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Media Hypocrisy and NBA Scandal: Who Really Loses When Gambling Wins?

Lauren Ashburn
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Media Hypocrisy and NBA Scandal: Who Really Loses When Gambling Wins?

In an NBA scandal for the ages, shockwaves rippled through the sports and media world when 30 people associated with the league were arrested on insider trading charges brought by the FBI for illegal gambling, and tied to New York mafia families.

What a way to open a basketball season.

These guys make big-time bank, and they seem to be throwing their legacies and careers away on this? It’s an epic epidemic, but in this case, it’s hard to fathom that those who have so much are willing to flush it down the toilet. They’re the ones to blame, yes, but the media routinely talk about gambling on TV.

It used to be taboo. Now it’s a mainstay, which sadly is here to stay.

But the larger blame lies squarely at the feet of media company behemoths that play on people’s addictions in order to line their already gold-lined pockets. This is no slam dunk for anyone.

Three bigwigs received the most media attention: Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, who had been investigated and cleared by the NBA two years ago; Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups; and Damon Jones, a former NBA player and coach. The stings were called “Operation Royal Flush” and “Nothing but Bet.”

It should have been called “Nothing but Greed” by mega-rich media companies and insiders. Billups made over $100 million, Rozier made over $150 million in career earnings, and Jones made around $20 million. Isn’t that enough to live on? The insiders were charged with such offenses as wire fraud, money laundering, extortion, and robbery.

“For most people, you couldn’t spend a hundred fifty million dollars in your lifetime,” said Notre Dame finance professor Richard Sheehan on Fox News.

This whole thing reminds me of when the chief of police in the 1942 movie Casablanca, where Humphrey Bogart’s nightclub clandestinely offers illegal card games in the back room, says, “I’m shocked — shocked — to find that gambling is going on here!” He says it as he collects his winnings.

It’s a perfect metaphor for what is happening today. No one, and I mean no one, could have been truly shocked about the alleged actions of these 30 people. They may have been shocked that they got caught, purportedly playing poker games using high-tech cheating devices like X-ray card tables and rigged shuffling machines. These potential thieves thought of it all.

TV media companies like ESPN, NBC, and FOX were finally called out for “talking out of both sides of their mouths,” as Catherine Rampell, co-anchor of The Weekend on MSNBC, said.

It’s total hypocrisy.

The CBS Sports app provides extensive betting advice from experts and partners with sportsbooks like BetMGM. NBC Sports partners with PointsBet, which features its odds and branding. ESPN/ABC owns ESPN BET, which promotes itself as an app that offers “big odds boosts…and a massive range of player props.” Fox shut down its app formerly known as Fox Bet because it was losing money. But the Fox Sports website and app show odds and bet slips—a digital record of a wager—in states where mobile sports betting is legal.

Global gambling revenue last year was between $182 and $187 billion. These media companies consistently call out the perils of gambling and then run ads for gambling apps at the same time.

As Clay Travis, Fox’s OutKick founder, noted on social media the day the FBI announced the arrests, ESPN touted its own gambling company at a pretty inopportune time, highlighting the duplicity.

“This is pretty funny. ESPN Bet promo is on the screen while ESPN discusses the NBA sports gambling scandal.”

It happened on the network show Get Up, but as Mike Greenberg was partway through talking about it, the ad disappeared. As Jemele Hill aptly noted on MSNBC, “Frankly, it helps them make more money…The hard part about this is that there’s a natural hypocrisy that we all can see.”

The arrests triggered days-long coverage by all of the networks, bringing together a collection of experts and analysts.

Stephen A. Smith, who broadcasts on ESPN’s First Take and has two daily shows on SiriusXM, claimed the arrests were President Trump’s fault. The combative commentator said he’s out to get the NBA. FBI Director Kash Patel fired back, saying it was “the single dumbest thing I’ve ever heard out of anyone in modern history.”

Brian Windhorst, ESPN’s senior NBA analyst, said on the hugely popular Dan Patrick Show, “I had no heads up.” He added, “I don’t think Chauncey [Billups] knew what was coming either…I’m not sure how much heads up the NBA had.”

He is one of the few who doesn’t think the story is as big as the rest of the world. “I don’t think this is a scandal that rocks the NBA to its core. I know that there are people that are going to use it to say that. And certainly their association with sports betting can be called into question, as all people associated with sports can be. ESPN’s can be.”

