NEW YORK, NY – When MLB appointed a Putz for a Commissioner back in 2015, he emphasized that getting children to play the game is the single biggest determinant in making them lifelong fans. That was the top priority for the sport’s future.
Well, the future is here and those kids are now adults. They are playing the game by placing bets and making sites like DraftKings and FanDuel richer. MLB is also in, as it profited 12.1 billion dollars in 2024 by having sports betting partnerships and sponsorships from revenue streams. Is this what that Putz had in mind as his wealth gets wealthier and the owners get richer?
“America’s Pastime” should be ashamed of itself while it watches its wallets get thicker, and at the same time knows damn well that the betters’ bankroll is getting thinner. It has no problem suspending its players for trying to get a piece of the pie, while ignoring the eventual addicts. They justify this by placing the fine print of betting responsibility on their commercials, while adding a helpline number when one’s parlaying gets out of control.
Back in 2022, MLB tried to be slick by okaying Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon to help promote their newfound moneymaker of betting on games. They could have went with their poster boy Pete Rose but no, they chose an active player. Three years later, the brand ambassador of BetMGM is the Hall of Famer who can do no wrong, Derek Jeter. They use him to promote – get this – responsible gambling initiatives. Who are they kidding with this bullsh*t? Coming up soon is the Jeter themed online slot game.
MLB and these gaming sites didn’t enter this field to lose money. Any gambler who thinks he’s ahead of the game is a total fool. The only ones making out in all this is that Putz of a Commissioner, along with the team owners who hired him. DraftKings and FanDuel are worse than the pickpockets on a crowded subway, and the perfect Yankee named Derek Jeter has put a whole new meaning into his retired number, “Deuce.”
