Not football, but big sports news

[Jon Snow]

2 hours ago, CRA said:

Oh, I think that is selective.  I mean, everyone can't do it.  Just like with everything else.  Only select folks are allowed to be bad.  They will try to weed out the random people trying to get in on things, it can't be a big thing everyone can get in on.  

I mean, isn't it pretty well acknowledged the mob back in they day influenced outcomes of sports? 

The "mob" was into a lot of things back in the day. They were fixing fights mostly but branched out into illegal gambling and booze during prohibition. Points shaving was mostly attributed to the coaches or players themselves but I'm sure the mob had a hand in it themselves. But they were making more money in the drug market than they could with gambling by the 1980s and gambling was getting legalized.

[LinvilleGorge]

21 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

They are targeted towards the populace and they have more nefarious intentions, as well. Both are true. Hence the "ask your doctor about." That’s nuts. 

Hence why in a chunk of the European countries it is illegal to have such ads.

Who is asking their doctor about a medication that half of the ad is reading off a list of side effects like anal leakage, dick falls off, sudden death, etc? It's primarily about buying off the media to not report on their activity that should be criminal.

[kungfoodude]

2 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Who is asking their doctor about a medication that half of the ad is reading off a list of side effects like anal leakage, dick falls off, sudden death, etc? It's primarily about buying off the media to not report on their activity that should be criminal.

I think you might be surprised but that does happen.

[PNW_PantherMan]

12 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Who is asking their doctor about a medication that half of the ad is reading off a list of side effects like anal leakage, dick falls off, sudden death, etc? It's primarily about buying off the media to not report on their activity that should be criminal.

If you actually listen to those commercials, the rap sheet of side effects is nuts.

[LinvilleGorge]

5 minutes ago, PNW_PantherMan said:

If you actually listen to those commercials, the rap sheet of side effects is nuts.

And the pharma companies are still willing to pay to have those ads run because even getting the side effects read on air like that is still worth it to buy off the news companies from running pieces on their business practices.

[Candler Cat]

Never have liked the NBA, and quit watching college bball several years ago

[Davidson Deac II]

36 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

The "mob" was into a lot of things back in the day. They were fixing fights mostly but branched out into illegal gambling and booze during prohibition. Points shaving was mostly attributed to the coaches or players themselves but I'm sure the mob had a hand in it themselves. But they were making more money in the drug market than they could with gambling by the 1980s and gambling was getting legalized.

The Luchese crime family associate in the good fellas movie (Henry Hill) was involved in one of the worst incidents. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978–79_Boston_College_basketball_point-shaving_scandal

Quote

The Perla brothers mobilized a betting syndicate to maximize their potential gain from the scheme. They contacted a local friend, Paul Mazzei, who was known to have influence within major New York gambling circles. Mazzei in turn contacted Henry Hill, a Lucchese crime family associate from New York who had befriended Mazzei while both men were serving sentences in a federal prison. Mazzei and the Perla brothers were particularly hopeful that Hill would enlist the support of his associate, James Burke, to finance the payments to the players and to set up a network of bookmakers who were in on the scheme.

 

[HaricotVert]

2 hours ago, t96 said:

It was completely pathetic for all these sports leagues to embrace gambling the way they have. A stain on all these sports.

I dont have a problem with sports betting per se

People want to bet on sports so be it.

I have a deep problem with the gambling platforms sponsoring the sports they are taking bets on and the white washing of their predatory practices with some small print in the last 3 seconds of their commercials

No you are not getting $200 of free money to gamble with...

[HaricotVert]

AND

The gambling and FF talk have made the pregame shows unwatchable.  Between them trying to do their stupid little skits, talking about money lines, spots about so-and-sos hard life and lack of support from their drug addicted mom, and pushing fantasy football bullshit.

They dont talk about Xs and Os
But that probably a different soapbox

[WUnderhill]

5 minutes ago, HaricotVert said:

AND

The gambling and FF talk have made the pregame shows unwatchable.  Between them trying to do their stupid little skits, talking about money lines, spots about so-and-sos hard life and lack of support from their drug addicted mom, and pushing fantasy football bullshit.

They dont talk about Xs and Os
But that probably a different soapbox

Back in my day! But seriously, it is shameful what it has all become, and it’s only going to get worse.

[PNW_PantherMan]

14 minutes ago, HaricotVert said:

I dont have a problem with sports betting per se

People want to bet on sports so be it.

I have a deep problem with the gambling platforms sponsoring the sports they are taking bets on and the white washing of their predatory practices with some small print in the last 3 seconds of their commercials

No you are not getting $200 of free money to gamble with...

Yea basically here please get addicted.  Here’s a hotline you can call so we can openly try to get people addicted.  Don’t get addicted though but here’s some free money to get addicted.

[PNW_PantherMan]

When my grandfather was in high school there was a pack of cigs on everyone’s desk the first day.

[frankw]

It's hard to take any of this seriously when major sports leagues are in bed with sports betting companies and the whole thing has become commercialized and intertwined with social media and being hip trying to get as many people as possible into becoming gambling addicts.

I mean the government created RICO to go after the mob related to gambling but now it's fun for the whole family.

Edited October 23, 2025 by frankw

[outlaw4]

I used to work within the gaming industry, but I'm very much glad I finally got out. The whole problem gambling angle always came across as a "We do it because we have to" more than a genuine effort. Also, someone once told me that if you're gambling because you think you'll actually make money, you're doing it for the wrong reason. But that's how it's often marketed. Hey, look at this guy with a wad of cash and hot babes around him.

I very much am not surprised how pervasive gambling and sports betting has become since I saw it up close when it was much more limited.