Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video on Sunday morning! In case you missed it, the replay is above this post. Be sure to join me for my next live video in the app.
Here we are with another Monday upon us and another gambling scandal.
On the heels of my Sunday newsletter, regarding the NCAA banishment of six basketball players for their alleged involvement in providing inside information to bettors, comes the indictment of two MLB pitchers on Sunday. The Department of Justice indicted Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clause and Luis Ortiz for allegedly throwing pitches outside of the strike zone to help bettors on prop bets.
What is going to happen? As I have written before, nothing! Sure, Clause and Ortiz will be given the Joe Jackson treatment, banished from the game for life. But the betting on games and prop bets will continue. And, unlike the “Shoeless” Joe Jackson days, Clause and Ortiz will sue MLB and more than likely have their banishment overturned. We do live in strange times.
Here are some other thoughts, as I marvel how the New York Giants continue to blow games:
The U.S. Marine Corps. is celebrating its 250th anniversary today. Here are some of the more notable athletes who served in the Corps: Roberto Clemente, Ted Williams, Jerry Coleman, Lee Trevino, Art Donovan, Leon Spinks, Dusty Baker, Doc Blanchard, Gene Tunney. We thank all those who served for their service.
Can we stop the agony and just fire Giants coach Brian Daboll now? He is not coming back and the evidence that this team is not well-coached was once again on full display, as the Giants blew another fourth quarter lead, this one by 10 points in losing to the Bears on Sunday, 24-20. There is a chance Daboll could be given the pink slip by the time you read this letter. Meanwhile, rookie QB Jaxson Dart, the only reason loyal Giants fans were watching their games, was pulled in the second-half after he suffered a concussion. His replacement, Russell Wilson, reminded everyone why he should have retired two seasons ago. The agony continues.
Sportico is reporting that the college basketball betting scandal is just the tip of the iceberg and that the dam is about to burst on numerous investigations. Stay tuned.
Tough day in the sports world on Sunday. R.I.P. former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who passed away Sunday at the age of 84. And R.I.P. former NBA player, coach and Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens, 88. He was the third winningest coach all-time with 1,332 wins.
After a stellar Week 9 in my Picks for Kicks, I underwent a bigger reality check than the Giants in Week 10. You may recall I stated take the Bucs give the points. I am now a total believer in the Patriots, after their convincing victory at Tampa Bay and am convinced they are good enough to engineer a deep playoff run.
When the Indianapolis Colts acquired safety Sauce Gardner from the Jets last week, he was permitted to where uniform number No. 1, his number with New York. That meant Josh Downes had to switch his uniform to No. 2. Up until this season, the NFL had a rule where players were not permitted to change uniform numbers. Several entities within the NFL pointed out to the powers-that-be, the league was losing out on big money, i.e. jersey sales, etc., by not allowing the uniform number changes. So the money-making NFL decided to abolish the numbers rule. It’s another cha-ching for the league.
That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you for your support and have a terrific Monday!
DAN
