MLB still grills Lo Duca
Pays visit to ask about gambling
BY BILL MADDEN, MICHAEL O'KEEFFE and TERI THOMPSON
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS
Paul Lo Duca must sit tight as MLB security interviews him in Philly this week.
Major League Baseball hasn't placed the Paul LoDuca gambling investigation in the cold-case file just yet.
MLB sent two investigators from its security office to Philadelphia during the Mets' series against the Phillies this week to interview the All-Star catcher about gambling issues, the Daily News has learned.
After The News reported last week that illegal bookmakers had come out of the shadows to pressure LoDuca to pay gambling debts, MLB began its second probe into the player's off-field activities. It had also looked into LoDuca's gambling last year when the Florida Marlins reported that a bookmaker from an online gambling site had contacted them about the then-Marlins catcher's unpaid gambling debts.
"Our security people are looking into it," said one MLB official who asked not to be identified.
The Mets have characterized the interview as a helpful gesture on MLB's part, not an official investigation.
Sources say one issue that MLB security may be interested in discussing with LoDuca is his abrupt change of agents earlier this year. The catcher dumped respected agents Seth and Sam Levinson for little-known Andrew Mongelluzzi, whose only client is LoDuca. LoDuca is still reaping the benefits of the three-year, $17.85 million contract the Levinsons negotiated for him in January 2005, and a move to an agent without a track record has raised concerns.
"There are a million reasons why the relationship ended, none of which has anything to do with our representation of the player," said Sam Levinson yesterday.
Mongelluzzi's agency, The Show, is also affiliated with former All-Star pitcher Dave Stewart and Jeff Kahn, who has worked as an agent. According to a source, Mongelluzzi was certified by the MLB Players Association only because Kahn joined the firm. Kahn's clients include the Mets' Chris Woodward, Angels outfielder Tommy Murphy and Marlins relief pitcher Taylor Tankersley.
"We wish Paul and Sonny the best in life," Levinson added, referring to LoDuca's wife Sonia, the 34-year-old former Playboy model who filed for divorce in June, alleging in a Texas court that her husband had cheated on her.
The Daily News reported last week that bookmakers contacted the Marlins, LoDuca's former team, in June 2005 to tell them LoDuca owed them money, which was immediately reported to Major League Baseball.
The News also reported that in May, a man from Arizona, where LoDuca was raised and his parents still live, called associates of LoDuca's and demanded payment for another alleged gambling debt. The caller threatened to go to Shea Stadium to intimidate the player into paying.
One MLB source said someone did appear at a Mets game and confronted LoDuca from the seats behind the backstop during batting practice earlier this year. Mets front office personnel, security officials and NYPD officers at Shea said they did not know of such an incident.
Lo Duca has admitted he likes to bet on horse racing, and a former teammate told The News that the catcher enjoyed high-stakes card games on team flights and sometimes gambled in casinos with teammates. LoDuca said he does not bet with illegal bookmakers but that he does have an online betting account with an offshore site in conjunction with a friend.
MLB warned players specifically during spring training about the dangers of online gambling and to avoid getting into situations in which bookies might become involved. According to one player, the talks were much more specific about online gambling than in past sessions. Sources say they were spurred by the incident with the Marlins.
"The point of the whole thing was to make it clear that this isn't something that's good to be doing," the player said. "It may seem safe because you're not actually dealing with a shady guy or something, but that doesn't mean it is."
Pays visit to ask about gambling
BY BILL MADDEN, MICHAEL O'KEEFFE and TERI THOMPSON
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS
Paul Lo Duca must sit tight as MLB security interviews him in Philly this week.
Major League Baseball hasn't placed the Paul LoDuca gambling investigation in the cold-case file just yet.
MLB sent two investigators from its security office to Philadelphia during the Mets' series against the Phillies this week to interview the All-Star catcher about gambling issues, the Daily News has learned.
After The News reported last week that illegal bookmakers had come out of the shadows to pressure LoDuca to pay gambling debts, MLB began its second probe into the player's off-field activities. It had also looked into LoDuca's gambling last year when the Florida Marlins reported that a bookmaker from an online gambling site had contacted them about the then-Marlins catcher's unpaid gambling debts.
"Our security people are looking into it," said one MLB official who asked not to be identified.
The Mets have characterized the interview as a helpful gesture on MLB's part, not an official investigation.
Sources say one issue that MLB security may be interested in discussing with LoDuca is his abrupt change of agents earlier this year. The catcher dumped respected agents Seth and Sam Levinson for little-known Andrew Mongelluzzi, whose only client is LoDuca. LoDuca is still reaping the benefits of the three-year, $17.85 million contract the Levinsons negotiated for him in January 2005, and a move to an agent without a track record has raised concerns.
"There are a million reasons why the relationship ended, none of which has anything to do with our representation of the player," said Sam Levinson yesterday.
Mongelluzzi's agency, The Show, is also affiliated with former All-Star pitcher Dave Stewart and Jeff Kahn, who has worked as an agent. According to a source, Mongelluzzi was certified by the MLB Players Association only because Kahn joined the firm. Kahn's clients include the Mets' Chris Woodward, Angels outfielder Tommy Murphy and Marlins relief pitcher Taylor Tankersley.
"We wish Paul and Sonny the best in life," Levinson added, referring to LoDuca's wife Sonia, the 34-year-old former Playboy model who filed for divorce in June, alleging in a Texas court that her husband had cheated on her.
The Daily News reported last week that bookmakers contacted the Marlins, LoDuca's former team, in June 2005 to tell them LoDuca owed them money, which was immediately reported to Major League Baseball.
The News also reported that in May, a man from Arizona, where LoDuca was raised and his parents still live, called associates of LoDuca's and demanded payment for another alleged gambling debt. The caller threatened to go to Shea Stadium to intimidate the player into paying.
One MLB source said someone did appear at a Mets game and confronted LoDuca from the seats behind the backstop during batting practice earlier this year. Mets front office personnel, security officials and NYPD officers at Shea said they did not know of such an incident.
Lo Duca has admitted he likes to bet on horse racing, and a former teammate told The News that the catcher enjoyed high-stakes card games on team flights and sometimes gambled in casinos with teammates. LoDuca said he does not bet with illegal bookmakers but that he does have an online betting account with an offshore site in conjunction with a friend.
MLB warned players specifically during spring training about the dangers of online gambling and to avoid getting into situations in which bookies might become involved. According to one player, the talks were much more specific about online gambling than in past sessions. Sources say they were spurred by the incident with the Marlins.
"The point of the whole thing was to make it clear that this isn't something that's good to be doing," the player said. "It may seem safe because you're not actually dealing with a shady guy or something, but that doesn't mean it is."
