Oscar De La Hoya angry at UFC/WWE parent group

 This blog is still brand new, I've been writing less than a month and I received my first feedback! The first one I read was negative but it still means someone's reading my thoughts which is pretty cool. In a way, it's a compliment. Yes, the first email was not about a specific blog but my lack of a new one yesterday. 

"No blog today, giving up already?" - Sincerely,  Anonymous...

While my aim is to write everyday, I have a pretty demanding schedule, and when you have kids it becomes even more demanding. Still, I appreciate positive feedback and I consider that email positive. 

The NBA has been the gift that keeps on giving hasn't it? But they've been overshadowed by the boxing world recently.  

Boxing superstar Oscar De La Hoya is very angry and he's been all over social media and as we all know, that's a bad combination. 

De La Hoya is furious with Dana White and TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of the UFC and WWE.

"So it was reported last week that the TKO Group is looking to amend the Muhammad Ali act and the writing is on the wall. Fighters beware!" De La Hoya made the comments on the fight hub tv YouTube channel. 

He also goes on to call Dana White a 'douche bag' and a 'scumbag.' De La Hoya feels that TKO would use "unethical business practices" and that they would create a monopoly in boxing.

TKO Group wants to create a unified boxing organization similar to UFC. De La Hoya also mentions his fear that Dana White will use his connection to President Trump to achieve his goals. White is the UFC president.

TKO says they'll hold their own events, have their own rankings, and awards, while De La Hoya wants to protect fighter's rights and also protect the integrity of the sport.

The gloves are certainly off pun intended. I understand Oscar's passion for a sport that has been so good to him, but what do you mean you don't want boxing to become a monopoly? Wait a minute Oscar, just hold the hell up. It's already monopolized. There's a few guys at the top that pull the strings and if they don't get their cut the public doesn't get the contest we want. 

Sure there's some new promotions, but largely it's the same old system in boxing. Boxers do have more rights today which is a positive, and the TKO Group wants to takeover the world don't they?

After they get their foot in the door with boxing, maybe the Olympics are next...I actually want to see a more organized boxing competition.  Right now we have one or two fights a year that interest me if I'm lucky, and the super-fights I've given up on, and no I don't want your Mike Tyson v Jake Paul emails. I miss super-fights, not cash grabs or exhibitions...just call them what they really are...train wrecks. 

Former NBA star arrested for illegal poker game

 Basketball is on fire lately and for all the wrong reasons. I was recently asked if I will ever write about the WNBA and the truth is all sports are fair game. As long as there's an interesting topic I think people that view my blog would want to know and read about. 

In the WNBA, one of the players lost some hair during a game...ok, she lost a lot of hair, her weave extentions fell out. While that can be unfortunate and embarrassing, the more embarrassing thing would be to throw a fan out for laughing at the incident. 

Hey WNBA, if you want to consider yourselves the big league of women's professional basketball then you can't do junior varsity level things. You do know a fan is someone who pays to see your product right? From the looks of things you guys need all the fans you can get, stop throwing them out over nonsense. 

Over in the men's league a former player is making headlines and while he's not bouncing checks like Marcus Morris, he did operate an illegal high stakes poker game from his house...allegedly. 

Gilbert Arenas, host of the popular podcast Gil's Arena, might be taking a hiatus after an illegal high stakes poker game was raided at his mansion. 

According to the indictment, four other men were also arrested accused of actually running the poker games. In addition, they're also charged with collecting a house fee for the game, 

Hiring women who served drinks and gave massages, and gave companionship to the players. Chefs, valet, and armed guards were also hired for the games. One of the four men, Yevgeni Gershman, is a suspected organized crime figure from Israel. 

Arenas did issue a statement on his X account, "I'm back on the streets. This ain't got shyt to do with me. Just rented the house wasn't a part."

This is like an episode of the Sopranos except Tony was using a motel not his own mansion. When I hear illegal poker game I think of the movie Rounders, you know a bunch of European guys eating Oreos, breaking bones and watching soccer. Instead of Matt Damon there's Gilbert Arenas in the staring role...allegedly. 

So let me get this straight, they had women serving drinks, giving massages, and "companionship" to the players? What the hell does that even mean? Nevermind, I don't want to know.

