
Loading summary
Amy Robot
This is an iHeart podcast. Ah, come on. Why is this taking so long? This thing is ancient.
TJ Holmes
Still using yesterday's tech Upgrade to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultra Light, ultra powerful and built for serious productivity. With Intel Core Ultra processors, blazing speed and AI powered performance, it keeps up with your business, not the other way around. Whoa.
Amy Robot
This thing moves.
TJ Holmes
Stop hitting snooze on new tech. Win the tech search@lenovo.com Lenovo Lenovo Unlock AI experience experiences with the ThinkPad X1 carbon powered by Intel Core Ultra processors so you can work, create and boost productivity all on one device. Hey, audiobook lovers. I'm Kal Penn. I'm Ed Helms. Ed and I are inviting you to join the best sounding book club you've ever heard with our new podcast, Irsay The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. Each week we sit down with your favorite iHeart podcast hosts and some very special guests to discuss the latest and greatest audiobooks from Aud. Listen to Earsay on America's number one podcast network, iHeart. Follow Earsay and start listening on the free iHeartradio app.
Amy Robot
Today a GLP1 helped you lose weight, but now you're noticing unwanted facial changes.
TJ Holmes
Yeah, the weight came off, but facial volume loss and dull sagging skin are making you look older. That's where the next phase of your weight loss journey comes in.
Amy Robot
There's before weight loss, after after weight loss, and then the after after.
TJ Holmes
Yeah, help restore and refresh your facial skin and reclaim your natural looking youthful glow.
Amy Robot
To learn more, visit faceafterweightloss.com that's faceafterweightloss.com.
TJ Holmes
Does anything go better than Lego and Star Wars? I don't think so. Kids will love becoming a part of the galactic action while playing out their favorite adventures. Like with Jango Fett Starship. I mean, this Lego set is fantastic. It features a detailed recreation of Jango Fett's Starship with four stud shooters, a seismic charge dropping function and wings that rotate with gravity. Plus it has three Jango Fett with two blasters and a jetpack. Young Boba Fett and Llama Su. Perfect for endless play. Now for the big fans, there's Jango Fett's Firespray class Starship from the Ultimate Collector series. Packed with details and surprises for fans, this large scale set is perfect for anyone hunting for a mindful building escape. Plus, you end up with a fantastic display piece. You can build this while your little ones build the kid set. You'll be like Jango and Boba building an adventure shop now for Star wars lego sets on lego.com or in lego retail stores. This is Reshawn McDonald from Money Making Conversations Masterclass. Every business starts with an idea. How can you go from daydreamer to industry leader? Amazon Business accelerates your journey with smart business buying. Get everything you need to grow in one familiar place. From office supplies to IT essentials and maintenance tools. Amazon Business takes the buying experience you know and love from Amazon Plus Tools to help you save costs and make insights based decisions. Ready to bring your visions to life. Learn how at Amazon Business. Hey there folks. It is Thursday, October 23rd and we just spent 45 minutes repeatedly screaming at the TV say what now? Because we just watched a press conference in which they announced historic indictments involving the mob, money, illegal gambling, current and former NBA players and one current head coach in the NBA. And with that folks, welcome to this episode of Amy and tj. We got a breaking news alert that something was coming. This was before the press conference, then the press conference started and we said holy hell, is this for real?
Amy Robot
Well, full disclosure here. You read the initial headline about NBA players and gambling and I kind of glazed over and I just was, well I guess that's a story. Didn't seem like anything that I would be interested in until the press conference started and then it was as if I was watching a Hollywood movie, which I know everyone is saying, but truly there's no other way to describe the information that came out, the people who were involved and the amount of law enforcement, intra agencies all standing collectively together to announce this truly shocking, historic, I don't want to say arrest, arrests, what 30 plus 34 was the last count I heard, but they said and counting potentially yes folks.
