Nation-wide illegal sports gambling ring busted
The Los Angeles Police Department released in a statement that 17 individuals from New York, Nevada, California and Arizona were indicted in connection with a gambling enterprise that used offshore gambling sites to rake in $32 million a year. Each individual faces up to 25 years in prison for enterprise corruption. The statement said the group is accused of “laundering its criminal proceeds by depositing and withdrawing large sums of cash from various banks throughout the United States.” More than 2,000 bettors participated in wagers on football, professional and college basketball, baseball and hockey.
Marlins: Dan Jennings fired, Don Mattingly hired
The Miami Marlins fired Dan Jennings, ending his 13-year career, and replaced him with Don Mattingly less than a week after he left the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jennings was demoted from general manager to manager last May. Mattingly is the Marlins’ 10th manager since 2002.
Austin Rivers throws seat cushion, fined $25K
Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers guard, was fined $25,000 for throwing a seat cushion into the stands on the Oct. 28 game against the Sacramento Kings. The 23-year-old threw the cushion out of frustration and did not intend for it to reach the stands, but the league-issued video shows that the cushion hit a woman in the head. The woman was treated by Clippers security officials and arena security officials and reportedly suffered discomfort in one eye.
Andy Green hired as new Padres manager
Green, who was third base coach for the NL West Arizona Diamondbacks, was hired on Oct. 29 as the San Diego Padres’ manager. Green was hired after the Padres finished 74-88 and fourth in the NL West. The team has had five straight losing seasons and hasn’t made a playoff appearance in since 2006.
Ross Ventrone re-signed by Patriots
On Oct. 28, the New England Patriots re-signed defensive back Ross Ventrone to its practice squad. In 2010, Ventrone was signed as an undrafted rookie out of Villanova. He has been switched from the roster to the practice squad and back again in 30 transactions over three years, each move counting as a single transaction. In 2011 alone, there were 21 transactions. Ventrone will now be coached by older brother Ray “Bubba” Ventrone, who is the Patriots’ special teams assistant.
