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Donna  Mason's avatar

This within the same 24-hour period NCAA approved proposal to allow college players to bet on pro sports (what could possibly go wrong?!) and the G-League/college partnership. Once you let gambling get a foot in the door it spreads literally like a stage 4 malignancy. I love sports but this is getting more and more uncomfortable.

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Mark Castle's avatar

Exactly. Seeing all these promos for Fan Duel and Draft Kings while I'm watching games makes me cringe.

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Matt L.'s avatar
3hEdited

It appears Chauncey is accused of knowingly participating in rigged poker games that benefited a crime family (and Chauncey?) Games where unsuspecting whales were invited to play. Like a bad version of Pro-Am.

Rozier accosted of faking an injury in a game to help an outside bet 🤷

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Rhett Butler's avatar

If Chauncey knew the games were fixed and was getting a cut, he’s doing 10 years.

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Matt L.'s avatar

Yes, it will have to be proved in court. I think they will be able to trace proceeds from crime family to Billups and others. Stories I've read is crime family took winnings and converted it to crypto currencies to hide it. Wonder if Billups was paid in Bitcoin?

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Rhett Butler's avatar

I’m sure they have the evidence. They wouldn’t arrest an NBA head coach for inviting people to play poker. He’s fu****.

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Matt L.'s avatar

If so, so are a bunch of other former NBA players (and some current). This is big.

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Rhett Butler's avatar

Gilbert Arenas probably told them everything to save himself. I think said he was going to.

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A. J.'s avatar

Say…wasn’t something like what you describe a plot line from The Sopranos?

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Michael Bishop's avatar

Yes

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Brian Henley's avatar

Gambling will be taking over from opioids for our next national capital "C" crisis.

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Larry Ross's avatar

So a college athlete bets heavy and loses. Now he's a target for organized crime. Brilliant, NCAA.

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Ross VanHouten's avatar

When I saw the headline blazers coach arrested, I figured it was related to the way he coached them out of a victory last night.Because that was criminal

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Matt L.'s avatar

Blazers played defense last night like I haven’t seen in a very long time. If they willing play D that way they will be competitive this year. Remember that T-Wolves are like #4 best team in NBA right now. I thought they looked really good.

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Michael Bishop's avatar

What was the spread and who covered?

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Rhett Butler's avatar

I think the spread was 4.5, so the Blazers covered.

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Brian M's avatar

As a Wolves fan, I loved it. Ant got it done, again. That is Ant's goal: to be the go-to guy in true MJ style

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Louis Nevell's avatar

Funnnnyyyy!!!!!

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James L Morris's avatar

Don’t think it was criminal to ask one of your best shooters to make a shot. Don’t think it was criminal to think Ant might just miss again. Do think it’s criminal to pile on a coach just abused by the most criminal justice department in history.

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Louis Nevell's avatar

More criminal than the Biden DOJ? Not possible!!

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James L Morris's avatar

Ah Louis Louis…

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Louis Nevell's avatar

Think of the infamous "Russia File."

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John Self's avatar

OMG

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Rusty Hampton's avatar

Absolutely

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Andrew Manchester's avatar

LOL!

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George Cody's avatar

When things have progressed to where you can make online bets in the middle of the game based on the over/ under of individual performance - as advertised during the games - the idea of being SHOCKED, SHOCKED I tell you! - is like waking up to footage of the White House being eaten by large machinery and being stunned at the event. It's just stuff that Bill Bradley warned us about back in the old days of the late 20th Century but pushed aside by an AI that will tell you that Bill Bradley was a old-time guy from before the I-Phone.

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Ed's avatar

The Blazers continue to be a dumpster fire.

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Larry Ross's avatar

Dumpster fires are more entertaining.

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Quackservative's avatar

It’s only poker. It’s not like he is accused of gambling on NBA games. But I guess I could see a scenario where Billups is compromised if he incurred heavy losses and someone told him he could make up for it by throwing games or giving insider information on player injuries or other information.

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Matt L.'s avatar

Billups accused of helping Italian mob crime family rig private, high-stakes poker games. Chauncy and other former NBA players 'attracted' the whales to play. The winnings were likely then split between mob and former NBA players.

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George Cody's avatar

Bingo!

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David Gulickson's avatar

Not referring specifically to Chauncey, but is anyone really surprised?

Gambling has been around forever and will continue to be a thorn for many, even more so as the illegal becomes legal

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Brian M's avatar
5hEdited

MJ is one of the most famous sports gamblers of all time. He doesn't feel like he is having fun unless he has at least $100K at stake. I think gambling goes with the athletes psyche: the need to take chances and win. Winning is a drug, the adrenaline rush. Like I said above, it is sad for Chauncey.

