wut

Posted by: m at October 24, 2025 12:59 PM (RuTUS)

259 What is it w Democrat presidents and ugly as sin children?

Posted by: Colonel Kernel at October 24, 2025 12:59 PM (i7s3K)

260 I can give you a foolproof way of making a small fortune through sports gambling.

Start with a large one...

Posted by: Lyford at October 24, 2025 12:59 PM (gb+vr)

261 I was in the car for a good part of yesterday and heard the whole press conference. The most striking thing to me wasn't the NBA angle, I always knew there was shady shit going on with sports gambling and athletes altering their performance for money. Been going on forever, ask the Black Sox.

The most striking part was the resurgence of the mafia. 4 out of the 5 major mafia families in the NY area were involved. How long has it been since the mafia were even talked about? I think this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 24, 2025 12:47 PM (viF8m)

---------------

Wifey texted me a link to the story, and my response (as someone who grew up in Las Vegas and (being extremely competitive in athletics and hating to lose) eventually developed a gambling problem, despite being a successful Blackjack card counter and getting to the final table in the first two Hold 'Em poker tournaments I entered:

"Yep. I've been saying on Ace for a while now that gambling has destroyed the credibility of professional and amateur sports -- extremely ripe for, and rife with, corruption."

Posted by: ShainS -- Bury My Heart At a Texas MoMe at October 24, 2025 01:00 PM (TuuEq)

262 Didn't Sec of Ed Bill Bennett take some heat for gambling many years ago?

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 01:00 PM (77rzZ)

263 and yet there are people who make a living gambling. The House always winnings does not guarantee you losing, the odds, heh, are in their favor.

there are

poker generally

Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 24, 2025 01:00 PM (emBoF)

264 What is it w Democrat presidents and ugly as sin children?

TBH most of attractiveness is up to you.

Even if you have good genetics, dressing like a slob, avoiding personal hygiene, and having RBF will make you unattractive

Posted by: 18-1 at October 24, 2025 01:00 PM (sKqQm)

265 Rookie mistake: thinking something is popular because it shows up on lotsa commercials

Posted by: epador at October 24, 2025 01:00 PM (jj9g0)

266 I watched Weird Al "I Lost On Jeopardy" and can't for the life of me remember the original song he was spoofing

anyone?
Posted by: Don Black at October 24, 2025 12:47 PM (AOsQT)

Greg Kihn, (our love's in) Jeopardy

Posted by: Pug Mahon at October 24, 2025 01:00 PM (PSEDc)

267 We're about to get an "atmospheric river" dump on us here in Oregon. Time to blow up the raft and man the oars.
Posted by: Frank Barone at October 24, 2025 12:42 PM (IifOV)

They used to be called Chinooks but apparently all the Indians are being excised from our language

Posted by: Kindltot at October 24, 2025 01:00 PM (rbvCR)

268 What is it w Democrat presidents and ugly as sin children?
Posted by: Colonel Kernel

Amy Carter wasn't ugly. Not particularly cute, either, but kinda middle-of-the-road.

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 01:01 PM (77rzZ)

269 I got to play against a professional poker player once. Fortunately for fun money.

It seemed like every hand he knew exactly how much to bet to get me to drop out when he didn't have much, or alternately knew exactly how little to bet to keep me in a hand when he had something good...

Posted by: 18-1 at October 24, 2025 01:01 PM (sKqQm)

270 You bet against the Globetrotters?!

I thought the Generals were due!

Posted by: Josephistan at October 24, 2025 01:02 PM (y9ksN)

271 Shaq: "You're making nine million a year -- how much more do you need?"

Yay, Shaq!

Posted by: m at October 24, 2025 01:02 PM (RuTUS)

272 259 What is it w Democrat presidents and ugly as sin children?
Posted by: Colonel Kernel at October 24, 2025 12:59 PM (i7s3K)

=====

It's genetics - politics is show business for ugly people (Paul Begala)

Posted by: Oglebay at October 24, 2025 01:02 PM (GPa4z)

273 Has anybody ever rigged golf?

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 01:02 PM (77rzZ)

274 262 Didn't Sec of Ed Bill Bennett take some heat for gambling many years ago?

yeah but he did nothing illegal.

he was addicted to Video Poker which in olden times had decent odds and if you played the right machines the exact right way you could hold even longer than most things, and maybe even hit. Jokers Wild machines (way back!) specifically were really good for that.

