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“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive.”
Sir Walter Scott was referring to a love triangle in his 1808 narrative poem Marmion: A Tale of Flodden Field, but his famous words ring just as true today when it comes to the relationship between sports and gambling.
I’ve written many times about how uncomfortable I am with the infiltration of betting ads and propaganda into the games we love. When the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Ron MacLean are shilling the latest odds and apps, we’ve truly jumped the shark.
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It’s not just that these ads are being force-fed to fans seemingly every commercial break and even during broadcasts — I especially worry about the effect on young, impressionable viewers — but also the dangerous implications for the integrity of competition.
With each passing day, the waters grow murkier.
We’ve already seen several cases in recent years of athletes, both professional and collegiate, being linked to illegal enterprises and even game-fixing, which is the ultimate sin.
In Major League Baseball, a pair of Cleveland Guardians pitchers were placed on leave earlier this year as part of an ongoing gambling investigation, amid suggestions they may have deliberately sabotaged their own performances. Several minor-leaguers, and even a big-league umpire, have been sanctioned in separate cases as well.
And who could forget the whole Shohei Ohtani mess with his interpreter?
In the NHL, Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto was suspended 41 games for violating league policy by placing so-called proxy bets through friends in the United States.
In the NFL, more than a dozen players have been flagged and handed suspensions of varying lengths.
College sports haven’t been immune either, with incidents surfacing in basketball, football, and swimming.
Like clockwork, each time one of these cases comes to light, people — myself included — predict it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Well, folks, the sports world may have just hit a Titanic-sized obstacle.
Earlier today, word broke that the U.S. federal government has secured indictments for more than 30 people in connection with a gambling investigation largely centered around the NBA.
Among those arrested: Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 22, in Portland, Ore. (Jenny Kane / The Associated Press files)
Details are still emerging, but there are alleged ties to organized crime, including the mafia, through an illegal poker operation, and connections to several high-profile U.S. crime families.
Perhaps most troubling, there are claims that Rozier deliberately tanked his performance in a game, faking an injury to make an early exit so large bets on his “under” totals would cash in.
Of course, that means those who bet the “over” were effectively robbed.
Talk about a slippery — and slimy — slope.
Oh, the irony: several reports about this NBA case aired on networks practically dripping with gambling ads and sponsorships. One social media screenshot even showed the ESPN BET Sportsbook logo prominently displayed right beside the “breaking news” alert on the arrests.
It’s also worth noting that the NBA has a very lucrative partnership with FanDuel, a popular online gaming site.
I’d love to believe this sordid affair will mark a turning point. Instead, it looks more like a slightly bigger iceberg than we’ve seen before, with many more lurking on the horizon.
Wanna bet?
World Series prediction
Toronto Blue Jays grounds crew members Coleton Miller, centre, and Jake Matthew, right, work on the World Series logo during a baseball media day Oct. 23 in Toronto. The Toronto Blue Jays face the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 on Friday. (David J. Phillip / The Associated Press files)
My heart, of course, says the Toronto Blue Jays. I couldn’t be happier to see them back in the World Series for the first time since 1993, when I was just 18 and they were my second-favourite team (the Montreal Expos held the top spot, until they were ripped away. As an aside, go check out the new Netflix documentary about their demise. It’s terrific).
My head, unfortunately, says the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are a baseball Goliath, boasting a monster payroll and a roster stacked with future Hall of Famers.
That said, I’m siding with my heart on this one: Blue Jays in seven epic games. And no, I will not be wagering on that outcome.
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