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A-Rod facing another suspension?

sangar

By sangar
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MikeAD Hangout Grand Counsel

MikeAD

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Clemens going to be a first time ballot? I tell you there will be more to this than just stats.

Possibly, but it will also be a few years yet before ARod is done. I would like to think the voters won't give in to the hardheaded views that are prevalent right now.

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sangar All-Star

sangar

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And on SG's point, yeah its pretty silly. Virtually everyone plays a home game at some point, and if you are rich and famous your home game will include people who are also rich and famous.
There is a huge difference between a home game and an illegal game. He didn't go to someone's home to play poker with some buddies. An illegal game is ran for profit, the same as a casino. This type of illegal game usually offers free food and drinks as well as girls and drugs. They also usually charge at least $100 per seat per hour, probably significantly more in this case, and 5% on markers. Most importantly, they are usually backed and ran by the kind of people a sports star should not be associating with. An old friend in Vegas once did 5 years federal time for running a similar game in Colorado. This type of game is not taken lightly by authorities.

Edit: A lot of people seem to be misunderstanding what he did wrong. It's not what he did, it's where he went to do it.

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OFFNY Hangout Grand Counsel

OFFNY

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No surprise here. His name came up in connection with this so they had to make a little noise.

I'd like to know if he will continue to test the waters with this, as he did when the team ordered had to order his cousin (steroid supplier) to be be nowhere near any Yankee gatherings when Rodriguez continued to drive to spring training games with him. Also, the following year (2010) he was receiving treatment from a Canadian doctor who was under investigation for distributing growth hormones. That doctor (Anthony Galea) confirmed that he was indeed treating Rodriguez, but denied supplying him with HGH. The guy (Alex Rodriguez) either has very bad judgement, or he is truly narcissistic and ultra-arrogant, or both. Time will tell. The history of his overall behavior would lead us to think that he'll find trouble again one way or another.

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ledzepp8 Hangout Grand Counsel

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As it should be. It shouldn't have even been a news story.

The fact that a professional baseball player was involved in illegal underground poker games (that appeared to be pretty high stakes) shouldn't have been a news story? I think that's the definition of newsworthy. Baseball doesn't want itself associated with the kind of people that run those games.

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Sports Guy Hangout Grand Counsel

Sports Guy

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The fact that a professional baseball player was involved in illegal underground poker games (that appeared to be pretty high stakes) shouldn't have been a news story? I think that's the definition of newsworthy. Baseball doesn't want itself associated with the kind of people that run those games.
No, its not newsworthy unless you are one of those tabloid, following the stars people.

Its a non story. Betting 10 grand a whole in golf is also illegal but it happens all the time.

Its absurd that this was a story.

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ledzepp8 Hangout Grand Counsel

ledzepp8

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No, its not newsworthy unless you are one of those tabloid, following the stars people.

Its a non story. Betting 10 grand a whole in golf is also illegal but it happens all the time.

Its absurd that this was a story.

It's not the money he was betting or that he was even gambling. It's where he was doing it and who he was doing it with. Betting on golf or playing poker with your buddies isn't the same as going to an organized underground illegal card game. I think the question that has to be asked is, "Who do you think is running these types of games (predominantly)?"

It's the same reason that Vick got into the trouble he got into. I'm just surprised Arod didn't get into trouble, unless the y couldn't verify that he was there or not.

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Sports Guy Hangout Grand Counsel

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It's not the money he was betting or that he was even gambling. It's where he was doing it and who he was doing it with. Betting on golf or playing poker with your buddies isn't the same as going to an organized underground illegal card game. I think the question that has to be asked is, "Who do you think is running these types of games (predominantly)?"

It's the same reason that Vick got into the trouble he got into. I'm just surprised Arod didn't get into trouble, unless the y couldn't verify that he was there or not.

Vick got into trouble because animals were being killed. Its not even remotely the same thing.

If you play poker with your friends, its illegal. Who cares if it is "underground".

Again, this is just stupid. I applaud AROD for being involved in these games...him and any other celebrity or guy off the street. They would be a lot of fun to be involved in.

With all the issues around the world, to even suggest this is a story is idiotic IMO. This isn't news..This is a guy with a crapload of money who is finding ways to enjoy himself, ways that don't hurt anyone.

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ledzepp8 Hangout Grand Counsel

ledzepp8

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Vick got into trouble because animals were being killed. Its not even remotely the same thing.

If you play poker with your friends, its illegal. Who cares if it is "underground".

Again, this is just stupid. I applaud AROD for being involved in these games...him and any other celebrity or guy off the street. They would be a lot of fun to be involved in.

With all the issues around the world, to even suggest this is a story is idiotic IMO. This isn't news..This is a guy with a crapload of money who is finding ways to enjoy himself, ways that don't hurt anyone.

Animals getting killed was near the bottom of the list of things that Vick got in trouble for. It's just what the media and fans focused on. Vick was being brought up on racketeering charges.

People that run illegal operations are criminals. Playing a card game at a buddy's house is not the same as playing at a game put on by nefarious individuals. I agree that the game that Arod was in was probably innocent, but it was most certainly newsworthy and deserved to be investigated by MLB.

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Sports Guy Hangout Grand Counsel

Sports Guy

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Animals getting killed was near the bottom of the list of things that Vick got in trouble for. It's just what the media and fans focused on. Vick was being brought up on racketeering charges.

People that run illegal operations are criminals. Playing a card game at a buddy's house is not the same as playing at a game put on by nefarious individuals. I agree that the game that Arod was in was probably innocent, but it was most certainly newsworthy and deserved to be investigated by MLB.

I agree..for tabloid lovers.
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mweb Hangout Grand Counsel

mweb

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There is a huge difference between a home game and an illegal game. He didn't go to someone's home to play poker with some buddies. An illegal game is ran for profit, the same as a casino. This type of illegal game usually offers free food and drinks as well as girls and drugs. They also usually charge at least $100 per seat per hour, probably significantly more in this case, and 5% on markers. Most importantly, they are usually backed and ran by the kind of people a sports star should not be associating with. An old friend in Vegas once did 5 years federal time for running a similar game in Colorado. This type of game is not taken lightly by authorities.

Edit: A lot of people seem to be misunderstanding what he did wrong. It's not what he did, it's where he went to do it.

Good post. I don't think this is a huge deal, but what you point out is what makes it a legit issue.

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sangar All-Star

sangar

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Vick got into trouble because animals were being killed. Its not even remotely the same thing.

If you play poker with your friends, its illegal. Who cares if it is "underground".

Again, this is just stupid. I applaud AROD for being involved in these games...him and any other celebrity or guy off the street. They would be a lot of fun to be involved in.

With all the issues around the world, to even suggest this is a story is idiotic IMO. This isn't news..This is a guy with a crapload of money who is finding ways to enjoy himself, ways that don't hurt anyone.

Law enforcement.

Having been extensively involved in the poker industry for the majority of my adult life I can tell you, without question, that this statement shows a fundamental lack of understanding. Also, what could possibly make you think no one gets hurt? The story itself originated with a violent episode. A lot of people go into these games and after becoming intoxicated with free girls, drugs, and booze, lose a lot more money than they can afford. If they don't pay, with interest, they will not be sued by a collection agency, they will be visited by collectors.

The authorities couldn't care less if you have a home game. They have very good reason to crack down on these games as severely as they do.

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