Goodbye 2025, but not after scandals threatened leagues integrity

2025 Will Not Be Forgotten

They tell us to move on. 2025 is over. Close the book and turn the page. History, however, rarely listens to that advice.

When historians look back decades from now, 2025 will stand out for one uncomfortable reason. Gambling scandals cut across professional and collegiate sports. Major League Baseball, the NCAA, and the NBA all faced serious questions about integrity. The year exposed how deeply betting had embedded itself into sports. It also showed how little resistance existed from those who profit the most.

The games continued. The partnerships continued. The arrests did too.

Major League Baseball Faces a Direct Hit

MLB took one of the hardest blows. Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz became central figures in a federal investigation that shook the league.

In July, MLB placed both pitchers on paid administrative leave while investigators examined suspicious betting activity. In November, federal authorities arrested both players. Prosecutors allege the two began conspiring with sports bettors as early as 2023. According to the indictments, the pitchers shared advance information about specific pitches they planned to throw during games.

Bettors allegedly used that information to place prop bets totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. The trial is scheduled for May 4, 2026. The case marked one of the most serious gambling-related scandals MLB has faced in decades.

NBA Scandals Extend Beyond the Court

The NBA did not escape the storm. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was placed on indefinite leave after federal authorities launched an investigation into an illegal sports betting operation.

In October, agents arrested Rozier on charges that include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors allege he played a role in a betting scheme tied to manipulated outcomes.

That same month delivered another shock. FBI agents arrested Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups in connection with a separate illegal gambling investigation. The NBA placed Billups on indefinite leave as the case proceeds. A sitting head coach facing federal charges sent tremors through the league.

College Basketball Pays the Price

At the collegiate level, the consequences were swift and severe. In November, the NCAA suspended multiple players for gambling violations. Six men’s basketball players received permanent bans from competition.

Unlike professional leagues, college athletes do not have unions or guaranteed contracts. Their careers ended instantly. The message was clear. The rules exist. The penalties remain harsh.

Gambling Grows While Oversight Lags

Despite all of this, the business of sports betting never slowed. Team owners maintained partnerships with gambling companies. Sports cable networks continued promoting betting lines and prop wagers during broadcasts.

The contradiction became impossible to ignore. Gambling was labeled a growing problem. At the same time, it remained a primary revenue stream.

2025 exposed the fault line. Integrity matters, but profits matter more. That is the legacy historians will not forget.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com