Gambling VS. Steriods (May 30, 2008)
Gambling in sports… how many players do you think do it… and is it really worse then cheating?
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Archived Comments:
1) Anonymous said…
“theres no question i believe that there are plenty of players who have bet on games. i just think pete rose is a victim of the generational gaps. theres no question back then, there were folks who were taking steroids in the game during the reign of giamatti and fay vincent but it was never pushed to the forefront of any controversy like it is now compared to the publics view and ethical/moral standings on points shaving and gambling back then.
once they figured out that he had bet on baseball, you could imagine from the responses we see today for example, to the cheating patriots, that people acted in the same regards back then to allegations against pete rose. what i mean by the gaps is that today, like you mentioned, with the full blown steroids issue now at the forefront, people have a little more sympathy for pete rose. you mentioned former athletes like charles barkley, and even the great michael jordan, and current athletes like pac man jones who are heavily involved in gambling and it makes it so much more unfair to keep rose out of the game. however, i think its the stubborness of the mlb, the pride stance they are taking, that is keeping pete rose from being reinstated.
what i mean by that is that his ban has been so long that the MLB is not willing to say we forgive you and we are willing to take you back with arms wide open especially during this steroids scandal. i think theyre prepared to make an example of pete so that it appears as though the mlb is still “tough”. as long as barry bonds and roger clemens are not found guilty they will get by with a slap of the wrist even if we all know they took illegal anabolic steroids because that is how the law works. (see OJ simpson). but if they are found guilty which is not likely, they would face a similar ban, again…not likely.
to repeat what i said, theres no question in my mind that players are probably or at least betting on themselves amongst friends but for small sums of cash. but even if the bets were large it still is not anywhere near as implicating as the gambling pete rose initiated in. i read his book and had an opportunity to interview him and found that he understood what he partook in was major. he also got in trouble with the government, falsifying income and taxes which is why he said he deserved to go to jail. a very calm, genuine, and remorseful man.
in conclusion, i just wanted to say it is a damn shame that he is about to take the fall for alot of people including those aforementioned steroid users as a symbol for the mlb, that they are not about to take shit no matter who you are; again making an example of rose. i believe steroid use is definitely worse than gambling but like you said; only to an extent. if the gambling got out of hand it could change the entire outcome of a game, and then the entire outcome of a season, then the entire outcome of the playoffs and then who ends up winning it all(the fix issue) and that is far worse than a players personal improvements using steroids since it would play a bigger role even in a game with the steroid user (that is, since the game could be fixed anyways). so yeah its a complicated subject. you have to ask yourself have we already reached that stage where sports has become more of a business, for everyone involved: the television networks, las vegas, etc. to increase profits across the board? thats some food for thought. so while rose continues to be banned forever and the ethics are cracking down on players and referee that are gambling, and teams who are cheating and what not, you have corporate machines behind the scenes running the show. and theyre not exactly gambling anymore. theyre being very precise and calculating. whatever could make the most money while the crackdowns and the controversies are merely a cover to keep you guessing.”
2) Anonymous said…
“IMO gambling is soo worse than steroid use. its apalling and plus money is evil.”
3) Anonymous said…
“Cheating is a personal choice that could do harm to some but at the same time is meaningless to others and mostly has the most consequence on the person making the choice. Whereas Gambling is known to be a broad conundrum that has a negative impact globally. Even to people who dont even gamble will feel the squeeze from others who gamble because it involves money. So i agree money is evil and gambling is far worse.”
4) Anonymous said…
“rose deserved what was coming to him. i personally wont say i condone gambling because i participate in it and i could make a few extra bucks every so often but what he did went to the limit.
in any move of questionable legality you have to know when to quit and when to go out on top. he was too greedy then got caught and thats his own fault. he will never be accepted back in our organization again”
5) Anonymous said…
“If its your money you can do what you want with it! I mean come on people, you can buy steroids to inject yourself and be the home run king and face perjury charges for lying under oath or bet on your own games and get banned for life. HMMMM which would i take? I seriously want to be the latter. I could care less if the MLB doesnt want me back because my stats speak for themselves, people would show me sympathy, and I’M RICH BITCH! If I was the former i’d have bumps all over my back, small testicles, A BIG HEAD and It’d really all be for nothing because AROD will break my record! I’ll take Gambling!”
6) Anonymous said…
“Howdy Folks,
It just hurts me so much im sorry i wrote so much and i dont count on anyone reading it but im a former steroid user, and a gambler and it just really hurts. i had to overcome alot and i hope nobody does either. and i find it so relieving to know you guys are so informed and look like you know whats going on. gives me faith in people. i can see where pete is coming from. and its nots funny to mock him. putting myself in his footsteps, not im not rich no matter how much money i have. my life is poor and i dont want sympathy, i just want people to know im sorry, deeply sorry.
joe”
7) Anonymous said…
“im surprised so many people are saying gambling is worse. am i still on earth?? vegas dave is right.”
vegasdavesdime said this on June 4th, 2008 at 3:01 am