He went thru a lot of money on it but the only reason its was news was to tar a Republican

it was mild

Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 24, 2025 01:02 PM (emBoF)

275 Sportsball is all fake?!?! I shan't believe it!
Yeh..... Never mind.

How's everbody today? Tripping merrily along over here.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at October 24, 2025 01:03 PM (2J/Lj)

276 Paul Begala looks like a fetus.

Posted by: toby928(c) at October 24, 2025 01:03 PM (jc0TO)

277 et there are people who make a living gambling. The House always winnings does not guarantee you losing, the odds, heh, are in their favor.
===
Yeah playing poker which is more like chess than gambling.
Skill and experience play a role at least as great as luck. Blackjack card counters get banned. Etc. Gamblers lose as much as they win. Big years and lean years. Its possible to make a living playing poker because you get to play against idiots....

Posted by: Math at October 24, 2025 01:03 PM (rbAIK)

278 Didn’t realize that the Italian crime families: Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese were still in business.

Posted by: redridinghood at October 24, 2025 01:03 PM (NpAcC)

279
Video of Terry Rozier having a very bad night two years ago

https://tinyurl.com/nhd6vm9s

Posted by: JM in Illinois at October 24, 2025 01:03 PM (NTdv6)

280 235 East Wing was originally in fact cover for bunker, I think. FDR era.

The truly absurd attempted hysteria over *privately donated* improvements to the WH is hugely redundant confirmation of what a dumbed down and collapsed civic culture we live in.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 24, 2025 12:53 PM (U/Byj)

If today's Karens/Scolds had lived in the 1810s, they'd have found a reason for not repairing the White House after the British burned it.

Posted by: Gref at October 24, 2025 01:03 PM (5rh/l)

281 Wifey texted me a link to the story, and my response (as someone who grew up in Las Vegas and (being extremely competitive in athletics and hating to lose) eventually developed a gambling problem, despite being a successful Blackjack card counter and getting to the final table in the first two Hold 'Em poker tournaments I entered:

shain that is very interesting

/formercardcounter

Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 24, 2025 01:03 PM (emBoF)

282 What happens to the Epstein files line when Trump...isn't president anymore? He's never going to be on a ballot again in the future.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison
=======
Impossible to confirm or refute a negative--Epstein will become a permanent mystery because even the absence of evidence will be cited itself as evidence that there was a cover up or conspiracy.

We will resolve 2020 elections and aliens on this planet before the whole of the Epstein situation ever gets resolved.

And yet, like the JFK assassination, those clamoring the most about it are often those that superimpose their theories over what evidence we do have while citing the lack of evidence for their theories as why their theory is correct because coverup or conspiracy. Both of those are exceedingly difficult to prove absent actual physical evidence like the Watergate tapes. Had Nixon destroyed them immediately, he probably would have escaped having to resign.

Posted by: whig at October 24, 2025 01:04 PM (WDjG6)

283
Hockey is not very suitable for fixing.
===========

Back in the 20th century the Edmonton Oilers had a dynasty of game and Stanley Cup wins.

After he retired, the Oiler's goalie Grant Fuhr admitted he was doing cocaine during this dynasty period.
I watched the games, it made the difference.

Posted by: Speller at October 24, 2025 01:04 PM (pSotA)

284 So Carville has said Trump supporters should their heads should be shaved, they should be clad in orange jumpsuits, and then marched down Pennsylvania Avenue while the public spits on them.

Well hey there skipoy. Here I am. Come get me.
Idiot.

Posted by: Diogenes at October 24, 2025 01:04 PM (2WIwB)

285 Yeah, Patel rattling off the names Bonanno, Genovese, Lucchese, and Gambino sounded like a NY Daily News headline in 1965.

Posted by: Brooklyn Native Here at October 24, 2025 01:04 PM (oftw2)

286 Greg Kihn died last year from Alzheimer's. Sounds strange for a rocker to die of that. Saw him in New Paltz , good show

Posted by: Smell the Glove at October 24, 2025 01:04 PM (8RjCi)

287 Gambling is not about how much money they are or are not making. It might be why someone starts but it is like any other addition: it takes on a life of it's own.
Posted by: Aetius451AD
=======
Yep. Had an uncle that gambled everything away back when millions meant something. Lost his family, health, and millions--he was a former successful HS football coach and when he retired from coaching, went wild with gambling.
Posted by: whig at October 24, 2025 12:59 PM (WDjG6)

--------------

The dopamine hits are off the charts.