When Arenas made his statement he was running down the steps of what looks like a detention center saying, "They can't hold me."

Dude, you do know that's up to the D.A. right? You're last name is on the gaming tables what do you mean your not involved? These guys had all the elements even armed guards, the only thing missing were the neon signs. The NBA is two for two this week.

Former Knicks forward arrested after owing casinos $250,000

 I just did a blog about NBA players and their struggles with finances after they're done playing. How 7 out of 10 NBA players go broke within five years of retiring. 

I also wrote about how this can be attributed to a number of factors like living beyond your means...just because you're a millionaire doesn't mean you should be throwing around cash like Jeff Bezos.

Bad investments are another attribute, bad decisions like casinos could also get you into a lot of trouble if you have a gambling addiction. I hate to lose money but I also love to win money. The last time my wife and I were at Mohegan Sun in CT, I won $600 on the first machine I played, then cashed out and walked around and watched her play. I did this despite the dude next to me yelling 'let it ride, the machine's warming up'...uh no I think I'll take option A and walk out ahead thanks.

Former Knicks forward Marcus Morris also came out ahead of the casino to the tune of $250,000. Now that is a nice pay day, unless you wrote a check to play some high roller games and the check bounces...uh oh!

See, if you gamble big and win, no big deal just pay the marker out of your winnings but if or should I say when you lose now you have a $250,000 balance. Casinos typically offer you time to pay the balance, they're not going to bash your hands with a hammer like the old days but they expect you to pay them back not run and hide allegedly. 

Morris' agent Yony Noy tried to defend him, "Just so everyone understands this is zero fraud here or whatever crap outlets have said regarding fake checks or whatever the hell. This is due to an outstanding marker with a casino.  Apparently, if you have over $1200 they can issue a warrant for your arrest. Absolute insanity!"

This guy is all over the place isn't he? First of all there isn't 'zero fraud' there's $250,000 worth. Secondly, I love how he's blaming 'crap outlets' for his boy bouncing checks. 

Under Nevada law, markers that aren't repaid can be treated as Class D felonies which can result in a 1 to 4 year prison sentence. 

The Knicks waived Morris so he doesn't have a team right now he's a free agent. Morris did earn millions of dollars throughout his NBA career but like I said earlier, that means nothing when a lot of these guys are so terrible with money. Gambling at that level and bouncing checks...that's absolute insanity.

Shooting at NFL headquarters leaves 4 dead

 I will start with the four people who went to work and lost their lives. According to reports, the number of the dead can increase because others were wounded. This tragedy happened about 6:30 pm eastern and the victim's names have yet to be released. 

Since 9/11 where 3000 people were killed and subsequently many more in the months that followed from asbestos and other factors, New Yorkers feel a pit in their stomachs every time something so violent happens. Is this an act of terrorism? 

While a mass shooting certainly can be considered domestic terrorism, the shooter left a three page letter explaining his actions. Shane Tamura was a former football player who claimed he suffered from chronic trauma encephalopathy or CTE.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, "One of our employees was seriously injured in the attack. He is currently in the hospital in stable condition. Every one of you is a valued member of the NFL family, we will get through this together. "

Goodell released the statement in a memo in which he also talked about having an increased security presence in the days and weeks to come. 

Let me be clear, there's no excuse for what the shooter did. This is a sad reminder of how dangerous our world has become. Instead of seeking solutions for your own problems you choose to take your own life, but you want to bring as many innocent victims as you can with you. I also want to be clear when I say, it's tragic, senseless, and domestic terrorism.

NBA player says he's broke after earning $116 million

 In each and every one of the blogs I post I offer my opinion about whatever topic I happened to write about that particular day. I also make sure to be as truthful as possible. These things I write about aren't made up, they're very real and based on actual events. Obviously, I research before I began offering my opinions. The research I discovered for my latest report shocked me because I honestly had no idea things were this bad in the NBA.

As a spectator all we hear and see in the news is how much money these guys are making in these contracts. Hundreds of millions of dollars, eventually, players will be making $100 million per year! The league minimum for this upcoming season is almost $1.3 million. Only Major League Baseball pays their players more and both the MLB and the NBA have guaranteed contracts and an excellent player's union. 

To their credit, the NBA does offer financial literacy programs to their players. The Players Association even teamed up with Personal Capital to provide players with retirement planners, and investment checkups, and even a cash flow analyzer.

