Are Pro Sports Gambling Away Their Integrity? – Liberty Nation News

The sports world was rocked again this week when two pitchers for Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Guardians were arrested on charges related to gambling.

Coming on the heels of the recent indictments of numerous current and former NBA players and a head coach on similarly disturbing allegations in October, the already heated debate about increasingly widespread legal wagering on pro sports has intensified. The overriding concern is about the potential damage it will cause among bettors, not to mention those watching sports simply for pleasure, who will increasingly question whether the games they are wagering on are on the up-and-up.

### The Rich History of Gambling in America

Betting has been a favorite pastime enjoyed by American sports fans for as long as anyone can remember. Until the last decade or so, it was mostly limited to informal bets between individuals, except in gambling meccas like Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

But now, years after the Supreme Court overturned a national ban on betting outside Nevada in 2018, online sports wagering has been legalized in 30 states plus DC, exploding across the land. People can now legally play the odds on almost anything. They are not confined to traditional bets such as whether a team will cover the point spread or the over/under on total points scored in a football game, or the outcome of a baseball or basketball game.

They can now wager on propositions (prop bets) like how many hits a baseball player will get, how many minutes a basketball player will be on the court, or how many passing yards a football quarterback will accumulate. It is these types of wagers that have stirred up the hornet’s nest.

### The Cleveland Pitching Scandal

It was prop bets, the most profitable for online sportsbooks such as FanDuel, Caesar’s, and MGM, that led to the arrests of Cleveland pitchers Emanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. Prosecutors claim that Clase began rigging pitches in 2023, providing information to bettors about the location and velocity of his pitches. Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme in 2025.

The two are accused of manipulating pitches to ensure certain outcomes, such as throwing a ball outside the strike zone, and receiving kickbacks from the bettors.

### Fallout in the NBA and Beyond

Meanwhile, in October, FBI Director Kash Patel ordered the arrest of over 30 current and former NBA figures and Mafia family members in a stunning takedown of two separate illegal gambling-related cases. The scheme reportedly involved using inside information from NBA players to profit from rigged betting on games and high-stakes poker, in which high-profile former pro athletes were used to lure unwitting wealthy victims to the poker table, creating an illusion of a legitimate, high-end game.

Once at the table, the victims played against players and dealers who were in on the scam.

Even a minor sport like wrestling has not been immune to corruption. Fourteen individuals, including two former Rutgers University wrestlers, were charged on November 13 with racketeering and money laundering in a mob-linked, multi-million-dollar illegal sports betting ring not dissimilar to the one uncovered by Patel and the FBI.

### The Tip of a Larger Iceberg?

Are these cases all unique one-offs, or do they represent the tip of a much larger iceberg?

Well, a whopping total of $148 billion was wagered by Americans legally in 2024, and sportsbooks profited to the tune of a record $14 billion. With all that money floating around, the opportunities for corruption are ripe and plentiful.

What makes this even more troubling is that sports franchises are now affiliating with online sportsbooks, in some cases even promoting prop bets during their telecasts. After more than 100 years of warning athletes that gambling is strictly verboten and considered the cardinal sin for competitors, pro sports are teaming up with online gambling sites, rationalizing their partnerships as the best method for keeping a close eye on betting patterns.

But many skeptics have asserted that this is nothing more than a quest for handsome profits.

### MLB’s Response

MLB and its affiliated sportsbooks have responded to the Guardians’ scandal by limiting wagers on pitch-level prop bets (e.g., ball/strike, pitch velocity) to $200 nationwide.

In addition, these “micro-bets” can no longer be included in parlays, in which bettors wager on a combination of propositions. Parlays are widely considered by experts to be sucker bets that are particularly profitable to gambling platforms.

The league stated that these one-off events, which can be determined by a single player and may not affect the game’s outcome, are particularly vulnerable to manipulation.

### The Stakes for Professional and College Sports

These gambling scandals threaten the very integrity of professional and college sports.