TJ Holmes
So we are talking about them now breaking up a years long scheme in which gambling is involved and essentially bilking players out of what they say are millions and millions of dollars. So we, what are we talking about here? Yes, Cash Patel, you had the New York Police Department commissioner as a part of this, U.S. attorneys involved. There were so many agencies standing up there to make the announcement of two cases in which wire fraud, money laundering, extortion, robbery, illegal gambling among some of the charges. They say this happened in nine states in the early morning hours with coordination of all of these hundreds of agents and they went and arrested 30 plus defendants and among them an NBA hall of Famer and current NBA coach, Chauncey Billups, current coach of the Portland Trailblazers, former players involved and one current member of the Miami Heat and ropes these look, this is all kind of loosely connected, but also. Not really. But they announced essentially two major cases today. Two major operations, two different indictments.
Amy Robot
And yet they were. It was interesting how connected they were. But, yes, two separate cases. One was called Operation Nothing But Bet.
TJ Holmes
How you like that?
Amy Robot
Playing off of Nothing But Net.
TJ Holmes
You like it?
Amy Robot
Fine. It's for. For FBI agents, I guess that's a good one. But that was the operation on illegal betting on NBA games, using insider information, notably. I'm still learning some of the lingo here, but this is actually called betting.
TJ Holmes
Yes, you are familiar with it from Super Bowl. Probably the only time you start thinking about prop bets. What we're talking about is not just betting on who wins or who loses the game, but all the side bets, Right. How long is the national anthem? That's a prop bet at the Super Bowl. How many yards will this player, the quarterback put up or how many points.
Amy Robot
Will a player score?
TJ Holmes
So people love betting prop bets because you essentially say, all right, the prop is 20. He's going to score 20. I'll take the under or I'll take the over. So, yeah, it's a fun, kind of an easy way to do your gambling without necessarily being hardcore. And this is prime for cheating because if you can get somebody, a player to, you know, fake an injury, do a little something.
Amy Robot
Funny you should mention that because that is the allegation and the charge against current Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier. He was arrested this morning in Orlando, I believe, where he had been playing, correct?
TJ Holmes
Well, he had a game last night. He dressed but did not play. Coach's decision, they say. So who knows if they saw something like this coming. Do you like the other name of the other operation better?
Amy Robot
Yeah, the other operation is called Operation Royal Flush. And this was about an underground rigged. I mean, when you hear about how they rigged this game or how authorities say they rigged this game, it is jaw dropping. But apparently there were members of the mob rigging illegal poker games. And so they were operated by La Cosa Nostra, our thing, Sicilian Mafia here in America. Four of the five families are implicated in this, but notably so is hall of Famer, as you mentioned, and current coach called Mr. Big Shot.
TJ Holmes
Chauncey Phillips has a long and storied history, but he is a Hall of Famer, just went to the hall of Fame last year. Actually, the folks arrested here, you mentioned the crime families, I think it came maybe a surprise to some people that these folks are still up and running, right. And still operating.
Amy Robot
I thought these were families of Legend past and not currently operating and flourishing, so to speak. It seems like something that you again just watch in a movie or read in a crime novel, but not something that's currently going on. But yeah, when they start naming family names like Gambino, Lucchese, Genovese, Bonanno, all of those names, those family names, those Italian names connected to the mafia are all should be pretty familiar to most people.
TJ Holmes
Gambina was probably the most famous out there given. I mean John Gotti was the head of that family for a while. But just a. I mean this is a classic, historic, I mean storied family. And to think that they are still in ball. So yes folks, we're talking about those mob families are alleged to have been in bed with some current former NBA players and a current NBA choke coach to bilk folks out of possibly millions of dollars. So all of this happened in the early morning hours, these arrests. They were able to keep this quiet, which is fair, fairly impressive given that they have hundreds of agents and agencies. Several agencies involved. So Chauncey Billups, you didn't know the name initially, I don't think. I don't know if you would know the face when you first saw it. But we can't really overstate how big of a deal and big of a career he has had in the NBA.
Amy Robot
You'd be able to obviously give that perspective that I could not. But I know that he's the current coach of the Portland Trailblazers. But when I started reading about who this guy was, I mean, yes, he was called Mr. Big Shot for a reason.
TJ Holmes
Yes. 17 years. You hear anybody played 17 years in the NBA, they obviously were pretty good. But he won a championship with the Pistons in 2004. He stopped that team. Stopped what they thought was going to be a three peat by Kobe and Shaq.
Amy Robot
Oh wow.
TJ Holmes
With the Lakers. Yes. So they win this. He was the MVP of the finals. That lets you know on the biggest stage he shows up. He was an NBA all star. Five time NBA all star. Look, his jersey is retired in Detroit and he is a Hall of Famer. Just went into the hall of Fame last year and he, yes, is the current coach of the Portland Trailblazers who started their seat. The NBA season just kicked off, had two glorious nights of games.
Amy Robot
I saw a picture from him last night. Correct. They lost to the Minnesota. I'm so bad. Vikings. I'm terrible with. No, that's wrong.
TJ Holmes
Timber Timberwolves.
Amy Robot
I knew this sport.
TJ Holmes
It's fine.
Amy Robot
But college football is not my jam. I Knew I was going to get it wrong.
TJ Holmes
But the Vikings are a real team. So that's fine. It's wrong sport but the same city. It's fine.
Amy Robot
But yes, when you start to see he was on the court last night seemingly unsuspecting of what was going that the loss was the least thing he should be worried about. This morning when he woke up, yes, to find himself under arrest. He along with Terry Bogier and Damon Jones, we have to talk about him to all have hearings this afternoon.
TJ Holmes
So yes, we are going to hear something. Probably not necessarily much but going to be making an appearance Now Terry Rozier, if you don't know who this kid is either as a kid, but he's been in the league 10 plus years now. He was drafted 16 overall by Boston. That's lets you know how good of a player he was. 16 overall is a big deal. He played at Louisville in his college days. He ended up going from Boston. Was he. He was a role player to Charlotte where he flourished. Started averaging about 20 points a game and then he went to Miami and he's been there since 2023. This is a guy who is on the last of a four year $96 million contract. So a lot of people will scratch their heads. Why the hell is he involved in trying to make a few bucks in illegal gambling?
Amy Robot
It's insane. I mean he makes 20 plus million dollars a year. Someone was pointing out. Because according to the FBI there was a particular date I believe in March of 2023 where he is accused of feigning an injury to get out of a game early to then skew the bets on him. Those prop bets. We were just talking about how many points he would score in the game. But they said the Money that around $200,000 on that which is about. And he had to split it with the folks who made the money. But apparently this is small change. This is like pennies to you and me. So it makes no sense why he would put his reputation, his freedom and certainly his NBA career on the line for something as small as that.
TJ Holmes
Yeah, it doesn't sound very bright but these are just allegations at this point. We have heard from his attorney. We'll read that here at the end. The other name of again might not be one you know but you might recognize the face because he was on TV a whole lot. Because he was next to LeBron James a whole lot. Talking about Damon Jones. He did have a 10 plus year career in the league but he played notably with LeBron in some of Lebron's early days there in Cleveland, and he was an assistant coach in 2016 when Cleveland won that championship over the warriors, was in that arena and covered that team an awful lot.
Amy Robot
And he's being accused of being a part of this Mafia scandal. Chauncey Billups, the Royal Flush investigation.
TJ Holmes
All right, so let's explain what, what this alleged involvement by Billups and Jones is. And this is where things robes get absolutely wacky. First of all, yes, these were rigged poker games. Allegedly they were playing a part of. Now, these big name guys, somebody like Chauncey Billups, according to authorities, were referred to as face cards. They were the celebrities who were sitting at the table, and they were kind of there to distract the fish. The fish is the target that they are trying to essentially rob. So everybody at the table is in on it. The dealer's in on it. Everybody except the fish. But that wasn't just all. They used some technology that I don't even think they did in Ocean's Eleven. Some of this stuff, right?
Amy Robot
I mean, it sounded like something out of an Ocean's Eleven movie where apparently they had customers shuffling machines that could read the order of the cards. They had hidden cameras built into tables and chandeliers that they could see information that you're not supposed to see and then pass them along to the players. Poker chip trays that could secretly read cards, special contact lenses that could read cards that I. That 007 stuff that freaked me out. X ray table that could read the cards when they were face down. Again, what.
TJ Holmes
This is a real operation. They really invested in this thing also. They had shuffling machines. They said these were just regular commercial. You can get them on the market, off the shelf is how we refer to it. Shuffling machines that could read the cards, but they would then predict who at the table would have the best hand. They could predict this. So this is what happens with all that information. It's relayed back to what they call the quarterback who was not on site. Then the quarterback would take that info and relay it back to the people at the table who worked in coordination to cheat the fish.
Amy Robot
And the fish were basically high rollers, the people who had the money, who wanted to play in what they thought was a fair, illegal game because the game itself was conducted illegally. But they thought that these were fair games.
TJ Holmes
Hey, if you can't trust a criminal, what are you going to do?
Amy Robot
Did they know that the mafia was involved in setting up any of these games? I'm curious. I'm even thinking from like the NBA coach And former coach, former player's point of view. How scary or is it exciting to know that you're now in bed with, so to speak the. With the Mafia? Like that is just some crazy scary stuff that a successful person you wouldn't think would want to be involved with.
TJ Holmes
Yeah. And they have not watched all of those mob documentaries.
Amy Robot
It doesn't end well.
TJ Holmes
You never want to be in business with a mob. You just don't.
Amy Robot
Especially if you don't have to be like, I understand that financially somehow you're, I don't know, backed into a corner. This was not them.
TJ Holmes
Yeah. This was not that case at all. Now you were mentioning this incident as well having to do with Tara Rogier. Again, Terry Rozier is part of it was announced today, but a different indictment from Chauncey Billups. He's alleged to have been a part of this scheme operation. Nothing but bet that involved player performances. Now, he would use, according to authorities, inside information he might have and pass that along and then folks would alter their prop bets. Now, robes this through me they announced that involved players from teams from Charlotte, Portland, the Lakers and Toronto. Now, it didn't say that necessarily all these players were in on it, but more so that some other folks might have had inside information that they passed along involving those players. So I want to be clear, they named those teams but didn't say there are players on all those teams who were involved.
Amy Robot
Could have just been someone adjacent to the team or someone who was. Who had. That was privy to that type of information that could be passed along then to folks placing Betsy.
TJ Holmes
But please tell this is the story you got to hear and I just wanted to do it in their robes, line by line for how the New York Police Department commissioner explained Terry Rozier's involvement.
Amy Robot
All right, so this is from the NYPD Commissioner. One example occurred on March 23, 2023 in Charlotte. Terry Rozier, an NBA player now with the Miami Heat, but at the time playing for the Charlotte Hornets, allegedly let others close to him know that he planned to leave the game early with a supposed injury. Using that information, members of the group placed more than $200,000 in wagers on his under statistics. Rozier exited the game after just nine minutes and those bets paid out, generating tens of thousands of dollars in profits. The proceeds were later delivered to his home where the group counted their cash. And as the NBA season tips off, his career is already benched. Not for injury, but for integrity.
TJ Holmes
That's going to be the biggest problem for the NBA if you integrity of the game is everything. If there is any suggestion that players on the field are altering their performance for the sake of gambling, you are going to have the biggest scandal ever.
Amy Robot
See, it's so funny because I know that this. You love the NBA. You love the game. And that was my number one question to you. What do you think this does to the integrity of the game? This is. They just opened their season. There's so much excitement and fanfare and victoriously.
