This seems an appropriate time to tell a good story.

Many on his bandwagon and supporting him insist that he didn't "cheat." That he just is a rule breaker for his role in the redux of "Leaving Las Vegas."

Well, let me tell a story about the man that the NTRA should be aware of as they continue to work through this "ambassador's situation."

A few years back, and Hawthorne Race Course can confirm some of this, he participated on the Saturday card of their Thanksgiving weekend Live Money tournament. It is an event that involves qualifying for the NHC. The Haw contest is unique b/c Hawthorne has no "cost" to the customer as the $400 entry fee serves as your entire bankroll. After you play 100 bucks you could just walk away win or lose if you wanted and you are only out the 100 bucks and keep your 300. You have to play the entire 400 to be eligible to win the contest. There is no prize money beyond your winnings although the prizes do include NHC spots for those that are at the top of the list at the end of the day. It is a great tournament with any bet at any track pretty much all day. I love the folks at Haw and in no way does this reflect on them at all.

Anyway, he brought a mini-entourage of folks in with him including his gf along with some other friends. His approach to the tourney was to play the pick 5 at CD by singling a 2 to 5 shot on all of his tickets is what I gathered from his discussions I heard. And he went to the machine with 6 to 8 player cards (plays can be made at a self serve terminal with the card that has your $400 balance to start) and he put in all of his pick 5 tickets singling the strong favorite using all 6 to 8 cards he had. Each player by rule is only allowed 2 $400 entries. But he played several and when the 2 to 5 shot went down early in the sequence (it was the middle or late pick 5 as I recall, might have been Tiz the Law?), the entourage all left. It was meaningless at the time b/c the dude lost and he was gone.

But now when people want to declare he doesn't "cheat," well let's just say we don't all agree on that. I hope the NTRA and his bosses on TV can see through all of this and rid themselves of a guy that wasn't truthful about making his plays from his room at Bally's.

My guess though is that in classic horse racing form, he will receive a 1 tournament suspension with a stay on that suspension if he agrees to be a good boy from now on.