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Feb 22, 2004 Before getting started, I must declare that I’m an avid football fan and a long time gambler, specifically sports bettor. Although all professional sports organizations specialize in hypocrisy, the National Football League is, by far, the hypocritical king! The NFL views gambling on their games as the cardinal sin. In their twisted view of priorities gambling is far more serious than drug use, assault, wife beating and drunk driving. Players who commit such heinous acts are given a slap on the wrist, however if you are caught gambling or associating with gamblers— off with your head. Their mantra when gambling's the issue is always the same; "the integrity of the game." I guess throwing your wife down a flight of stairs does nothing to damage the "integrity of the game." In their self- righteous minds a third drunk driving arrest is a minor offense, while putting a "C" note on the Packers +5 is a death penalty case. Please, spare me the pabulum puke. The dirty little secret is that the NFL and its fat-cat leaders absolutely love gamblers and their financial interest in the games. The number of guys (I know, some women bet—however, when it comes to gambling, most women would rather spend their hard-earned cash on the Victoria's Secret weekend sale) who bet on games, participate in fantasy leagues and sign up for office football pools probably consists of 75% of the NFL viewer ship. Make no mistake; playing in fantasy football leagues is a form of gambling. Anytime money changes hands on the result of a contest, it is gambling. The most celebrated and hypocritical case involving the absurdity of gambling sanctions is the case of Pete Rose. I know that's baseball, but it demonstrates my point. "Charlie Hustle" was given a lifetime ban and barred from being inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame. What Pete did was wrong, and should have been penalized but the punishment far exceeds the crime. His gambling was done as a coach, not while he was playing in the league. It is equivalent to being arrested for running a stop sign and sentenced to twenty-five years of hard labor in Attica. Pro sports are peppered with felons. You can get busted for drug use five, six, seven times, but God forbid, you are seen in Vegas at the sports book. The self-righteous pendants will trip over themselves to get in front of the camera to condemn the actions of the dreaded gambler. However, catch a guy snorting cocaine in the bathroom just before kickoff—“wipe that powder off your nose and get your butt on the field.” I have an idea: Why don't the elite of all professional sports take on the cause of combating adultery among athletes. How about trying to preserve the family unit and spare the children of these super-star cheaters from the devastating effects of divorce. Reevaluate your priorities, and honestly deal with the more important issues facing society and the behavior of the overpaid prima donnas. Let's face the facts—spousal battery is more serious than playing fantasy football. Assault with a deadly weapon is more serious than taking two squares in the office Super Bowl pool. Drug addiction is more serious than betting $20 on the Dallas Cowboys -3 over the Chicago Bears. Often I mentally picture the presidents of the National Football League, Major League Baseball, and The National Basketball Association sitting alone in a plush hotel suite, smoking cigars and having a good laugh. They are discussing the subject of sports gambling and what the effect would be if someday, everybody just stopped betting on their games. One of the arrogant men looks at the other two in the room, raises his martini, and confidently declares; "I've got one- thousand bucks that says that will never happen!" ------------ About the author: Pete Whalon lives in Redondo Beach, California. He is in the process of self-publishing his first non-fiction book called; The Saigon Zoo: Vietnam's Other War; Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n Roll" a humorous (yes humorous) account of his 22 months serving in Vietnam in 1969-70-71. It should be for sale by June 1 of this year. Email Pete Whalon: kinoman7@aol.com Comment on this column in the forum. Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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