According to Apple, former ESPN columnist Bill Simmons currently hosts the number two sports podcast in the country, but during Thursday’s episode, Simmons and guest Joe House found themselves at the intersection of sports and politics as they discussed the Mafia-connected illegal betting and poker game scandals rocking the NBA. According to both men, “they,” and especially FBI Director Kash Patel, specifically timed the announcement of the cases to “cut the legs out” from under the NBA.
Referencing an ESPN segment from Stephen A. Smith earlier in the day where Smith claimed that the indictments were just another way for President Trump to go after his critics, Simmons declared, “I don't think it was unintentional that they sprung this in the worst possible timing for the NBA. Stephen A. pointed that out on First Take today that this is, you know, we're coming off this incredible Wemby game. That is what we should have been leading the podcast with today, and they just cut the legs out of it in 10 hours.”
That was a truly bizarre take. Nothing can doom a sports league quicker than a scandal that calls into question the integrity of the game. If you are truly an NBA fan, you should want this information out as soon as possible. It would have been malpractice for the FBI to hold on to any longer than absolutely necessary to carry out a thorough investigation. Furthermore, the FBI did file some chargers prior to the NBA season tipping off on Tuesday.
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