TJ Holmes
I mean it was a great launch to the season. My boy, you know Chuck, he's over on ESPN night. I was a big opening. The first game was double overtime thriller. This was a great start to the season. And now this is the season. This will dog them the entire season. Because now you got to look out there every time somebody doesn't play, every time somebody is off a little bit, everybody's going to be under investigation by the public. I mean.
Amy Robot
Correct.
TJ Holmes
This is the scary. You have a player who cheated and possibly change the outcome of an NBA game. That is the biggest disaster. They've had cheating scandals involving referee back in the day, Donovan I think was his name. And then like last year, another player got in trouble for this, but he wasn't a big time player when the big name player kind of went away. And this is everything.
Amy Robot
This is everything. And what. Look, and I am not belittling in any way the amount of money that was lost here, but when you think about the individuals who are purported to have participated, you're talking about individuals who make, and we've talked about this, just tens of millions of dollars per year. $7 million in total losses to them. And in the scheme of things, with the perspective of all the money being earned, that doesn't even seem like much and certainly doesn't seem worth what now not only will these individual folks be facing, but as you point out, the entire league itself is now dealing with something all to do with $7 million.
TJ Holmes
So cash. But that was. They put that number in the indictment. But Cash Patel is that it's tens of millions of dollars involved here. But even if you hear that tens of millions of dollars to a lot of NBA players. Look, he's been in the league since 2015. So in the past 10 years he has made 160 million million in total income playing in the NBA since 2015. 160 million. And you got some dudes counting cash. Tens of thousands of dollars in your living room.
Amy Robot
Really?
TJ Holmes
So that doesn't sound right. And his attorney says there's a reason it doesn't sound right. Stay here. We are going to give you the pretty fiery statement from the attorney for Terry Rozier.
Amy Robot
Ah, come on. Why is this taking so long? This thing is ancient.
TJ Holmes
Still using yesterday's tech upgrade to the ThinkPad X1 carbon ultralight, ultra powerful and built for serious productivity with Intel Core Ultra processors, blazing speed and AI powered performance that keeps up with your business, not the other way around.
Amy Robot
Whoa, this thing moves.
TJ Holmes
Stop hitting snooze on new tech. Win the tech search at lenovo. Com Lenovo unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 carbon powered by Intel Core Ultra processors so you can work, create and boost productivity all on one device.
Amy Robot
There's nothing like sinking into luxury. @washablesofas.com you'll find the Anabe Sofa which combines ultimate comfort and design at an affordable price. And get this, it's the only sofa that fully machine washable from top to bottom. Starting at only $699. The stain resistant performance fabric slipcovers and cloud like frame duvet can go straight into your wash. Perfect for anyone with kids, pets or anyone who loves an easy to clean spotless sofa. With a modular design and changeable slipcovers, you can customize your sofa to fit any space and style. Whether you need a single chair, loveseat or a luxuriously large sectional. Annabe has you covered. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your home. Right now you can shop up to 60% off store wide with a 30 day money back guarantee. Shop now@washablesofas.com Add a little to your life. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.
TJ Holmes
Hey everyone, Ed Helms here and hi, I'm Kal Penn and we're the hosts of Irsay The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Jenny Garth, host of the iHeart podcast. I choose me to discuss the new Audible adaptation of the timeless Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice. This is not a trick question. There's no wrong answer. What role would I play?
Amy Robot
You know what?
TJ Holmes
I can see you as a Mr. Darcy.
Amy Robot
You got a little Colin Firth.
TJ Holmes
Okay, that's really sweet. I appreciate that, but are you sure I'm not the dad? I'm not Mr. Bennett here. Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Amy Robot
Hi, I'm Cindy Crawford and I'm the founder of Meaningful Beauty. Well, I don't know about you, but like I never liked being oh wow, you look so good for your age. Like why even bother saying that? Why don't you just say you look great at any age, every age. That's what Meaningful Beauty is all about. We create products that make you feel confident in your skin at the age you are now. Meaningful beauty, Beautiful skin at every age. Learn more@meaningful beauty.com A GLP1 helped you lose weight, but now you're noticing unwanted facial changes.
