April 17, 2024

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The NBA handed down a doozy of a penalty on Wednesday, banning a player for life over his betting behaviors—and it all felt a bit inevitable. … Jontay Porter’s case is similar to several others across pro sports in the many years prior to widespread legalization. … The A’s hit another low at the Oakland Coliseum. … Plus: More on Travis Kielce, Adidas, Nike, and the Chiefs and Royals.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]] and David Rumsey [[link removed]]

NBA’s Lifetime Ban Highlights Surge in Gambling-Related Incidents [[link removed]]

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

In the nearly six years since the broad legalization of sports betting in the U.S., it was almost inevitable that a lifetime suspension like the one handed down [[link removed]] by the NBA on Raptors center Jontay Porter (above) would eventually happen.

The last two years in particular have seen both a rising number of threats across sports, domestically and abroad, as well as a rising number of player suspensions across many major sports leagues. Sports data company Sportradar put a finer point on the rising threat, when it said recently that suspected match fixing remains a concerning issue around the world, and that it is increasingly using [[link removed]] artificial intelligence to detect fraud.

Among the recent flash points in what remains a rising tide of gambling-related infractions:

The recent federal bank fraud charges levied [[link removed]] upon Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, marking a manifestation of a serious sports betting addiction that left Mizuhara more than $40 million in debt. Suspensions of 10 NFL players last year for various gambling-related infractions, highlighted by season-long bans for a trio [[link removed]] of Colts players, and following a similar season-long penalty for Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley in 2022. That spate of violations prompted the NFL to heighten [[link removed]] its gambling penalty and enforcement structure, with specific rules also in place [[link removed]] for this February’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas. The NHL’s suspension [[link removed]] last fall of Senators forward Shane Pinto for half a season for “activities related to sports wagering.” Former Jaguars employee Amit Patel was sentenced [[link removed]] to six-plus years in prison for embezzling more than $22 million from the NFL team, and he said he has been struggling with a serious gambling addiction. Even without a specific penalty involved, there have been several other concerning signs [[link removed]], including J.B. Bickerstaff, coach of the NBA Cavaliers, saying he and his family have been threatened by gamblers, and Pacers star Tyrese Halliburton saying he feels like a “prop” and that his social media has been dominated by gambling chatter. Challenging Backdrop

These incidents arrive as sports betting overall continues to soar to unprecedented heights, reaching record levels [[link removed]] of revenue and total handle in 2023. As nearly every major sports league has built an extensive portfolio of gambling-related business relationships—sparking accusations of hypocrisy among some fans—those leagues have also sought to create a bright line marking what is and isn’t permissible for players. To that end, NBA commissioner Adam Silver called Porter’s conduct a “cardinal sin” [[link removed]] threatening the integrity of the league.

The Porter lifetime ban shows both the powerful allure of sports betting, even for a highly paid NBA player, and the need for constant enforcement vigilance. Perhaps ironically, Silver was the first among his peers to call nearly a decade ago for widespread legalization and regulation of sports betting. And now he again sits in a history-making place.

Lifetime Bans: From the Black Sox to Pete Rose

Tony Tomsic-USA TODAY NETWORK

A professional league banning an athletes for life as punishment for a gambling-related offense is not that common—in fact, it hasn’t happened in decades. Here’s a brief history:

Major League Baseball

Pete Rose: Charlie Hustle bet on baseball games while playing for and managing the Reds before receiving a ban in 1989. Black Sox: Eight players, including “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, were banned in 1921 after taking part in the infamous scandal around the 1919 World Series. National Football League Frank Filchock and Merle Hapes: The Giants quarterback and running back were accused of accepting bribes ahead of the 1946 NFL championship game. Filchock was later reinstated but never played again. National Basketball Association Roger Brown and Tony Jackson: The players were involved in the widespread 1961 college basketball point shaving scandal [[link removed]] before they even turned pro.

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The A’s Have Major League Problems With Minor League-Level Attendance [[link removed]]

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The A’s hit yet another low point with attendance at the Coliseum, presenting a sign of further challenges likely arriving for the club.

The team drew a season-low 3,296 on Tuesday for its 3-2 loss to the Cardinals. Midweek games early in the season are often a challenge for any baseball team, and indeed, the A’s had seven crowds smaller than this in 2023, all but one of those happening on weekdays in April and May.