Pro-poker player Matt Berkey knows the pitfalls and says the high associated with playing at the top is real. He told ESPN that he was invited several times to one of the poker games in question and that his antennae went up. “It just seemed quite suspicious to me, and I was lucky enough to pass. I had a lot of friends who lost hundreds and thousands of dollars in these games just to play with a few celebrities.”

Shaquille O’Neal, the former basketball star for the L.A. Lakers and other teams, and now a sports commentator, said on Inside the NBA that he knows all of the players and doesn’t want to be hypocritical. “I’ve been on teams and played cards…all these guys knew what was at stake.” Shaq said he felt “ashamed” that “they put themselves, their family, and the NBA in this position.”

But he did say they are innocent until proven guilty.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said on Amazon Prime Video, during the streaming service’s first broadcast, that he was stunned by the indictments. “There’s nothing more important to the league and its fans than the integrity of the competition. I had a pit in my stomach. It was very upsetting.”

The top three have been placed on administrative leave pending investigation. The NBA says it’s committed to maintaining the integrity of the game.

The big question is what’s going to happen next, and the answer most likely is nothing. Media companies are not going to give up the revenue that comes with promoting betting. Maybe players and coaches will be scared off high-stakes betting and insider trading for a period of time. But the NBA brand is tarnished—most likely temporarily—as the 24-hour news cycle clamors on.

This debacle wasn’t exactly a game-winning jump shot in the fourth quarter. More like a major defeat handed to the NBA by a scrappy team of losers. Everyone dropped the ball.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Should News/Talk Radio Be Concerned That Glenn Beck is Talking About ‘The Final Chapter’?

Garrett Searight
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Should News/Talk Radio Be Concerned That Glenn Beck is Talking About ‘The Final Chapter’?

When Glenn Beck announced that he was launching a new foundation called The Torch, centered on American history and education, he described it as the “final chapter” of his career.

It’s a statement that makes you pause. For someone who has been one of the most influential voices in conservative media and news/talk radio for decades, hearing him refer to a “final chapter” feels both reflective and, maybe, a little foreboding.

Because what does “final chapter” really mean? Is it a way of saying Beck is shifting focus, stepping back from the daily grind of radio and television to devote himself to something more personal and lasting? Or is it a sign that the man who helped shape modern talk radio is starting to envision life after the microphone?

He says he’s not ending his radio show anytime soon, and that there are exciting new additions to his digital media empire, TheBlaze, that will also be revealed in the coming months. But it really does make you wonder, doesn’t it?

For years, Glenn Beck has been a fixture in the talk radio world. His show has always stood out in a crowded field of conservative voices. He doesn’t yell like some of his competitors. He doesn’t generally chase controversy for clicks or outrage for ratings. Beck instead built a career on storytelling and emotion, helping listeners connect with ideas that might otherwise feel abstract or distant.

He’s also proven incredibly resilient. From his days at CNN Headline News to founding TheBlaze, Beck has continually reinvented himself. His show remains one of the most successful in talk radio, carried on hundreds of stations across the country. Few hosts have had his reach or his impact. And even fewer have built an entire media ecosystem around their personality and ideas the way he has.

So when Beck says this new venture is the “final chapter,” it raises fair questions about what comes next. Because for all the talk about the next generation of talk radio talent, there really isn’t anyone who could seamlessly fill the shoes of a Glenn Beck. His mix of curiosity, conviction, and creativity isn’t something you can manufacture. It’s developed through years of experience, countless hours behind the microphone, and a genuine connection with an audience that trusts you.

Still, “final chapter” doesn’t necessarily mean “the end.” Beck is “only” 61 years old. He’s not exactly on the verge of retirement. If anything, he seemed energized by the announcement of The Torch. His goal is to preserve and teach American history, something he’s been passionate about for years. This new foundation could be less about winding down and more about expanding his legacy — using his platform to shape how the next generation understands the country’s story.

And yet, it’s hard not to read between the lines. The phrase “final chapter” hints at a certain self-awareness. Beck seems to know that his time behind the microphone isn’t infinite. No one’s is. But for someone who’s built a career encouraging listeners to often think about the long game — about what kind of country we’ll leave behind — this feels like him applying that same thinking to himself.

Maybe Glenn Beck has plenty of years left on the air. Maybe The Torch is simply another evolution in a career defined by reinvention.

