Sports
Congress wants info on NCAA letting players bet
A trio of congressmen have asked NCAA president Charlie Baker to provide more information about the association’s plans to allow college athletes to bet on professional sports.
Reps. Brett Guthrie, John Joyce and Gus Bilirakis of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which often oversees sports integrity issues, told Baker in a letter published Friday morning that they were examining the NCAA’s proposed policy change and sent a list of nine questions they want answered within two weeks.
The letter said their concerns increased this week in light of recent federal indictments over illegal sports betting and gambling rings involving NBA players and coaches as well as the NCAA’s recent investigations into college athletes betting on their own games.
The NCAA had been on track to drop its ban on pro sports gambling Saturday but delayed the change to Nov. 22. NCAA athletes are still prohibited from betting on college sports and sharing information about college sports with bettors.
“The NCAA has the most aggressive approach of any U.S. league in taking sports betting head on,” Tim Buckley, the NCAA’s senior vice president for external affairs, said in a statement. “The most significant threats to competition integrity are in states that continue to offer risky prop bets as well as the emerging grey market made up of futures and predictions trading sites that operate without oversight. For the last two years, the NCAA has been working with gaming regulators to push for adoption of stronger protections for college athletes and for stronger integrity measures and, while several states have made changes, more work remains.”
The delay came days after SEC commissioner Greg Sankey published a letter to Baker that said his league’s leaders believed the policy change was “a major step in the wrong direction.” Sankey asked the NCAA’s board to rescind the policy change.
If the rule goes into effect, it will mark a shift in a long-held policy that had become difficult to enforce with an increase in legal sports betting in the United States. The NCAA has faced an uptick in alleged betting violations by players in recent years. In September, the NCAA announced that a Fresno State men’s basketball player had manipulated his performance for gambling purposes and conspired with two other players in a prop betting scheme. The NCAA is investigating 13 additional players from six schools regarding potential gambling violations dealing with integrity issues.
On Oct. 22, when the NCAA announced the adoption of the new proposal, it stated that approving the rule change “is not an endorsement of sports betting, particularly for student-athletes.”
Friday’s letter from Guthrie, Joyce and Bilirakis asked Baker what guardrails the NCAA was putting in place to try to avoid illegal sports betting. They also asked for more information about studies the NCAA has done about the impact of betting on student-athletes and details about any “fraudulent, illegal and alleged betting practices in connection with NCAA players,” among other questions.
Bilirakis is the lead author and chief proponent of an NCAA-related bill that Baker and other leaders say is a crucial step in bringing stability to the new business model of college sports. That bill, called the SCORE Act, would help the NCAA enforce rules limiting player movement and spending on players by providing schools with a limited antitrust exemption and declaring that athletes are not employees.
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Greg Biffle, his wife and children were killed in a plane crash in North Carolina on Thursday, Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., said in a post on social media.
Biffle and his family members were on board a Cessna C550 with the tail number N257BW making its way to the Bahamas via Sarasota, Florida, when it crashed at Statesville Regional Airport. The plane had the tail number N257BW, which is owned by GB Aviation Leasing LLC, according to federal aviation records. The company is owned by Biffle.
“I am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is with all who loved them,” Hudson wrote on X.
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NASCAR Cup Series driver Greg Biffle appears during the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, on March 20, 2022. (Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)
“They were friends who lived their lives focused on helping others. Greg was a great NASCAR champion who thrilled millions of fans. But he was an extraordinary person as well, and will be remembered for his service to others as much as for his fearlessness on the track.”
“The Biffles flew hundreds of rescue missions in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.”The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica. That’s who the Biffles were. Our prayers are with their family, friends, and everyone grieving this unimaginable loss.”
Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said in an earlier press conference he could “confirm there were fatalities” in the crash. Officials didn’t identify who the deceased were or how many people were on board the plane. The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed to Fox News Digital that there were seven fatalities in the crash.
NASCAR confirmed that Biffle, his wife and two children were killed in the crash, along with three others.
“NASCAR is devastated by the tragic loss of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, son Ryder, Craig Wadsworth and Dennis and Jack Dutton in a fatal plane crash,” NASCAR said in a statement. “Greg was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many. His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport.
“On the track, Greg’s talent and tenacity earned him championships in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, as well as numerous wins and accolades in the NASCAR Cup Series. Beyond his racing career, he gave of himself for the betterment of our community. Most notably, Greg spent countless hours of his time helping the citizens of North Carolina during the disasters that followed Hurricane Helene. His tireless work saved lives.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Greg’s entire family, friends, and all who were touched by his life.”
The Federal Aviation Administration told Fox News Digital the C550 crashed around 10:20 a.m. ET. FAA officials and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating, with the NTSB leading the probe.
RISING ENGLISH SOCCER PROSPECT, 21, DIES IN CAR CRASH AFTER MATCH
A massive fire is seen at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. (WJZY-TV)
The fire continued as emergency personnel rushed to the scene of a plane crash in Statesville, North Carolina. (WJZY-TV)
Smoke is seen billowing from a plane crash at Statesvlle Regional Airport in Statesville, North Carolina. (WJZY-TV)
Later, the families of the deceased released a joint statement. Biffle, his wife Cristina Biffle and children Ryder and Emma were among those identified as the victims of the plane crash along with Dennis Dutton, his son Jack and Craig Wadsworth.
“We are devastated by the loss of our loved ones. This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words,” the joint statement read.
“Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives.
“We ask for privacy, compassion and understanding as we grieve and begin to process this unimaginable loss. We are grateful for the kindness and support that has been extended to our families during this incredibly difficult time. At this moment, our focus is on honoring their lives and supporting one another.”
An official with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News Digital that the small jet crashed after it took off shortly after 10 a.m.
Video from the scene showed first responders rushing onto the runway as flames burned near the scattered wreckage from the plane.
Golfers at the nearby Lakewood Golf Club said they dropped to the ground as the plane flew overhead. They said the ninth hole was covered with debris.
“We were like, ‘Oh my gosh! That’s way too low,’” Joshua Green, of Mooresville, told The Associated Press. “It was scary.”
Statesville Regional Airport offers corporate aviation facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams, according to the airport’s website.
Biffle, 55, drew significant praise last year when he used his personal helicopter to deliver supplies and internet service to those who need it in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in parts of North Carolina. He even located a stranded family while flying due to their use of a mirror against the sun.
Biffle had been delivering Starlink services to residents of western North Carolina and reflected on his experience helping out the stranded family whose mirror use saved them.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Greg Biffle (44) talks to the press during Daytona 500 media day at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida, on Feb. 16, 2022. (Mike Dinovo/USA TODAY Sports)
“Only way we were able to find someone stranded in the mountains at bottom of steep canyon. 6 attempts to land due to difficulty but we got there – got him a chainsaw, EpiPens, insulin, chicken food, formula, gas, 2 stroke oil, and sandwiches premade from Harris Teeter before we left,” Biffle posted at the time.
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Biffle had 19 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series, six of them coming in 2005 when he finished second in the Cup standings. He won three consecutive Ford 400s from 2004 to 2006 at Homestead. He also earned 20 wins in the Xfinity Series, winning the 2002 title, and got 17 other checkered flags in the Craftsman Truck series, winning the championship in 2000. Biffle had originally stopped racing in 2016 but returned six years later.
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