Daily News Article - October 24, 2025
NOTE to Students: Before answering the questions, read the “Background” and watch the video under “Resources” below.
1. What are the two separate federal cases charging 31 people including an NBA player and coach in gambling scams?
2. What charges have been brought against individuals involved in both cases, according to FBI Director Kash Patel?
3. Name the 4 of the 5 Cosa Nostra mob families involved in the scams.
4. How were Billups and Damon Jones involved in the mob's rigged poker games?
5. How did the poker fraud work?
6. What is Rozier accused of doing in the first case?
7. When did these investigations begin? (see videos under "Resources")
8. The Post reports that federal court documents allege that while coach, Chauncey Billups also allegedly tipped off a betting ring that his team was planning to tank a game against the Chicago Bulls on March 24, 2023 and that the Trail Blazers’ best player wouldn’t be playing.
After Billups’ alleged tip-off, the Blazers were smoked by the Bulls 124-96.
Members of the scheme placed $132,000 in bets against the Blazers that night and walked away happy, an indictment alleges.
What is your reaction to these top athletes who made it to the NBA - in Billups' case being a five-time All-Star who was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame last year and made over $100 million as a player, and his team allegedly "tanking" a game in 2023 - and in Rozier's case making $160M+ in his career so far:
a) How would you describe their actions?
b) What harm if any, do you think their cheating does to the game? - and to their younger fans especially?
c) Would learning that of your favorite pro player on any type of team affect your enthusiasm for the sport?
d) What responsibility do professional sports leagues and their coaches have to teach these elite athletes about morality and ethics?
Explain your answers.
CHALLENGE: Public schools used to teach students the Ten Commandments - and they were also posted in classrooms until 1980. The Ten Commandments instill morals by providing a framework for ethical behavior, emphasizing respect for others and for God, and promoting values like honesty and integrity.
Read the 10 Commandments.
Google AI notes: "The major world religions that follow or are significantly influenced by a version of the Ten Commandments are the Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam."
Some states are resuming the teaching of the 10 commandments in public schools.
Do you think following God's 10 Commandments would cause people to be more ethical? Explain your answer.