Dear Athletes, Don't Sports Bet, Because Sports Betting is Fake

The rigged game is impossible to scam

Whenever I see word of an athlete insider betting scandal, I usually assume it was done to help some ne'er do well buddies make an easy buck. And I’m reminded of this exchange between brother bank robbers from Hell or High Water:

Toby: "You know, you talk like we ain't gonna get away with this."

Tanner: "I never met nobody get away with anything, ever, you?"

Toby: "Then why in the hell did you agree to do it?"

Tanner: "Because you asked, little brother."

I love that sequence. The system is set up to catch people like them. Perhaps somewhere out there, fancy people are going unpunished for extravagant crimes. But no, they don’t just let the unsophisticated regular person get away with blunt force theft of an institution.

From Jeff Passan at ESPN on Monday:

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase on Monday was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through Aug. 31 as part of Major League Baseball's investigation into sports gambling, the second Guardians pitcher to be caught up in the inquiry.

Guardians right-hander Luis Ortiz remains on non-disciplinary paid leave after originally being placed there July 3 after unusual gambling activity on two pitches he threw for balls, sources told ESPN. Ortiz's leave was later extended to Aug. 31.

What’s shocking about this latest gambling scandal is that Emmanuel Clase, career ERA of 1.88, is a top tier relief pitcher. His current (decent) ERA of 3.23 this season perhaps indicates that he can still be good overall while doing the pitcher’s equivalent of point shaving. Videos circulated of Clase throwing first pitches that aren’t even close.

It makes little sense for professional athletes to gamble on their games because it’s ridiculously easy to get caught. You’d think that would be enough of a deterrent but here’s the issue. Actually, here are two main issues…