Shawn Lemon Appeals His Gambling Suspension

[DanoT]

https://3downnation.com/2024/05/15/bomb ... all-games/

I agree 100% with Mike O'Shea on this as this is a very bad look for the CFLPA and the CFL.

The CFL, like the NFL, is trying to attract gamblers to be fans of the CFL and this has the potential to kill that effort. The commissioner should pressure Lemon to stay retired at the very least, until the appeal is heard. And if that doesn't work perhaps the CFL Board of Governors need to pressure the Al's owner.

Betting on games affects non gambling fans as well because it bring into question the viability of game results.
Shawn Lemon has had a HoF career and if it was up to me I would threaten Lemon with barring him from ever entering the HoF.

[don corleone]

Mike O'Shea usually does a good job of staying away from making public statements but it seems the Bombers are being fairly outspoken regarding off season developments this year. All good in Winnipeg though and they really didn't know Andrew Harris was taking a supplement to enhance his virility. I wonder if they would care so much about Lemon if they weren't playing the Als in week 1.

Sounding now as if the CFL did not send the memo out til mid 2022 when the deal with Lemon was in 2021. Also not condoning the act but a small bet hardly rates as a reason to throw a game or to lose a good job over. Ohtani's interpreter is another level and story.

I like Lemon as a player. He showed last year what he can do and I'd love to see him add another 10 sacks to the list. It's another mountain out of a mole hill with nothing to do with play on the field but that's where we are at.

[Toppy Vann]

The CFL no doubt wanted to send a message and make Lemon an example but the CFLPA has an obligation to it's members and in my view, it's best to not have Lemon get a Pete Rose style black list.

Let him serve a one game suspension or two or a fine or a combo and not let that hang over him for a life time beyond football.

There should be redemption available if it was a $70 Euros/ CAD$100 parlay bet a few years back.

The CFLPA and the CFL need a case or two to set the punishment mark. A Pete Rose style blacklist for life is not what the CFL should do here.

Lemon was the story of the 2023 GC victory for Montreal and how he came in and got Sankey to sign and that was a big part of their East Final and GC win.

I dislike the gambling associated with football - and sports in general - and all the ads on TV on it but like casinos, etc gov'ts inn Canada do it to avoid that lost money from gamblers going off shore with online gambing.

https://3downnation.com/2024/05/14/shaw ... alouettes/

[Toppy Vann]

Arbitrator reinstates gambling suspension for Alouettes DE Shawn Lemon pending hearing
By 3Down Staff -July 4, 2024

An arbitration date was originally set for July 5 in the case, before Lemon and his representation sought an adjournment to August 1-2. The CFL requested an immediate suspension for the duration of the delay, which the arbitrator granted until the hearing was justified and reasonable.

The Arbitrator is clearly not going to find in favour of Shawn Lemon and maybe Lemon figures this might end his career. If the gambling is as minor as it sounded hopefully, the CFL doesn't want his entire career destroyed with a decision to ban him for more than a few games.

It would seem better for the Als to have this over and done with so he's available for playoffs BUT maybe Lemon is figuring he's toast and wants to get as many games played as possible while he can.

Hard to say whether Lemon sought the delay from July 5th so that he could play as many games as he could knowing it's not a matter of being suspended or not- it's merely going to be for how long. He'll miss 4 games up until the second day of the hearing Aug 2.

Als next 4 games are on July 6 - Stamps; July 11- Argos; July 25 Riders and possibly get in the Aug 2nd vs Ticats followed by the Ticats on Aug 10.

I just think Ambrosie is using poor judgment in making this a huge deal IF this was not a serious pattern of gambling or betting in a way like the Raptor player did this year - as football is not like what guy in basketball. In this instance he's making Shawn Lemon out to be gambling on a Pete Rose level. MLB is the worst for making Rose a pariah when they have juiced up home run hitters for years being celebrated. Many from baseball feel this same way.

Give him a few games suspension if it's minor and let him play.




https://3downnation.com/2024/07/04/arbi ... g-hearing/

[Toppy Vann]

Not worth the gamble: match-fixing punishments unclear for CFL players
By JC Abbott -November 15, 2023

Article notes the CFL had not by 2023 indicated it's punishment.

If an issue were identified, the CFL has not specified what disciplinary action would be taken against the offending parties. The commissioner has broad authority to determine supplemental discipline and suspensions at his discretion, with the Canadian Football League Players’ Association (CFLPA) revealing in their State of the Union address that they have been provided no official guidelines regarding the punishments for gambling violations, an oversight they are seeking to rectify.

