Paxton Risks Senate Race for Gambling College-Football QB
Ken Paxton is risking his Senate race by threatening the Big 12 over Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby's gambling-related eligibility dispute.Summary
The article argues that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee in a competitive U.S. Senate race, is taking a major political risk by intervening in the Brendan Sorsby gambling scandal. After a Texas judge temporarily blocked NCAA sanctions, Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby could play while litigation continues, despite having admitted to thousands of sports bets, including 40 on his own team while at Indiana. College sports leaders reacted angrily, warning that allowing him to play could damage faith in the integrity of competition. Texas Tech defended Sorsby as someone receiving treatment for a gambling addiction and offered to bench him for two early games. Paxton then threatened the Big 12 with $200 million in damages if it sanctioned Texas Tech for following the court order. The author says Paxton may please some Texas Tech fans, but he could alienate supporters of other Big 12 schools in Texas and appear politically opportunistic ahead of his race against Democrat James Talarico.
(Source：New York Magazine)