10-23-25 - FBI Arrests Three Including Player And Coach In NBA Gambling Sting Just As Season Starts

Summary

Podcast Summary: Holmberg’s Morning Sickness – FBI NBA Gambling Sting

Main Theme

Episode: 10-23-25 - FBI Arrests Three Including Player And Coach In NBA Gambling Sting Just As Season Starts
Airdate: October 23, 2025
Host(s): John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Brett Vesely, Dick Toledo (with guest Dale)
Station: 98 KUPD | Hubbard Radio

The hosts dive into breaking news of a major FBI sting involving illegal gambling in the NBA, resulting in the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat player Terry Rozier, and former Cavaliers assistant coach Damon Jones. They analyze the implications for professional sports, the resurgence of organized crime’s rumored involvement, and the wider impact on legalized sports betting.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking News: NBA Gambling Sting

• Details of the Sting:

  • FBI raids lead to arrest of Chauncey Billups (Portland head coach), Damon Jones (ex-Cavs assistant), and Terry Rozier (Miami Heat player).
  • The ring is described as "mob-related," distinctly separate from mainstream betting platforms like FanDuel or ESPN Bet.
    • "These dudes were the old-fashioned one. ... Sports used to get fixed back when heavyweight champions were Italians." (John, 01:53)

• Timing and Severity:

  • Arrests coincide with the season's start, maximizing public attention and impact.
  • The involvement of highly paid professionals raises stakes—if a coach makes $18 million, the illegal money must be enormous.
    • "For a head coach of an NBA team to go, yeah, I’ll get involved in your illegal ring—there had to be some serious cash going." (John, 02:13)

2. Mob & Organized Crime in Sports

• The hosts riff on the historical connections between sports, gambling, and the mob, noting how sports like boxing were dominated by Italian-Americans during eras associated with organized crime.

  • “Vegas was run best ever by you people. … That's right, you heard me, you people.” (John to Brett, 04:53)
  • They joke about mafia-era Vegas family entertainment, blending humor with real anecdotes.
  • Frequent gags about “Brett’s people” being back in charge:
    • "Brett, your people are back involved in sports. It's been ages. Please." (John, 01:44)

• Possible Mob Retaliation:

  • Chauncey Billups is predicted to become an informant ("rat"), which might put him in danger.
    • “Chauncey Billups gonna be a rat, and then the mob’s gonna be involved in that.” (John, 07:41)

3. Modern Sports Betting, Ethics, and Legal Loopholes

• Concerns are raised over widespread, mobile-enabled gambling, the pervasiveness of sports betting apps, and the hypocrisy of media outrage while promoting betting partnerships.

  • “In the bottom right corner of the screen... it's an ad for ESPN Bet. It's gonna be tough to be indignant and hoity toity over gambling allegations now that everybody's got it in their phone.” (John, 06:04)

• Possible Fallout:

  • The hosts speculate about class-action lawsuits if fans lose bets on fixed games:
    • “Joe Public is going to get lawyers and groups and say this is, you know, a faulty product that promises it's on the up and up.” (John, 15:32)
    • Legal arguments hinge on whether betting platforms insulate themselves against fraud or “mob interference.”

• Patterns of Suspicious Betting:

  • Reports of unusual betting patterns on Terry Rozier’s stats spark further suspicion.
    • “Rozier had like... more than 30 bets within 40 minutes on him going under a number of stats.” (Unidentified Guest, 11:29)

4. Historical Parallels & Sports Integrity

• References to earlier point-shaving scandals:

  • “Back when heavyweight champions were Italians. When we knew they were doing it and we couldn't stop it.” (John, 01:53)
  • “They did it to that kid at ASU years ago when he was shaving points… you go back and watch the tapes, and you're like, oh my god.” (John, 10:02)
  • Examples from NCAA basketball, boxing, and films like “Blue Chips” illustrate how corruption can be hidden in plain sight.

• Who is Most Vulnerable?

  • Lower-paid professionals (referees, long snappers) targeted for game fixing due to lower resistance to payoff incentives:
    • “The guys to go after are referees...long snappers, punters, holders, kickers.” (John, 12:44)
    • “You can affect a three-point game by sailing it over the kicker's head.” (Unidentified Guest, 13:08)

5. Humor & Satire: Mob Stereotypes and Media Irony

• The hosts intersperse playful role-playing, Italian stereotypes, and mafia jargon to satirize the news:

  • “Brady, you and I know this. ... The mob had nothing. And suddenly the mob gets stung on the whole deal. And no Italian has won anything.” (John, 21:57)
  • “Tony Soprano, I don't know. He's a good businessman. He runs business.” (Brady, 08:31)
  • “We got back involved in the sports industry. Here we are.” (Brady, 01:47)

• Jokes about organized crime’s role in building Phoenix sports venues and the family legacy:

  • “If it wasn't for the mob, you wouldn't have a basketball team.” (John, 22:31)
  • “You got a nice place downtown.” (John, 22:39)
  • “Our people did. Not the mob. Colangelo.” (Brett, 22:43)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mob and Crooked Sports

  • “It was better when it was crooked.” (John Holmberg, 04:37)
  • “All the movies are better when the mob's involved. You know, sports are better when the mob's involved because you just don't know.” (John Holmberg, 34:00)

