January 1, Sports Gambling Scandals Rattle Pro Leagues

Wyatt’s Take

• Gambling scandals in sports are growing, with big names involved.
• NBA figures are facing crime charges tied to betting schemes.
• The Department of Justice is cracking down on illegal activity involving players and coaches.

Major athletes and coaches have come under fire as gambling problems take hold in pro sports. The stakes keep getting higher, and this year’s scandals left fans shaken.

In 2023, NFL players faced suspensions for breaking gambling rules. The trouble spread to college athletes at Iowa and Iowa State. Later, Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter was caught by the FBI for stealing from Ohtani to pay gambling debts.

NBA player Jontay Porter was banned for good after being caught leaving games early, helping others win large wagers against him.

This year, the FBI turned its focus to high-profile cases. Three NBA insiders, Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups, and Damon Jones, were arrested and charged in a scheme with mafia ties. They’re accused of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering.

The NBA put Rozier on leave after reports revealed he played under ten minutes for the Hornets in 2023. According to the authorities, Rozier tipped off a childhood friend about his plan to leave the game early, so bets could be placed and winnings collected on his “under” performance. The pair counted their cash a week later.

Billups and Jones were accused of helping rig poker games, acting as “face cards” for criminal teams. Victims lost over $7 million in this operation stretching back to 2019.

The DOJ also investigated a 2023 game between the Blazers and Bulls. A coach, matching Billups’ career timeline, allegedly leaked information about key players sitting out—leading to big bets being placed before it became public knowledge.

Jones is accused of telling someone about a star Lakers player missing a game before that news broke, encouraging a large bet on the opponent’s victory. Reports say the player was LeBron James, out with an ankle injury after a historic performance.

This level of corruption strikes at the heart of what fans value: fair play and honest effort. As these stories pile up, everyday folks are left wondering if the games they love are still on the level.

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Wyatt Matters

These scandals remind us how important honesty and trust are to the traditions we care about. When billion-dollar games go crooked, it’s the hardworking fans who pay the price, wondering if what they’re seeing is real. Standing up for integrity is something Middle America has always understood and demanded.