TJ Holmes
Yeah, the weight came off, but facial volume loss and dull sagging skin are making you look older. That's where the next phase of your weight loss journey comes in.
Amy Robot
There's before weight loss, after weight loss, and then the after. After.
TJ Holmes
Yeah, help restore and refresh your facial skin and reclaim your natural looking youthful glow.
Amy Robot
To learn more, visit faceafterweightloss.com that's face after weightloss.com.
TJ Holmes
We continue here now folks on this Thursday on after what was really an interesting and really unexpected details we got from a press conference in which authorities announced two historic, as they call it, indictments involving illegal gambling, wire fraud having to do with former and current NBA players and one NBA current head coach of the Portland Trailblazers, Chauncey Billups. Now, Terry Rozier, one of the players place for the Miami Heat who's implicated in one of these cases, his attorney came out and I, I think this is, this is how you defend your client in a statement. I, he hit on some points there. I'm like really? What?
Amy Robot
I so I already, I'm questioning. I had the same reaction because you hear Cash Patel and certainly the heads of several other federal and state agencies speak and you think my God, this is insane and it isn't. It is insane. But then when you hear Rozier's lawyer statement already, yes, it does start to poke some holes, at least in the case against him initially. So here is what he had to say. We have represented Terry Rozier for over a year. A long time ago we reached out to these prosecutors to tell them we should have an open line of communication. They characterized Terry as a subject, not a target. But at 6am this morning they called to tell me FBI agents were trying to arrest him in a hotel. It is unfortunate that instead of allowing him to self surrender, they opted for a photo op. They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case. They appear to be taking the word of spectacularly incredible sources. And like incredible, like not credible sources, rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing Terry was cleared by the NBA and these prosecutors revived that non case. Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight and he looks forward to winning this fight.
TJ Holmes
That's well done. That's how you defend your client right there in public. Like almost every line I was like, oh, okay, that makes sense. Oh really? What?
Amy Robot
Well, with the money he's made, I hope he can afford a really good lawyer. It sounds like he has and and will be able to do so.
TJ Holmes
Nothing else. He's a good writer, whoever that is. But that is. It kind of makes sense if you want to argue maybe he didn't know. Is he a subject of this? Was he someone, a victim to a certain degree, somebody taken advantage of. And they also say these mobsters, my favorite, they used intimidation and violence and threats to get some people to pay up. How else were these threats in vinyl? Who knows. But that statement certainly made me stop and think and question and go oh, makes it. I cannot make any sense of somebody with $160 million that they've made wants to pick up 50 grand.
Amy Robot
The only because yes, of course you're immediately going to motivation. Like I understand if somebody is cash strapped, it's still not okay. But you can at least understand the motive where they're desperate to whatever pay a bill or feed their family. Or maybe it's greed to a certain extent. But when you already have that much money, how much more greed do you need? So the only thing you can think of is the thrill of it, the excitement of it. But that also just seems idiotic.
TJ Holmes
Yeah, those ways to get you kicks. But again, everybody here is presumed innocent until otherwise noted. But this was a hell of a story. Hell of a details to hear. I was looking robes, I did not see that the Portland Trailblazers at least of this recording had put out a statement. I also don't see their schedule in front of me. Don't know where they're supposed to be headed next. But I mean the NBA season is underway. There are going to be games on tonight and whatever commentator is on this will be the first thing talked about today most certainly.
Amy Robot
And we will of course keep our eye on those hearings that are scheduled to happen later today at some point because if any new information comes out from from that, we will obviously pass that along to you. But it's hard to imagine that much is going to be said other than a reading of the charges specifically and perhaps any sort of bail that would be negotiated. I'm not sure. I have no idea. This Is such a. This is such an unusual situation. It's hard to even imagine what could possibly happen next and what the opportunities will be for any of these defendants to post bail. It's hard to say.