When baseball’s infamous Black Sox scandal, in which several members of the Chicago White Sox were paid off by gamblers to fix the 1919 World Series, was unmasked, it almost ruined the sport. The commissioner hired to clean up the game, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, banned eight players for life, even though they had been acquitted in a court of law. Landis understood the damage it had done.

Many will argue that only the emergence of all-time superstar Babe Ruth in 1920 and beyond saved MLB.

If today’s commissioners of the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, and the NCAA—which regulates college athletics—cannot manage to keep their sports clean, they will likely trigger an ugly reckoning that will drive untold thousands of wary fans away from the games they love.
https://www.libertynation.com/are-pro-sports-gambling-away-their-integrity/

Shiba Inu Exchanges Losing SHIB: 207,000,000,000 in 24 Hours

**Shiba Inu Sees Massive Exchange Outflows: Is an Accumulation Phase Underway?**

Shiba Inu (SHIB) has reported another significant exchange outflow event, with 207 billion SHIB departing exchanges in just a 24-hour period. This stands out as one of the largest single-day withdrawals in months, signaling more than just a minor accumulation wave.

In a market where sentiment has been unstable, signals like this are especially important. According to CryptoQuant data, there was a net outflow of 121 billion SHIB on November 15 alone, with the trend continuing into November 16. Such consistent withdrawal activity points to a long-term strategy among holders.

When exchanges lose supply at this rate, spot selling pressure tends to dry up, sharply reducing the likelihood of a deep price breakdown. However, despite this bullish underlying activity, SHIB remains pinned under strong technical resistance.

**SHIB’s Technical Picture: Why Isn’t Price Breaking Out?**

Currently, Shiba Inu is trading between $0.0000090 and $0.0000093—a local support zone that has held firm several times, preventing a breakdown. Despite this resilience, SHIB is still far below all major moving averages, which have converged and are sloping downward, acting as dynamic resistance.

Momentum remains weak, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovering around 39. Nevertheless, volume has stayed steady rather than collapsing, suggesting that holders are choosing to wait out the volatility rather than rushing to sell. This aligns perfectly with the recent outflow data: investors are removing tokens from exchanges because they’re prepared to endure market swings, not panic-sell.

**Accumulation Phase or Liquidation?**

Rather than entering a liquidation phase, SHIB appears to be entering an accumulation phase. For a strong upward move, the price needs to reclaim at least $0.0000105, where the first cluster of moving averages provides significant resistance. The next major resistance comes at $0.0000112.

So far, there hasn’t been a clear bullish breakout; the chart remains brutally honest about the hurdles ahead. Yet, something might be brewing beneath the surface: SHIB’s supply is vanishing from exchanges at a pace historically associated with significant trend shifts.

**Looking Ahead: Is a Recovery on the Horizon?**

While the price has yet to reflect these bullish undertones, SHIB may be laying the groundwork for a recovery leg if the outflow trend continues and the price manages to maintain its support zone. For now, SHIB holders seem ready to weather the storm, indicating strength rather than surrender as the market awaits the next big move.

*Stay tuned for more updates on Shiba Inu and other crypto news.*
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/tech/shiba-inu-exchanges-losing-shib-207000000000-in-24-hours/

Will Alex DeBrincat Score a Goal vs. the New York Rangers on November 16?

Will Alex DeBrincat Score for the Detroit Red Wings Against the New York Rangers on Sunday?

The Detroit Red Wings face off against the New York Rangers this Sunday at 7:00 PM ET. If you’re considering a wager on Alex DeBrincat to score, here’s a detailed look at his recent performance and stats to help inform your bet.

Alex DeBrincat Anytime Goal Odds vs. the Rangers

Anytime Goal Odds: +150 (Bet $10 to win $15 if he scores a goal)

DeBrincat’s Goal Scoring Stats

Through 18 games this season, DeBrincat has accumulated 20 points, including seven multi-point games. He has found the back of the net in six of those 18 games, with two contests featuring multiple goals.