But his talk of a “final chapter” isn’t just nostalgia or sentimentality. It’s a recognition that every career, even one as impactful as his, eventually has a closing act. And Beck seems intent on making sure his last one still burns brightly.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

‘Sunday Night Football’ Continues Record Viewership Pace for NBC Sports

BSM Staff
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‘Sunday Night Football’ Continues Record Viewership Pace for NBC Sports

NBC’s Sunday Night Football continues to cement its position as television’s premier primetime sports franchise, delivering record-setting audiences through the first half of the 2025 NFL season.

The network announced that SNF is averaging 24.7 million viewers across NBC and Peacock — the largest average audience through Week 8 in the 20-season history of the series. The surge comes on the heels of yet another high-profile matchup featuring Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers facing his former team, the Green Bay Packers.

Rodgers, who spent 18 seasons in Green Bay and collected a Super Bowl title and four NFL MVP awards, added intrigue to a storyline-rich game that drew massive national attention. The Packers’ 35–25 win averaged 25.5 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, according to official Nielsen Big Data + Panel metrics combined with digital data from Adobe Analytics.

The audience ranks as the fifth SNF broadcast this season to surpass 25 million viewers, marking the most such games ever through eight weeks. NBC’s record run showcases both the enduring appeal of the NFL and the continued strength of appointment viewing in live sports.

The network noted that Packers-Steelers outdrew last season’s Week 8 contest between the Cowboys and 49ers (23.9 million viewers), making it the most-watched Week 8 game in Sunday Night Football’s two-decade history. Viewership peaked at 28.2 million viewers between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m. ET during the second quarter.

In addition to strong linear ratings, Sunday Night Football continues to experience significant digital growth. NBC reported its best eight-week streaming performance ever, with an Average Minute Audience (AMA) of 2.8 million viewers across Peacock, NBC Sports Digital platforms, and NFL Digital platforms. That figure represents a 9% year-over-year increase, underscoring the growing importance of digital distribution to the broadcast’s overall success.

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Bonneville Names Jim Richmond, Senior Vice President and Market Manager of Sacramento Cluster

BSM Staff
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Bonneville Names Jim Richmond, Senior Vice President and Market Manager of Sacramento Cluster

Bonneville International has appointed Jim Richmond as Senior Vice President and Market Manager for its Sacramento cluster. The company’s local stations include Mix 96, Now 100.5, New Country 105.1, and Sactown Sports. Richmond transitions to the top leadership role after spending the past five years as Director of Sales for Bonneville Seattle.

During his time in Seattle, Richmond led revenue efforts for NewsRadio 97.3 KIRO-FM, Seattle Sports 710 KIRO-AM, Talk Radio 770 KTTH, and MyNorthwest.com. He also held sales leadership roles in San Francisco and Denver too, adding a well-rounded perspective on the evolving dynamics of local media markets.

Bonneville President and COO Tanya Vea praised the move, highlighting Richmond’s track record of success and leadership. “Jim has shown himself to be an excellent leader, and his background is the perfect fit,” Vea said. “I’m confident that he will build on the strengths of the market, developing both the business and the culture at Bonneville Sacramento.”

Richmond expressed enthusiasm about his new assignment, emphasizing his commitment to local community connection and digital growth. “These stations have a meaningful connection to the community,” said Richmond. “I look forward to supporting our teams, expanding our digital presence, and serving listeners across every platform with purpose and innovation.”

Richmond’s ascension to the Sacramento Market Manager role comes following the company’s recent cluster sale in San Francisco to Connoisseur Media. Market Manager Val Maki previously oversaw both San Francisco and Sacramento for the company following the retirement of former GM Steve Cottingim. Maki will focus moving forward on Connoisseur’s business in the Bay Area while Richmond takes the reins for Bonneville in Northern California.

Kevin Durant Doesn’t Like “Arrogance” of Certain Former Athletes Turned Analysts

BSM Staff
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Kevin Durant Doesn’t Like “Arrogance” of Certain Former Athletes Turned Analysts

Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind on social media or in public. During a recent appearance on The Pivot podcast, the 15-time All-Star addressed a topic he’s long been vocal about. How some former athletes in sports media talk about today’s top players as if they’ve walked in the same shoes.

Durant said he takes issue with ex-players who, in his view, overstep their experience. Especially when analyzing the mentality or approach of all-time greats.