Unfortunately, not all players are utilizing these services. According to reports, 60% of NBA players go broke within five years of retiring. Other reports suggest the actual number is closer to 65% - 80%! So on average, 7 out of 10 players are broke within 5 years. That is incredibly irresponsible and sad.

The latest victim is former NBA small forward Trevor Ariza. Ariza won the 2009 NBA Championship with the Lakers. During his 18 seasons he's earned more than $116 million. This is all coming out because he just got a divorce from Bree Anderson and he's trying to lower his $14,000 per month child support to her. He also pays another $10,000 per month for other child support payments.

Since Ariza retired, he's been unemployed with no monthly income. This is despite $37,000 in reported monthly expenses. He is probably accustomed to a certain lifestyle now as are his children. Dude, the expenses don't stop they just keep coming and to have no monthly income is insane. Didn't anyone ever tell this guy to never live off the principle, you're supposed to live off the interest, of course pay tax on it first.

Ariza said the situation changed after he became the primary caregiver of his son Tristan with Bree Anderson. "I've taken full responsibility-meals, clothes, school, everything. Bree rarely picks him up or shows up on her days."

Ariza also said that in the divorce Bree received a luxury car, real estate, and half of his retirement accounts. "I've been exploring deals, trying everything to create income. Nothing stable has come through. Things changed since we finalized this."

Exploring deals? Trying to generate income? Dude might want to mix a financial planner in with his boys. He should've put the money in Government Bonds and securities. It won't grow as fast but it's not as risky as the stock market. Here's an idea, take whatever money you have left and put it into a CD ladder. That's what I would do. Have some mature in 1 year, some in 2 years, some in 3 years, etc. The interest should take care of you the rest of your life as long as you pay tax on it each year...that's the catch. 

Ariza hasn't paid taxes since 2022 so my advice would be to try to negotiate down your tax burden. It doesn't go away you can ask Nicholas Cage and Wesley Snipes. A lot of people were suggesting the stock market but you really have to know what you're doing because it's like a magic show...your money's here and now it isn't. You can make a lot and lose a lot which is why shows like American Greed exist. No word yet on if the court will revise the child support but they probably will since the order is based off of current income and assets.

MMA fighter has full rage fit on Southwest plane

 I try to blog once a day at least but sometimes I get so busy in my family life that some days it's just not going to happen. Yesterday was one of those days, my family was invited to a really nice event out in the country and the setup was awesome. Bouncy houses, petting zoo, fossil dig, great food and ice cream, and the best part, my kids had a great time. 

Someone who having the opposite of a great time is the MMA world's Aaron 'Tex' Johnson. I have a relative that believes when someone is having a great day there's someone else having a miserable day. There are so many people on Earth that it has to be true.

From eyewitness statements and there's actual video from some passengers; this all started over baggage is what they're saying. It is believed that a bag Johnson was trying to put in an overhead compartment was deemed too large and that he would have to check the bag at an additional fee. That was all it took to launch 'Tex' into cage mode. Dude was looking to throw with the flight attendants, now gratefully, from the video I saw, he didn't put his hands on any of the attendants. It should also be noted that he hasn't been accused of physical violence either. 

Everything else was on the table though, belligerent, screaming, cursing, acting like my four-year-old during a tantrum, in other words a full meltdown. One of the worst things about this is that it happened on Southwest. I've always had a great experience with them and their service. United was a little better only because they bumped me up to first class which was sweet. Although I flew solo on United, never with the family so that's a completely different experience.

This all went down at LaGuardia airport in New York City, one of the busiest in the world. Obviously, he was thrown off the plane which I'm sure was easier said than done, but not before he shouted more expletives and ended his tirade with, "Bulls***! I'm getting treated like a Black person right now!"

 Are you freaking kidding me 'Tex'? So, acting like a toddler because you can't carry on your bags isn't enough, you have to go racist too? The Port Authority police were not treating you "like a Black person", they were treating you like a moron that had one too many drinks...allegedly.

'Tex' was strapped to a gurney and taken to a local hospital for "evaluation." Then he was issued a summons for disorderly conduct. A Southwest spokesperson said that Johnson was banned from future flights due to his unruly behavior. Hope that was worth it.