Overall, DeBrincat has scored 8 goals on 73 shots, reflecting an 11.0% shooting conversion rate. On the power play, he has been particularly effective, scoring 5 power-play goals on 18 shots.

Against the Rangers this season, DeBrincat has attempted three shots in one game but has yet to score against them.

Recent Performance Overview

Date Opponent Location Result Points Goals Time On Ice
11/15/2025 Sabres Home L 5-4 OT 2 2 18:04
11/13/2025 Ducks Home W 6-3 3 2 18:26
11/9/2025 Blackhawks Home L 5-1 0 0 19:39
11/7/2025 Rangers Home L 4-1 0 0 16:50
11/4/2025 Golden Knights Away L 1-0 0 0 19:19
11/2/2025 Sharks Away W 3-2 SO 1 0 16:29
10/31/2025 Ducks Away L 5-2 2 1 17:32
10/30/2025 Kings Away W 4-3 SO 2 1 15:33
10/28/2025 Blues Away W 5-2 2 1 15:37
10/25/2025 Blues Home W 6-4 1 1 18:06

Game Details: Detroit Red Wings vs. New York Rangers

  • Game Day: Sunday, November 16, 2025
  • Time: 7:00 PM ET
  • TV Channel: NHL Network
  • Streaming: Watch the NHL on Fubo!

Considering DeBrincat’s recent scoring bursts and his power-play effectiveness, he remains a strong candidate to score against the Rangers despite not having scored against them yet this season. Betting on an anytime goal at +150 offers a potentially rewarding wager for bettors confident in his offensive upside.

https://www.bleachernation.com/picks/2025/11/16/will-alex-debrincat-score-a-goal-vs-the-new-york-rangers-on-november-16/

Brooklyn Nets vs Washington Wizards Preview and Prediction – Nov. 16 | 2025-26 NBA Season

**Brooklyn Nets vs. Washington Wizards Preview and Betting Tips**

The Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards are set to face off in one of eight NBA games scheduled for Sunday. Both teams enter this matchup near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, each holding a 1-11 record.

### Brooklyn Nets Overview

The Nets currently sit 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 1-11 record. They have won just once in their last five games and are coming off a 105-98 road loss to the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. stood out in that game, recording 24 points, alongside 11 rebounds and seven assists. Nic Claxton contributed 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists.

### Washington Wizards Overview

The Wizards, positioned 14th in the Eastern Conference, also have a 1-11 record. They fell 135-112 to the Houston Rockets on the road Wednesday.

Alex Sarr was the top performer for Washington with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists. Kyshawn George added 16 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists.

### Brooklyn Nets vs. Washington Wizards Game Details

– **Date & Time:** Sunday at 6 p.m. ET
– **Location:** Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
– **Broadcast:** YES and MNMT

### Betting Lines

– **Moneyline:** Nets (+120) | Wizards (-140)
– **Spread:** Nets (+2.5) | Wizards (-2.5)
– **Total (O/U):** Over 234.5 (-110) | Under 234.5 (-110)

### Head-to-Head Preview

Historically, the Wizards have had the upper hand with a 110-100 record against the Nets. However, Brooklyn has been more dominant recently, winning seven of their last 10 matchups.

Their last regular-season meeting was on March 29, where the Nets secured a narrow 115-112 road victory. In that game, Wizards guard AJ Johnson posted 20 points and four assists while Nets forward Tyrese Martin finished with 20 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

### Predicted Starting Lineups

**Brooklyn Nets**
– PG: Egor Demin
– SG: Terance Mann
– SF: Michael Porter Jr.
– PF: Noah Clowney
– C: Nic Claxton

**Washington Wizards**
– PG: C.J. McCollum
– SG: Tre Johnson
– SF: Kyshawn George
– PF: Khris Middleton
– C: Alex Sarr

*Note: Starting lineups are subject to change ahead of tipoff.*

### Betting Tips

– **Michael Porter Jr. Over/Under 23 points:** Porter Jr. is averaging 23.2 points per game this season. Given his recent form, betting on the over is a safe choice.
– **Alex Sarr Over/Under 19 points:** Sarr is averaging 19.1 points per game, making the over a reliable bet as well.