• On Consequences and Legal Fallout

  • “You arrest a head coach in pro sports, this is a big deal. And if it has, it’s a big deal.” (John Holmberg, 07:05)
  • “They don’t arrest the head of the snake first. They get guys that they absolutely have dead to rights, and they say, you're done. Unless you break this down for us, Chauncey Billups gonna be a rat.” (John Holmberg, 07:41)

• On Betting Ethics

  • “If the sports themselves are not [on the up and up], we're going to start demanding that these apps give us money back when it turns out that the game I bet on…I missed a parlay for like 50 grand…” (John Holmberg, 15:32)

• On Stereotypes/Roleplaying

  • “There is no such thing as the mob. You know that.” (Brady, 20:17)
  • “I don't know if you noticed in boxing. It was a legitimate, beautiful sport. And then, you know, ooh, there goes the neighborhood.” (John Holmberg, 25:21)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:51 – Initial breakdown of who was arrested, importance of timing, and speculation about the scale.
• 04:52 – Discussion turns to historical mob involvement in Las Vegas and sports.
• 06:04 – Commentary on ESPN’s conflicted betting promotion during coverage.
• 07:41 – Predicting informants (“rats”), the FBI’s arrest patterns, and mob danger.
• 09:51 – Comparisons to past sports-fixing scandals, point-shaving reference.
• 11:29 – Report of suspicious volume and pattern in betting against Rozier.
• 12:44 – Focus on how low-level players (referees, snappers) are most vulnerable to fixing.
• 15:32 – Concerns about potential lawsuits, long-term digital traces of bets.
• 21:57 – More on boxing’s mafia past and Italian-American sports success.
• 25:21 – Satirical unpacking of changing demographics in sports corruption and legitimacy.
• 31:42 – Wake Up Song segment; suggestions reflecting the scandal’s themes (“Rats” by Ghost).
• 34:00 – Conclusion on how the mob’s involvement makes sports, movies, and even pizza better.

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Conclusion

The episode is a fast-paced, irreverent, and insightful look at the shockwaves from an NBA gambling scandal. Blending sharp commentary with wit and playful stereotypes, the hosts highlight not just the legal and ethical issues, but also the cultural history of gambling in sports. They predict ripple effects in both professional leagues and the everyday bettor’s experience—especially as digital betting now makes everyone a potential stakeholder in fair play, or a victim when games are rigged.

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“All the movies are better when the mob's involved. You know, sports are better when the mob's involved because you just don't know.”
— John Holmberg (34:00)

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For listeners:
If you want irreverent humor, cultural insights, and up-to-the-minute analysis of sports scandals, this episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness delivers—while reminding us that, when the line between legal and illegal betting blurs, almost anything is possible.

Transcript

[Brett]

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[John Holmberg]

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[Brady]

You thought that was funny?

[John Holmberg]

You were laughing like a hyena when he said it.

[Brady]

What the hell is wrong with you?

[John Holmberg]

Thank you very much. Miles to nowhere. Off we go on this glorious Thursday morning already. Thursday, get rid of the 6am word. Somebody pointed out said you're making fun of people that can't read. He said, have you paid attention to the game you're playing for this word contest? Just one syllable. Pretty easy. Yeah, he's right. I guess we always kind of knew that 40 million of you can't read 7 o' clock words coming up. And it's a toughie because it's got seven letters.

[Brett]

Oh, we're screwed.

[John Holmberg]

Still only one syllable, though, and that's mainly just to keep the dummies from like. Wrist was a hard one because people kept thinking I was saying risk and has a W in it. It doesn't sound like it should. That was. We were. That was a test right there. By the way, I'm following quite closely now as my phone is exploding with what's going on here. The Brett your people, they're back.

[Brett]

We didn't do nothing.

[John Holmberg]

You did it.

[Brady]

We got back involved in the sports industry. Here we are.

[Brett]

Look at us.

[Brady]

Sorry about that. NBA guys.

[John Holmberg]

NBA guys are getting arrest like crazy this morning. There's a raid on an illegal gambling ring that just got the Portland Trail Blazers. Head coach Chauncey Billups just got charged. He's gonna get bounced. A guy who plays. He was a coach for Cleveland named Damon Jones arrested. A player from Miami, Terry Rozier arrested. They waited for basketball to get started. Got the spotlight on him. Espn, everybody's paying attention and Bam. A mob related gambling. R not related to any of the handheld stuff. Not fanduel, not any legit ones. These dudes were the old fashioned one. Brad used to be proud. The old fashioned way. Sports used to get fixed back when heavyweight champions were Italians. When we knew they were doing it and we couldn't stop it. I don't know how they did it again, but they got into actual players. They got a head coach. I don't know what kind of money's getting thrown around, but for a head coach of an NBA team to go, yeah, I'll get involved in your illegal ring. There had to be some serious cash going. Cause Chauncey Billups makes a lot of money up in Portland. So for him to say, I'll risk that there's something huge behind this is going to get big.

[Brady]

I don't know what you're talking about.

[Brett]

I don't think so.

[Brady]

A couple of guys making a friendly wager on. I don't know, what do they call that? The handball with the baskets in the. I don't even. Brett, you and I. Yeah.

[Brett]

I don't. I don't know what they're talking about.

