Goat Post: Issue 20

The perils of live TV when people move on autopilot and don’t follow a playbook were on display at the bottom of ESPN’s “Get Up” screen this week, creating a gotcha moment that, to be fair, paled in comparison to the developments.

ESPN Bet, in turn, got the most viral promotion of its existence when the product’s logo was removed during Mike Greenberg’s reporting of arrests and indictments in breaking news about a gambling ring with real-life Mafia ties.

Here’s the segment. 

@voice_vision_victory

#fyp #espn #sports #funny #oops

People laughed, I think, because the whole topic is low hanging loot. They call it hypocritical to lament matters of this kind, particularly when sports books log more airtime than any actual player.

‘What Are You Doing?’

Meanwhile, on VSiN, the best source for insightful sports betting perspectives, the on-air crew had a lot of thoughtful takes.

My favorite was a simple, exasperated reaction by Pauly Howard, talking about Chauncey Billups, who — allegedly — got mixed up and coerced by a seriously sinister crowd and was in on rigged high-stakes poker games.

@vsinlive

You can’t make this stuff up… this Chauncey Billups story is straight out of a MOVIE 💀 #NBA #Scandal #ChaunceyBillups #TrailBlazers #BreakingNews

“I can’t believe it,” Pauly said, his voice hitting the over. “What are you doing? You’re in the Hall of Fame!”

Everything We Do Involves Math

Why is this in The Goat Post, a newsletter for people aspiring, trending in or shaping great legacies? Because, everything we do involves math.

Life is a gamble. Minimize your exposure to defamatory, losing situations. We choose individuals with whom we associate, we recognize substances that compromise our judgements, and we can calculate activity scenarios in which others gain advantages.

Negative network effects of bad apples can devastate. Nowhere in the guide to climbing mountains is there a slippery spiral staircase. You know what one looks like. Go a better way.

“I’m ashamed that those guys would put their families and their careers in jeopardy,” Shaquille O’Neal said on Inside The NBA. “There’s an old saying in the hood. All money ain’t good money.”

Charles Barkley took the assist and dunked on the whole mess.

“Under no circumstances can you fix basketball games,” Charles said, then addressed Terry Rozier’s shaky ground. “He took himself out of games on prop bets. How much money is he going to make?”

As for Rozier and former player and assistant coach Damon Jones, Charles added: “The notion that guys are making all this money and giving information. … That’s just total stupidity on these two dudes’ parts.”

It’s a sad, maddening start to a season that otherwise began with — apologies to Mike Breen — a BAAANG.

The Generator, Swishes & Dishes

What we should be, and are, really talking about here are people making exemplary impacts.

The day after the Sixers’ season opener, I stopped by a little market near our headquarters in suburban Philadelphia.

The man who owns the place was sitting outside, enjoying the start of a crisp fall evening. He knew I graduated from Baylor, and I brought up the Bears’ VJ Edgecombe, who put on a record-breaking show in his NBA debut for Philly.

The smile on my face only widened when he shared this story. Just a few weeks back, VJ had gone to dinner at the home of a Philadelphia sports executive. After the meal, VJ was clearing the table and started washing the dishes.

The host looked at him and said, “VJ, what are you doing? Please, we’ll take care of that.”

VJ, nicknamed The Generator — because his family’s sole source of occasional electricity where he grew up in The Bahamas was a generator — turned to the man.

“I insist. I didn’t come from anywhere like this. This is me showing gratitude.”

VJ, our Goat of the Week, is awesome. He moved from The Bahamas to Florida, to Long Island, won a high school state championship, progressed further in his time with BU coach Scott Drew’s program, and now, he’s living the dream, a rookie above the rim.

@nba

Looking back at VJ Edgecombe’s emotional #NBADraft night after his 3️⃣4️⃣-point #NBA debut 🤩 #basketball #VJEdgecombe #76ers

A Chu Story

Goatnet has a lot of high-flying momentum. Features and functionality have earned valuable praise from immensely appreciated partners.

