Thoughts on the referee corruption scandal in the NBA

[gsf23]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

What bugs me most about this scandal is that when one accepts a job, they accept it at the pay level offered and should perform it with the utmost integrity. This obviously was not done in this case.

The pay wasn't the problem here. The problem was an official that had a gambling problem and got in debt to the wrong people.

[bluezebra]

Originally Posted by gsf23

The pay wasn't the problem here. The problem was an official that had a gambling problem and got in debt to the wrong people.

Shades of Pete Rose.

Bob

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by bluezebra

Shades of Pete Rose.

Bob

Pete Rose did exactly what every player and manager should be required to do, wager part of their income on winning the game.

[JefferMC]

Rules to the contrary not withstanding...

I agree with you, if he is betting on his team and not on the opponent

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by JefferMC

Rules to the contrary not withstanding...

I agree with you, if he is betting on his team and not on the opponent

Well, that's what I meant by "on winning the game". Could you imagine some of the great ball that could be seen if the player's paychecks were dependent upon performance?

Guaranteed income is one of the things which chased me away as a fan.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Pete Rose did exactly what every player and manager should be required to do, wager part of their income on winning the game.

While I agree with the concept of pay for performance, especially with overpaid professional athletes, the gambling per se is not the real problem here. The real problem is that gambling in this country is run by organized crime, especially in areas where the gambler is dealing with a bookie. Being in regular contact with the crime organizations, and being in debt to them, is where these situations take a left turn into corruption.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Dakota

While I agree with the concept of pay for performance, especially with overpaid professional athletes, the gambling per se is not the real problem here. The real problem is that gambling in this country is run by organized crime, especially in areas where the gambler is dealing with a bookie. Being in regular contact with the crime organizations, and being in debt to them, is where these situations take a left turn into corruption.

Keep telling yourself that and in your mind it will become true. While I do not doubt this may be true in certain areas, I can tell you that what you have stated as a generalization doesn't hold water in many areas.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Keep telling yourself that and in your mind it will become true. While I do not doubt this may be true in certain areas, I can tell you that what you have stated as a generalization doesn't hold water in many areas.

What part of what I stated?

That illegal bookie operations are run by criminals? Seems self-evident to me.

Or that frequent contact with organized crime with the predictable result of getting into debt to them may result in people doing desparate things?

Which?

I'm not talking about legal bookmaking. If fact, one helpful action might be to legalize the sports books in all states. It wouldn't help those with a gambling problem, but it would help to remove Uncle Guido from the equation.

And, if you think organized illegal gambling operations are NOT continuing to attempt to influence players, coaches, and officials of all sports of interest (college and professional) in order to get an edge on the odds, you are not facing reality.

[jimpiano]

In response to IRISH MAFIA:

Pete Rose had a personal services contract with the Reds which guaranteed him his salary.

And he got that based on his performance

Baseball is a business on both sides of the table. Players perform for themselves first, the team is secondary.

Thanks for the insight into Capitalism, but individuals cannot win games, and the odds of making any money by gambling on your team are not very good. Over half the teams in the major leagues are barely at 500 or worse.

Baseball doesn't run the HOF.

The HOF excludes ineligible players from consideration for induction. Major League Baseball has declared Rose ineligible.

Shame of the HOF for ignoring the obvious and not having the courage to do the right thing.

The HOF is bound by its adopted rules. Congratulations to MLB for having the courage to stick by its code of conduct.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Dakota

What part of what I stated?

That illegal bookie operations are run by criminals? Seems self-evident to me.

That isn't what you said. Your comment The real problem is that gambling in this country is run by organized crime, especially in areas where the gambler is dealing with a bookie.

While I have no doubt that there are areas where OC is involved in illegal gambling, your insinuation is that they run gambling nationwide. IOW, if you gamble with a bookie, you are dealing with OC and that just is not true.

I'm not talking about legal bookmaking. If fact, one helpful action might be to legalize the sports books in all states. It wouldn't help those with a gambling problem, but it would help to remove Uncle Guido from the equation.

That is a misconception. Many states run numbers, but the neighborhood runners are still there.

Congress took care of that. I still don't believe they had the right to forbid states from running sports books, but the constitution has never stopped those idiots from doing whatever they want. Only a limited number of states are permitted to run sports books. However, even the legal books would not stop the illegal gambling, just cut their profit margin a bit. Reason: you can call a bookie from your living room and people are lazy. There is also the IRS issues.

And, if you think organized illegal gambling operations are NOT continuing to attempt to influence players, coaches, and officials of all sports of interest (college and professional) in order to get an edge on the odds, you are not facing reality.

By the time that happens, the individual has already administered the self-inflicted damage. When it does happen, it is usually a local, isolated case, not some large-scale conspiracy. The folks you mention are given more warning and instruction on how to deal with this issue than you work ball games.

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Pete Rose did exactly what every player and manager should be required to do, wager part of their income on winning the game.

That comment insults intelligence.

No player in pro sports had a guaranteed salary without performance.

To argue that players would perform better if they had skin in every game is to ignore that they already do.....free agents who are good get hired....those that aren't don't.

In America we are free to let the market decide what we are worth.

The market rewards the good players a hell of a lot more than the dark world of gambling.

Pete Rose chose to bet on baseball.

Pete Rose, by doing so, has locked himself out of the Hall of Fame.

Too bad for Pete Rose.

Hurrah for Baseball.



Pete Rose represents a sickness that, unchecked, undermines public confidence in sports.

He should never be granted admission to the Hall of Fame.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by jimpiano

That comment insults intelligence.

Then you shouldn't have a problem with it.

No player in pro sports had a guaranteed salary without performance.

Really? Pete Rose had a personal services contract with the Reds which guaranteed him his salary.

To argue that players would perform better if they had skin in every game is to ignore that they already do.....free agents who are good get hired....those that aren't don't.

You keep believing that. Baseball is a business on both sides of the table. Players perform for themselves first, the team is secondary.

In America we are free to let the market decide what we are worth.

The market rewards the good players a hell of a lot more than the dark world of gambling.

That must be why so many gamble. And if you think they do not, you are sadly mistaken, and I'm not just talking about baseball.

Pete Rose chose to bet on baseball.

Actually, I knew him more to bet on the ponies.

Pete Rose, by doing so, has locked himself out of the Hall of Fame.

Too bad for Pete Rose.

Hurrah for Baseball.

Baseball doesn't run the HOF. Shame of the HOF for ignoring the obvious and not having the courage to do the right thing.

Pete Rose represents a sickness that, unchecked, undermines public confidence in sports.

Rubbish. Pete Rose and millions of other people in this country gamble for the action and fun. Are there people who think gambling is a quick-fix to financial issues? Yeah, but that doesn't mean the masses with ability to gamble with their head should be deprived of the opportunity to enjoy it.

He should never be granted admission to the Hall of Fame.

Another good reason to avoid a sport run by .......(enter disparaging remark here).