[Brady]

We don't pay much attention to the African culture. So I don't understand the NBA. Why would I get involved in something I just don't know anything about? But you know, that's for them. We have our own stuff like boxing in the 50s when we were dominant. I'm just trying to get a nice, nice cannoli. I don't know why everybody's thinking, I've got. What do I. What do I gotta watch all that for? I've seen the Wire. I'm not interested in this thing. Make it on my back.

[John Holmberg]

But they did it. Brett, your people are back involved in sports. It's been ages. Please.

[Dale]

So it wasn't like illegal card game.

[John Holmberg]

Or loads of it, just whatever it is is illegal gambling. But when you've got a guy who's making $18 million a year involved in an illegal gambling thing, that means the money's worth risking the 18 million.

[Brett]

I don't know. He's got. He's got his own hellcat. I don't think he needed. That's my point.

[John Holmberg]

You know how he could have a dealership before it's all over. You've got players, current players involved. And I don't know what it is. I don't know if it's a. You know, if it's kind of like.

[Dale]

When the celebrities had those.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, the Molly's game. Thing? Yeah. Like you get illegal gambling games. But I don't know. This is weird. People are like, is this fake? Is this the first AI scam? Is this. I don't know, but it's interesting. So far so good. If it is fake, it's pretty darn good. And again, I'm thrilled if it's fake because I want these people back in sports. It was better when it was crooked.

[Brett]

So was Vegas.

[John Holmberg]

Oh, Vegas was run best ever by you people. That's right. You heard me. You people.

[Brady]

Whoa. What are you talking about? We ran a good organization. We had fun for the family Circus Circus. We important things for the kids. The video mumbo jumbo and the pac mans. I think they still think that's. We had that. Then you come down and you're having a nice adult beverage and you enjoy the day and you go watch some basketball, which may or may not be on the up and up.

[Brett]

So how'd they catch him?

[John Holmberg]

Did they raid us out? That's the thing. I don't know. They've got some videos of guys actually in cuffs getting walked away. It's a gambling scandal as right now as it is right now. But the funny thing on espn, which is great, somebody screenshot it while Mike Greenberg, who I can't stand on espn, is talking to Shams, the NBA super guy, about how Chauncey Billups has been arrested of gambling investigations. In the bottom right corner of the screen while they. I can't believe what they're hearing. My God. There's a gambling problem right at the bottom of the screen. It says esp. It's an ad for ESPN Bet. It's their gambling app. It's gonna be tough to be indignant and hoity toity over gambling allegations now that everybody's got it in their phone. We're all susceptible to. Gambling is everywhere. You know, it's all over.

[Brady]

So I don't know what you're talking about. You can't have a friendly car game anymore, bro. What happened?

[Brett]

What's going on in this world?

[Brady]

And roll some dice with somebody. Suddenly the feds are involved. Cash Patel.

[Dale]

I gotta deal with this guy bringing revenue in. That was all I was doing.

[Brady]

I was, you know, I was helping the community. I was involved. I was involved in the community. I'm a business.

[Dale]

You're an earner for the community.

[Brady]

Exactly right, Brady. Thank you. You know, I freaking only feel every time you come into my patisserie. You're an influencer, brother. You influenced me to do things like, you know, hit a Treadmill and Jesus Christ do some things about my life. He influences me to just say, never ever will I be this way.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, it's crazy, but yeah. All the news is popping up on this. I don't know what it's going to do, and I don't know where we're going with it, but you arrest a head coach in pro sports, this is a big deal. And if it has, it's a big deal. Yeah.

[Dale]

Some guys on the side and.

[John Holmberg]

This showed up out of nowhere to where they didn't just go in and go, hey, we're thinking maybe this was happening. They went in and cuffed him up. They arrested a current head coach, current player, and a current assistant coach. Day one. And I think there are more to come. Well, that's the thing. And you know better than me, this is. The FBI knows who's going to rat.

[Brett]

What.

[Dale]

I know they're trying to get one.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, they. They know the rats. And there's a guy named Chauncey Billups who has got a lot to lose, and he's carrying the face of the NBA right now with this. He would be the first one to start spilling the beans. They don't arrest the. The head of the snake. First. They get guys that they absolutely have dead to rights, and they say, you're done. Yeah. Unless you break this down for us, Chauncey Billups gonna be a rat, and then the mob's gonna be involved in that.

[Brady]

Chauncey. But why would I have a deal with a man named Chauncey if Chauncey talks? I hear that Chauncey has terminal illness. Ah, that would be a shame to watch Chauncey disappear. These other ones.

[Dale]

I know what Tony Soprano would have to say about that.

[Brady]

Tony Soprano, I don't know. He's a good businessman. He runs business.

[Dale]

But Chauncey.

[Brady]

The Chauncey's probably queer is what Brady's saying. Someone named Chauncey probably takes it in the app, so to speak. Brad, we're back. And we were doing our business. Don't you rat. I'll keep my eyes on. I need you later.

[Dale]

That's it.

[John Holmberg]

How about that? I like when the mob's involved.

[Brett]

Chauncey and Noah.

[John Holmberg]

You talk to an Italian and we have one. Yeah, Noah. Noah's one too. Yeah, I'm not gonna do that scene. Damn it. I would. But Tell me, Noah, what do your parents do?

[Brady]

When you applied for. When you applied for Columbia, did you write down African American or Jewish?