One of those partners is the Metropolitan Oval Academy in Queens, NY.

Here’s one of the hundreds of Met Oval players we’re pleased to introduce.

His name is Edoardo Chu. Edoardo plays for the Met Oval U15 MLS Next team. He is among five Met Oval players who were invited to the U.S. Soccer Boys Talent ID Center.

The evaluation event is run by U.S. Soccer’s top scouts and coaches, and they put it on to assess standout youth players for potential national team pathways.

Allen Iverson, Baby!

Back to Philly for a few seconds.

You’ve probably seen the A.I. videos that take political press conferences and insert toddlers in speaking and cutaway roles.

Well, here’s one that stuck to sports. Appropriately, it’s A.I. based on A.I.

@morgueboy

Baby AI is the one 🤣🤣!! #babyai #hilarious #fyp #AllenIverson #sixers #practice

Highway To Snell

We go from Allen Iverson to another A.I. trend, this one showing the evolving greatness of Game 1 World Series starter Blake Snell of the Dodgers.

These reels have made rounds for a while, and players and fans engage with them impressively. Wholesome A.I. approved and embraced is the point. Trashy, deceptive A.I. only chips away at confidence in content.

@mlbplayszone

The Life of Blake Snell ⚾️ - #blakesnell #postseason #mlb #baseball #losangelesdodgers

Future Selves In Chattanooga

Posts that win the future will have high standards. Innovating in front of that curve and doing so with a slow heartbeat is among our advantages.

I’ll show you something now that was super inspired, the brainchild of the McCallie School in Chattanooga, TN.

The boarding school that counts Ted Turner among its graduates had the foresight to interview students in sixth grade to present questions for their future selves upon graduation.

@cortessteve76

#McCallie

The power of these types of ideas scratches the surface of intuitive, forward-captivating network creation. We embrace communities that appreciate content that was born to have staying power.

This is that, 100 percent.

Daddy Vladdy To Vladdy Jr.

A relative of that theme was orchestrated by Vladimir Guerrero in a letter to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for his Major League debut, as produced on MLB Network.

@mlb

All these years later, Vlad Sr.'s letter to Vladdy Jr. still hits us in the feels 🥹 #WorldSeries #mlb #vladimirguerrerojr #fatherson #emotional

It’s beautiful. The Time Machine we’re honored to inhabit with all of you runs on a universal language. The ride really is everlasting.

Big Town, Little Finger

We close this week like a concert, with an encore vibe.

I had the thrill recently of meeting Hubert Payne, the drummer for Little Big Town. A former athlete, he’s also a husband and Dad with kids who are navigating exciting extracurricular journeys themselves. We’ll share more on what Hubert does for players at a later date.

Just know, Hubert is a great story. The McCallie School mentioned above has a Blue Tornado for a mascot. I told Hubert that Tornado is one of my favorite LBT songs.

Hubert joined the group after that hit was first recorded and brings force of nature energy to make it even better with each live performance.

We all should just be glad he is alive to do anything. See, Hubert was stabbed years back while attending a show, confronted by a drunk waving a machete.

Hubert did all he could to try to stop the guy but was cut twice in the process. Seriously wounded, he stumbled onto the street and fortunately found police officers nearby, then got to the hospital, all recounted in Drum Magazine.

“The doctor told me, ‘if we don’t do anything, in a few days all your fingers are going to roll up. Now, if we do surgery immediately, you will be able to control all of your fingers except the little one.’ I was like, ‘Dude, if I can put a stick in it, let’s do it.’”

@red.dirt.records

#littlebigtown #boondocks #ladyantebellum #cmt #cmtiktok #countryconcert #concert #countrymusic #countryliving #country

Those booms you hear? Motor City muscle on country tracks.

“One thing I know

No matter where I go

I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks.”

A former college football player, Hubert was determined  to persevere. Little Big Town and the band’s fans are some of the many beneficiaries. Everywhere he goes, it’s loud and clear and I can’t resist saying: This drummer can’t be beat. 

Goat Big!