Sports
Damon Jones agrees to plea deal in federal gambling case
Jul 13, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers Summer League head coach Damon Jones gestures during an NBA Summer League game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones accepted a plea agreement, becoming the first to take a deal in the federal gambling investigation that led to more than two dozen arrests.
Jones, 49, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Tuesday, one day after former Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier learned prosecutors were adding charges against him.
“I would like to sincerely apologize to the court, my family, my peers and also the National Basketball Association,” Jones said in brief comments in the courtroom.
Jones confessed to participating in what feds labeled “Operation Royal Flush” and being a “face card” in at least three rigged poker games between October 2020 and September 2023. He said two of the games were held in Miami and he participated knowing the games were rigged.
Evidence shared by the prosecution placed Jones at all three games through witness testimony and text messages recovered from seized cell phones and iCloud accounts and wire activity detected in interstate transfers of funds. The investigation turned up technology that made cheating easy without detection, the prosecution said.
Sentencing was scheduled for January 2027.
His guilty pleas on Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo were in two separate federal cases in which Jones is named: U.S. v. Earnest and U.S. v. Aiello.
A sentencing range of five years to 78 months was tied to the case prior to the arraignment late last year. Jones agreed on Tuesday to the terms of forfeiture of no less than $38,000 tied to his winnings during the scheme.
Jones played 11 seasons in the NBA and crossed over with LeBron James in Cleveland and Miami, later coaching without an official title with the Lakers. Prosecutors contended he shared privileged information, including at least one instance involving James’ injury status against the Milwaukee Bucks, for the ill-gotten gains of a professionally-tied gambling ring.
The sentence in that case is not more than 27 months.
Jones initially pleaded not guilty in December. He can be credited up to two years for entering a plea agreement.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Exiled Trevor Bauer wishes he never signed with Dodgers
Jun 18, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer reacts against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Five years after he last threw a pitch in the major leagues, former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and 10-year veteran Trevor Bauer continues to blame others for his inability to find a roster spot within an organization.
In an interview this week on the YouTube channel “La casa de los Dodgers,” Bauer expressed regret over signing a three-year, $102-million deal with his hometown club. The 35-year-old right-hander currently is pitching for the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in Mexico City.
“I wish I had never played for them,” Bauer said in the interview. “… The front-office people, I wish them nothing but the worst because they treated me like s–t and I just don’t appreciate it. I don’t think you should treat a human being like that.”
During his first season with the Dodgers in 2021, Bauer was accused of sexual assault from two separate encounters with the same woman. The Pasadena (Calif.) Police Department confirmed the allegations.
After an investigation, charges were never filed, with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office saying there was a lack of evidence. The Dodgers still elected to part ways with the Los Angeles-area native after the process continued into April of 2022. The investigation uncovered disturbing details about the relationship between Bauer and his accuser.
The incident followed a pattern of Bauer being combative on social media, as well as political views and opinions on political figures.
The 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner, as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, Bauer said he had the support of Dodgers teammate Mookie Betts and that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts offered emotional support on one occasion. He offered criticism of Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior.
Since his last pitch in the majors, Bauer has played in Japan and Mexico and had seven starts earlier this season with the independent Long Island Ducks. The Ducks transferred Bauer’s contract to the Diablos Rojos in June.
In the interview, Bauer said that signing with the Dodgers “was really cool for me,” after he grew up rooting for the club. But he said the Dodgers’ clubhouse atmosphere “wasn’t as good as some other places I’ve been.”
He insists that he still is good enough to compete at the game’s highest level.
“I’d love to be back in the big leagues at some point, but it is pretty obvious at this point that the league will never allow that to happen,” Bauer said. “I think what they are doing is illegal and I just don’t want to waste my time and energy and money and everything suing them because I don’t think that is good for baseball.”
Bauer went 83-69 with a 3.79 ERA in 222 games (212 starts) with four teams from 2012-21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Pirates acquire RHP Camilo Doval from Yankees
May 27, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Camilo Doval (75) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images The Pittsburgh Pirates are acquiring right-handed reliever Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees in exchange for two prospects, ESPN reported Saturday.
Doval, 29, is 3-1 with one save and a 4.54 ERA in 44 appearances out of the New York bullpen this season.
The Yankees acquired the former All-Star closer in a deal with the San Francisco Giants at last year’s trade deadline.
Doval is 29-20 with 109 saves and a 3.53 ERA in 341 career games (no starts) with the Giants (2021-25) and Yankees.
According to Cuba-based BeisbolFR.com, the Yankees will receive catcher Omar Alfonzo and outfielder Luis Cruz in the deal. Both were playing for the Pirates’ Dominican Summer League affiliate.
The MLB trade deadline is Monday at 6 p.m. ET.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Spirit, MOUZ reach BLAST Bounty Summer grand final
A backlit keyboard is part of the gear online video game streamer Jordan Woodruff uses in his Gilbert home.
Jordan Woodruff
Team Spirit and MOUZ will meet in Sunday’s best-of-five grand final at the BLAST Bounty Summer 2026 tournament in Attard, Malta.
Team Spirit outlasted FaZe Clan 2-1 and MOUZ rallied past Astralis to win by the same score in Saturday’s semifinals of the Counter-Strike 2 competition.
The eight teams reached the bracket-style finals advanced from a pool of 32 clubs in a closed qualifier. Of the $740,000 prize pool, $410,000 was awarded to participants in the closed qualifier. The champion will also earn three BLAST Frequent Flyer Tokens, while the other seven teams will collect one.
Team Spirit sandwiched a 13-6 win on Dust II and a 13-11 victory on Anubis around a 13-9 loss to FaZe Clan on Cache. Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov of Russia led Team Spirit with 49 kills and a 1.24 match rating.
After Astralis opened with a 13-6 win on Ancient, MOUZ responded with back-to-back 13-9 triumphs on Mirage and Dust II. Adam “torzsi” Torzsas of Hungary paced MOUZ with 54 kills and a 1.29 match rating.
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026 prize pool (player prize, team share)
1. TBD
2. TBD
3-4. FaZe Clan ($28,125, $40,000), Astralis ($28,125, $40,000)
5-8. Team Liquid ($41,250, $40,000); 3DMAX ($21,250, $40,000); The MongolZ ($11,250, $40,000); paiN Gaming ($11,250, $40,000)
–Field Level Media
Exiled Trevor Bauer wishes he never signed with Dodgers
Report: Pirates acquire RHP Camilo Doval from Yankees
