GAMBLING ISSUES

BY MIKE RIFKIN

On Monday it was announced that Texas Tech Quarterback Brendan Sorsby, the top quarterback transfer this season is entering a gambling addiction program. According to ESPN Sorsby’s decision comes in the wake of the discovery that he made thousands of online bets on multiple Apps. The NCAA is looking into the matter, which could jeopardize Sorsby’s future with Texas Tech as the NCAA doesn’t allow betting on any sports college or professional. While we do hope Sorsby gets the help, there’s another matter at hand and that is that all of these leagues have gotten themselves caught up with all of the gamblings apps (none are sponsors) that it’s having an impact on players. 

For Sorsby, there’s a good chance he would have been a first round pick in the 2027 NFL draft. In the NFL Jameson Williams, Calvin Ridley and others have been suspended for gambling. In Baseball we can talk about the Shohei Ohtani case or what’s going on with Emmanuel Clase of the Guardians. In Basketball Terry Rozier and the case of Chauncey Billups, both are ongoing.There’s also Jontay Porter, who got saw his career end betting on himself. 

Since these leagues have gone into business with these apps, there’s been nothing but trouble. Now, while these commissioners and owners may like the money flowing in from these deals, it’s been a problem for the athletes themselves (or in the Ohtani case an interpreter). I’m not sure if there needs to be more severe discipline? But, it’s not working and now these people are having their lives ruined to a degree, is it their own fault? Sure, they made the decisions, but when you watch a game and every other commercial is a gambling advertisement, they get sucked into it. Yes, the leagues can come down with a more harsh punishment, but that’s not my issue, it might be time for the leagues to abandon these deals. (Again these apps are not a sponsor) People are ruining their careers, yes, it’s partly their own doing but at the same time the leagues have to share some responsibility too, if a higher up in one of the leagues gets caught gambling do they feel the same pressure? No, probably not, this is just a simple case of greed and the players, who definitely deserve blame get the bigger punishment.