Another A-Bomb on A-Rod?

[SandraC]

Also, allegations of out-in-the-open, illegal drug use and prostitution as well. With the prior warnings A-Rod's received this is something he definitely should have avoided

As bad (and illegal) as drug use and prostitition are, gambling is what shakes major league sports to the core. The leagues have survived and will continue to survive drug issues, prostitution issues, and countless other felonies.

But when you start talking about even the possibility of games being fixed, you get to a whole 'nother level of threat to a sport.


Sandra

 

[HD MM]

As bad (and illegal) as drug use and prostitition are, gambling is what shakes major league sports to the core. The leagues have survived and will continue to survive drug issues, prostitution issues, and countless other felonies.

But when you start talking about even the possibility of games being fixed, you get to a whole 'nother level of threat to a sport.


Sandra

What does playing poker have to do with illegal gambling on sports or fixing games? The two are on a whole different level.

That's like saying, because a person smokes cigarettes or drinks, he/she "might" also be addicted to heavy narcotics.

 

[salsadancer7]

An issues MLB has is if a professional athlete finds himself in debt to someone in the gambling world, there could be the temptation to allow a game to be fixed in order to make up the debt.

This is what leagues want to avoid.


Sandra

That is a HUGE leap. I think MLB is more pissed off at the fact that they told he to stay away an avoid this type of stuff....and he gave them the finger. A-Rod is making Jordan type money...I highly doubt any player making that kind of cash is going to get themselves into that kind of trouble with accountants and financial advisors breathing down their back basically saying, "don't do this/that" ....

...BUT, I ain't crazy enough to no say never....

 

[SandraC]

What does playing poker have to do with illegal gambling on sports or fixing games? The two are on a whole different level.

That's like saying, because a person smokes cigarettes or drinks, he/she "might" also be addicted to heavy narcotics.

Well perhaps I'm wrong, but I thought there was something illegal about what he was doing...or at least something MLB or the Yankees told him not to do. I haven't read the details, I'm relying on what I read here.


Sandra

 

[SandraC]

That is a HUGE leap. I think MLB is more pissed off at the fact that they told he to stay away an avoid this type of stuff....and he gave them the finger. A-Rod is making Jordan type money...I highly doubt any player making that kind of cash is going to get themselves into that kind of trouble with accountants and financial advisors breathing down their back basically saying, "don't do this/that" ....

...BUT, I ain't crazy enough to no say never....

You just don't know...and MLB wants to do what they can to remove even a remote possibility.


Sandra

 

[HD MM]

Well perhaps I'm wrong, but I thought there was something illegal about what he was doing...or at least something MLB or the Yankees told him not to do. I haven't read the details, I'm relying on what I read here.


Sandra

Playing poker with friends for money in your own free time is illegal? If so, I'm sure a lot of people are breaking the law, not just A-Rod.

I still don't get the correlation between poker and fixing games that everyone is trying to make. Seems like a HUGE STRETCH to me.

#commonsense

 

[HD MM]

You just don't know...and MLB wants to do what they can to remove even a remote possibility.


Sandra

"remote possibility"?! If the MLB is that paranoid that playing poker can lead to fixing games, why don't the ban the following as well..

-Tobacco. It could lead to other drug use. HGH and steroids are drugs too.

-Sex. You never know. Humping your wife or girlfriend might lead to desiring more from a hooker.

-Watching Jersey Shore. It might turn you into a bar brawling idiotic drunk.

Do you see where I'm going? It's a huge stretch to start making drastic correlations and sensationalized assumptions like this.

 

[SandraC]

Playing poker with friends for money in your own free time is illegal? If so, I'm sure a lot of people are breaking the law, not just A-Rod.

I still don't get the correlation between poker and fixing games that everyone is trying to make. Seems like a HUGE STRETCH to me.

I don't know. All I know is the headline said MLB is investigating whether A-Rod participated in illegal poker games. I don't know the level of A-Rod's involvement...and apparently MLB doesn't either, which is why they're investigating.

If it turns out to be what you said, perhaps it will be 'no harm no foul'. But if it goes beyond what you said...


Sandra

 

[SandraC]

"remote possibility"?! If the MLB is that paranoid that playing poker can lead to fixing games, why don't the ban the following as well..

-Tobacco. It could lead to other drug use. HGH and steroids are drugs too.

-Sex. You never know. Humping your wife or girlfriend might lead to desiring more from a hooker.

-Watching Jersey Shore. It might turn you into a bar brawling idiotic drunk.

Do you see where I'm going? It's a huge stretch to start making drastic correlations and sensationalized assumptions like this.

MLB is just doing their due diligence. That is all.

If it ever did turn out the A-Rod was dealing with undesirables, people would say it's all Selig's fault that he didn't at least take a look at the situation when it first came up back in August 2011.

The tobacco, sex and other issues are irrelevant to gambling.


Sandra

 

[salsadancer7]

You just don't know...and MLB wants to do what they can to remove even a remote possibility.


