PTI - Chauncey Billups & Terry Rozier Arrested

Episode Date: October 24, 2025

Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser discuss multiple shocking arrests in the NBA, the latest hires in the MLB, and Lionel Messi’s new contract. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey, sports fans, the ESPN app has all of ESPN all in one place. The ESPN app is your home to thousands of live events, ESPN shows, and originals across every ESPN network and service. And now you can check if you already have ESPN Unlimited as part of your TV package for no additional calls. Visit activate.esPN.com to learn how to access your account or sign up, then start streaming in the ESPN app. It's all of ESPN all in one place. Sign up or activate now. Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. Tony, a new study says dinosaurs were thriving until the asteroid struck. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

Yes, we were. Hey, hey, hey, speak for you still. What? Come on. We're not that old. You don't think you're a dinosaur? We're not that old. We are that old.

Are we? I'm that old. We look like Muppets. Do you ever watch this show? No. We look like Muppets. Absolutely not. Welcome to PTI, boys and girls.

in today's episode, Victor Wembeyanma, goes for 40. Leonel Messi gets a new deal, and Booger McFarland joins us for five good minutes, but we begin today with gambling arrests that are rocking the NBA. Miami Heat Guard Terry Rozier was arrested in Florida for his alleged involvement in helping gamblers profit from prop bets, and Portland coach Chauncey Billups was arrested in Oregon and linked to an illegal poker playing operation with ties to the mafia.

The NBA immediately put them both on leave from their team, Wilbon, what questions does this raise in your mind? Tony, I guess one big question, and that's how widespread is this? What's going to be the reveal, ultimately? I mean, the NBA can conduct all the investigations that want. It doesn't have the power of subpoena. And the FBI is going to get a lot more answers than the NBA,

even if the NBA pressed hard. But let me declare some baggage for a second. When you throw Chauncey Billups' face up there, that hits close to home for me. Jonti Billups is somebody that's somebody that had a really good relationship professionally when he was a player, an important player in the NBA

with the Detroit Pistons and the Nuggets. And then when Chonzie wanted to go into broadcasting, I was one of the people that he talked to early on. And he worked for this network. And we became friends, and it's been a long time. And I like and respect Choncy Billups. And so this news is just jarring to me that allegedly Choncy is involved in whatever this is.

And I really had a hard time. time just sort of concentrating and reading it all thinking, what in the world are we talking about? And so we're going to find out, I guess, what we're talking about, whether it pertains to many others, players, other coaches, what are we talking about? How widespread is it? This is a really bad look for the NBA as they start their season. Look, on these gambling types of stories, they are very complicated and they're very murky. And that is because all the sports leagues now have sports betting partners. And they encourage people to bet, including this network with ESPN bet, including this one. So I, you know, I understand betting is legal, but I don't think

it's too much to ask of a player or a coach. Do not engage in this. Absolutely do not have anything to do with your own sport. And you probably shouldn't have it with any others. So that if Rosier is found to have cooperated with gamblers, if he had shaded his own performance so that people could probably on prop bets, that he should be banned for life. There's no, you know, who's the other guy? Johnthe Parker was. He should be banned for life if that's true. The complicating factor here, Mike, is that the,

yeah, the complicating factor here is that the NBA investigated this prior to this and cleared him, which leads you to two conclusions. One, that the investigation wasn't very good, or two, like his lawyer said, this is a show arrest, and it's unjust. In either case, you know, you have to get him off, off the field of play at that point.

As for Chauncey Billups, you have to do the same thing. He cannot be coaching while this is going on. What are the notes that I took here? You know, because what if it's wider, Mike? I know your relationship with them. What if it's wider? Oh, what if there's more betting and what if people participated in? You can't have it.

Right. So the appearance of it is just so heavy. The NBA needs to protect the integrity of its product. No doubt. You know, and we will watch and see what happens. One small thing I want to add, when you bet from your phone, as everybody does now, it goes into an enormous data bank, and people can look at it and see where there are odd patterns of betting where the red flags are. So I tend to trust these things. Yeah, let's go to actual basketball action in the NBA. Last night in the marquee game, Victor Wenbanyama scored 40 points and got 15 rebounds as San Antonio rolled Dallas by 33 points.

Cooper Flagg made his NBA debut in that game and said it was not great after scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 32 minutes. Philadelphia's top draft pick, VJ Edgecombe, scored 34 points. The Most Fire Rookie in a debut since Hello, Will Chamberlain, 66 years ago, and the Sixers beat the Celtics, and Joel M. Bede returned to the court in that game and looked slow, scoring only four points on one of nine shootings. So, Wilbon, what stood out to you most from last night's results?