“I don’t like the arrogance of a lot of these guys that may have had a cup of tea in the league. They speak on the mentality of great players,” Durant said. “How are you supposed to become great? What would you do in a situation where you’re the best player on the team? The way they talk, they’ve never been the best player. You’ve never walked through the situation before when the whole scouting report is tailored to stop you.”

Durant’s perspective underscores a larger tension in sports media — the balance between critique and credibility. Many of the industry’s most recognizable voices are former players. While that background often brings insight, Durant believes it can also lead to misplaced confidence when discussing elite-level challenges.

He said part of his motivation in speaking out comes from a desire to “check” commentators who may overstate their understanding of what greatness requires.

“There’s a lot that goes into turning being great every single day,” Durant continued. “So when people who never had to be that [level of player] speak to the masses of people who take what you say as law. When you’ve never been in that situation. I like to be the guy to remind you that there’s guys who have actually been in that situation.”

Durant added that as athletes transition into media roles, the corporate spotlight can sometimes distort their perspective.

“When you get that title and they hand you that check. You work for Disney and Fox and all these big corporations, and really feel like bigger than what you are sometimes,” he said. “You can get lost in that.”

Still, Durant said his goal isn’t to tear anyone down but to promote more thoughtful commentary from those with a platform.

“I gotta just let you know, you’re coming at this a little different,” Durant said. “I think you can help the community a little better with what you say in that position that you want to use.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

News Media Reacts to Tucker Carlson Interview with Nick Fuentes

BNM Staff
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News Media Reacts to Tucker Carlson Interview with Nick Fuentes

On his digital video show, Tucker Carlson recently sat down with Nick Fuentes for an interview, which has drawn praise and criticism since it was released.

Fuentes is a self-identified Christian nationalist. The 27-year-old has more than 1 million followers on social media, and his views have been viewed as antisemitic, homophobic, racist, and Islamophobic.

Nick Fuentes is perhaps most known as the largest critic of Charlie Kirk and his Turning Point USA organization.

So many were shocked to see Tucker Carlson sit down for an interview with Fuentes, when so many prominent conservatives have attempted to distance themselves from him or outright condemn the stances taken by the “Groyper” leader.

Reactions to the conversation poured in on social media. Some praised Carlson for featuring the conversation, while others lambasted the former cable news host for “platforming” the controversial figure.

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St. John’s Basketball Radio Broadcasts Moving To ESPN New York

BSM Staff
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St. John’s Basketball Radio Broadcasts Moving To ESPN New York

The resurgence of St. John’s men’s basketball under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino is now reaching the airwaves, as the Red Storm have an agreement in place to broadcast their games on ESPN Radio’s 880 AM and 1050 AM.

According to a report by The Athletic, the No. 5 ranked “Johnnies” have emerged as a contender in college hoops, combining veteran leadership and talented newcomers to capture the attention of fans in New York and beyond.

The move to ESPN Radio represents a significant step in amplifying the program’s visibility and connecting with its passionate local fan base. It also marks a return for the University to ESPN Radio since the mid-2000’s.

The longtime broadcasting team of John Minko and a rotation of analysts including Brandon Tierney and Vin Parise will continue their roles on the call. Previously, Red Storm games were broadcast on AM 970 The Answer and 570 AM WMCA and the Red Storm mobile app, but the transition to ESPN Radio aligns the program with one of the nation’s most recognized sports platforms.

The move also ensures that St. John’s games reach a wider audience in the competitive New York sports media landscape, where college basketball contends with professional teams for listeners’ attention.

St. Johns University nor ESPN New York have confirmed the reporting by The Athletic.

As the Red Storm continue their climb in national rankings, the combination of a top-tier team and a respected radio platform positions St. John’s to strengthen its presence both on the court and on the airwaves, ensuring that fans can follow the action wherever they are.

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CNN All Access Launches With Live Channels, Video on Demand, and More

BNM Staff
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CNN All Access Launches With Live Channels, Video on Demand, and More

CNN All Access, the new streaming platform for the cable network, launched on Tuesday morning, with the outlet touting its uniqueness.

With the subscription, users will receive access to the network’s live stream, the Headlines, Originals, and Films FAST Channels, as well as videos on demand. Additionally, the subscription allows access to the network’s articles on CNN.com and the subscriber-only content provided on the website.