### Game Prediction

Despite both teams struggling this season, the Nets are favorites heading into this matchup. Expect a close contest, but Brooklyn is projected to come out on top, holding a 58.3% win probability.

**Final Prediction:** Over 231 points, Brooklyn Nets win.

Unlock free expert tips and get your picks now for more NBA games and betting advice!
https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/brooklyn-nets-vs-washington-wizards-preview-prediction-nov-16-2025-26-nba-season

Volcanic Ash: Legislators not in any rush to police members’ bribery

A 92-year-old Honolulu architect was convicted in state court for bribery last week and faces up to 10 years in prison after being recorded in 2022 trying to slip a $20 bill to a city permit officer.

Yet, there have been no charges and conflicting explanations in the 2022 federal case involving a tape of an unnamed state legislator taking a bag containing $35,000.

**Corruption Fighting, Hawaii-Kine**

House Speaker Nadine Nakamura last week finally voiced concern about “the cloud placed over the entire state Legislature,” but her remarks came off as an invitation to the feds to ask her to back off. Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson quickly obliged.

The case stems from federal bribery prosecutions that jailed state Sen. J. Kalani English and state Rep. Ty Cullen. Cullen cooperated with authorities to receive a reduced sentence.

In a 2023 filing, federal prosecutors stated that Cullen recorded “an influential state legislator” accepting a purported $35,000 campaign donation from a person of interest to authorities. They alluded to a “chargeable bribery offense.” However, there has been radio silence since.

Alexander Silvert, the retired federal public defender who spurred federal corruption convictions of Louis and Katherine Kealoha, stirred public attention with a Change.org petition demanding that the Legislature conduct its own investigation of its member’s possible corruption. The petition (change.org/p/restore-public-trust-investigate-the- unknown-hawai%CA%BBi-legislator) had 813 signatures as of Friday.

In a Star-Advertiser commentary, Silvert noted that the statute of limitations on the bribery case is looming in January 2027. “One could assume that the Legislature would want to police its own and investigate,” he wrote. “Particularly when it might prevent a possibly corrupt legislator from continuing to actively participate in voting on new laws, such as anti-corruption legislation or campaign spending limits.”

Representatives Della Au Belatti and Kanani Souza have also agitated for investigations by the Legislature, the Campaign Spending Commission, and the Ethics Commission.

Nakamura initially said a legislative investigation would be inappropriate while the federal probe is ongoing. But feeling the heat, last week she wrote to Sorenson asking if the federal investigation is still active and whether “parallel investigations by state authorities would complement or potentially interfere with your office’s work.”

She also wrote to state Attorney General Anne Lopez “to determine whether any Hawaii state laws may have been violated,” while noting that “my request is not intended to interfere with or duplicate federal efforts.”

Sorenson quickly responded that the federal probe remains active and “a parallel investigation by state authorities would potentially interfere with our investigation.”

In a confusing statement, he said, “the referenced ‘bribery offense’ is unrelated to the $35,000 in the paper bag. Put another way, the so-named ‘influential state legislator’ was not involved in the ‘bribery offense’ alluded to in the filing.”

So, a legislator took a paper bag stuffed with $35,000, and it wasn’t bribery? Then what was the bribery offense?

The cloud over the state keeps getting darker.

Viewing this tap dancing against the $20 handshake, the lesson seems to be: if you want to get away with bribery in Hawaii, bribe big.
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2025/11/16/hawaii-news/volcanic-ash/volcanic-ash-legislators-not-in-any-rush-to-police-members-bribery/

Nebraska-Penn State kickoff time, TV channel announced

The Big Ten Conference and its television partners have announced that the Nebraska-Penn State game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22, will kick off at 6 p.m. CT and be broadcast on NBC.

Following this game, NBC will feature the Washington Huskies versus the UCLA Bruins at approximately 9:30 p.m. CT.

