O’Donnell: New NBA scandal reminds of a ‘Last Dance’ night in Detroit
SEASONED GAMBLERS DREAM OF BEING THE BENEFICIARIES of “nonpublic information.”
Being “in” on a rigged event beforehand is a bandit's nirvana. Knowing that a star player will be sidelined before the news has impacted a point spread teases like manna from heaven.
These cornerstones are in focus because of the criminal charges involving three NBA functionaries, “La Cosa Nostra,” allegedly doctored prop bets and high-tech, high-stakes private poker games.
Two cases have been in play since Thursday's announcement by the government: One involves allegedly illicit NBA shenanigans. The other centers on pigeon-lure card cheating.
COMING TWO DAYS INTO the new NBA season, disclosure of the charges gave Kash Patel — the neophyte director of the FBI — quite a stage to come across as assertive and indignant.
Some Americans may ask: With all of the things that could be probed within the current United States, a pair of comparative nickel-and-dime scams command such resources and tax-funded limelight?
Patel, of course, presented the charges as nothing short of his FBI breaking a global espionage ring positioned to compromise the deepest defense secrets of the nation.
VOICING JUSTIFICATION THAT had to draw guffaws from Madison Square Garden to the back lots of Hollywood, the FBI director said that a primary reason for the investigations was, “to keep our entertainment industry fair and secure.”
What does that mean?
The Bears will be safeguarded against ever frittering away another first-round draft pick?
No more casserole-brigade spinoffs of “Sex and the City?”
No fresh movies about Bruce Springsteen attempting to immortalize one of the most dronish albums he could possibly have recorded?
GAMBLERS GAMBLE — more savvy ones don't always chase. They have suspicions. Insiders have “nonpublic information.”
“Nonpublic information” abounds every day around most of the major sports entities that American TV now salivates over.
FROM CHICAGO ARCHIVES, a memorable instance occurred deep in the sixth and final regular season of the NBA champions — the 1997-98 Last Dancers.
On a nothing weeknight in April, Phil Jackson and his Airy men were at Detroit. They were going good. The Pistons were not.
The morning line had the Bulls minus-5½.
At the hotel it became known that injury-plagued Scottie Pippen wasn't going to play. The news didn't leak until hours later, shortly after the Bulls bus unloaded at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The line dipped to 2½.
IN THE INTERVENING TIME, anyone in the Bulls traveling party could have gotten down on Detroit. That would include even a mere $500 max game bet through one of the burgeoning Caribbean-based online services such as the pioneering wsex.com of one-time Arlington Heights resident Steve Schillinger.
Recorded history at the time said none did — and that included media and team support staff.
SCOTT BURRELL STARTED in place of Pippen. The Bulls trailed 26-9 after one quarter. Michael Jordan labored through a night of 7-for-25 shooting and 19 points.
Detroit shook off a second-half Chicago rally and won 87-79.
THE POINT IS, whatever the intent of Director Patel and associates, they don't have a prayer of policing the new sports waterfront. The old one was hard enough.
For every big-money athlete going right now, there are hundred of insiders, cousins, old school chums, et al, more than willing to pounce on any nonpublic golden nugget.
THE GAMES WILL go on. The staggering TV money is guaranteed.
Sports betting “scandals” historically drop out of mainstream thought as quickly as month-old stock-market dips.
Fans desperately want to believe.
Seasoned gamblers shrug.
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Jim O'Donnell's Sports and Media column appears each week on Sunday and Wednesday. Reach him at jimodonnelldh@yahoo.com. All communications may be considered for publication.