Most shrinks and addiction counselors will tell you that addiction to gambling is harder to break than that of alcohol and drugs.

And the suicides as a result are off the charts ...

Posted by: ShainS -- Bury My Heart At a Texas MoMe at October 24, 2025 01:04 PM (TuuEq)

288 Gambling is I think, in some ways hubris manifest. One assumes he/she is smart, knows the future, can beat the odds. Norm was brilliant, but he too fell.

Posted by: Farmer Bob at October 24, 2025 01:04 PM (hlNLQ)

289 271 Shaq: "You're making nine million a year -- how much more do you need?"

Yay, Shaq!
Posted by: m at October 24, 2025 01:02 PM (RuTUS)

----

And Shaq is very generous with his wealth, helping out young people

Posted by: JM in Illinois at October 24, 2025 01:04 PM (NTdv6)

290 Blackjack card counters get banned.

yeah and or they set the tables up so counting just can't work

reshuffling 20 decks every five hands lol

I may exaggerate

Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 24, 2025 01:05 PM (emBoF)

291 Tell me bingo isn't rigged.

Posted by: Don Black at October 24, 2025 01:05 PM (AOsQT)

292 Always curious on these sports “fixing” events. Was interviewed by FBI about the 1994 ASU Basketball point shaving scandal. Was also in Vegas when they closed the sports books for the game between ASU and University of Washington – it was crazy. Everyone knew the fix was in – open secret in the Hard Rock Casino that night. I was not part of the gambling/shaving – worked for a company that owned a property that Stevin "Hedake" Smith (main point shaver) lived at. He drove a Cyclone and his "uncle" paid his rent in cash one time. Still remember the FBI agents name.

Posted by: scampydog at October 24, 2025 01:05 PM (2bFN5)

293 278 Didn’t realize that the Italian crime families: Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese were still in business.
Posted by: redridinghood
=======
The smarter ones of those families bought into legitimate businesses but there are still some of the crews out there to assist with turning a buck illegally.

Posted by: whig at October 24, 2025 01:05 PM (WDjG6)

294
Greg Kihn, (our love's in) Jeopardy
Posted by: Pug Mahon at October 24, 2025 01:00 PM (PSEDc)

The Breakup song is banger.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 24, 2025 01:05 PM (TmEds)

295 Reminds me of an arrogant douche I knew in law school who, once he was working in a law firm, almost immediately traded on insider information (knowledge of a proposed corporate sale or merger) and made a whopping $6K. Of course the SEC caught him (he bought right before and sold right after the sale/merger) and his Big Law career was flushed. Ended up working for Legal Aid.

Posted by: Maize and Blew at October 24, 2025 01:07 PM (qUkBO)

296 288 Gambling is I think, in some ways hubris manifest. One assumes he/she is smart, knows the future, can beat the odds. Norm was brilliant, but he too fell.
very true Bob

very true

I have this weird ability to count things lol

like I know my final total just as I go in the grocery store etc

so I was really good at counting cards

my dad was a gambler. he'd take me along, and actually have me dress up a bit, to explain the age difference. Nice, huh?

but I was helpful

he'd clear a couple hundred at the table, then we'd go and play Jokers Wild until a 5 of a kind hit.

this worked quite a bit! so you end up (if you hit within your $200 roll) with like $700

Posted by: BlackOrchid at October 24, 2025 01:07 PM (emBoF)

297
Freshman composition.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel

==================

!!!
How do you make sure they're writing their own stuff?

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at October 24, 2025 01:08 PM (ldc7S)

298 The dopamine hits are off the charts.

Most shrinks and addiction counselors will tell you that addiction to gambling is harder to break than that of alcohol and drugs.

And the suicides as a result are off the charts ...
Posted by: ShainS

I can imagine. Everyone has a weak spot whether food, drink, gambling, drugs, sex, and you do not cure an addiction by feeding it.

Key sign, "I can stop whenever I want to" is a common phrase heard when someone is going down the rabbithole.

