Pacman Issue

by rhbgsherb on May 23, 2008 6:54 PM CDT Comment 4 comments

A few weeks ago I posted my displeasure for the trends that we've been seeing and my loss of pride in our team. I mentioned my distaste for Pacman Jones and everything he represents. However, I'd like to lend some personal experience to refute just how bad this gambling debt issue is.

Some background...I work at a casino and, while I'm no expert, I see some things related to oustanding markers (let's leave it at that). Given that information, let me give my take on the situation.

First, $20,000 in oustanding markers is NOTHING to a place like Caesar's Palace. When they have meetings to discuss outstanding markers, I doubt they even discuss anything less than $50,000. I'll bet there are 100 athletes and celebrities with larger debts in Vegas (well, 99 after Barkely pays his balance). I'll even bet there are 10-15 NFL players with larger outstanding markers.

Second, this balance was from September 2007. Unless Pacman's lawyer/agent was a complete jerk to the collections guys at Caesars, they wouldn't take legal action on a marker that's been oustanding for less than a year. Everyone around can see that Pacman's going to be reinstated to the league sometime this summer and will begin collecting checks during the season. That's when Caesars would be putting the full-court-press on Pacman for the money knowing he could be suspended again at any time. If he hadn't paid it up after a month or two of regular checks, then I can see legal action, but not before.

My guess? The DA sees he's not going to be able to put Pacman in jail for the club shooting. He's pissed (and rightly so). So, he's using Barkley's situation as an excuse to stick it to Pacman. This whole thing is nothing more than a bad P.R. situation.

If Roger Goodell was looking for an excuse not to reinstate Pacman, this could be it. Most people will see this as being a big issue and he won't take any heat for it.. But really, if this was anyone other than Pacman Jones, it would never have come up.

Ok, that's my take. Now, Deke, Terry and Zak...play nice.

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not a big deal HUH!!

What if Pac-rat was in Vegas and maybe the $20,000 was used for betting on NFL games while suspended, do you think then its a big deal.

The league doesn’t want its players in or anywhere near casino’s, period.

by Deke on May 23, 2008 7:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That's right, not a big deal

Let’s go through both sentences here…

Pacman didn’t bet on NFL games. How do I know this? Because Pacman Jones is not a guy who can move around Las Vegas anonymously. If he takes $20,000 in markers, Caesars is not going to let him bet on games. If goes somewhere else to bet on games, it’s going to get out. This is the internet age. It would be reported before he got out of the casino. The casino would report it to the league. This would have been known to the whole world the next day. Casinos maintain their ability to have sports betting by keeping everything on the up-and-up. They work with authorities and leagues to make sure everything stays straight. The casinos in Vegas are the ones who started the investigation into NBA referee Tim Donaghy. Allowing an NFL player to bet on NFL games in their casino would be the beginning of the end.

You’re right the league doesn’t want it’s players to near casinos. But that doesn’t stop anybody. You think only bad guys go to Vegas? Want to hear the story from a friend of mine who sat down at a blackjack table with Vinny Testaverde? Go to Bill Simmons’ site and read about his friend playing blackjack with Norv Turner. I read a story from one of our fellow posters on this site who sat at a blackjack table with Brett Favre. They all go to casinos.

I still maintain, this is not a big deal.

by rhbgsherb on May 23, 2008 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Don’t forget about the Jerry Porter/Levi Jones (?) brawl in Vegas either. Millionaire athletes are drawn to Vegas like bugs to light, for understandable reasons. Few places cater to the rich and famous (or offer them more thrills) than Vegas.

That said, I agree with Grizz on this story. Team Pacman needs to be more diligent, in the understatement of the century.

by grapejoos on May 25, 2008 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ESPN: Pacman Jones pays $20,000 gambling debt to casino

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3409417
Pacman Jones pays $20,000 gambling debt to casino
Updated: May 23, 2008 9:13 PM
LAS VEGAS—The Las Vegas district attorney says Pacman Jones’ $20,000 gambling debt to a casino has been paid off, allowing the DA to recall an arrest warrant for the suspended NFL player.

Jones found a way to pay off his debts within 24 hours of a criminal complaint being filed, and the bad check case is now closed, Clark County DA David Roger said Friday.

Court documents filed Friday showed the DA was seeking a felony arrest warrant for the 24-year-old Jones unless he made good on three casino markers worth $20,000 he received last Sept. 3 at Caesars Palace.

In Nevada, unpaid casino markers, or loans to gamblers, are treated as bad checks and are turned over to the district attorney for prosecution.

Jones paid a total of $21,675, including $1,675 for DA’s office processing fees and penalties.

Texas slang in a Big Apple minute, by a friendly OED consultant. http://www.barrypopik.com

by barrypopik on May 23, 2008 8:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs