"Survive And Advance" Causing Some Controversy
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Bob Knight and Billy Packer are causing quite a stir in the Sports World since announcing the details surrounding their new FSN show, "Survive and Advance". USA Today spoke with a former gambling addict, and she says that program's locale is saying it's okay for College kids to bet on games....
"The NCAA should have enough clout to stop something like this. It sends the message to (college) kids it's OK to do this," complains Arnie Wexler, a recovering compulsive gambler who runs a gambling hotline.The unfortunate thing, is that a hell of a lot of Americans do gamble on Sports, and there's nothing that can really be done to change that. Especially when you consider that banning online gambling in the U.S. did absolutely nothing to curtail it. FSN promises that the show will have nothing to do with betting, but young kids are impressionable, and all of the lines posted and people walking around with betting slips won't go unnoticed.
"They're setting themselves up for a scandal. Who knows how many college students are going to bet on these games? I'm sure some athletes will bet too. What kind of message are we sending by running a show like this? The whole thing is sick."
Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, says the show flies in the face of the NCAA's anti-gambling stance. "This is really an issue for the NCAA. There's a contradiction between their zero-tolerance gambling approach — and the reality that most Americans do gamble."
Hell, College is when I started gambling, and I'm sure that's the case for most people my age. I'm not for telling grownups what to do, but FSN might want to think about changing the location of the show.
Vegas venue raises eyebrows for Knight-Packer show (USA Today)
9 Comments:
Yeah, I'm sure that kids are going to see that show and start gambling. Please, they're either gambling already or not gambling already.
You know, everything would become much more legit if sports gambling just became legal. Then you'd have actual corporations making sure youngsters don't get involved (make it a 21 age limit) and it would eliminate the gang/mob/criminal element.
Instead, we just have jabronis like this guy making a stink. And isn't the show on Sunday nights after the games have been played? It seems more like a wrap-up and then a gambling preview show anyway.
I agree with Ed James. And hell, if anything, Billy Packer in Vegas will inspire kids NOT to gamble.
Seeing Knight and Billy the Grump do a show in Vegas definitley won't be the make-or-break decision for a kid thinking about possibly gambling. Or at least if said kid is sane. As a college student myself, I did not become inspired to gamble from learning that these two are doing a show in Vegas...
And watching beer commercials during games causes college kids to start drinking underage.
Notice that no there was no mention of Best Damn doing the Hooters Pageant or whatever it is that they do. But then again, no one watches that show anyway.
why is it unfortunate that americans gamble on sports?
The idea that gambling and the popularity of sports aren't inexorably linked is ridiculous. Ignoring it and the acting all high and mighty when there's even the slightest connection between the two doesn't get us anywhere. Because a show is shot in vegas and uses lines it's suddenly a tacit admission that gambling is right for college kids? That's ridiculous. A 21-year-old kid has as much a right to gamble on sports as a 39-year-old when and where it's legal. Vegas happens to be one of those places.
Why is this wrong? because it's about NCAA teams? College kids only bet on college games now?
You said "The unfortunate thing, is that a hell of a lot of Americans do gamble on Sports, and there's nothing that can really be done to change that."
Why is it unfortunate and why would we want to change it? There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with gambling on sports...as long as it is done legally. Now, had you said "gamble ILLEGALLY on sports", I would agree 100%. But to just make a blanket statement that "there's nothing that can be done to change [gambling on sports]" is pretty stupid. Are you saying that because some people are addicted to gambling, we should do something about sports gambling? Why not ban alcohol, since there are MANY more people addicted to alcohol? How about cigarettes, which are more harmful to your health than sports gambling?
Sorry to shithammer you here, because I really like your blog, but you sounded like one of those whiney liberal douchebags there, and I didn't picture as one of them.
Thanks
Chris
PATRICK CRAYTON JUST CALLED OUT ED WERDER AND HIS UNNAMED SOURCES ON SPORTSCENTER!!!!!!