Of fact, many athletes have ruined their reputations and careers as a result of their gambling habits. For example, conspiracy theorists allege that David Stern “forced” Michael Jordan’s first retirement because MJ allowed things to escalate out of control. These ultra-occasionally competitive unethical behaviors might make for compelling stories. Here are five men who can attest to this.
Michael Jordan
Jordan, like any normal type A personality, must always be in the thick of things. In 1993, MJ was discovered gambling the night before a game against the Knicks in Atlantic City, admitting to losing $165,000 as a result of the vice, and a San Diego businessman claimed MJ owed him $1.25 million after a round of golf. Now that he’s been retired for almost a decade, it’s not uncommon to see him playing high-stakes poker or golfing with another celebrity, adding to the virtual library of MJ gambling anecdotes that have accumulated over the years.
Hornung, Paul
Gambling was a huge problem in the NFL in the early 1960s, as proven by the suspensions of the league’s top star, Hornung, and All-Pro tackle Alex Karras, both of whom were suspended for betting on NFL games and associating with gamblers during the 1963 season. According to Commissioner Pete Rozelle, Hornung wagered up to $500 on games but never on the Packers. Hornung, who led the league in scoring from 1959 to 1961, led the Packers to two NFL championships in 1961 and 1962, but the team would not win another until 1965, a year after he was reinstated. His candour about his gambling ensured that he received a light sentence and that his reputation was preserved.
Wayne Rooney
It’s hard to believe Rooney has been an international soccer sensation for numerous years at such a young age. It’s much more impossible to believe he’s squandered nearly £1 million. He racked up £700,000 in debt as a 20-year-old by betting on football, horses, and dogs with a business associate of teammate Michael Owen, a disagreement that was later settled. Two years later, he was claimed to have lost £65,000 in a Manchester casino in just two hours. Rooney has promised to limit his gambling, but with weekly revenues above the gross yearly median pay in the United Kingdom, it’s evident that he has the financial means to continue the habit.
Daly, John
Barkley’s startling disclosure that he lost $10 million to gambling was prompted by Daly’s even more startling statement that he lost between $50 million and $60 million over a 12-year period, an estimate Barkley assumed was overblown since Daly had an autobiography to sell. Daly’s eccentric nature and several vices have resulted in a plethora of stories about his extracurricular activities. For example, he lost $1.65 million in just five hours while playing $5,000 slots after barely losing a match at a World Golf Championship. Fortunately for Daly, his legendary off-the-course status allows him to maintain a constant supply of revenue.
Pete Rose
Since 1989, every big sports betting controversy has and will continue to bring up the name of Pete Rose, who is still banned from baseball and the only living individual who is ineligible for the Hall of Fame. Even though the famed Dowd Report claimed that there was no evidence that he gambled against the Reds, years later, investigator John Dowd stated that he believed Rose may have bet against his club. Rose’s most public admission to date is that he bets on the Reds “every night.”
Final words
Exycasinos experts helped us to gather these stories to warn you that gambling is all about fun but making success and money. Staying cool and playing responsibly is the best way to avoid falling into addiction.