Oh, you know this, because I called you this, morning and sin. I do. I know. Wimban yamo, Wimbanyama. That stands out. Right. Okay. It's like last week's question. What stood out? Shohay and Wimbanyama. Those are the two most exciting, dynamic, unbelievably spectacular

athletes in the world right now. And watching Wimbañama last night was like watching a combination of a young Lou Al-Sinder, Wilts, who you already mentioned, and Akeem Olajuwon. It's unbelievable. Well, Wimbanyama put Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis in his pocket. He went into Dallas and he trucked them.

It was unbelievable what he did. I cannot wait to see him for the next game. San Antonio might be further along as a team than I thought, but Wimbañama is the answer to everything. All right. So it's one game, one of 82, and by next week, things could change completely. Cooper Flaude could be getting 35 points. edgecom could be getting 12.

But as I look at this, and I knew you would feel that way about Wembegama, so I'm going to go a different way, and I'm going to talk about Joelle M. Bede at the moment. Because Joe L.M.B., it doesn't matter how good edgecom is. Joel M. Bede is more important to the Philadelphia 76ers in the near term than anybody else. And if he's slow, and if he's winded, and if he can't defend the rim, then Philadelphia has absolutely no chance. You saw Wembeñama last night. Did you see Anta Tocompo? These two guys were flying. They were way above the rip. Those are the guys that Embed has to guard, right?

That's the important thing. So I want to know when does he get into game shape? When does Embedde? Because you remember, Mike, a couple of years ago played 19 games. Last year played 36 or maybe we reversed 31. Yeah, and he's had the same operation on his meniscus four different times. Four different times. It's maybe Wemba Nyama's year, but I'm interested at the moment in looking at Embed with a performance.

I hear you on that tone. I love him. but I hear you, an edge cone. Philadelphia's got some guards now. He and Maxie. That's nice to see. Now, to baseball's two newest managers, the angel signed former catcher, Kurt Suzuki,

to a rare one-year deal that matches the amount of time that GM Perry Manazian has left on his deal. Meanwhile, the Giants are giving three years to Tony Vitello, who makes the unprecedented lead from college coaching to Major League managing. tone, which decision is more curious to you? Well, it's nothing curious about Suzuki. I mean, he's a catcher.

Eventually, all catchers become managers. He spent a long time in the major leagues, and then he worked in the major leagues. It makes all the sense in the world to hire him. The curiosity is that it's a one-year deal, but that's because his pal, who's the GM, is on the last year of his deal. So he probably couldn't get Suzuki any more than that.

Look, it's a terrible job, Mike. The Angels haven't had a winning record in the last 10 years, and Suzuki's going to be their six manager in the last eight years. So, you know, but in terms of the higher, the higher makes all the sense in the world. The other guy is a different story. He has not played in the major leagues. He has not coached in the major leagues, not one day. And you know baseball players, they're going to look at this guy with a tremendous amount of skepticism.

Prove it. Tremendous. And so if Buster Posey needs to literally walk with him. and put his arm around him from the beginning of spring training and sell this guy to the players. And I'll be brief with this. Baseball is not basketball and football. Basketball and football college coaches float up, float up, and they get pro jobs all the time. This has never happened in baseball.

So if he doesn't do the hit and run, if he burns out the bullpen, if he gives him college rah-rah, they're going to say, who's this guy? Who's this guy? So that, he could be the greatest manager of the world, but that's the more curious. higher. Well, it's curious because we don't know what he's going to be allowed to do. And I'm not saying that Buster Posi is in some conspiracy, because I don't

believe that. We know managers now have to deal with people upstairs. This is not Earl Weaver and Leo DeRosher and Billy Martin. That's right. You know, this isn't that. These guys have people meddling from above every

pitch of every game. So I'm wondering how that's going to work out. And can Buster Posey either avoid it or can he be the buffer between it? Can we find out what this guy, you know, what does he know? And maybe he can float up if he's got some independence, maybe. Yeah, I'll just say this. Max Scherzer played for him in college and loves him. Scherzer loves him. He developed crochet as well. I mean, you know, he may be great. Let's take a break. When we come back, is LSU looking at its third loss of the season on Saturday?

And what would that mean for Brian Kelly? We're going to ask LSU's own Booger McFarlane. We'll also ask him to break down tonight's game between the vikes and the chargers in uniforms. I would fire people over. I would say whoever came up with that idea to wear that guy. Part in the interruption is presented by the refreshing taste of twisted tea, hard ice tea. Please drink responsibly. You are watching, Pardon the Interruption, presented by Twisted Tea, hard iced tea. Part of Happy Hour.

Week 8 of the NFL season kicks off tonight. We are pleased to welcome in our great friend ESPN NFL and college football analyst, Booger McFarlane. Let's start with the game tonight. The Vikings are at the Chargers. You know, I mean, it's not like they're burning up the league. What will you be watching for in this one, Booger? Well, let's first start with the Vikings.

