10/25/2025
I’m the owner of Blades Mobile Car Wash. I clean cars for a living, but I also watch the news like everyone else. Lately a lot of stories have come out about old NBA stars and illegal poker/gambling cases. Big investigations and arrests are in the news right now.
Some players were charged and named in the federal case. Other names have been mentioned as people who attended games that investigators are looking at. Reporters say Kevin Garnett was at a game years ago, but he was not charged in the indictment that was unsealed. That is a report, not a conviction.
This is how I see it as a Black man in America: the media can build a story fast. When that story centers on Black athletes — men we grew up watching — it hits different. It’s easy for headlines to feel like they are trying to tear down people we looked up to. I don’t accept or excuse crimes when they happen. But I also know headlines can shape how folks see whole communities.
If you want to learn more, look up the reported names and the official charges. Start with these (reported in the news): Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier (among those charged), Gilbert Arenas (indicted in related illegal poker cases), plus examples of past convictions of former players that show this is not always new. Read the reporting for facts — not only what people say online.
Young people: athletic skill can still build a life. It is still a path that opens doors. But it’s also smart to learn other ways to win: business, school, trades, investing, community work. Use sports as a launch pad — not the only way. Stay curious. Stay careful. Keep your head up. Keep washing. ✊🏾
— Blade
Blades Mobile Car Wash
