Wow! But come on, gimme a break! Why would a guy making $20 mil a year shooting baskets lower himself to casino cheating? Okay, I know he´s got a few dozen hanger-onners whom he supports, but I think he could keep them all in decent life styles and then some with his salary. But according to some high-ups in Detroit casinos, Iverson has taken some "outside" shots at Motown´s blackjack tables. Spokesmen for two casinos say Iverson, now playing for the Detroit Pistons, has not been banned from the facilities despite reports to the contrary, according to the Detroit Free Press.
According to the report, Greektown casino spokesman Riley Meredith said Iverson was not banned, nor did he know if Iverson was warned about "improper benefits" (what the hell is that supposed to mean?).
MGM Grand Detroit spokesman Jamaine Dickens said Iverson was not banned from the casino, and he did not know of any behavioral problems involving the guard. But the Detroit News is sticking by its original story about Iverson making trouble at the casinos.
News reporter Chris McCosky wrote, "I've have been told countless stories, from eye witnesses, about Iverson throwing cards or chips at dealers after he losses, even spitting at a dealer, being overly loud and profane at the tables, not following casino protocal -- he was even accused of cheating more than once. So, the casinos can let him back in and take all the money he wants to lose -- that's what they are in business to do -- but don't think for a minute that he's been a model patron."
I investigated this report further, and learned from casino personnel in Detroit that several people sitting at various blackjack tables claimed they saw Iverson cap his bets (add more chips to his bets after winning outcomes) at least three times in an hour. I could not determine what the minimum or maximum bets were at the tables he played at, but unless he was popping ten grand a hand with $5,000 chips, I highly doubt he or any other professional sports star would be making more than a day´s pay in the NBA cheating casinos for an entire year!
If any of this is actually true, Iverson was probably drunk and unaware of what he was doing--at least I hope so!
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