I'm on the other side of the casino issue from Sal DiMasi but this Globe story on the speaker and the gambling moguls is a little thin if you ask me. He played golf with an old friend with an interest in a casino and discussed the issue. In fact he often plays golf with friends with an interest in legalizing gambling and still over the years has persisted in his opposition. As far as it goes, that's the story.

Then we learn that he was invited to play golf with Donald Trump. Hmmm. And, the implication is, everyone is lying about the Trump connection. Evidence of a cover up? Essentially, here are the facts - stripped of references to "lily white suits" and "royal palm trees" - as reported or reasonably assumed:

Part 1

• Donald Trump tells his staff that he wants to play golf with DiMasi.
• An invitation is extended and someone reserves time at a golf club.
• The invitation is declined.

Part 2

• DiMasi's people state that he was invited to play with Trump but declined.
• A golf club scheduler says time was reserved.
• Trump says he invited DiMasi but it never ended up on his schedule or as he put it, "we were never scheduled".

None of that jumps out as being inconsistiant. From the time Trump extended the invitation until the time DiMasi declined, don't you think a wise assistant would have covered his bases by reserving time on a course, even if it wouldn't go on Trump's schedule until it was finalized?

Despite the effort expended by the writers, I'm underwhelmed by the evidence.