“This new streaming offering is unique in the news space — nothing like it exists in the marketplace,” said CNN Worldwide Executive Vice President of Digital Products and Services Alex MacCallum. “We’re delivering all of CNN’s industry-leading journalism in one place, accessible on any device.

“Whether you are a fan of the live and premium video storytelling on which CNN built its name, or prefer snackable content that catches you up on the day’s essential news and lifestyle stories, audiences can now engage with and consume the full breadth of world-class storytelling CNN and its trusted journalists are known for, however works best for them.” 

The platform is available for $6.99 per month or $69.99 annually. However, the network is offering a special introductory price of $41.99 for the first year to those who sign on before Monday, January 5th.

The network adds that “additional content offerings will be added and released in the coming months.”

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CBS News Interested in Adding CNN’s Scott Jennings

BNM Staff
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CBS News Interested in Adding CNN’s Scott Jennings

Reports previously surfaced that CBS News and new Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss have eyed adding Fox News anchor Bret Baier to their stable of anchors. Now, Weiss and the network also have another high-profile cable news figure in mind to add to its roster.

According to a report from the New York Post, Weiss is also interested in plucking CNN analyst Scott Jennings from the cable network and bringing her to CBS News. Another report from Semafor suggests that Weiss and Jennings met at the CBS News headquarters last week.

Scott Jennings has seen his profile grow exponentially in recent months. In his role at CNN, he’s often seen sparring with liberal analysts and contributors — especially on the primetime NewsNight with Abby Phillip program — with clips of him arguing, disagreeing, and discrediting those on the other side of the political aisle.

Furthermore, the overtures from CBS News come as the network is in flux. Parent company Paramount Skydance is set to enact a round of widespread layoffs on Wednesday, with a reported 1,000 employees losing their jobs. Additionally, the CBS Evening News is in the midst of a ratings downturn, falling below 4 million viewers per night on average. That figure is well behind competitors ABC News and NBC News.

Bari Weiss joined CBS News earlier this month after selling her digital enterprise, The Free Press, to the parent company for $150 million. Her objective from the David Ellison-owned company was to turn the outlet more “balanced” and “fact-based.”

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Kendrick Perkins Reveals Growth at ESPN Came With No Pay for Over a Year

BSM Staff
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Kendrick Perkins Reveals Growth at ESPN Came With No Pay for Over a Year

ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins is no stranger to hard work, and his journey from NBA role player to national sports media personality is a testament to perseverance and dedication.

Speaking candidly about his path on the Out The Mud Podcast, Perkins described the challenges he faced in establishing himself as a credible voice in the crowded sports media landscape.

“Hall of Famers. When they finish their career, whether they good at TV, whether they got the personality or not, the red carpet is rolled out,” Perkins said. “I had to earn my stripes at that motherf*****g network. My first year and a half, I worked there for free. Motherf*****s don’t even know. I had to earn being able to capture audience as a country boy from Beaumont, Texas, that sometimes comes up there and speaks with broken English.”

Perkins acknowledged that adapting to the ESPN environment required both patience and authenticity. He recalled drawing on the colorful language and storytelling style he learned from family and friends back home, which initially took colleagues a moment to understand.

“It took a minute for people to catch on to the country sayings that I might pick up from an uncle. Or an old head from a domino table. Oh, yeah, okay, cool,” he said.

For Perkins, the opportunity to work at ESPN represented more than just a job—it was a chance to do things differently than he had in his playing career.

“I had so many regrets as a player because I didn’t put enough into it,” he said. “So when I got this opportunity, I cut out a lot of s**t. So it was the sacrifice. Part of is the—I aint smoked weed and f*****g five years type s**t.”

That level of focus and commitment carried over into his daily routine at ESPN. Perkins described the intensity of his work schedule, which often included several shows a day, and the responsibility he felt toward his millions of viewers.

“This opportunity came. I’m like, man, I’m gonna make this career better than my last. I ain’t about to have no regrets,” Perkins explained. “I can smoke all day if I want to. I don’t get drug tested. But I was like, you know what? I got to be on my s**t every day. I got to do what I need to do every day. These people are trusting me with a platform. I got millions of people watching me every day. So it was like, I got to work. I got to sacrifice. If I’m trying to get to where I’m trying to go, some s**t you got to put aside.”

Through perseverance, authenticity, and a willingness to sacrifice, Perkins has carved out a respected place at ESPN, proving that earning the spotlight requires more than just past accolades—it requires commitment, grit, and staying true to oneself.

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