Phil’s gambling problem is news, could lead to fines by the PGA
Updated Wednesday, July 7, 2021
Phil Mickelson is perhaps America’s most popular golfer, devoting extended hours to autographing and chatting with his fans. We saw his congenial side when he performed Tuesday night in “The Match” in Big Sky Montana, where bears, wolves and elk also looked on. Mickelson and Tom Brady were beaten by Bryson DeChambeau and Aaron Rodgers. It was another in a string of disappointing golf outings following Mickelson’s PGA Championship in May, when he became at 51 the oldest ever to win a major.
But more concerning than what’s happening on the golf course is the news that keeps pouring out about Mickelson’s gambling addiction.
He’s furious with The Detroit News for tying him to an alleged mob bookie said to have cheated the golfer out of gambling winnings. Robert Snell reported that a 2007 transcript from the racketeering trial of Jack Giacalone included testimony that mobster Don DeSeranno “couldn’t pay” Mickelson $500,000 that he owed him. Snell described “Dandy Don” as “one of the biggest gamblers in Detroit history.”
Mickelson complained at last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic that his mega-wager with Dandy Don occurred two decades ago, and the newspaper was only trying to embarrass him.
After shooting 3-under 69 – 6 off the lead — in the first round at Detroit Golf Club, Mickelson said, “I don’t see me coming back. Not that I don’t love the people here, they have been great, but not with that type of thing happening. . . . I feel that Rob Snell was very opportunistic, selfish and irresponsible.”
Never mind that Mickelson’s attorney, Glenn Cohen, told ESPN that Snell’s story was accurate.
“It was so much effort for me to be here,” Mickelson said. “And to have that type of unnecessary attack. . . . It’s just the lack of appreciation.”
Mickelson believes the city of Detroit, including its newspapers, should be grateful to him for squeezing it into his crowded schedule. After the PGA he played the U.S. Open, and then the Travelers, then “The Match,” and the British Open looms next week. He said he played in Detroit only because “I wanted to help the tournament.”
He appears to have the same weakness as Michael Jordan. But unlike Jordan, who took a hiatus from professional basketball when his betting became a relentless controversy, Mickelson takes no accountability.
He was cited by the federal government for insider trading in 2012 when he was involved with another high-profile sports gambler, Billy Walters.
At a time when Mickelson owed him money, Walters passed him a tip about Dean Foods stock. Mickelson bought the stock, for $2.4 million, and the next day Dean Foods announced a spinoff, and its stock jumped 40%. The Securities and Exchange Commission years later collected $931,000 from Mickelson, plus interest of $105,000. Cohen said Mickelson felt “vindicated” because he was not indicted.
Walters was imprisoned in 2017, but President Trump pardoned him near the end of his presidency. The White House credited Mickelson with influencing that decision. Trump made it sound like he was doing the golfer a favor. That brought a rebuke from Cohen: “Phil had nothing to do with this.”
What annoys Mickelson more than anything is the way the mobster stories linger. And they could lead to a fine by the PGA Tour. The player guidelines state that the members “shall not associate with or have dealings with persons whose activities, including gambling, might reflect adversely upon the integrity of the game of golf.”
Another lamentable incident: A year ago Mickelson reportedly sent nearly $3 million through “an intermediary” – Gregory Silveira — in an illegal sports gambling scheme in La Quinta, Calif.
Mickelson seems not to understand that when he chose to become a celebrity, he chose to be scrutinized by reporters who are “opportunistically” looking at celebrities’ dirty laundry. Betting half a million dollars with sleazy mobsters is not a good look. Nor is pocketing almost a million on ill-gotten stock gains. These are newsworthy events as soon as they become known, even if years after they occurred.
Upon more reflection, Mickelson decided he overreacted in Detroit. Crowds followed him throughout the tournament, and he was grafeful, even after a disappointing final round left him tied for 74th.
“The people here were so nice that I’ll make a deal with them,” Mickelson said. “There’s a guy named Mike Sullivan trying to raise 50,000 signatures to petition me. If he gets 50,000, and all of those 50,000 agree to do one random act of kindness for another member of the community, I’m in.”
This is the Phil Mickelson America loves.
