Online death threats are filling social media inboxes. In-person scares are requiring beefed-up security away from stadiums. Lifetime bans are on the rise as athletes cost themselves millions of dollars in pursuit of hundreds.
While Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani escaped his former interpreter’s illegal sports betting scandal with little to no damage, recent updates from the front lines of legalized sports betting continue to be, well, not very pretty.
Mizzou basketball product Jontay Porter has been banned for life from the NBA after he was nailed for inside action, the biggest no-no for players. The same fate was assigned to now-former MLB player Tucupita Marcano. Multiple baseball minor leaguers recently received heavy suspensions that could jeopardize their careers. USA Today just published a story about a baseball team official needing security because of a betting-related threat, then mentioned a player who had been followed — not on social media, either — by someone with a betting-related beef.
People are also reading…
Stay tuned for the next concerning headline. A new one arrives weekly, at least.
None of this will stop or slow down the intensity of Missouri’s pro sports teams in their shared quest to legalize sports betting in the Show-Me State. Let’s not kid ourselves. But perhaps one small audible can be called moving forward. Can teams’ kid-friendly mascots please be spared from the politics and propaganda?
As much as it pains me to admit, McGraw Milhaven has made a good point on this specific topic. I like to give the KTRS (550 AM) host a hard time about his constant complaining about late-night start times in the sports world, but he’s right about the mascots and betting. Fredbird, Louie, Royals mascot Sluggerrr and the gang should be on the sideline of the sports gambling push.
Winning for Missouri Education, the coalition leading the legalized sports betting charge, had these mascots front and center for a photo op last month in Jefferson City. The furry crew even helped carry boxes that held signatures of people who want betting on the ballot. It was a bad look, especially for a group that wants the gambling revenue earmarked for education. Hopefully it was the last time we see it. Teams have the ultimate say in where and how their mascots represent them. They should shut this down.
I usually limit mascot commentary to asking why Fredbird doesn’t wear pants. Granted, Louie doesn’t either, but when Fredbird’s parents show up to Busch Stadium, they are fully dressed. It’s weird. But I’d gladly drop the pro-pants agenda if Fredbird swears off attaching himself to prop bets and parlays.
I’m a realist. If voters want sports betting legalized, so be it. This newspaper covers lines and odds. We feature betting-related video content on our website. This is tricky territory for anyone involved in sports these days. One slip, and you’re a big hypocrite. So I try to tread carefully.
Hopefully, though, we all can agree that the same mascots who pop up at birthday parties and host kid-targeted TV programs shouldn’t be featured players in the sports betting pep rally. Yes, Fredbird’s nest is in a stadium called Busch. But you don’t see him cracking cold ones. When Joe Camel would approve of a move, maybe it’s the wrong move.
I’ve made the case before that instead of ranting against the sports betting legalization trend — it’s just a matter of time; check out how many surrounding states have welcomed the action — it would be more productive to call for an improved safety net for those who will get burned. A fun hobby for most is a damaging vice for some. Missouri has much ground to make up in helping those who can’t do it right. As access to a risky business gets easier for all, so should assistance for those in need of it.
That brings us to the biggest reason the mascot stuff should stop: More and more feedback suggests young people are at risk. No, not necessarily the age group of kids who swarm Fredbird and friends. But add a decade or so to the age of those kids, and it’s become a danger zone.
Teenagers are finding ways around online betting age limits. Counseling groups and call-in centers focused on gambling problems are encountering more young people than ever before. The data is undeniable and growing.
Those lobbying for legalization in Missouri should not hide from these facts. They could potentially help their cause if they were more vocal about how they plan to counteract some of the obvious downsides to their agenda.
If anything, the mascots should be tapped to teach young people about the risks of gambling.
That probably won’t happen. So at the very least, when it comes to this campaign, put them on the bench.