Apologies for the late notice, but it’s difficult these days in Chicago to muster up the required level of outrage needed to become a full-time sports pundit. There certainly are many topics to vent about in the sports world, but not enough real anger to provide a proper harrumphing after watching what’s going on in our own neighborhoods.
Take Gregory Bovino, for example, the designated jabroni in charge of “Operation Midway Blitz,” appearing to toss a tear gas canister at protestors in Little Village. But outrage is all the rage, narratives must be written, and attention must be paid. So let the harrumphing begin.
The Los Angeles Dodgers bought their way into the World Series and are “ruining” baseball with their overspending ways? This is the narrative that manager Dave Roberts helped fuel after the Dodgers won the National League Championship Series.
Patel reminds me of Capt. Louis Renault in *Casablanca*, who was “shocked!” to learn that illegal gambling was taking place in Humphrey Bogart’s nightclub—just before being handed his winnings. Patel doesn’t need to look far to find some lawbreaking going on in Washington. Follow the money.
The NBA will survive this episode and the next betting scandal as well. As long as humans play and coach sports, there always will be some who don’t play by the rules, and others who will try to exploit that person’s lack of ethics by making money off it.
If you don’t believe me, go ask “Albanian Bruce.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/26/sports-outrage-world-series-nba-scandal/