[Brett]

Can you imagine that if that was in. Can you imagine if that was in.

[John Holmberg]

Noah's house, it'd be like, oh, my God, which one was it?

[Brett]

If it was a Noah's house.

[John Holmberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Brady]

No. Sounds like you got a bird up in your attic. What's going on, Noah?

[John Holmberg]

That scene is so dynamically awesome. Yeah. Anyway, this is a big deal. Big deal. And then now everybody's going back and showing clips of Miami's Terry Rosier. They're not even saying that they were shaving points, but they're showing him, like, pass the ball to no one, out of bounds, and, like, it obviously starts looking like. Wait a minute.

[Brett]

It's like, wnba.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah. Missing, like, rolling the ball one time. Yeah, well, it's what they did to that kid who was here at ASU years ago when he was shaving points. I can't remember his name.

[Dale]

Great nickname.

[John Holmberg]

Oh, he was great. But, yeah, he was really good. He was the point guard, and he got involved in that point shaving thing. And then you go back and watch the tapes, and you're like, oh, my God. Movie blue chips, which isn't very good. Had its eyes on that. And when Nick Nolte's running the tape, watching his team do it, he's like, oh, no, my guys are shaving points. They're doing it like the spread was seven points, and all they had to do was hold the ball or miss a free throw, and then suddenly they just chuck it to the other team for no reason with 20 seconds. Oh, it was bad, bad, bad. But this is. Yeah, they go after a head coach. You've got something bad going.

[Brett]

They should go after the wnba. They pass to nobody. They fall over the court. See, there's something going on over there.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah.

[Dale]

Where the Fed's at, not making enough money.

[Brady]

Brett, God damn it. I told you not to rat. We've been making hay over there in the wnba. Nobody pays attention to it. These girls are already terrible. So when they throw the ball in, nobody notices. Of course, they throw it in the third row. That's what they do. But if you get one to do it on purpose now and again, I mean, the point spread in the wnba, that's like drawing rabbits out of a hat. It's luck.

[Dale]

The over under of fans catching a ball. Yeah.

[Brady]

Oh, yeah. No, that's. There's more chance of getting a basketball to WNB than a foul ball and baseball and actually give those away.

[Brett]

We gotta check if Adam fanduel.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah.

[Brady]

How many. How many foul balls have gone into the crowd here in a basketball game?

[Unidentified Guest]

So reading into that article, there was for the mafia. Rozier had like there were more than 30 bets within 40 minutes.

[John Holmberg]

Oh, no.

[Unidentified Guest]

On him going under on a number of stats. And so there were a bunch of sportsbooks that were like, hold on, why.

[John Holmberg]

Is all this so this isn't back room gambling. This is on the floor.

[Unidentified Guest]

This looks like it's right on the floor.

[John Holmberg]

And they got a coach Holberg's morning sickness.

[Brady]

Holberg's morning sickness.

[John Holmberg]

It's John holmberg here shailing away from my friends at new vision auto glass. Brady just had his windshield replaced. Toledo just had his windshield replaced. And Brett evidently got jealous because his windshield got cracked on his drive to work the other day. New vision auto glass, they're your best friends. They'll fix that ugly busted glass, then give you up to $375 back and you'll get dinner at the world famous Brazilian steakhouse Rodizio grill. Go to new visionautoglast.com, see what you qualify for, then get it fixed. Call 480-210-9090. New Vision Auto glass, proud sponsor of the Arizona diamondback.

[Brady]

Sickness.

[Unidentified Guest]

Well, I don't know about.

[John Holmberg]

Well they arrested.

[Unidentified Guest]

Well, I don't know about billups.

[John Holmberg]

I just read about rosier but I'm saying if they're arresting a coach, it's not cuz he's playing poker in the back or making something's going on.

[Dale]

Give us some more.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, well, beyond that, the money's got to be massive. You get like Dale and I talk about this all the time. The guys to go after are referees and they've done that in the NBA before. And guys who don't make much but impact long snappers, punters, holders, kickers.

[Unidentified Guest]

Those are the ones that sale one over the kicker.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, I mean the kickers are starting to get paid but a long snapper is usually league minimum. Pretty good number. I think it's like 7.50 a year.

[Unidentified Guest]

Well, that's what I mean. You can affect a three point game by sailing it over the kicker's head.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah. If you're like, hey, if the opportunity arises, now's the time. You got a guy in the front row of the crowd that just does the thing to his nose. And Dale hellas trey long snapper knows I'm getting $3 million if I just dirt one, am I gonna lose my job? I'm not going to do it all.

[Unidentified Guest]

The time and watch all the activity on missing the field.

[John Holmberg]

Exactly. Oh my gosh. This is crazy. And it and this is very to me this Is very cut and dry because the FBI would. They actually waited for the season to start to do this.

[Unidentified Guest]

They've announced that the FBI will have a press conference.

[John Holmberg]

Oh, my. Oh, my.

[Unidentified Guest]

Because it's the. It's. A former assistant coach for the Cavaliers was also arrested.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, well, that's. Yeah, they got him. They got Rosier. They got Phillips. They're. Those are their first three arrests. The player, an assistant and a head coach. You get a head coach involved in this, then, oh, there's some dominoes that are going to be tumbling. Because once you know, Brett knows again. Ask Brett. Ask in Italian. What? You get one head Coach, you've asked 10. You don't get lucky and hit the first head coach and have him sign on.

