Sports as Attention Hack: Gambling's Casino Mentality

Resources

Resources & Recommendations

Books

• "Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon" by Michael Lewis - Discusses the FTX story and its connection to sports and marketing.
• "Crytpo Wars: Ftx, The Billionaire And The Missing Billions" by Zeke Faux - Explores the FTX scandal, the billionaire involved, and the missing funds.

Podcasts & YouTube Shows

• "Pablo Torre Finds Out" by Pablo Torre - A podcast and YouTube show that investigates deeper, thornier issues within sports, often using internet-native presentation styles.

People Mentioned

• Mr. Beast - Mentioned as a successful YouTube creator whose "manifesto" is studied for understanding online content strategy.
• Pablo Torre (Long-time sports journalist, host of "Pablo Torre Finds Out") - The guest of the episode, discussing his approach to sports journalism and the attention economy.
• Tommy Smith (Olympic athlete) - Referenced for his iconic protest at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, highlighting politics colliding with sports.
• John Carlos (Olympic athlete) - Referenced alongside Tommy Smith for his iconic protest at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
• Steve Ballmer (Former Microsoft CEO, Owner of the Los Angeles Clippers) - Discussed as an example of a billionaire investing in sports, his image rehabilitation, and alleged past anti-competitive practices.
• Ryan of Ryan's Toys (YouTube creator) - Cited as the prime example of the "unboxing video" genre on YouTube, analyzed for its appeal and success.
• John McPhee (Author) - Referenced for his long-form magazine articles, such as one on oranges, as an example of content that surprises readers.
• Taylor Swift (Musician) - Mentioned as a popular figure whose involvement can draw attention to sports.
• Sydney Sweeney (Actress) - Mentioned as a popular figure whose involvement can draw attention to sports.
• Adam Silver (NBA Commissioner) - Discussed for his role in the Donald Sterling scandal and his advocacy for legalizing sports gambling.
• Matt Glassman (Georgetown) - Mentioned for his insights on "the gambling society" in America and the dangers of gambling resembling slot machines.
• Sam Bankman-Fried (Founder of FTX) - Discussed in the context of FTX's marketing strategy in sports and his efforts to gain relatability through sports sponsorships.
• Kash Patel - Mentioned in connection with federal indictments related to gambling scandals.
• Donald Trump (Former US President) - Referenced through a text message obtained in an investigation mentioned by Pablo Torre.
• Phil Mickelson (Golfer) - Mentioned in the context of a story involving an oil pipeline and his alleged text messages.
• Kawhi Leonard (NBA Player) - Mentioned in relation to an investigation involving Steve Ballmer and the Clippers.
• Donald Sterling (Former Owner of the Los Angeles Clippers) - Referenced as the former owner from whom Steve Ballmer "rescued" the Clippers due to his racist remarks.
• LeBron James (NBA Player) - Mentioned as a celebrity endorsing sports betting.
• Kevin Hart (Comedian/Actor) - Mentioned as a celebrity endorsing sports betting.

Organizations & Institutions

• ESPN - Pablo Torre's former employer, discussed in terms of its business model, journalism, and later embrace of sports gambling.
• Department of Justice - Mentioned in the context of investigations into sports-related issues.
• UConn - The university where Pablo Torre gave a talk on his theories about sports and attention.
• Microsoft - Mentioned in relation to Steve Ballmer's past as CEO and the "United States v. Microsoft" trial.
• Bank of America Private Bank - Mentioned as a financial institution.
• eBay - A platform for buying and selling goods.
• Bank of America - Official bank of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
• Fanduel - A sports betting operator.
• DraftKings - A sports betting operator and former partner of Pablo Torre's show.
• The New York Times - Current licensing partner for "Pablo Torre Finds Out."
• The Athletic - Current licensing partner for "Pablo Torre Finds Out."
• NBA - The National Basketball Association, frequently discussed in the context of gambling, team values, and scandals.
• Miami Heat (NBA Team) - Mentioned in relation to FTX's naming rights deal.
• Major League Baseball - Mentioned in relation to FTX logos on umpires' chest plates.
• Los Angeles Clippers (NBA Team) - Discussed in relation to Steve Ballmer's ownership and related investigations.
• Walgreens - A pharmacy chain.
• The Atlantic (theatlantic.com/listener) - The publication hosting the podcast, with a call to subscribe.

Websites & Online Resources

• goodtoknowfacts.org - A website from America's beverage companies providing information about ingredients.
• Discord - Mentioned as a platform where a subculture interested in gambling, crypto, and meme coins was found.