TJ Holmes
But they do play tomorrow night. They are scheduled the Portland Trailblazers to take on the Golden State warriors tomorrow night in Portland. We shall see if that game takes place.
Amy Robot
Do you think this brings more eyes to NBA games, at least for the next couple of nights? Do you think that there is now with this spectacle that's taken place and obviously it's all for all the wrong reasons, but I imagine more people will be watching, listening, wanting to hear what commentators have to say, wanting to see at least how players react, how coaches react. I mean, this is rocking the NBA community.
TJ Holmes
I am curious to hear from all of those guys. I want to hear from Shaq, right. Who knows Chauncey really, really well played against him in that finals. Right. I want to hear from those guys, to hear what they say. And think about it. I think even the retired guys are about to just. I mean, they're former players, but they are, they are, are forever a part of the league to watch this happen right now, maybe it's a couple of knuckleheads, but it's going to hurt the league for a while. And what have they been doing for the past several years? They've been partnering with all these gambling sites. They're trying to bring gambling into the league. Every time you turn on the TV and you see a game on, it shows you what at the bottom, the over, under, right.
Amy Robot
And I'm always asking you what it means because I have no idea. I'm like, what is that down below?
TJ Holmes
College games, they're giving you betting lines. All you see is betting and gambling. So we surprise. This happens if you get the right. Like if you are in business to make money gambling, just go get into the ear of one NBA player, one NFL player that can change a game. Man, this is scary as hell. Oh, man. Commissioner Silver. Adam Silver. Boy, God bless you, but you got a mess on your hands now, folks. We just wanted to hop on. This just happened and we knew this was going to be a big story. We'll keep an eye. We'll see if something happens in court.
Amy Robot
Yeah.
TJ Holmes
That we need to hop back on for. But otherwise, at this point, that's all we got. TJ Holmes along with Amy Robot. We'll talk to you all soon.
Amy Robot
Ah, come on. Why is this taking so long? This thing is ancient.
TJ Holmes
Still using yesterday's tech Upgrade to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultra Light, Ultra powerful and built for serious productivity with Intel Core Ultra processors, blazing speed and AI powered performance. It keeps up with your business, not the other way around.
Amy Robot
Whoa, this thing moves.
TJ Holmes
Stop hitting snooze on new tech. Win the tech search@lenovo.com Unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 carbon powered by Intel Core Ultra processors so you can work, create and boost productivity all on one device. Hey audiobook lovers. I'm Kal Penn. I'm Ed Helms. Ed and I are inviting you to join the best sounding book club you've ever heard with our new podcast, Irsay The Audible and iHeart audiobook. Each week we sit down with your favorite iHeart podcast hosts and some very special guests to discuss the latest and greatest audiobooks from audible. Listen to Earsay on America's number one podcast network, iHeart. Follow Earsay and start listening on the free iHeartradio app.
Amy Robot
Today a GLP1 helped you lose weight, but now you're noticing unwanted facial changes.
TJ Holmes
Yeah, the weight came off, but facial volume loss and dull sagging skin are making you look older. That's where the next phase of your weight loss journey comes in.
Amy Robot
There's before weight loss, after weight loss, and then the after after.
TJ Holmes
Yeah, help restore and refresh your facial skin and reclaim your natural looking youthful glow.
Amy Robot
To learn more, visit faceafterweightloss.com that's faceafterweightloss.com.