Like, I'm trying to figure out where is J.J. McCarthy? Like, we thought this was going to be the year where we grow J.J. McCarthy. he's supposed to get some experience, especially after he missed last year, and we're still out with this high ankle sprain. So that's number one. Carson Wentz is going to start a quarterback. He's been up and down.

Can he hit the open receiver? Kevin O'Connell, the head coach, is one of the best play callers in football. He does a great job of designing plays. Now can Carson Wentz actually hit them when they're open? That'll be one thing. As far as the charges, remember when the charges started undefeated and we were like, man, Jeremy Hardball's about to do it again? Well, that's kind of falling off a little bit.

So are the Chargers going to be able to get back on the horse again? Can they play bully ball? Because they've been throwing a football a lot. Mike, you know how this goes in the big team when Harbaugh was there? They barely threw the football. With this version of Hardball, they're throwing across the lot. I think they have to get back to their identity and run the football. So I'll be watching those two things.

I'm going to go to college football right now because this is irresistible, given you have skin in the game, LSU, ranked, of course, 20th, hosting number three, Texas A&M, Booger, you know how this goes, having been a prominent star at LSU. Brian Kelly, how hot is his seat? Let me say this, Mike. First and foremost, I was told by wise men a long time ago. It's a poor dog that won't fight in his own backyard.

So we're going to find out just how much fight the LSU Tigers have in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night. But this is maybe the biggest game of Brian Kelly's tenure. Let me explain. Number one, LSU's five and two after losing the Vanderbilt. They play Texas A&M at home Saturday night. They got a buy week next and they go to Alabama. So you're essentially, if you lose Saturday night, you're not going to be favored against Alabama.

You could be five and four with three games left after you told everybody you spent $20 million on a roster. This coming off, the fact that Florida has fired Billy Napier, Penn State has paid hundreds of me to get rid of James Franklin. Like money doesn't seem to be an object anymore. I just want to know where everybody is getting it from. But this is, I think, the biggest game of the Brian Kelly era so far because of what's at stake, because of the era we're in, and because of the expectations that the LSU fan base and not only the fan base, but the LSU coach said himself, this is a playoff team. So this is the biggest game of his career so far. Let's go to a place in your old conference where expectations aren't quite as great. Vanderbilt.

I mean, that last year was Indiana, which started a sense. ending in ways that we in the Big Ten are not accustomed to. Now it's Vandy Bugger playing against Missouri, which is ranked. Do you have, like, faith or confidence or what do you think of Vandy being a guy who used to beat up on Vandy? Yeah, well, listen, Vandy's a really good team. Can they be a great team and win a college football playoff game or two? I don't know that yet. Now, here's what I say that.

Diego Pavia should be in a Heisman Trophy conversation. I've never seen, maybe since Tebow has a player galvanized a team, a university, and they follow his heartbeat. Like, he is unreal. He wields them to win sometime. Here's the problem. The biggest determining factor in wins and losses in college football is turnovers and explosive plays. They're leading receivers to tight end. Okay, you've got to get some explosive plays down the field to some wide receivers.

They've struggled getting those. But Mike, think about this. If we like Cam Scataboo in the National Football League, to me, Diego Pavia is the Cam Scataboo of college football. Like he'll run over here. He'll throw the football. Like he can do whatever it takes. And everybody at that university should be proud.

Clark leader head coaches turn them around. This isn't the same move into. And it pains me to say that especially after they beat LSU last weekend. We will get you out of here on this. We will go back to the NFL. Tua said yesterday that his six foot one inch height may be preventing him from locating receiving. Jalen Waddle as much as he'd like, to which I add parenthetically, what?

How would you feel about that comment if Tua were your teammate? There's so much to unpack there. Number one, Tua should just stop talking. Like every time he says something, then we got to come on TV and all of us have to talk about and trying to figure out what the hell is he trying to say. That's number one. Number two, if two is six one, I need to be playing the NBA because I'm six seven. Like I've stepped, but there's no way two is six one.

All right? If 2 and 6-1, Mike has hair and Tony, you also have, you also got a full beard that's black. Like, I can say you a lot of different things. That's number two. Number three, understand this. Hyde has never been a determining factor when you're playing the shotgun so much. So the fact that he's 6-1 really doesn't matter. He's in the shotgun.

So you should be able to see guys down the field and throw them open. So I just think right now every time Tua says something, it comes across as if I'm not going to say it's not in. But it comes across, he's kind of putting his foot in his mouth over and over and over. I just wish he would go out, stop throwing interception, play football, and let your play do to talk. And I remember the time when we were growing up guys, and you guys are a little older than me, but we let our actions speak loud for us. Too many times right now these kids want to tell us what they're going to do and tell us what's happening. Just go out and show us, big guy, because right now there's a lot of turmoil in Miami.