Sandra

I agree with you completely. After Pete Rose and the that ref in the NBA, EVERY professional league is soiling their pants. But I just think it is too much of a leap.

 

[cosmo_kramer]

On the other hand, you don't need a refresher course on Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe to understand why baseball gets nervous whenever ballplayers bet. Illegal gambling often attracts an unsavory element, often leaves even its wealthy participants in debt, and often inspires the stories of drugs and threatened violence over winnings and losses that colored this latest A-Rod report.

If A-Rod needed a poker fix, we've got a couple large Indian casinos in CT that aren't too far away from NY and could satisfy him. It must be more than just poker then...

New York Yankees bet Alex Rodriguez would be worth off-field trouble. Were they right? - ESPN New York

 

[DodgerKing]

An issues MLB has is if a professional athlete finds himself in debt to someone in the gambling world, there could be the temptation to allow a game to be fixed in order to make up the debt.

This is what leagues want to avoid.


Sandra

Please. If...then...

By that logic they can justify being involved in any aspect of one's life. There is no evidence or accusations of anything involving baseball itself, so baseball does not need to get involved.

 

[SandraC]

I agree with you completely. After Pete Rose and the that ref in the NBA, EVERY professional league is soiling their pants. But I just think it is too much of a leap.

Exactly. Do I think a probe is going to reveal that A-Rod has been dealing with the same type of people Donaghy was dealing with? No...at least I hope not.

Do I think Selig is doing the right thing in looking deeper into this? Yes.

A-Rod may be able to afford losses in the hundreds of thousands without batting an eyelash, but there are a LOT of players in baseball who could get themselves into trouble with losses like that...big trouble...the kind of trouble that is difficult to get out from under.

At the absolute minimum it lets every player in the league know that if they deal with gamblers, MLB will come calling for a look-see.


Sandra

 

[DodgerKing]

Also, allegations of out-in-the-open, illegal drug use and prostitution as well. With the prior warnings A-Rod's received this is something he definitely should have avoided

Was A-Rod one of those accused of doing drugs? According to the article he was not. Plus MLB has drug testing anyway.

Don't get me started on prostitution, something else MLB and the government should have no business in. Two consenting adults engaging in a consenting activity with their own body should also be nobody else's business.

 

[DodgerKing]

As bad (and illegal) as drug use and prostitition are, gambling is what shakes major league sports to the core. The leagues have survived and will continue to survive drug issues, prostitution issues, and countless other felonies.

But when you start talking about even the possibility of games being fixed, you get to a whole 'nother level of threat to a sport.


Sandra

Him using his own money in a poker game outside of baseball has absolutely nothing to do with fixing a game.

 

[HD MM]

Exactly. Do I think a probe is going to reveal that A-Rod has been dealing with the same type of people Donaghy was dealing with? No...at least I hope not.

Do I think Selig is doing the right thing in looking deeper into this? Yes.

A-Rod may be able to afford losses in the hundreds of thousands without batting an eyelash, but there are a LOT of players in baseball who could get themselves into trouble with losses like that...big trouble...the kind of trouble that is difficult to get out from under.

At the absolute minimum it lets every player in the league know that if they deal with gamblers, MLB will come calling for a look-see.


Sandra

Well, they might as well look into players that chew tobacco then, too. If poker "might" lead to fixing games, because it all falls under "gambling", then that theory is the same as tobacco might be leading to steroids. After all, tobacco and 'roids all fall under the "drug" category.

 

[DodgerKing]

Well perhaps I'm wrong, but I thought there was something illegal about what he was doing...or at least something MLB or the Yankees told him not to do. I haven't read the details, I'm relying on what I read here.


Sandra

The only reason it is illegal is because it involved a lot of money and was not regulated. You know, the whole IRS wants their share as well type of regulation.

 

[SandraC]

Well, they might as well look into players that chew tobacco then, too. If poker "might" lead to fixing games, because it all falls under "gambling", then that theory is the same as tobacco might be leading to steroids. After all, tobacco and 'roids all fall under the "drug" category.

Ok this goes back to the original point. Tobacco, prostitution, and most other felonies are in a differnt category from gambling. All sports have and will continue to survive all those things. Heck, some people even like the idea of rooting for their 'bad boys'.

But gambling is a different animal. Game fixing can ruin the sport.

Look no further than the fact that MLB allows Mark McGwire to coach, and Pete Rose has been excommunicated.


Sandra

 

[DodgerKing]

I see your point as to why they may be concerned. I just do not agree with MLB and believe they are overreacting.

 

[salsadancer7]

If A-Rod needed a poker fix, we've got a couple large Indian casinos in CT that aren't too far away from NY and could satisfy him. It must be more than just poker then...

New York Yankees bet Alex Rodriguez would be worth off-field trouble. Were they right? - ESPN New York

But the main issue A-Rod and most of the celebrities have is the privacy issue. That is why Collin Heard stated Gabe Kaplin(of "Welcome back Kotter" fame) has these or attend these all the time.