TJ Holmes
Thursday Night Football is on and it's only on Prime Video. That's gonna be porn. Tonight, the Minnesota Vikings head west to face the Los Angeles Chargers. They'll take that all day. Coverage begins at 7pm Eastern with Football's Best Party TNF tonight presented by Verizon. Not a Prime member? Not a problem. Simply sign up for a 30 day free trial. It's the Vikings and the chargers tonight at 7pm Eastern only on Prime Video. Restrictions apply. See Amazon.com amazonprime for T Jims Wednesdays on BET. An all new episode of 106 in Sports from executive producers LeBron James and Maverick Carter. Ashley Cole Moss and Cam Newton break down top moments in sports, culture and Entertainment. Check out 106 in sports on BET and next day on BET.
Amy Robot
Plus this is an I Heart podcast.
Episode: Major FBI Gambling Bust Takes Down NBA Stars and the Mafia
Date: October 23, 2025
Hosts: Amy Robach and TJ Holmes
In this urgent, fast-paced episode, Amy and TJ dig into breaking news of FBI indictments in a sprawling, years-long illegal gambling and money laundering scheme involving current and former NBA players (including a current head coach) and major Mafia crime families. The episode focuses on the shockwaves rippling through the NBA, the remarkably sophisticated criminal techniques, and the existential threat such allegations pose to the league’s integrity.
Amy Robach [04:04]:
“It was as if I was watching a Hollywood movie… The people who were involved and the amount of law enforcement, intra agencies all standing collectively together to announce this truly shocking, historic…I don’t want to say arrest—arrests—what, 30 plus, 34 was the last count I heard, but they said ‘and counting’ potentially.”
Amy Robach [06:10] (on the FBI op name):
“For FBI agents, I guess that’s a good one.”
TJ Holmes [06:51]:
“People love betting prop bets…It’s a fun, kind of an easy way to do your gambling without necessarily being hardcore. And this is prime for cheating because if you can get somebody, a player to, you know, fake an injury, do a little something…”
Amy Robach [17:54] (reading from NYPD Commissioner):
“Terry Rozier…allegedly let others close to him know he planned to leave the game early…Using that information, members of the group placed more than $200,000 in wagers on his under statistics. Rozier exited the game after just nine minutes and those bets paid out…The proceeds were later delivered to his home where the group counted their cash.”
Amy Robach [14:25]:
“They had customer shuffling machines that could read the order of the cards. They had hidden cameras built into tables and chandeliers…special contact lenses…X-ray table that could read the cards when they were face down. Again, what?”
Amy Robach [12:14]:
“He makes 20-plus million dollars a year…It makes no sense why he would put his reputation, his freedom and certainly his NBA career on the line for something as small as that.”
TJ Holmes [21:02]:
“He has made $160 million in total income playing in the NBA since 2015…You got some dudes counting cash, tens of thousands of dollars, in your living room. Really?”
TJ Holmes [18:44]:
“If there is any suggestion that players on the field are altering their performance for the sake of gambling, you are going to have the biggest scandal ever.”
Amy Robach [26:12] (reading legal statement):
“It is unfortunate that instead of allowing him to self-surrender, they opted for a photo op. They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case. They appear to be taking the word of spectacularly incredible sources…rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing.”
TJ Holmes [31:32]:
“College games, they’re giving you betting lines. All you see is betting and gambling. So are we surprised this happens?...You just go get into the ear of one NBA player, one NFL player that can change a game. Man, this is scary as hell.”
The tone is a blend of stunned disbelief, knowledgeable commentary, and alarm, with Amy representing a relative outsider’s perspective and TJ drawing on his sports expertise. The conversation is frank, unsparing, and peppered with dark humor, underscoring the surreal stakes of the unfolding story.
Amy and TJ leave listeners hanging on updates from imminent court hearings and NBA statements, emphasizing that the repercussions of this scandal will ripple through the season and potentially reshape attitudes toward sports gambling for years to come.
TJ Holmes [31:32]: “Commissioner Silver. Adam Silver. Boy, God bless you, but you’ve got a mess on your hands.”
For those just tuning in, this episode delivers a gripping, detailed walkthrough of one of the biggest sports and organized crime stories in years—with the hosts’ personalities and expertise lending urgency and humanity to the breaking news.