Posted by: whig at October 24, 2025 01:08 PM (WDjG6)

299 Greg Kihn, (our love's in) Jeopardy
Posted by: Pug Mahon at October 24, 2025 01:00 PM (PSEDc)

The Breakup song is banger.
Posted by: CaliGirl at October 24, 2025 01:05 PM (TmEds)

I saw an interview, and he said the one line "uh uh uhuhuhh" happened because he couldn't think of what to write. He was a pretty funny dude.

Posted by: Pug Mahon at October 24, 2025 01:08 PM (PSEDc)

300 I was taking testimony in a comp case involving jockeys at a harness track. They admitted on the record that cheating went on. I was only surprised they admitted it

Posted by: Smell the Glove at October 24, 2025 01:08 PM (8RjCi)

301 249 The only way to win in sports betting is to bet on the browns to lose. Youll win more than you lose.
-------------------
The sure bet to lose is THE JETS.

Posted by: Pudinhead at October 24, 2025 01:08 PM (jFCkp)

302 Amy Carter wasn't ugly. Not particularly cute, either, but kinda middle-of-the-road.
Posted by: Bulg

LBJ had too semi-beautiful daughters and both Nixon girls were quite attractive.

Posted by: Discerning Gent at October 24, 2025 01:08 PM (oftw2)

303 Big Enos: 20-to-one I break the son of a bitch this time.

Little Enos: Gimme $500 on the Bandit.

Posted by: Count de Monet at October 24, 2025 01:09 PM (wVcYX)

304 he'd clear a couple hundred at the table, then we'd go and play Jokers Wild until a 5 of a kind hit.

this worked quite a bit! so you end up (if you hit within your $200 roll) with like $700
Posted by: BlackOrchid
========
I have this weird ability to forget things. My wife reminds me of it very often.

Posted by: whig at October 24, 2025 01:09 PM (WDjG6)

305 Now that this eleven year investigation has wrapped, I am confident that Kash and the boys will be telling us any day now where Epstein’s money came from.

Posted by: Going deep. Out. at October 24, 2025 01:09 PM (3aNof)

306 Fvck sportsball, it's all rigged anyhow.

Posted by: Gmac - WTF did you think was going to happen? at October 24, 2025 01:09 PM (h3wuo)

307 Tell me bingo isn't rigged.
Posted by: Don Black

Big Blue Hair.

Posted by: Bulg at October 24, 2025 01:10 PM (77rzZ)

308 >>> 31 Suspects In Huge NBA/Mafia Sports-Betting Operation

I see this and have to draw the conclusion that sportball is really really important to Kash Patel Gupta. Right up there with lower tier millionaires buying their kids into college.... Petty, real fvcking petty.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at October 24, 2025 01:10 PM (/lPRQ)

309 295 Reminds me of an arrogant douche I knew in law school who, once he was working in a law firm, almost immediately traded on insider information (knowledge of a proposed corporate sale or merger) and made a whopping $6K. Of course the SEC caught him (he bought right before and sold right after the sale/merger) and his Big Law career was flushed. Ended up working for Legal Aid.
-------------------
He needed a cut out to place the bets.

Posted by: Pudinhead at October 24, 2025 01:10 PM (jFCkp)

310 I have this weird ability to forget things. My wife reminds me of it very often.
Posted by: whig
----------
Teamwork!

Posted by: scampydog at October 24, 2025 01:10 PM (2bFN5)

311 305 Now that this eleven year investigation has wrapped, I am confident that Kash and the boys will be telling us any day now where Epstein’s money came from.
-----------------
The FBI can't tell you that cuz it was the FBI.

Posted by: Pudinhead at October 24, 2025 01:11 PM (jFCkp)

312 Nood

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 24, 2025 01:11 PM (TmEds)

313 I've often wondered what crime is chargeable for a college basketball player who shaves points. It's unethical, immoral -- but illegal? If you live in the state where gambling is legal, what's the crime?

Posted by: JM in Illinois at October 24, 2025 01:11 PM (NTdv6)

314 One of the saddest sights I see is elderly people at slot machines pushing the buttons like some experiment with monkeys wanting their next dose of crack.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at October 24, 2025 01:12 PM (yGnb5)

315 Nood NJ politics

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at October 24, 2025 01:12 PM (guCHD)

316 235 East Wing was originally in fact cover for bunker, I think. FDR era.

