Gambling's dark side

(Edit: Also posted on the scout message board uconnfan.com.)

Got some thoughts about Toledo's gambling situation.

First off, from what I read, nothing even remotely close to UConn participating. UConn played the wrong team. It's a Toledo thing. Also, I watched that game on TV and Toledo never had a chance.

I am always wary of point shaving accusations in football. There are too many variables to pull off. The only two players that can make an impact (without it being ridiculously obvious) are the quarterback and kicker. It's just way too hard for a player on any other position to shave points. And how does the bettor know the kicker is even going to have a chance to affect the outcome? Not realistic. How does the point shaver account for a defensive touchdown? Too many variables.

Gradkowksi was hurt, but was he paid to act more hurt? Maybe. If true he should be banned from sports. If he isn't involved, I hope he gets exonerated. These things ruin careers.

This is probably a Tim Donaghy situation where someone at Toledo gave inside information (paid to give) that Gradkowski couldn't throw. I don't remember the Toledo line moving all that much. Where were these bettors putting down the bets?

I can't think anyone at Toledo shaved points in football in the true point shaving sense. Now, shaving points in hoops is a different story. One player can shave it and a college player is vulnerable. Mid majors like Toledo are a perfect place for a small time gambler to take a bookie in. I wonder if there was an Arizona State like line move (check early 90s ASU point shaving scandal).

That said, how much were the bets for? If I went to vegas and tried to put $100,000 on a Toledo hoops game they would look at me cross eyed. The casino isn't going to risk it and that's a red flag. Same with an illegal bookie. There is no law that says the book has to take the bet.

I am not a gambler, and I routinely finish in last place in the JI's NFL picks, which are against the spread. But, as you can see this is always a hot topic for discussion in sports circles.

This will be unpopular, but I am just anti-betting on collegiate athletics. We all grew up with the lottery, scratch off tickets, bingo and for some college football betting is the same type of recreation.
I hate to be naive here, but it is a corrupting influence on the game. How many FSU kickers have to be ridiculed because people lost money? And the legal bookmaking in Vegas is what drives this.

The newspapers and media outlets are also a part of this. I put in the odds lines everyday in our paper. We put UConn -4 at Duke in bold. Are we contributing to this? I think I am a bit uncomfortable with all of this right about now.

Even if nothing happened on Dec. 26 2004, there is forever going to be doubts about the game. That is a darn shame.

Full disclosure: I made one sports bet in my life in Aruba on my honeymoon (not including NCAA pools which don't count). I took the Giants plus 14 on the Rams. I won the bet and promptly lost the winnings in a high limit slot.