famous aggravator Rudy Gobert I pissed off another group on Friday night. wake up It's not newsworthy in itself, but it's something the Frenchman did to acquire some interesting skills. In the final minutes of Cleveland's game against Minnesota, with his team leading by one point, the Timberwolves center was whistled for his sixth foul and made Johnny Manziel's famous money sign to the referee as he was sent off the floor.
Darius Garland cashed in the giveaway and sent the game to overtime, but the T-Wolves lost 16-7, 113-104. Gobert's team was already short-staffed, and the game was the second of a series, and Gobert later admitted his mistake, but said the act was genuine.
„I think my reaction is the truth. It's something I truly believe. Even if it were true, it wasn't the time for me to react that way.“ Gobert said afterward:. „I shouldn't have done that. I cost the team a game and obviously they couldn't wait to give me the technique. That was no good. That was immature. It was a reaction.”
Asked to clarify its position, the 2011 center cited the legalization of sports betting in the United States.
“I’ll bite the bullet again.” Gobert said. „I'll be the bad guy. I'll pay the fine, but I think it's going to have a negative effect on our game. I know the stakes and everything is getting bigger and bigger, but it shouldn't feel that way.
„I made some mistakes. I got a dunk on an air ball. Mistakes happen. Umpires make mistakes, too. But sometimes you think it's more than just a mistake. If you're in this league, I think everyone knows this: I think we have to get better.”
Let's hope NBA commissioner Adam Silver is willing to fine him. Because this is the same league that had to fire a referee for doing exactly what Gobert suggested last night. Tim Donaghy, Tim Donaghy, Tim Donaghy. Sorry, he wrote at 3x speed so I could safely mention his name.
It is only a matter of time before another match-fixing scandal occurs. Just this week, more details about the matter emerged. Team employee who embezzled $22 million from Jacksonville Jaguars. Amit Patel's actions had nothing to do with the integrity of the game, but his lawyer said „99 per cent“ of the stolen funds were used to fuel his client's gambling addiction. .
The paper trail that exists due to sports betting apps requires more oversight from sports franchises and college programs. Leagues and franchises need to know whether their team's employees have gambling debts in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, and the same goes for the companies these leagues do business with. So, Sir, Patel was gambling with Jags' company credit card. That should have triggered some flag.
I don't want to further virtue signal, nor do I need to, so I won't. Ever since sportsbooks became legal and more accessible across America, we've seen an increase in incredibly stupid behavior by coaches, players, and gambling addicts. While there are no new circumstances for Donaghy, it's worth mentioning that the former NBA referee admitted to a gambling problem in a subsequent trial, which led to a 15-month prison sentence.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but Rudy Gobert is right. No one should ever feel that betting is having a negative impact on sports, but that feeling is growing.