I'm with Sol E and the Players Association pushing back on Ambrosie's narrative that lower salaries in the league give them more incentive to gamble here.
Match fixing in this version of football is hard to pull off. A QB might be able to have the most influence by tossing a few errant passes or a deliberate INT or two but others have less influence as you'd have to have the entire DEF, OFF or STs in on it.

There’s no public record of the CFL ever issuing a suspension for sports gambling. However, some have suggested that the league’s lower salaries could make players more vulnerable to external influence and incentivize corruption, a narrative that the CFLPA pushed back on.

“I would say there’s a risk anywhere, it doesn’t matter what sport you’re in,” Ramsay said. “But anytime there’s a significant change to a process or you’re implementing something new, the focus has got to be on the education. You have to understand what the program is, you have to understand what the restrictions are, in order to be put in the best position to be successful.”

https://3downnation.com/2023/11/15/cfl- ... nishments/

[DanoT]

The CFL is trying to make games appeal to gamblers, so it seems to me that zero tolerance for players who gamble is in order.

[Hambone]

The CFLPA might want to read David Balducci's book "The Fix". I've never read it myself but back around the time of its release Bob McCown had the author on his show a few times. It was fascinating. The author believed it was the lower levels of pro sports that were most vulnerable to corruption. He often cited lower divisions of European soccer. Part of his reasoning and was that players might be more willing to participate due to the relative pittance they were earning for playing. Another part of his reasoning was that any corruption would be more likely to slip under the radar at the lower levels as they would not be scrutinized for hanky panky to the same intensity as the top tiers.

[tedbear]

I think the Lemonator has squeezed his last quarterback this year. Ambrosie is juiced to make an example of him.

[Hambone]

I think the Lemonator has squeezed his last quarterback this year. Ambrosie is juiced to make an example of him.

Could be a case of an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure. With so much focus now on gambling and prop bets, and the CFL now generating revenue thru betting, the Lemon situation provides Ambrosie with a timely opportunity to send a stern warning to all CFL players to not get involved with placing bets on CFL games. Sucks to be Lemon (little play on words there ) but it was perhaps inevitable some player(s) might be unable to resist the urge to participate in something that has become so prevelant in every day life. Just happened it was him who was accused of being caught with his hand in the cookie jar first.

[DanoT]

I think the Lemonator has squeezed his last quarterback this year. Ambrosie is juiced to make an example of him.

I agree 100%. The CFL is trying to attract gambler interest, similar to the NFL's appeal to gamblers who watch/attend games due to betting interest and not so much actual interest in the game of football. Thus zero tolerance for player gambling is necessary, causing Lemon to made into an example of what not to do if you are a CFL player. I wouldn't be surprised if Lemon has played his last game in the CFL.

[Hambone]

I wouldn't be surprised if Lemon has played his last game in the CFL.

Lemon turns 36 next month. His career was already on borrowed time but this could be the nail that shuts to door.

[Toppy Vann]

In fairness and given the relatively minor offense of gambling on the CFL Shawn Lemon should be reinstated as he's more than paid for his offense against the rules.

I fully agree with Danny Macioca here.

It's unlikely he will ever play at his age but that's not the issue.

I suspect it's far too costly for Lemon to pay lawyers to take the Arbitrator's decision to uphold his INDEFINITE suspension further so this Commissioner who is way over the top on this one should make a definitive like they do in the criminal justice system "time served."

This is one reason that guy should leave his role.

It's so rich for the CFL who jam gambling down our throats all the freaking time despite the harm it's done/doing to people to make a big deal out a $100 wager!

Montreal Alouettes’ GM Danny Maciocia believes Shawn Lemon ‘should be reinstated’ from gambling suspension
By Justin Dunk -January 18, 2025

Lemon’s indefinite gambling suspension was upheld by an independent arbitrator in August after an official hearing. The league suspended him in April for betting 70 Euros — the equivalent of around $100 CAD — on a two-game parlay, including one matchup in which he played. According to the league’s investigation, the wager was placed in 2021 while Lemon was a member of the Calgary Stampeders. There was no evidence that his bet impacted any CFL games.

