Phil Concerned For Detroit Tourism After Press Report On 2007 Wager
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The Detroit News’s Robert Snell reported on a previously undisclosed trial transcript revealing how a Grosse Point Park mob-connected bookie was unable to pay Phil Mickelson and friends their winnings.
The 2007 trial centered around “Dandy” Don DeSeranno and $500k in winnings he could not come up with. Get ready for the Goombah Classic:
According to the trial transcript, DeSeranno was questioned about Mickelson after receiving immunity from federal prosecutors and testified as a government witness in the 2007 racketeering trial of Jack Giacalone, a reputed organized crime leader in Metro Detroit. Giacalone's dad was the late, admitted mob captain Vito "Billy Jack" Giacalone, a suspect in the unsolved disappearance of Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa. And his uncle, the late mob captain Anthony "Tony Jack" Giacalone, was supposed to meet Hoffa the day the labor leader disappeared in 1975.
Mickelson did not know about DeSeranno’s background while placing sports bets with the bookie, the golfer’s lawyer, Glenn Cohen, told The News on Tuesday.
Mickelson’s attorney spoke at greater length to ESPN.com’s Bob Harig and admitted that his client does not deny the activity which sounds, well, illegal. Cohen was more concerned with the timing of the story:
"He didn't say anything [in the story] that wasn't true; I'm not complaining about that,'' Glenn Cohen, Mickelson's attorney, said in an interview with ESPN. "But why? Why are you going to embarrass Phil Mickelson when he's there to support your tournament and the charities it supports and the [PGA] Tour? Rocket Mortgage is a Detroit-based company. Phil has never played there before.
"I'm disappointed they would curiously pick this week to write an article about a bet that was made over 20 years ago and a jury trial that took place in 2007, where the guy who was convicted is dead and where the only purpose for this article is to embarrass Phil Mickelson.''
Mickelson replied to a frustrated fan on Twitter and is thinking of the greater good, or at least, greater Detroit tourism in light of “Rob” and his report.
It’s not clear how the Free-Press report might prevent people from coming to Detroit and helping any way they can. Unless it’s the news of one less bookmaker available to take half-million dollar wagers?