This upcoming matchup between Nebraska and Penn State will mark the 19th meeting between the two programs. Currently, the Huskers hold a narrow 10-8 advantage over the Nittany Lions.

Nebraska (7-3, 4-3) will enter the game coming off a bye week, while Penn State (4-6, 1-6) returns home after a decisive 28-10 victory over Michigan State in East Lansing, MI.

A win for Nebraska would give the Cornhuskers their most wins in a season since finishing 9-4 under Mike Riley in 2016. Additionally, it would keep them within reach of their first 10-win season since a 10-4 finish under Bo Pelini in 2012.

Stay tuned for ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/nebraska-penn-state-kickoff-time-100821683.html

ONE 173 post-fight breakdown: Kana crashes Stamp’s return, outpoints Thai megastar in kickboxing war

Kana Morimoto has promised to unleash pure violence in her return to the global stage of ONE Championship.

The acclaimed fighter is set to make a powerful comeback, showcasing her skill and determination. Fans around the world eagerly await her performance as she steps back into the spotlight.

With a reputation for fierce competition, Morimoto’s return is highly anticipated, signaling an exciting chapter in her fighting career within ONE Championship.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-one-173-post-fight-breakdown-kana-crashes-stamp-s-return-outpoints-thai-megastar-kickboxing-war

Fear of risk is killing community | Opinion

**The Power of Proximity: Why We Need to Get Youth Closer to Their Communities**

Sarah Fanslau is the CEO and founder of KinCorps, a Portland-based company focused on creating experiential opportunities for young people aged 5-13 and their parents to get close to and learn from new and different people.

When I was 11 years old, my family and I traveled with members of my mother’s church to Kensington, Philadelphia, for a service trip. We volunteered with a nonprofit organization that provided shelter, food, and medical care to those in need in the area. Having volunteered frequently as a child, including at homeless shelters in Maine, I thought I’d be prepared for Philly. I wasn’t.

The area surrounding the organization looked desolate. The buildings were empty, boarded up, and covered with graffiti. People lay on the sidewalk and fell into the street. They came into the organization in wheelchairs, with few clothes, hungry, afraid—some crying. I’d never been that close to so much suffering.

This experience, along with others, led me to work with and volunteer for several organizations dedicated to engaging youth in service, particularly through service-learning.

As a young adult in New York City, I earned some extra cash on weekends by working for an organization focused on educating young people about homelessness. Groups of middle and high school-aged youth would arrive for an overnight at the Quaker meeting house on the Lower East Side. Before each overnight, we discussed homelessness—the causes and consequences. Many of the kids held assumptions that reflected larger societal stereotypes related to drugs, mental illness, or laziness.

Each night, the youth joined the men for dinner, played checkers or chess, and then helped with clean-up. At night, in a room just down the hall from the men, the youth would again reflect on their experiences. Nearly all were surprised to learn that most of the men had jobs but couldn’t afford rent. Many shared stories they had heard—about medical problems, successes and the joys of children or grandchildren, and about hard times. All realized how much they had in common with these men, who had seemed so different just hours before.

As an adult, I’ve continued this work, running service programs at national and global organizations for youth and families from ages 5 to 25. While this work has been meaningful, too many of the programs I’ve led have been devoid of what Bryan Stevenson, a public interest lawyer and social activist, calls *proximity*—getting close to those who are different from us, who are excluded, who are suffering.

Through proximity, Stevenson notes, we can grow empathy and compassion, recognize our shared humanity, challenge and undermine dehumanizing narratives, and advocate for justice. But proximity is challenging these days, and while many experts and academics—including former surgeon general Vivek Murthy—highlight service as a fundamental prescription for our current malaise, opportunities for young people have become increasingly limited and sanitized. In large part, this is because involving youth in volunteering that gets them proximate is seen as too risky.

Organizations concerned about liability and the associated insurance premiums for accepting volunteers, particularly young people, have stopped doing so altogether or have focused primarily on older youth. The pathway to volunteering that many of us took decades ago through the church has receded as church attendance has fallen.

