Allegations and arrests have rattled the sports world and fans across the country, and basketball fans in South Florida are no exception.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was arrested Thursday in connection to an illegal sports gambling scheme under investigation by the FBI.
Rozier is accused of passing private insider information to a network of sports bettors, resulting in big wins.
Number two Terry Rozier jerseys were taken down from the official Miami Heat Store site online and no Rozier jerseys were seen on the racks of the Kaseya Center downtown store.
The accusations and arrests left fans in downtown Miami stunned. Some of them expressed how they felt to 7News.
“I don’t get it, because it’s like, if I was In their shoes, you know, I make millions, I don’t know why you have to be in a gambling situation like that, but it’s just crazy,” said a fan. “Like, hopefully there’s no other players, but I was just watching, it says up to 30 people arrested, so it’s just crazy.”
“I’m not surprised. There’s so much money in sports these days,” said another fan.
“I think, maybe in a year or two, I don’t think we’re going to be able to bet at all,” said a third fan.
Those near the Kaseya Center said the latest revelations puts a stain on the league and professional sports.
“It’s like we don’t know what’s real, what’s fake, if they are really playing, if they aren’t,” said a fan.
“You want to feel like the outcome is undetermined,” said another fan.
The Heat are set to play in Memphis Friday night. They will be back home at the Kaseya Center on Sunday.
According to a statement from the NBA, Rozier has been placed on immediate leave from the team as well as Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, who was involved in a separate gambling scheme also under investigation by the FBI,
As of early Thursday afternoon, the Heat have not made any comment on the situation.