Analysis. History. Perspective.

Sports Then and Now



Famous Athletes Who Have a History of Gambling 0

Posted on August 19, 2020 by John Harris

Sports and gambling have always had a special connection for centuries. Since sporting events started to take place worldwide, people have engaged in gambling in order to win some money and gambling has become a hobby and way of life for many people. There is no surprise that today we have many online gambling sites that provide sports betting and many other games. 

Since the gambling industry has been around for a while, there is no surprise that numerous famous and celebrated athletes have tried out their own luck. Some of them are successful and some of them even developed a problem. Nevertheless, the following athletes have a history of gambling, and you can even check out a guide to online casinos in America and try out your own luck. 

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Floyd “Money” Mayweather didn’t earn this nickname for no reason. Not only is he unbeatable in the ring, but he is also a renowned gambler. He is known to bet some seriously big games and he even posts tweets regularly with pictures of his betting slips. Since he is so good at gambling, he shows the proof of some massive wagers winning even hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

Michael Jordan

One of the greatest basketball players of all time with numerous NBA championships behind him, Michael Jordan is also an avid gambler. Besides his great NBA career, he is also known for winning some of the highest stake gambling games. At the high of his days, he was even a regular bettor on rock, paper and scissors. Once, Jordan even bet as much as $100,000 on the game. In 1992, before the Barcelona Olympics Finals it is said that he spent a whole night playing poker with Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson and Scottie Pippen. During his career, Jordan has been seen playing golf for money or betting on it, and he did lose great amounts of money, but he often won as well. And even though he is retired now, not much has changed when it comes to betting. 

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Should Athletes Really Be Role Models? 3

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Ashley Andrews

Charles Barkley has made it clear that he is not a role model.

Charles Barkley has made it clear that he is not a role model.

While many still ponder the question–the likes of Charles Barkley come to mind–the question has already been definitively answered. Between cut scenes of him dunking a basketball on a practice court, he earnestly tells the camera:

I am not a role model. I am not paid to be a role model. I am paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court. Parents should be role models. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.

This was a Nike ad during the heyday of the “Just do it” campaign. When the words, “Just do it” appeared at the end of the commercial, it is not obvious if they are referring to playing basketball, or raising your own kids in a responsible manner. What they most definitely exclude is the idea of using Barkley, or any other athlete as a role model for how you, or anyone else, should live their lives.

There are all kinds of reasons why Barkley’s words should be heeded. Here are a few:

Athletes Make Poor Life Choices

According to Axis Recovery:

Because of these factors (among a number of others), the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids states that sportspeople are “more prone than the general population to substance abuse.”

The three factors referenced in the above quote are:

  • An addiction to performance-enhancing substances
  • An addiction to stimulants to alleviate depression
  • An addiction to prescription painkillers

There are understandable reasons why professional athletes make self-destructive life choices. In no way is this intended to be a judgmental observation. But it seems like the last type of person you want to set up as role models for kids is the kind with ample reason to turn to drugs and alcohol as a necessary evil for getting through the day.

Beyond substance abuse, there are other habits one might not be comfortable encouraging such as gambling and sexually irresponsible behavior. Many of the behaviors of professional athletes can be attributed to the fact that they are all young. Professional athletes tend to retire in their early to mid-thirties, much younger depending on the sport. They often went from rags to riches overnight, without any prior sense of responsibility. Even under the best of circumstances, they are going to make a lot of bad decisions that others simply cannot afford to make. This is the recipe for an unlikely role model. Read the rest of this entry →

  • Vintage Athlete of the Month

    • Mickey Lolich: 1968 World Series Hero
      October 2, 2024 | 3:00 pm
      Mickey Lolich

      The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month is one of the most celebrated pitchers in Detroit Tigers history and will forever be remembered for his heroic performance in the 1968 World Series.

      Mickey Lolich is remembered for his durability, resilience, and ability to deliver in clutch situations. Known for his powerful left arm and an almost superhuman capacity to pitch complete games, Lolich etched his name in baseball history with his stellar performance in the 1968 World Series, leading the Tigers to a championship. His career, spanning from 1963 to 1979, was defined by consistency, longevity, and an unyielding competitive spirit. Lolich may not have the same level of fame as some of his contemporaries, but his achievements on the mound have earned him a lasting legacy in the annals of Major League Baseball.

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