And I'm afraid that the turmoil is going to lead to a lot of people losing their jobs. and maybe the quarterback is one of them. Agreed with all of that. No doubt, Burger. And very nice shirt from Chichese Creek. Good shirt. I love it. Appreciate it, Tony.

Have a good one, guys. Let's take one last break still to come. Sean Payton says he meant no offense to Russell Wilson. You're right. Sure. I took offense. Sure. 38-year-old Lynn El Messi, Tony's boy,

signs up for more years in Miami. So Boogers got. a Chichese Creek shirt on. I've played that a bunch. It's in the low country in South Carolina. Okay. Can we get you down there, Mike? Can we get you down to play that course? Maybe depends on next year who else is down there. Pardon the Interruption is presented by the refreshing taste of twisted tea, hard iced tea. Please drink responsibly, part of Happy Hour. Happy time, people. Happy 28th birthday, Nick Bosa.

Bosa was defensive rookie of the year for the 49ers in 2019 when he came out of Ohio State as the second overall pick in the draft. Bosa has made the Pro Bowl five times every year he wasn't hurt and was defensive player of the year in 2022 when his 18 and a half sacks led the league. The Bosa missed 2020 with a torn left ACL, and now he's missing the last 14 games of this season because he tore his right ACL in game three. Nick Bosa should not be confused with his older brother, Joey Bosa, who has also been to five pro bowls and was also named defensive rookie of the year. Joey Bosa played 10 seasons with the Chargers and is now in his first year with Buffalo. The 49ers so far, Tony, are surviving a lot of injuries, including Bosa's. Yes.

Kyle Shannahan doing a hell of a job. I don't know how long it's sustainable. It's still professional sports, which is about players. But man, that staff needs to be applauded. San Francisco. Happy anniversary, Joe Carter. On this day, 32 years ago, the Toronto outfielder hit the most famous home run and franchise history.

With the Blue Jays trailing Philadelphia 6 to 5 and the 9th, Carter hit a three-run shot off closure Mitch Williams to give the Blue Jays their second straight World Series championship. Carter joined Bill Mazurowski as the only players to hit World Series winning walk-off homers. That was the last game Toronto played in the World Series, but now they get more. Courtesy of the franchise's second most famous home run, George Springer's three-run shot in game seven against Seattle on Monday. Carter watched that homer and said, quote,

my heart was beating 10,000 beats per second, unquote. Tony, that Joe Carter video is something I never get too much of. And to me, it's the definition of joyous. That moment, I mean, that was natural. It wasn't some phony, stupid bat flip. I mean, it was Joe Carter who'd been around the block and had some games in his life and played some important games.

Wow, wow, wow. Why don't we see? Can't they get him to Toronto? Can't Joe Carter be in like a seat in Toronto instead of at home in Kansas? Probably will be. Probably throw out a pitch. Happy trails to Leonel Messi moving on.

The 38-year-old has signed on for up to three more seasons with Inter-M Miami. Messi shows few signs of slowing down, finishing atop the MLS and regular season goals with 29 over 28 games. He leads his story. squad into a best of three playoff series against Nashville SC starting tomorrow night. This contract is significant for Inter-Miamy as the franchise has locked in the biggest season

ticket draw on the league ahead of its move from Fort Lauderdale to a brand new stadium in Miami next year. You got skin in the game, Miami Nashville, you want to break it down? You want to tell me who you got in that best of three series? I got people in pink shirts. I think they're really cool. Let's go to the big finish. Let's do it.

Broncos coach Sean Payton says he did not mean to insult Russell Wilson in any way, shape, or form. I'll bet you don't believe him. Was this classless is not enough? You got to go move toward liar, too? Really? The Blue Jays have decided to start rookie Trey your savage in game one against Blake Snell. Is that a good choice? He's been very good in the playoffs, but Snell has been great.

There's a difference. Trey Young said getting blown out at home by the Raptors was embarrassing. What would you call it? This game one, I mean, you know, it was sort of a non-office. When Banjama was on, it was hard to watch anything else. Sharks and Rangers tonight will San Jose get its first win of the season, Tom. I just want to see the Rangers score goals at home, which they didn't do the first three or four games, right? Last one, Nuggets and Warriors tonight, who you got?

Man, you know, you know how much I love the Warriors, but the Nuggets, if they're healthy and Yokic is out there, they're going to be hard to be. We're out of time. We will try to do better the next time. I'm Tony Kornhizer. And I'm Mike Wilvon. Same time tomorrow, knucklehead.