[Brady]

What's this guy talking about, Brett, Why does he do this to you?

[Brett]

That's fake news.

[Brady]

I get great. Why does he. Why? This is something sort of bias bigotry towards an Italian people that he would attack you in such a way.

[Brett]

It's racially motivated.

[Brady]

I think so too. Your skin is very olive and pure right now, by the way. You look fantastic using a product. Or is that just natural ooze? That's very nice.

[John Holmberg]

They ask. I don't know how many coaches you have to get to to get one. Unless. Yeah, exactly. Unless they have something on Billups for something else. And that's how it was with Michael Jordan and all that other stuff. It's like, we'll take care of your family if you don't start doing what we need you to do. And I'm not sure he played ball the ring. This is crazy. All right, good. Keep your eyes on that. Oh, seven o' clock. Word is scratch. Scratch. Put that in your promo code for seven o', clock, maybe win a thousand bucks that away too. Money just flying all over the place.

[Dale]

Was making some scratch.

[John Holmberg]

Oh, yeah? Yeah. So use it in a sentence, Chauncey. Chauncey Billups is going to owe the IRS and the feds some scratch brats. Scratch. And some. One of those guys gonna rat. Somebody's already ratted to get them in there, so. Oh, this is gonna Brett. You people make sports better.

[Brett]

Thank you. I mean, no, we didn't have nothing.

[John Holmberg]

And let's just for fun speculate the ramifications of sports gambling in our hands. You know, you now have Joe Public making bets. And if it turns out some of those games were crooked, Joe Public is going to get lawyers and groups and say this is, you know, a faulty product that promises it's on the up and Up. And if the sports themselves are not, we're going to start demanding that these apps give us money back when it turns out that the game I bet on if you still. Because it keeps. That's the good thing about sports game. It keeps your bets forever. I can go back and see my first bet three years ago and if it turns out it's one of those games with Chauncey Billups and they find out that they and I missed a parlay for like 50 grand because the under over didn't hit.

[Dale]

But do you think it's like the back of a sports ticket where they said they're not responsible on the back.

[John Holmberg]

Of a sports ticket if they haven't.

[Dale]

Done it and someone else powers.

[Brett]

It's the agreement at the beginning. Do you agree? Yes. Okay.

[John Holmberg]

There's no agreement possibly be an agreement that says if it turns out the games are suspect due to mob interference or if they're rigged in any sort of way. I'll bet there is not out of there. I'll bet there is. That is why. That is why there's not been sports in Vegas for years is because they couldn't risk having their games not be on the up and up. That's the reason why Roger Goodell burned all the tapes from tape gate the day after he said there's nothing to see here and we'll let us see him. I destroyed them because the. The mobsters were like, if this game's not on the up and up, I'm not talking about you and me. Joe Public can sue. The mobsters will blow the whole thing up. Because if it turns out these games weren't legitimate and the people who weren't involved, they're like, wait a second, Vegas. If they find out that these things were manipulated and they lost a ton of money on that, it wouldn't be the first. There's been plenty of charges against People have rigged games and you get the money back to the gamblers casinos.

[Dale]

There have been.

[John Holmberg]

When that dude got arrested back in the early 2000s for rigging NBA playoff games A, people were going to get killed. B, the casinos were losing their minds that the mob was going to come in here and say, are you guys in on this? Who's doing this? And they were doing it. And so you get all sorts of.

[Dale]

But people got cash back taxes got.

[John Holmberg]

Oh, the government got everything back. You make sure that that is on the up and up or it can't happen. The one thing about gambling that has to be if it's not on the up and up. The government will kill it, but they don't care.

[Dale]

But I'm talking about, like individuals.

[John Holmberg]

I don't know.

[Dale]

I'm sure.

[John Holmberg]

I'm sure if there was a guy. There is. If there's a guy who had like a ticket that said, I lost a million dollars on that game, he'd have a legitimate case to say that you're. You're allowing bets of a fraudulent, unchecked thing. It's like a Ponzi scheme. You might not get your money back, but people are going to fight to get it back. And you're going to try to get retribution to the people who are right. It's a crime. It's Toledo's wife. Toledo's ex wife. I'm not. Look, why she was swiping money and what she has to do for the rest of her life is somehow pay that back. If they get the guy who did it, the retribution goes back to all. And it'll probably be casinos first and everything else. But you find out, like that gets going, and it and all these games were rigged. People. People demand their money back. Nobody just goes, oh, well.

[Dale]

But I'm saying it just doesn't seem like there's been people getting caught. But I haven't heard anything because it.

[John Holmberg]

Used to be illegal to gamble the money back. It used to be illegal to gamble.

[Dale]

Yeah. So you could.

[John Holmberg]

That's what I'm talking about with your handheld.

[Dale]

Turn it in.

[John Holmberg]

You're like, you. You're the one keeping the receipts on me. I've got. I've got the history because of what you guys do. I'm not saying it's going to happen that way, but I'm saying it's a lot easier for Joe Public to go, hey, I got screwed on this deal. And you said you were running an up and up operation here.

[Brett]

You can't read this on the air.

[John Holmberg]

Okay, I won't read it on the air, but you printed it. Okay, that's enough.

