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The NFL: A Dead Owner, A Dead Gangster, A League Founded on Gambling

The NFL: A Dead Owner, A Dead Gangster, A League Founded on Gambling

Update: 2024-09-031
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This episode of "Disgraceland" delves into the dark side of the NFL's history, revealing its deep connections to organized crime. The episode begins by exploring the league's origins, highlighting the involvement of mobsters and degenerate gamblers in its early days. It then focuses on the story of Carol Rosenblum, the owner of the Los Angeles Rams, and his alleged involvement in illegal betting and ticket scalping. The episode details the federal investigation into Rosenblum's activities and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death. The episode then shifts its focus to the mafia's influence on the NFL in the 1970s, highlighting the relationship between Alan Glick, a mafia frontman, and NFL figures like Al Davis and Don Shula. It recounts the murder of Tamara Ran, who was suing Glick for a real estate deal, and suggests that her death was related to her knowledge of Glick's mob connections. The episode concludes by discussing the NFL's efforts to distance itself from the mafia's influence and its current embrace of legalized sports betting.

Outlines

00:00:00
The NFL's Criminal Origins

This episode explores the NFL's history with organized crime, from its early days with mob-connected owners to the league's efforts to distance itself from the mafia in the 1970s and its current embrace of legalized sports betting.

00:00:34
Carol Rosenblum and the Los Angeles Rams

The episode delves into the story of Carol Rosenblum, the owner of the Los Angeles Rams, and his alleged involvement in illegal betting and ticket scalping. It details the federal investigation into Rosenblum's activities and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death.

00:19:50
The Mafia's Influence on the NFL

The episode shifts its focus to the mafia's influence on the NFL in the 1970s, highlighting the relationship between Alan Glick, a mafia frontman, and NFL figures like Al Davis and Don Shula. It recounts the murder of Tamara Ran, who was suing Glick for a real estate deal, and suggests that her death was related to her knowledge of Glick's mob connections.

00:33:21
The NFL's Response to the Mafia's Influence

The episode discusses the NFL's efforts to distance itself from the mafia's influence and its current embrace of legalized sports betting.

00:38:11
Conclusion and Question of the Week

The episode concludes with a summary of the key points and a question of the week: which athlete in the history of sports has been the biggest disgrace and why?

Keywords

Point Spread


The point spread is a handicap used in sports betting to even out the odds between two teams. It represents the number of points a favored team is expected to win by.

Odds Makers


Odds makers are professionals who set the point spreads for sports betting. They use information about the teams, players, and other factors to determine the lines.

Bagman


A bagman is a person who carries and delivers money, often illegally. In the context of the podcast, Vic Weiss was a bagman for Carol Rosenblum, placing bets for him.

Ticket Scalping


Ticket scalping is the practice of buying tickets for an event at face value and then reselling them at a higher price. It is illegal in many jurisdictions.

Mafia Frontman


A mafia frontman is a person who serves as a public face for a criminal organization. They often have legitimate businesses that are used to launder money or hide illegal activities.

Teamsters' Pension Fund


The Teamsters' Pension Fund is a retirement fund for members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. It has been a source of money for organized crime and corruption.

Gangland Style


Gangland style refers to a method of murder that is typically quick, efficient, and often involves multiple gunshots.

Degenerate Gambler


A degenerate gambler is a person who gambles excessively and often loses large sums of money. They may have a gambling addiction and may engage in illegal activities to support their habit.

Q&A

  • What was the NFL's involvement with organized crime in the early days of the league?

    The NFL was founded and run by degenerate gamblers, many of whom had connections to organized crime. This included owners like Art Rooney, Tim Mara, and Charles Bidwell, who were all inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame despite their questionable pasts.

  • How did the NFL try to distance itself from organized crime in the 1970s?

    The NFL faced a crisis in the 1970s when it was revealed that several owners and players had business dealings with mob-connected figures like Alan Glick. The league forced these individuals to divest from their relationships with Glick, but Al Davis, the owner of the Oakland Raiders, refused to comply.

  • What is the NFL's current relationship with gambling?

    The NFL has embraced legalized sports betting, which generates billions of dollars in revenue for the league. While the NFL is now too powerful to be corrupted by low-level mobsters, the league's history with gambling and organized crime remains a significant part of its story.

Show Notes

The image of the National Football League is one of integrity. It’s a squeaky clean brand that NFL commissioners have gone to great lengths to protect. This episode tells the story of a different NFL; the mystery of a dead team owner, gambling, mob-adjacent hall of fame league founders, and murdered bagmen are all part of the history of America’s pastime.

There's more about the dark origins of the NFL coming to your feed on Thursday in the After Party bonus episode. We want to know: Which athlete in the history of sports has been the biggest disgrace and why? Let us know and join the party at 617-906-6638, disgracelandpod@gmail.com, or on socials @disgracelandpod.

To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com.

To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get access to a monthly exclusive episode, weekly bonus content and more, become a Disgraceland All Access member at disgracelandpod.com/membership.

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The NFL: A Dead Owner, A Dead Gangster, A League Founded on Gambling

The NFL: A Dead Owner, A Dead Gangster, A League Founded on Gambling

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