If I had to give one answer to how we found ourselves here, it would be that we are afraid. We’ve let fear of others, injury, and risk outweigh our better judgment. We’ve become so good at asking “why” that we’ve failed to ask “why not,” or to consider what happens if we don’t act. We have failed to realize that some of the structures, rules, laws, and regulations we’ve put in place aren’t making us safer but are pushing us farther apart—all while reducing our quality of life.

The solution lies with all of us—parents, institutions, and the government. It is predicated upon realizing that if youth aren’t given an opportunity when they are young (really young) to get involved in and proximate to their community, and especially to those who are different from them, then by the time they are 13 or 18, community won’t matter to many of them. They won’t trust it, they won’t know how to engage with or benefit from it, and may not feel compelled to protect it when it is at risk.

Let’s give young people the chance to build connections that last a lifetime—and to discover what we all have in common.
https://www.sunjournal.com/2025/11/16/fear-of-risk-is-killing-community-opinion/

Musk intends to improve X’s posts timeline and switch ad recommendations to Grok

Billionaire Elon Musk has announced plans to improve X’s timeline, promising that users will regularly experience better content recommendations and overall improvements. The platform will soon move its ad recommendations onto the same AI system currently used to optimize organic posts based on users’ interests.

Earlier this month, during an X Spaces session, Musk hinted at his ambition to transform X into the world’s leading advertising platform. He introduced Grok, an AI system he described as the “smartest in the world” based on benchmark scores. Despite this optimism, X’s organic posts have stagnated at pre-acquisition levels.

In a recent Sunday post on X, Musk confirmed the ongoing timeline enhancements: “You should notice rapid improvements in the quality of your timeline almost every week, but there will be two steps forward and one step back at times. We are also switching advertising recommendations to use the same Grok/AI system as organic posts, so the quality of ads will get radically better.”

Musk considers Grok a significant upgrade from Twitter’s previous, somewhat random ad targeting methods. However, since Musk’s acquisition, concerns over brand safety have played a major role in advertisers’ departure, triggered by looser ad placement policies and public disputes with critics. Although some advertisers returned after the 2024 election, advertising revenue still falls short compared to pre-acquisition figures.

X recorded approximately 100 million original posts per day in 2023, and current activity remains near that level, indicating some stagnation. Still, Musk is hopeful that smarter AI-driven targeting combined with safer ad placements will boost the platform’s appeal.

Previously, Musk revealed plans to launch a system that scans posts, replies, quotes, and reposts to predict each user’s interests. This initiative aims to help lesser-known creators whose high-quality content often goes unnoticed. By leveraging AI, Musk promises to bring worthy content to the surface regardless of follower counts.

Users will be able to customize their feed preferences with Grok at any time—whether for a temporary tweak or a permanent change. Ideally, this system will surface posts from smaller creators to relevant audiences, thereby enhancing overall engagement. However, those who prefer a hand-picked, chronological timeline might not notice much difference.

X has already taken steps to improve ad quality by restricting emoji use and banning hashtags in ads. The platform also introduced an “aesthetic score” to lower costs for well-designed creatives. Critics, however, have questioned this score, suggesting it may reflect Musk’s personal tastes more than objective metrics.

**AI Transforms Ads and Monetization on X**

X is rolling out AI-powered Dynamic Product Ads that showcase products tailored to individual users. Musk also plans to integrate ads into Grok chatbot responses based on user queries. In the future, advertising campaigns may be fully managed by Grok after advertisers upload their creative assets.

By deploying Grok’s AI, X aims to deliver hyper-targeted campaigns to advertisers while providing smaller creators with access to specialized audiences. This shift has the potential to revolutionize engagement and monetization across the platform.

*Claim your free seat in an exclusive crypto trading community limited to 1,000 members.*
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/finance/musk-intends-to-improve-xs-posts-timeline-and-switch-ad-recommendations-to-grok/