[Brady]

I told you.

[John Holmberg]

I can read it on the air. It's fine.

[Brady]

Okay, go ahead as this guy. It's okay. All right, so what this Homburg character's telling me is a bunch of these. I call them immigrants playing ball. No different than me and you, Brett.

[Brett]

I agree.

[Brady]

A bunch of these folks out here playing this. This urban. I don't know what you call it. Basketball. I'm not even familiar with this football team.

[Brett]

I don't think so.

[John Holmberg]

I don't.

[Brett]

Yeah.

[John Holmberg]

I don't.

[Brady]

Somehow or another, they get pinched and we get Blamed.

[John Holmberg]

I don't understand.

[Brady]

How in the world do you pinch an entire group of people? The hip hop crowd. And we just some noodle people trying to make it work. We're getting bit.

[John Holmberg]

It's unbelievable.

[Brady]

There is no such thing as the mob. You know that. That's how another. We still get blamed. I mean, I. I went to one of those basketball games. When does the Jackson 5 get off the floor? In the game beginning. I didn't realize I'm unfamiliar is what I'm saying.

[Brett]

Went to the Suns, we're playing nurse.

[Brady]

I thought like earth, wind and fire. When are they gonna be done throwing this ball back and forth? I wanna see some sports. I had no idea. These people get pinched and. Look, Brett, you and I have to take the heat.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah. When gambling was illegal, nobody wanted to admit, hey, I lost money on that.

[Dale]

Yeah, because you'd get.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, because you'd get in trouble for like. Well, how much are you gambling?

[Dale]

True.

[John Holmberg]

Okay, so Yahoo Phillips was charged in a poker operation tied to the mafia. His involvement reportedly not related to games he coached. All right, well that's. Yeah, that'll keep that, that'll keep that a little better. But you got players who are in on this very same sting. It's pretty big. That's a big deal. And by the way, because I'm here for the jokes, fun, fun and fun. I can't wait for this thing to erupt. Somebody's rattin. The mob comes back again. Talk to an Italian. And Brady, you and I know this. Having sat in a room with Brett now for five and a half years, they will not admit that at one point or another in professional boxing, eight of the 12 belts in boxing were held by Italians. And they said it wasn't rigged. The mob had nothing. And suddenly the mob gets stung on the whole deal. And no Italian has won anything. Like maybe one or two total.

[Brett]

Two of the best boxers ever.

[John Holmberg]

I know. Rocky Marciano, Rocky Balboa, the Rockies. Eighty years, maybe two Italian champions have, have shown up. But for about a 12 year span, only Italians won boxing fights. And then the mob got hit. It went away. They had to refocus their efforts because they were making it so obvious.

[Brett]

A bigger fish to fry.

[Dale]

They went to coaching.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah. Oh yeah. Why should we get beat up getting all these Italian coaches?

[Brett]

Yeah, you're welcome, Phoenix.

[John Holmberg]

It's right. If it wasn't for the mob, you wouldn't have a basketball team.

[Brett]

Yeah, or you'd be stuck in that dump at the Coliseum.

[John Holmberg]

You got a nice place downtown.

[Brett]

You're welcome.

[John Holmberg]

The mob built Banquet Ballpark and America West Arena.

[Brett]

Our people did. Not the mob. Colangelo.

[Brady]

Well, you set him straight, Brett. What's going on over here?

[Brett]

I don't know what the hell he's doing over there.

[Brady]

What is that? I said listen. I don't like what.

[John Holmberg]

I'm marrying hard working people.

[Brady]

You know what? I. I didn't know Mr. Holmberg was. And not the type you got running around here with the wahoo feathers. The other ones that work at Discover Car. Cause I see a little red dot on his forehead in this future. That's right. I don't know what to. I don't know what those people. I thought he was a Jew. I thought he was on. I thought he was on the up and up. He took care of our money. You know what I'm saying?

[Dale]

Pretty good with numbers.

[Brady]

Very good with numbers. The nose, the complaining. I thought for sure. Turns out he's nothing more than a. What is the word? Fanouk. Is that a thing?

[Brett]

I'm not.

[Brady]

Ricky Ohm is a. Ricky Ohm.

[Brett]

It's one of them.

[Brady]

That was a fagioli.

[Dale]

He was all of it.

[Brady]

He's all of them. He's all the bad things. You can put the guy around.

[John Holmberg]

Who's Vito?

[Brady]

Ask Tom Brennaman what he is. He'll come up with like seven or eight words. They're all right. What's that? I'm straight, Brad. Rocky Mariano was champion. It was legitimate.

[Brett]

Damn right.

[Brady]

Knocked out Joe Lewis.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah. That happened. Morning sickness. 28.

[Brady]

Holmberg's morning sickness.

[John Holmberg]

Yep. You see pictures of those two together and you're like, wow. Which one won again? The little Italian one.

[Brady]

No kidding.

[Dale]

Phantom punch.

[John Holmberg]

It wasn't Joe Lewis. He knocked out. What was that guy's name? The crazy one? Oh, Patterson. Patterson.

