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Is sports betting morally wrong for sports writers?

Discussion in 'Anything goes' started by Jay Sherman, Sep 4, 2008.

Page 3 of 8
  1. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    I don't know what the rules are at various places, but it is something like politics for me. If you cover a team or a conference or a sport, my feeling you shouldn't be betting on it. The same way you shouldn't be writing about politics if you are contributing to a campaign or a party. Whether you lose your objectivity or not, there is an appearance of someone who can not be even-handed in his or her coverage and it is all about appearances of lack of objectivity. I know not everyone agrees with this, though. I doubt Paul Zimmerman gives a second thought to lay down a few clams here and there.

    My problem is that I am an inveterate gambler on football (watch money). I am not a newspaper guy, I have a magazine background, and without giving away exactly what I do nowadays, I work for a few football organizations that would probably be unhappy with me gambling on football, even though it has never overtly been discussed. The thing is, I know people quite a few people employed by the NFL and various teams who bet on football (college, and in some cases, pro), and we discuss it openly, so with that standard set, I am not sure what is right and what isn't anymore. It's one of those things I can see exploding at some point and suddenly becoming a big deal with scapegoats -- the way NFL employees from 280 Park who were selling Super Bowl tickets got nailed a few years ago (for years, this was almost like their yearly bonus -- it was expect that no one actually went to the game after the hell week they put in before the game, and they cashed in on their tickets for a little new year's bonus to make up for their supbar salaries. I could see that happening with gambling. A few scapegoats and suddenly something that I believe is done widely gets a spotlight shone on it.

    As for reporters, I just don't know if there is a right or wrong. My gut says probably not a good idea if you are writing about what you are betting on. OK, if you are not.
     
    The Big Ragu, Sep 4, 2008
    #25
  2. Jay Sherman

    Jay Sherman Member

    Sorry, I should have said ethically.
     
    Jay Sherman, Sep 4, 2008
    #26
  3. beardpuller

    beardpuller Active Member

    One more thing, following up on a point someone else made: My paper asks me to "pick" the NFL games against the spread every week. I really suck at it. Granted, if I were betting real money, I would never try to pick every game, I would focus on a handful, but still, that spread is a diabolical thing. It's really, really hard to come out substantially ahead.
    That along, ethics aside, is a good reason not to do it. But ethics, in my view, is an even better reason.
     
    beardpuller, Sep 5, 2008
    #27
  4. Drip

    Drip Active Member

    The problem is that many papers across the country tell their scribes to pick games. Many of them have no experience in it and to the public, they are considered "experts." That ethically and technically is wrong.
    As I said in an earlier post, I know a few pari-mutual writers with gambling problems and a couple of guys who have betted on prep games because its the "in thing" to do in their neck of the woods.
    I guess the best way to answer the question is to bet with your head not over it, which is the slogan for casinos in Atlantic City.
     
    Drip, Sep 5, 2008
    #28
  5. slappy4428

    slappy4428 Active Member

    What's wrong is borrowing from someone you cover to pay your debts back.
     
    slappy4428, Sep 5, 2008
    #29
  6. Drip

    Drip Active Member

    I know of one person, who incidentally had a pro baskertball beat, who did that once.
     
    Drip, Sep 5, 2008
    #30
  7. Ben_Hecht

    Ben_Hecht Active Member


    Outside of Nevada, GAMBLING on sports isn't illegal.

    BOOKING, however, is.
     
    Ben_Hecht, Sep 5, 2008
    #31
  8. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    Betted on?
     
    Moderator1, Sep 5, 2008
    #32
  9. Ben_Hecht

    Ben_Hecht Active Member


    Knew what he meant. Play on.
     
    Ben_Hecht, Sep 5, 2008
    #33
  10. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    Yeah, I knew what he meant, too. But I'm not living up to my rep if I don't pick on things like that.
     
    Moderator1, Sep 5, 2008
    #34
  11. Drip

    Drip Active Member

    Yes, betted on. It happened in the past.
     
    Drip, Sep 5, 2008
    #35
  12. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    Uh, uh *** never mind.
    Or not.
    Drip, it's bet. Have bet on.

    betted is not a word.
     
    Moderator1, Sep 5, 2008
    #36
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