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Tim S.'s avatar

Phil Mickelson is one of the worst out there, once lost $700K, ESPN covered up for him.

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Matt L.'s avatar

People can do whatever they want with their own money in terms of gambling, including Phil or MJ. But this is different. The accusation here is that Billups and others were participants in rigged poker games put on by the Italian-mob that bilked/cheated big $ sums out of unsuspecting players. And not only that, but these same participants then received a portion of these ill-gotten gains. Perhaps if Phil Mickelson was on the losing end, you'd feel better?

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Andrew Manchester's avatar

Nobody should be.

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Jim T's avatar

Long live the Jail Blazers!!

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Michael Bishop's avatar

Lololooolol

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Jim T's avatar

I’ve mentioned this issue on numerous occasions on this forum. This will likely will be found to have crept into college sports. There is simply too much money in play. Easy pickings for nefarious interests. Young athletes that are 18-23 are gullible and naive, easily swayed by sleazy “jock sniffers” and greasball “agents”. The cherry on top is the fact the NCAA has approved gambling by Athletic Dept. employees!!!! You now have the perfect recipe for a complete meltdown. Outrageous NIL payments to athletes and coaching salaries that are simply ridiculous have created a foul smelling mess. A perfect breeding ground for mischief. This issue will be a lethal blow to the concept of “winning for the alma mater”. I’m disgusted but not surprised. Wait until those indicted start “singing”. As Yogi said, it ain’t over ‘til its over……

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Tim S.'s avatar

Agree and last year WSU football had one loss and lost all three of their last games to sub-par teams. QB John Mateer was tip-toeing around defenders when earlier in the season (see Apple Cup) he was taking on strong UW linebackers 1-on-1. At the end of the year he was getting ankle tackled by 5-9 Wyoming DB's. Later it was found Mateer was gambling, but he was cleared. I think he was throwing games, but they'll never find out. The NCAA needs to get a grip on this now.

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Jim's avatar

You sing and either you or a member of your family is six feet under.

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Mike H's avatar

The sports world made a deal with the devil. "Look at all the money we can make from sports wagering. What could possibly go wrong?"

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Michael Bishop's avatar

Like the rookie field agent doesn’t place a wager here and there…

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Rhett Butler's avatar

He wasn’t just hosting poker games. They were using rigged shuffling machines, ex ray tables. He will likely end up in prison. Blazers should cut ties today.

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Oldforester's avatar

Love the governments timing on this for maximum effect at beginning of NBA season!

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The Real Rich's avatar

I like it, too. This has been investigated for 5 years and today's announcement is no coincidence. It was designed for maximum effect...and I like it.

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BackDoor's avatar

Better now than a few games into the season when the public would then suspect the outcome of games early this season were affected.

But, could this sting have come to fruition before the season started? That's a different question.

Sometimes the government attorneys just drag their feet trying to build (overbuild?) the best case possible.

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The Real Rich's avatar

You're right, they will do that. On the other hand, can you imagine how embarrassing this is going to be for the government if everyone is aquitted?

Talk about goat rodeos...

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RJBobby's avatar

I was looking for the words “April Fools!” but quickly realized that it’s October.

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Michael Bishop's avatar

Nice

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Hanover Phist's avatar

1) how’d you like to be the new owner today?, 2) how deep into the mob was Chauncey that he got leveraged into doing this? If he wasn’t leveraged, I mean why else would someone do this? 3) did Chauncey do anything else to work off his likely debt - like impacting games? 4)how many current or former NBA players - or other athletes - did Chauncey help scam?

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Brian Petrequin's avatar

Again I ask the question, wouldn’t Becky Hammon have been a better choice for the Blazers as a coach back when it seemed to be between her and Chauncey? Discuss!

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George Cody's avatar

Wouldn't Becky Hammon be a better choice ...end of statement?

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Brian Petrequin's avatar

Yes…and it would be a Trailblazing decision…!

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ESecPN's avatar

Hope this pushes new owner to move the team out of state.

Chauncy should have stolen legally and just been a politician.

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Louis Nevell's avatar

You sound, how to state this, almost cynical.

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The Real Rich's avatar

This should really help Portland's glittering reputation.

I'm not an NBA fan, but I do feel badly for Trail Blazers' fans...haven't they been through enough? And, Tom Dundon, the new owner, must be thrilled.

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