[Dale]

And then he had Floyd Patterson.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah. He had the jersey. Joe Walcott. That was the lunatic. Yeah. And Italian. Italian heavyweights. You had Italian middleweights. You had, you know, Jake Lamata. All of them champions. Brilliant. Italians everywhere fight suddenly and you can't talk an Italian into it that any. Like never would. You have an Italian. I want to go. I want to go to one of your big Italian dentists. Get the whole family from Chicago in and sit down and go, guys, you know what I think the 1950s boxing world was completely rigged. And not one of your teams. Yeah. It would immediately start like. It would be like a chorus of oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Invited this guy.

[Dale]

It went away in the Olympics.

[John Holmberg]

All of a sudden, suddenly they can't fight at all. Like, the 60s meant no more. Italians were good at it. Oh, we dominated, and we left it behind for somebody else. That's right.

[Unidentified Guest]

There you go.

[John Holmberg]

Come on. I don't know if you noticed in boxing. It was a legitimate, beautiful sport. And then, you know, ooh, there goes the neighborhood. We're not hanging out there. I love when the mob's involved in sports.

[Dale]

The last good one was Tony Danza.

[John Holmberg]

I mean, yeah, really, literally. Tony Banta from Taxi was the last great Italian boxer. The 70s could still do things like Rocky and Tony Banta on Taxi. And although they made fun of him for getting knocked out all the time, they still could fool the general public into thinking that that's a legitimate thing. If you did a TV show now about an Italian boxer, people be like, I'm not launching that. That's not a thing. It's far too gone. Anyway, my friend says, what if we learned that deandre Ayton is amazing at basketball but decided to throw basketball games day one? He's been great at that too. This is fascinating. I like this. I like this a lot. Call whoever you call Brett and go, this is great. This is an awesome thing.

[Dale]

If it goes that way. Sounds like it's more like a potentially a Molly's game back.

[John Holmberg]

Well, you got that. One of them, but one is definitely. They're getting the player for the heat for throwing the games. I mean, they're looking at all of. I love mafia stuff. Love it. And see, the FBI said it was the mob and they're busting lots of, quote family members. Oh, this is gonna breaking news as it on the fly. I like this a lot, John. How do you know it was the Italians? What if it's the Yakuza?

[Brady]

Exactly.

[John Holmberg]

There you go.

[Brady]

Why does it always have to be us? Can't the Nips be involved, too?

[John Holmberg]

Sorry.

[Brady]

I mean, Trump's. Trump's talking constantly about the Chinese and the. I don't know which ones are what, but aren't we friendly with them? I think it's the Yakuza, too. You're not basketball games. It wasn't us, right, Brett?

[Brett]

That's right.

[Brady]

Thank you.

[John Holmberg]

What if it is the Yakuza? That. That's a. That throws samurai wrench into it. Oh, the Russians. The collusion of their. Oh, my God, This. Oh, this could be just amazing. But how dumb do you have to be to get involved at all in sports and backroom poker games with mafia people in Portland? That's hard to do it.

[Dale]

Put on the best games.

[John Holmberg]

I Guess the Portland mafia is known for anyway. This is amazing. Yeah. And the betting stuff is, man, it's going to be. There's going to be something that comes back from that because if you can go back and prove that you had bet on a game that was unofficial, I mean, I guarantee you right now that if you won on something that was that way, they're going to take the money from you. They'll go back and go, you made a bet on a game that was not. They'll take it from you in a second. Your your winnings were ill gotten. And that's going to be even worse if Fanduel finds out. Like you know, because then you'd be like, well, why did you bet the under so heavily? I don't know. I took a chance. Well, we're not. You're not getting that because that wasn't legit. Yeah, it's pretty awesome. I like this was the only time ASU basketball was really, truly interesting. Wasn't. They were running around over there throwing games and stuff. I keep wanting to say Fat Lever, but he was before.

[Dale]

I know that's right.

[John Holmberg]

Fat Lever is the greatest, the greatest name in the history of sports. I wanted him to be famous forever, but this guy says, I know you don't like books and I'm kind of with you on that, but I listened to wise guys audiobook and there's a big part about the Boston College point shaving scandal that was completely left out of Goodfellas. Could have gone B.C. players got arrested. Henry and Jimmy got away with it. Chauncey is in big trouble. Yeah. If you get arrested and if Cash Patel is like talking to you about gambling, you're done. They know. They follow the money. Ooh, this is fun.

[Brett]

I wouldn't want to talk to Cash Patel about the weather because there's no reason for Cash Patel to be talking to you.

[John Holmberg]

How you doing?

[Brady]

I'm Cash Patel.

[John Holmberg]

Your eyes are going everywhere right now. What is going on with your face? Face? Look, sir, I'm here to talk to you about your gambling habits. Oh, Christ. All right, where do I put my hands behind my back or are you going to hog tie me? Oh, this guy comes in, says, oh yeah, you and Tripp talked about this. I knew you were a mob tard. Oh, no, I'm a mob libtard. Maga tard. Mobtard. I heard you mention Trump in the middle of this. He's not friends with the Chinese libtard. Can't mention his name. People lose their minds. Headache Smith Damn it. Thank you. You know who told me that? Dale Hellestra. Nice job, Dale. Thanks. He'll be in at 9. I'm sure we'll discuss this further. Dale and I have talked about this a ton, like, and he said he would have done it. You get $3 million offer to throw a playoff game if the opportunity arises, and all you have to do is dirt a snap. Your name lives in infamy, but you've got 3 million bucks where before. And Dale was probably making 3, 400,000, maybe. I'm shooting high on that as the league minimum back when he played. And he's, you know, he's hanging out with Troy and Michael and Emmett. They were good friends. And those dudes are making millions. That's like us dragging, you know, Thriller out with us all the time. It's like, you don't want to hang out with the poorest guy on your team. He's never going to pay for anything. But suddenly Dale has the opportunity to make three or four million bucks, and all he has to do is dirt the ball. Once he said he'd do it. I like gambling.