The truly absurd attempted hysteria over *privately donated* improvements to the WH is hugely redundant confirmation of what a dumbed down and collapsed civic culture we live in.

Posted by: rhomboid

Buried deep in the original stories about the renovation mentioned the existence of that WWII era bunker which was superceded by the newer Situation Room complex. Half of me wonders is whether, in part, that Cold War era complex needs more space below and the ballroom, East Wing is just a cover for that.

Posted by: whig at October 24, 2025 01:12 PM (WDjG6)

317 301 249 The only way to win in sports betting is to bet on the browns to lose. Youll win more than you lose.
-------------------
The sure bet to lose is THE JETS.

Lol, Dallas.

Posted by: Gmac - WTF did you think was going to happen? at October 24, 2025 01:12 PM (h3wuo)

318 America hasn't been this safe since the FBI cracked the caper of the third-tier actress greasing some palms to get her retarded daughters into a good school.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 24, 2025 12:25 PM (mC4Jq)

IIRC it wasn't even THAT good of a school. More of a last refuge of a D-list actress trying to get her retarded daughters into a school type of school.

Posted by: They'll get gender studies degrees and work in HR at October 24, 2025 01:12 PM (TbWk/)

319 never liked the game, self-esteem sport where NOT scoring is noteworthy. Consider 101-99.
That's approx 100 goals.

And if the same two teams faced off the next night, the score would be 99-101

Posted by: Fen at October 24, 2025 01:12 PM (ciYHQ)

320 Hillary Clinton@HillaryClinton
If you're hopping mad about Trump destroying the White House, we've got a new hat or sticker for you.
Your purchase supports progressive groups working to build a fairer, more inclusive America for everyone—and win elections!

This coming from the scrunt who stole all the furniture in the WH as well as anything else that wasn't tacked down.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at October 24, 2025 01:14 PM (N39Ws)

321 Amy Carter has the misfortune to look like she is related to Howdy Doody.

Posted by: Kindltot at October 24, 2025 01:14 PM (rbvCR)

322 299 I saw an interview, and he said the one line "uh uh uhuhuhh" happened because he couldn't think of what to write. He was a pretty funny dude.
Posted by: Pug Mahon at October 24, 2025 01:08 PM

--
Heh, another student of the Paul McCartney School of Writing Lyrics

Posted by: Ian Faith at October 24, 2025 01:14 PM (0bjKf)

323 I was watching a Chicago Bulls playoff game some time ago. Micheal Jordan was actually playing defense, that's how you know it was a play-off game.

A Cleveland player drove to the basket, went up with the ball in his right hand. As Micheal Jordan tried to block the shot, the Cleveland player shifted the ball to his left hand and tried to lay it in.

Micheal Jordan missed the ball and smashed his forearm into the face of the Cleveland player. The Cleveland player was knocked to the floor, almost knocked out and his nose was bloodied. After a time-out, Cleveland inbounded the ball from under the basket. NO FOUL WAS CALLED ON MICHEAL JORDAN!

I turned off the television, and I have never watched the NBA, by choice, again.

Posted by: JB1000 at October 24, 2025 01:14 PM (ttgbj)

324 My family is the lucky in love unlucky at cards kind. My inlaws are the opposite. I don't think they have ever lost money at the casino but mostly never had a successful marriage.

Posted by: toby928(c) at October 24, 2025 01:15 PM (jc0TO)

325 LeBron James is tangentially involved (but not implicated -- not yet, anyway).

-----------------

Queen LeBron and rest of The NBA are Chairman Xi's Butt-Bitchezzzz.

Good riddance ...

Posted by: ShainS -- Bury My Heart At a Texas MoMe at October 24, 2025 01:15 PM (TuuEq)

326 315 Nood NJ politics
Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at October 24, 2025 01:12 PM (guCHD)

Posted by: m at October 24, 2025 01:15 PM (RuTUS)

327 313 I've often wondered what crime is chargeable for a college basketball player who shaves points. It's unethical, immoral -- but illegal? If you live in the state where gambling is legal, what's the crime?
Posted by: JM in Illinois
======
Bribery in many states, plus with FINCEN reporting requirements on income and IRS regulations, that would be more charges.

NIL is probably going to result in similar scandals in College sports.

