Miami, FL
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier pleads not guilty to sports gambling charges – UPI.com
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (L) dribbles past Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (R) during the second half of an NBA game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat in Dallas, Texas, on March 7, 2024. On Monday, Rozier pleaded not guilty to federal charges in an alleged illegal gambling and sports rigging scheme. File Photo by Adam Davis/EPA
Dec. 9 (UPI) — Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges in an alleged illegal gambling and sports rigging scheme. He was one of 34 people arrested in October, including former NBA player Damon Jones and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups.
Rozier, 31, appeared Monday in a Brooklyn federal courtroom on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud over a period of 15 months, beginning in December 2022. He was released on $3 million bond after being placed on unpaid administrative leave by the NBA.
This season, the 10-year veteran would have made $26.6 million as part of his four-year $96.3 million contract.
“Your winning streak has ended,” U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella told reporters. “Violating the law is a losing proposition.”
Rozier’s attorney, who said the arrest has been “professionally devastating” for his client, asked that Rozier’s case reach a quick resolution. He also planned to file a motion to dismiss.
“We still have factual innocence to deal with, but for now, getting an opportunity to litigate a significant legal motion is a good thing,” Rozier’s attorney Jim Trusty said.
“They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk,” Trusty added. “That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case.”
Co-defendant Deniro Laster was also in court Monday and pleaded not guilty. He was released on $50,000 bond.
Rozier and Jones are accused of participating in an illegal sports betting scheme that “exploited confidential information about NBA athletes and teams,” spanning 11 states, according to Nocella.
Other co-conspirators have been previously charged for their roles in the alleged scheme, including former Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter, who has been banned from the NBA.
Nocella said the scheme involved betting on inside, non-public information using connections with players and coaches for information on when players would sit out future games or leave games early due to alleged injuries. They involved players on the Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers, Raptors and Blazers.
A second case revealed the alleged use of “wireless cheating technology to run rigged poker games across the United States.” There are 31 defendants in that FBI investigation with more than a dozen from Mafia families.
Miami, FL
Ole Miss S Nick Cull’s targeting call reversed vs Miami in Peach Bowl
Should the CFP committee rethink the playoff schedule format?
Extended breaks and logistical challenges have reopened questions about whether the College Football Playoff committee should adjust the playoff schedule format.
Mississippi football’s Nick Cull avoided an ejection during the College Football Playoff Fiesta Bowl semifinal on Thursday, Jan. 8.
As Malachi Toney reeled in a catch from Carson Beck at the Miami 49 in the first quarter, he was hit by Cull in a helmet-to-helmet collision. Right away, the officials flagged Cull for targeting, with both Toney and Cull staying down on the field with an injury.
After officials reviewed the play, the call on the field was overturned, as the officials determined that Cull did not launch and the collision seemed to be incidental. Replay assistant Matt Austin concurred with the call on the field.
The play had a major impact on the game as well. If the call had been upheld, Miami would have had the ball at the Ole Miss 34-yard line with a chance to expand its 3-0 lead. However, a few plays later, the Hurricanes were forced to punt from the 49-yard line.
On the first play of the second quarter, Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacey scored on a 73-yard run to give the Rebels a 7-3 lead.
Because he was not called for targeting, Cull was not ejected from the game, which means Ole Miss will have him for the remainder of the game, if he can clear the concussion protocol. He was in the tent following the play.
Cull has 15 total tackles and three pass deflections this season for the Rebels.
Meanwhile, Toney went to the medical tent briefly for the Hurricanes, but returned to the game.
Miami, FL
Crash involving unmarked Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office vehicle impacts morning commute
A crash involving an unmarked Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office vehicle was reported in Northwest Miami-Dade on Thursday morning, and the morning commute was impacted as a result.
Few details have been released, but the crash was reported in the area of Northwest 79th street and Interstate 95.
Video from the scene showed that the vehicles had heavy damage.
The sheriff’s office said the crash also involved a civilian vehicle, and no injuries were reported.
No other information was released.
Miami, FL
Miami Heat-Minnesota Timberwolves Final Injury Update: Anthony Edwards’ status divulged
The Minnesota Timberwolves announced that guard Anthony Edwards is now available to play in Tuesday night’s game against the Miami Heat after originally being listed as questionable with right foot injury maintenance.
Here’s the rest of the injury report and game preview:
INJURY REPORT
HEAT
Tyler Herro: Available – Toe
Jaime Jaquez Jr.: Out – Ankle
Nikola Jovic: Available – Groin
Terry Rozier: Out – Not with team
TIMBERWOLVES
Anthony Edwards: Available – Foot
Terrence Shannon Jr.: Out – Foot
Joan Beringer: Out – G League
Game date, time and location: Tuesday, Jan. 6, 8:00 p.m. EST, Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV: TV: Peacock,
Radio: 104.3 FM (Miami/Ft. Lauderdale), ESPN 106.3 FM, (West Palm Beach), FOX Sports Radio 105.9 FM (Ft. Myers/Naples), 1450 AM (Suart), 97.7 FM (Florida Keys), WAQI 710 AM (Spanish-language broadcast, South Florida) 100.3 FM (Minnesota)
VITALS: The Miami Heat (20-16) and Minnesota Timberwolves (23-13) meet for the second and final regular season matchup after just facing off three days ago with Minnesota recording a, 125-115, win in Miami on January 3. The teams split the series, 1-1, last season with each squad winning on the road. The Heat are 36-35 all-time versus Minnesota during the regular season,
including 19-16 in home games and 17-19 in road games.
PROJECTED STARTERS
HEAT
G Davion Mitchell
G Tyler Herro
C Bam Adebayo
F Norman Powell
F Andrew Wiggins
TIMBERWOLVES
G Donte DiVincenzo
G Anthony Edwards
C Rudy Gobert
F Jaden McDaniels
F Julius Randle
Spread: Heat +5.5 (-112), Timberwolves -5.5 (-108)
Moneyline: Heat +166, Timberwolves -198
Total points scored: 239.5 (over -106, under -114)
QUOTABLE
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra on the forced turnovers: “That is and has to be our identity. We have to play with a recklessness and activity level that exceeds our opponent, and thats not to put down our talent level or anything like that, it’s more about we look different when we’re flying around and making plays and making it tough for the opponent.”
For more Miami Heat information and conversation, check out Off The Floor.
Alexander Toledo is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI and producer/co-host of the Five on the Floor podcast, covering the Heat and NBA. He can be reached at Twitter: @tropicalblanket
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