But with the A’s now officially headed [[link removed]] to Sacramento after this season, on the way toward an eventual and permanent relocation [[link removed]] to Las Vegas, the latest total offers additional proof of how far down the local affinity for the A’s has fallen. With the team now having severed any lasting tie to Oakland, there is little reason to expect a dramatic turnaround in the team’s upcoming crowds.

The Oakland Coliseum attendance Tuesday was smaller than:

The draw at 12 of 15 Triple-A games yesterday The attendance at four Double-A games The turnout at three High-A and Single-A games

For the season to date, Oakland’s attendance average of 5,968 is just 40% of the figure for the next-lowest MLB team, the Marlins at 14,766 per game. The average for the A’s is down by nearly half from a comparable point last year.

Popcorn Threats

As there are far fewer people attending A’s games at the Coliseum, team concessionaire Aramark is levying a new warning to stadium workers regarding speaking publicly about team and company business. Some Coliseum stadium and concessions workers are facing layoffs [[link removed]] in the wake of the impending move to Sacramento for the 2025–27 seasons.

A letter to workers obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle [[link removed]] said, “it is against Aramark’s business conduct policy to speak to the government, media, or press on behalf of the company, and/or comment on Aramark/client business matters. This includes reporters, written responses, phone calls, video calls, social media, and any other forms of communication,” adding that “violations of this policy are subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.”

STATUS REPORT Two Up, Two Down

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Travis Kelce ⬆ The Chiefs’ star tight end is set to host a new game show on Amazon Prime Video called Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? If you couldn’t tell, the series, which has an order for 20 episodes, is a spinoff of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? No premiere date has been announced.

Adidas ⬆ The German footwear and sports apparel brand has raised [[link removed]] its full-year outlook after a better-than-expected first quarter, thanks in part to strong sales of the remainder of its Yeezy collection.

Nike ⬇ It’s a double whammy for the Swoosh. Fanatics is blaming [[link removed]] the company’s manufacturing times for not being able to sell more jerseys of new Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark until August. And that comes just after Nike and Team USA athletes have had to defend [[link removed]] the controversial design of track and field uniforms for this summer’s Olympics.

Chiefs, Royals ⬇ Efforts made by the Kansas City teams to secure stadium funding from voters in Jackson County, Mo., will end up costing the franchises at least $5.7 million in unsuccessful campaigning, according to The Kansas City Star [[link removed]].

FUTURE OF SPORTS

🌎 Day! The Future Is Green

In recognition of Earth Day, we’ll be hosting conversations with a lineup of visionaries committed to eco-friendly initiatives and investments across the sports landscape.

Find out why green sports venues are one of the hottest trends in real estate, how sustainable efforts drive revenue and sponsorships, and learn insider details on motor sports’ zero-carbon future. The relationship between sports and environmental responsibility is stronger than ever.

Whether you’re looking to be entertained and inspired by success stories, learn about innovative green solutions, or gather insights on the economic benefits of adopting green practices in sports, Future of Sports: Sustainability has something for everyone. Join us [[link removed]] Monday, April 22 at 1 p.m. ET.

Conversation Starters Noah Eagle will serve as NBC’s play-by-play announcer [[link removed]] for the U.S. men’s and women’s basketball games during the Paris Olympics. The red-carpet treatment: Caitlin Clark received a warm welcome from both the Indiana Fever and Pacers staff at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during her first day at the teams’ facilities. Watch here [[link removed]]. More than 12,300 athletes have already opted in [[link removed]] to EA’s College Football 25 video game, with players having until the end of April to make their decision. Editors’ Picks Warriors Missing Playoffs Has Big-Money Consequences [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]The NBA is losing one of its biggest postseason draws. Even Joe Biden Is Surprised by Caitlin Clark Making $76K [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]The president posted Tuesday night about pay disparities in sports. Mythical Knicks Pitch to LeBron James With ‘Sopranos,’ Trump, Weinstein Leaks 14 Years Later [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]Video shows Tony and Carmela Soprano recruiting LeBron James to the Knicks. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Sports Careers [[link removed]] Written by Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Adam Duerson [[link removed]]

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