Posted by: whig at October 24, 2025 01:15 PM (WDjG6)

328
The WH is trolling the freakout over the East Wing with this gem:
https://is.gd/TPoHQv

Note the "major events timeline".

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at October 24, 2025 01:15 PM (w6EFb)

329 Ban all advertising for online sports books. They managed to ban tobacco advertising, didn't they?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 24, 2025 01:15 PM (8zz6B)

330 Also Hillary.

"I always had the sense that the Bush family, like mine, understood that we are all merely passing through,
____

Pass through already! Don't make us get the Metamucil.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at October 24, 2025 01:18 PM (Dv3i1)

331 If today's Karens/Scolds had lived in the 1810s, they'd have found a reason for not repairing the White House after the British burned it.
Posted by: Gref at October 24, 2025 01:03 PM (5rh/l)

Remember that there was lots of screaming when Lincoln requested funds to repair the White House in 1861
Congress was going to withhold it because they didn't like Lincoln and they didn't approve of Mary Todd Lincoln either.

Posted by: Kindltot at October 24, 2025 01:18 PM (rbvCR)

332 Shaq was asked about this and made the obvious point: "You're making nine million a year -- how much more do you need?"

--------------

"Hey man, do you have ANY idea how much it costs to take care of over 500 baby mamas and 2500 kids?"

Posted by: ShainS -- Bury My Heart At a Texas MoMe at October 24, 2025 01:19 PM (TuuEq)

333
Yep, the East Wing was basically a cover for a big bunker constructed during the FDR era, fearing possible air strikes.

The Treasury building across the street has some deep vaults way down in granite, very hardened. The "bunker" is now dubbed the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (not to be confused with the Situation Room which is under the West Wing).

Anyway, that connects with the Treasury vaults. There is probably a lot of disinfo put out about this to throw any enemies off track. There is something down there, probably substantial. There are escape tunnels and all that as well.

Who knows, this new Ballroom may itself be used to cover improvements on the secret stuff.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at October 24, 2025 01:20 PM (w6EFb)

334 Ace, did you see the White House release on the major events timeline for the building?

They really put the screws to Clinton, Obama and Biden (down at the middle of the page. *Chef's kiss*)

https://tinyurl.com/3prz9rbd

Posted by: Kindltot at October 24, 2025 01:23 PM (rbvCR)

335 Ban all advertising for online sports books. They managed to ban tobacco advertising, didn't they?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 24, 2025 01:15 PM (8zz6B)

----------------

I'm old enough to remember when ~~lawyers~~ ambulance chasers were banned from advertising (before 1977 IIRC).

I know you'll appreciate this, AOP, living down in The Phoenix Valley: virtually every interstate billboard you see now is for any of a number of ambulance chasers.

I was even stunned to see the same -- though not to the same extent -- driving back and forth between Dallas and Corsicana last weekend ...

Posted by: ShainS -- Bury My Heart At a Texas MoMe at October 24, 2025 01:25 PM (TuuEq)

336 I only bet on professional wrestling.
Posted by: Speller at October 24, 2025 12:26 PM (pSotA)

Well, it is a more honest sport.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 24, 2025 01:26 PM (8zz6B)

337 To say "you don't care" is just letting this problem grow and destroy lives, sort of like being for legalized heroine. Sure some people can take it and not have a problem, but there is a serious percentage that can't shake the problem and ruins their life.
Posted by: whatever at October 24, 2025 12:29 PM (bXloC)

Good rant! Endorse 100%

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 24, 2025 01:29 PM (8zz6B)

338 286 Greg Kihn died last year from Alzheimer's. Sounds strange for a rocker to die of that. Saw him in New Paltz , good show

Posted by: Smell the Glove at October 24, 2025 01:04 PM

They don't make bands like that anymore.

Posted by: Frank Barone at October 24, 2025 01:34 PM (IifOV)

339 "... this goes down the memory hole and everyone continues to watch these BS sports leagues like nothing happened."

Tell me about it!

Posted by: Shoeless Joe Jackson at October 24, 2025 01:35 PM (4RPgu)

340 Just getting in. The refs have to be involved judging on the crazy calls and non-calls. I gave up on pro basketball when they took away my pocket knife at the Compac Center in the 90s.

I forget what triggered that.

Posted by: DanMan at October 24, 2025 01:36 PM (8uzBS)

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