MLB: Alex Rodriguez Investigated for Illegal Gambling but Owners Race Horses
August 3, 2011 · Harold Friend · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Major League Baseball is a cartel, which is defined as a syndicate, combine or trust formed especially to regulate prices and output in some field of business.
Since MLB is a private corporation, it can make its own rules.
One of its rules is that team owners are allowed to gamble.
The George Steinbrenner family has been involved with thoroughbred breeding and racing operations for almost as long as Mr. George Steinbrenner owned the New York Yankees.
John Galbreath owned the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1945-85. He founded Darby Dan Farm and was active in breeding and racing horses.
Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos breeds and races thoroughbred horses. He owns Ross Valley Farm in Baltimore County.
Does anyone believe that baseball owners involved in horse racing don’t bet on horse races? Interested in buying a bridge?
Many baseball players are involved in horse racing. Included are Brad Penny, Mark Loretta (retired), Yorvit Torrealba and Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland. Think they don’t bet on the races?
We live in a disingenuous society. MLB unilaterally determines what type of gambling is acceptable. Whether a gambling activity is legal is irrelevant because MLB is a private cartel.
At the beginning of July, it was reported that Alex Rodriguez played in a high stakes poker game that included Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon.
Baseball is primarily entertainment and A-Rod is one of its greatest entertainers.
The poker game was illegal, but don’t assume that Rodriguez broke any laws. He didn’t, which is the key point.
It’s illegal to operate a card club that charges admission or takes a cut of the pots, but it is legal to play in such games.
Rodriguez didn’t operate the game. The only cuts of any pots he received were the ones he won.
To repeat, A-Rod did not break any laws. It was legal for him and his celebrity friends to play in the poker game.
USA Today reported that MLB is investigating Alex Rodriguez for participating in an illegal poker game.
MLB spokesperson Pat Courtney told USA Today, “We take this very seriously and have been investigating this matter since the initial allegation. As part of the investigation, the commissioner’s office will interview Mr. Rodriguez.”
Is MLB doing the right thing? You bet (oops, excuse me) it is, but its actions are anathema.
Any gambling by anyone, I repeat, anyone involved in baseball compromises the game.
If an owner loses large amounts of money gambling, she could be put in a situation that might prevent her team from being able to spend the extra few million dollars necessary to sign or retain a top free agent. There are many, many other similar consequences.
Since players have less money, they could be compromised more easily, but that is not the point.
Gambling affects the integrity of the game.
Reprimanding Rodriguez is fine, but then the owners who bet on races and even Major League Baseball’s executive vice president of baseball operations, Joe Torre, should be investigated.
Those who have the gold, rule.
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