Gambling Anyone?

I must admit that I find the DraftKings commercial with comedian Kevin Hart and NBA basketball star LeBron James incredibly funny. In the commercial, LeBron James exclaims that he just received an NFL offer (actually a DraftKings bonus bet offer) and Kevin Hart proceeds to roast him with comments like: “NFL teams want someone who can run a 40 not someone who is 40; when the coach calls your number you will say G56 Bingo; and you will celebrate a win by passing out butterscotch candy.”

While the Kevin Hart/Lebron James commercial is lighthearted and funny, a dark side to gambling and sports is quickly rearing its ugly head. In recent weeks former University of Louisville and Miami Heat NBA veteran Terry Rozier and Portland Trailblazer coach Chauncey Billups were arrested for alleged illegal gambling activity. In Rozier’s case, it was sharing inside information regarding lineup changes and advance notice on when Rozier would leave an upcoming game early due to “injury”. In Billups case, his star appeal was used to attract wealthy gamblers to participate in criminal syndicate rigged high stakes poker games with Billups getting a “cut” from the millions swindled from the unsuspecting players.

In professional baseball, Cleveland Guardian pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis L. Ortiz have both been arrested on federal gambling charges for conspiring with gamblers on “prop bets” by agreeing in advance on when specific pitches would be thrown in a particular game which the gamblers would place bets and win.

In college football, Brian S. Mandel was arrested for threatening UL Head Football Coach Jeff Brohm and his family and UL Quarterback Miller Moss following UL’s unanticipated loss to the University of California on November 8.

So why am I relating these stories in today’s blog? You see, the ramifications of professional gambling for professional sports and college sports does not end with the humorous Kevin Hart/LeBron James Draft Kings commercial. Professional sports leagues have suffered the natural consequence for their very lucrative partnership with professional gambling. While college sports do not permit colleges, players, and coaches from having business relationships with professional gambling sites, disappointed gamblers continue to threaten coaches and players when game outcomes do not result as anticipated.

Today, there is real concern in the C-Suites of professional sports regarding the influence and impact of gambling on the reputation and integrity of games. While this concern is valid, the reason for the concern should come as no surprise to anyone. The financial allure of business affiliation with professional gambling was just too great a temptation for professional sports and the detrimental consequences for this affiliation has been enormous. But this is no new revelation under the sun. God has made it clear in Scripture that, from the very beginning with the serpent’s temptation of Eve in Genesis 3:4-7, sin can be attractive and enticing but the negative ramifications for succumbing to this temptation can be many times worse. It’s a shame professional sports is finding this out the hard way.

God bless you and thank you for the privilege of your time in reading my blog.