The three-time Grey Cup champion has played 143 regular season CFL games with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Edmonton Elks, Ottawa Redblacks, Calgary Stampeders, Toronto Argonauts, B.C. Lions, and Alouettes, recording 262 defensive tackles, 102 sacks, 30 forced fumbles, and three interceptions.

Lemon has the most sacks among all active players, including a higher sack rate than Willie Jefferson, who has 74 in 155 regular season games. Multiple CFL talent evaluators believe he’s more consistently disruptive than Jefferson.

https://3downnation.com/2025/01/18/mont ... uspension/

[DanoT]

The NFL does really well attracting fans who are gambling on games and more fans=more sponsors for the CFL as they try to follow what the NFL is doing. Allowing any gambling by players severely tarnishes the CFL's credibility. There needs to be zero tolerance for CFL players who gamble on CFL games.

Shawn Lemon is fortunate to have had a long and outstanding career and he can be thankful that he didn't get caught gambling on the CFL games until very late in his career. I suspect that he will NOT be entering the CFL HoF, something that is his own doing.

[Toppy Vann]

Betting on NFL games now results in a minimum one-year suspension, with a two-year ban if the player bets on their own team.

I just think that Shawn Lemon has paid a price - it ended his career, now lift it to the time suspended.

If we have trouble with this how about Rick Tocchet and what he got involved in in gambling. And he's coaching in the NHL and managed to get redemption for his very serious involvement.

Case for Limiting Shawn Lemon's Suspension to Last Season
Proportionality of Punishment:

Lemon’s offense involved a relatively minor bet of approximately $100, reflecting a lack of malicious intent or significant harm.
Comparable cases in other leagues (e.g., NFL’s six-game suspensions for non-NFL bets) suggest that indefinite bans for minor infractions are excessive.
Time Already Served:

Lemon has been suspended for a substantial period, effectively missing the entirety of the 2024 CFL season.
This duration sends a strong message about the league’s stance on gambling while avoiding punitive overreach.
Rehabilitation and Deterrence:

Lemon has had ample time to reflect on his actions and publicly demonstrate contrition, which could serve as a deterrent for others.
Extending the suspension indefinitely may appear vindictive rather than corrective.
Maintaining Career Integrity:

Lemon is a veteran player with a decorated CFL career, and barring him from returning risks tarnishing his legacy unnecessarily.
Allowing his return aligns with values of fairness and redemption, promoting rehabilitation over exclusion.
Precedent Setting:

A finite suspension ensures future disciplinary actions remain proportional and consistent, avoiding potential claims of arbitrariness.
It balances the integrity of the league with fairness for players who commit minor infractions.
By limiting the suspension to the 2024 season, the CFL upholds its gambling policy while ensuring the punishment fits the offense and allows Lemon a path to return.

[Toppy Vann]

The case for redemption for infractions should be supported by fans as Shawn Lemon has paid the price. He is done at his age.
But what he has given to the CFL and fans is a ton of good memories.

The Lemon case reflects on the CFL and seems to be the outgoing Commissioner who has lost all sense of proportionality.

Gambling like drugs and alchohol come with downsides and the CFL is hardly clean in their alliance with gambling operations.

Lemon signing with Montreal and instrumental in getting Darnell Sankey to sign is credited from GM to HC to DC to the players as key to winning the Grey Cup. Granted the Als proved Lemon was replaceable but that is a good CFL story for the ages.

Players get caught for violating the drug policy and they aren't getting Indefinite or life time bans. In fact one just got hired as a CFL assistant coach.

Rick Tocchet who I think is a good coach managed to restore his career and what they were doing was criminal and ongoing.
Lemon was suspended for 100 dollars.

The Rick Tocchet gambling case, also known as "Operation Slap Shot," was a 2006 investigation involving an illegal sports betting ring. Rick Tocchet, then an assistant coach for the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes, was implicated as a financier and co-operator of the ring, which allegedly handled millions in bets, including from high-profile clients.

Key Points:

Bets: Focused on NFL and college sports; no evidence of NHL games being involved.

Clients: Included celebrities like Janet Jones (Wayne Gretzky's wife).

Legal Outcome: Tocchet pleaded guilty to conspiracy and promoting gambling. He received two years' probation and avoided jail time.

NHL Action: Tocchet was placed on an indefinite leave but reinstated in 2008 after serving his legal sentence and a league review.

The case highlighted concerns about gambling connections in professional sports but ultimately found no evidence of game-fixing or direct harm to hockey’s integrity.

[/quote]