NBA Gambled and Lost

Autumn is really here. Leaves are changing and falling. As we write this the temp is 35 degrees, American. We won't use fru-fru Canadian socialist numbers, not till the Toronto Blue Jays are vanquished from our sacred World Series. Moose eating bastards. 

We had some bad news here in Chindia last night, as word finally got out that one of our neighbors had a bad stroke last week. We and another dad went over to his house to see how he and his wife are doing. He's still in the hospital. His wife says he recognizes her and can speak a little, so that's how bad his stroke was. A long stay in rehab awaits, she said. 'How can we help?' we asked. 

Chelsea Clinton castigates Trump's White House renovations.  'Although I spent many of my formative years living in the White House, I always knew it wasn’t my house,' scolds the test-case nepo-baby. Hey sweetheart, remember how your dad treated the White House? His DNA is still in the oval office. STFU. Exit question: could Chelsea actually hold down, you know, a job?

So the NBA has a massive gambling scandal involving players and coaches. No surprise. It's impossible to watch North American sports without being bombarded by gambling ads. Most gambling adverts mock the viewer. 'Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler,' the adverts say. That's good of them. Gambling problem, ya think? There's a reason why organized gambling used to be illegal. Bring back the vice squad. 

Obviously more horrifying gambling scandals will come. There will be, and are (as the above linked article points out), more gambling rings in the NBA and other North American sports. Shame on all the sports commissioners for partnering with gambling sites. Baseball, which was nearly destroyed by the 1919 Black Sox betting scandal, and banned Pete Rose* for life for betting on baseball, has an 'official' sports betting partner. 

We've never been a bettor, with only a few exceptions. In 1993 we put $50 in one of them NCAA college basketball tourney pools. In high school one of our friends fell in with a 'shady guy' and brought actual NFL gambling slips to school. We won a few bucks and he actually paid - till school authorities found out what was happening. We don't even understand how sports gambling works. What's a parlay? What does 'Phillies +150' mean? 

We count not liking to gamble among our many blessings. We haven't been drunk since 2004, and never did a drug harder than weed. There but for the grace of god go we. 

NBA commissioner Adam Silver should resign in disgrace. Of course he won't.  

DOGE Report: Okay, the Irish 1st Tank Squadron's counterattack is going just fine but creates problems. Don't we need a scene to preview Captain Eoin Stewart and his band of intrepid tankers? What about Captain Carney and his battery of 90mm recoilless guns. Oh, and right now they're fighting the Royal Irish Rangers. This creates confusion; Irish 1st Tank Squadron vs Royal Irish Rangers. Yes, the Northern Irish are Irish, even Ian Paisely said so. 

*Rule Numer One, Numero Uno, posted in every locker room in the Major Leagues: do not bet on baseball. That man should never, ever get into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Upon this hill we will die.