[Dale]

Two years into it, Dale just bought a yacht.

[John Holmberg]

Well, Dale wouldn't be smart with his music. I just got all my teeth goldened. Oh, no, he's got a grill. It's a hella grill. Johnny. Johnny, you gotta get your teeth cold. It's 7:22.

[Dale]

I would love to see that.

[John Holmberg]

Oh, I would. At least. You know what? Maybe that's what we'll get Dale for Christmas. A grill. A Lamar Jackson grill. And then Lamar Jackson be like, see, I'm not the ugliest man the NFL. It's Travis Hunter, Dale and me. What do you got on the big board of musical treats here? We try to figure out what's going on here. All right.

[Brett]

Wake Up Song brought to you by Action Ride Shop.

[John Holmberg]

Of course.

[Brett]

I just hung out with Josh a little bit yesterday. They're planning something big next month.

[John Holmberg]

That's right.

[Brett]

Big, big sale. They're going to be blowing out some bikes for some ridiculously crazy prices. All right, details to follow, but we'll say beginning of November, we'll be hanging out with Josh and the boys over at Action Ride Shop, the new location on power Road and McDowell. They got tons of stuff planned. But right now, if you need a new bike, that's the place to go. You need to rent one. You know, you're not sure you want to drop the cake for a new pivot or new Santa Cruz. Well, try it before you buy it. You can go rent.

[John Holmberg]

That's what I would do if I was close to. If I was closer to the store, I'd be renting those all the time.

[Brett]

Absolutely. So just actionrideshop.com and don't forget, snow season is coming, so they're going to be starting taking reservations and things like that over at the OG location. So you got two locations, Power Road and McDowell, and of course, the OG right there at Gilbert Road and Southern. It is Action Ride Shop.

[John Holmberg]

We'll be out there November 8th, right?

[Brett]

Yes.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah. Good. Interesting point here. And this. I just like this for the idea of it being true. If it is or not, I don't care. But it would be fun if it was. Says, do you really think when the refs go to New York to get the call on a disputed play in the red flag in football, they're actually talking to an official at the replay center? No, they're talking to Brett's people to see what's best for the game. Did you watch the Lions and Bucks? I'm a Lions fan and I can admit the Bucks got screwed on a bunch of replays.

[Brady]

The heavy money was on Detroit.

[Dale]

I do like. It goes back to New York.

[John Holmberg]

It goes back to New York.

[Brett]

They call Paulie Walnuts on the phone.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah. Stan Campbell's throwing the red challenge flag.

[Brady]

Let's show me to play. What's the spread on third and 18? This is the first don. Looks like that was a legitimate call. I think we're all right, boss.

[Dale]

Turn this one over.

[Brady]

I'm gonna go ahead and say this is a pretty good. Don't bother me with these things.

[John Holmberg]

After further review, the ref says, don't bother me with these things. The call stands.

[Dale]

That's where the ref slips up over the past years for giving him the business.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, that was. Yeah.

[Brady]

Giving him the business.

[John Holmberg]

I love that guy. Red. Yeah. This is. This is going to be fun. Nice job for your people. Always make it more interesting. All the movies are better when the mob's involved. You know, sports are better when the Mob's involved because you just don't know. Vegas is better when the mob's involved. Yeah, Restaurants, almost always Pizza. Damn it all.

[Dale]

Good work.

[John Holmberg]

What do you got up there?

[Brett]

All right. On the list. Primus. My Name is Mud for Chauncey. Static X Mastodon. Five Finger Death Punch. Foo Fighters down the Warning. Ghost Rats for Scored Sports Gambling.

[John Holmberg]

There it is.

[Brett]

Keep your mouth shut for Chauncey. And Vol Beat Shotgun Blues for Chauncey. If he talks too much.

[John Holmberg]

Man, already the Threats are flying.

[Brett]

Hey, I don't know who said that.

[John Holmberg]

You know, awful lot of warnings for Chauncey from Brett's list.

[Brett]

I don't mean none.

[John Holmberg]

I'm just saying, keep your mouth shuts. Pretty solid. But I think Rats is the thing we're going to hear about next. And I like that song. So Rats it is. We'll go with Ghost. Rats is solid. Well, we'll keep our eyes on it because this is. The timing's outstanding, by the way. I do know one thing from all of this stuff. If you are currently going through your FanDuel or whatever account you use and you see a lot of WNBA bets, you have a gambling problem. If you're betting on the WNBA with any sort of like, well, you know, she scored 14, like any sort, you have a gambling issue. No one, even experts in Vegas are, like, positive, what's going to happen to one of those things? So the very least, this might save some lives, some families, but don't tell anybody about it. Chauncey, this one's for you. It's Rats. It's ghost. It's 98k updosted.

[Brady]

Arizona's most powerful, powerful rock radio station.