Fired Ump Tied to Bets on Mets Games: Unidentified Poker Pro Placed the Bets
Major League Baseball on Monday upheld its firing of umpire Pat Hoberg for "sharing" sports betting accounts with a friend. That individual, only identified as "Individual A", is also described as a professional poker player.
Hoburg, in a statement via the Major League Baseball Umpires Association (MLBUA), said he made mistakes but denies betting on baseball games.
"I take full responsibility for the errors in judgment that are outlined in today's statement [by MLB]" Hoberg said. "Those errors will always be a source of shame and embarrassment to me.
"Major League Baseball umpires are held to a high standard of personal conduct, and my own conduct fell short of that standard. That said, to be clear, I have never and would never bet on baseball in any way, shape, or form. I have never provided, and would never provide, information to anyone for the purpose of betting on baseball. Upholding the integrity of the game has always been of the utmost importance to me."
Hoburg's friend wagered roughly $214,000 and won nearly $35,000, an investigation showed — and according to reporting, at least two of those games involved the Mets.
Redditors have begun speculating as to who this mysterious poker player might be, to no avail thus far.
|
