why is the FBI investigating NBA referees instead of focusing on dog fighting?

[hedgehog]

Sports gambling is illegal in most states. If you want to gamble, why should the government spend time and effort to ensure that the games aren't fixed? Let the sports authorities police themselves. Instead, let government concentrate on tracking down those who torture anilmals.

[LeftyMom]

1. Because legal gambling and sports are high profile big businesses

Congress held a hearing on drugs in baseball. Good luck getting them to hold one on abuse of animals, even though it's an exponentially larger problem.

[MonkeyFunk]

2. They have more than one agent

they can do both.

[Warren Stupidity]

9. No. There is only one agent.

And I want you all to give a big shout out to

Agent Mike

[madinmaryland]

10. Is his last name "Hunt"?

:hide:

[Warren Stupidity]

12. You are so deleted.

[madinmaryland]

13. What, this is not the lounge??2??

:evilgrin:

[Kagemusha]

3. Perhaps you are not aware of this but, the FBI is a large organization.

It assigns investigators to multiple issues at the same time. Therefore, some people investigate something like dog fighting, and others investigate the mafia.

In this case the sports gambling was directly related to the mafia. Perhaps you would like the FBI to cease investigating the mafia?

[hedgehog]

4. If the FBI is investigating loan sharks, fine and dandy.

If violence is involved, absolutely. Otherwise, I think going after sports gambling is in the same league as going after marijuana users. When the odds on a given game are common knowledge, who are we kidding? Gambling is a large component of organized sports.

[Kagemusha]

5. It seems to be something like a loan shark case, yeah.

I would be surprised if the FBI would have looked into this if not for the specific mafia connection. Otherwise, state sports authorities can do the heavy lifting you'd think.

[JTG of the PRB]

6. The big deal here is WHO is being investigated.

The man the FBI is looking at was a former referee in the NBA, a man who bet on numerous games, including games HE OFFICIATED. If he, in any way, worked to influence the outcome of a game he was officiating, that is beyond wrong.

I personally don't believe he would have been able to influence any game all by himself. There are two other officials on the court at games, and all three of them would have to work together to produce and sort of real influence. Still, it's a very unnerving story for fans of the NBA.

[PCIntern]

7. Respectfully disagree...

whereas there are three refs, a foul call OR NON-CALL, a traveling call OR NON-CALL, an out-of-bounds call OR NON-CALL are the province of the individual ref who is right there...he worked the spread, allegedly, and that's easy for a single ref to do in the NBA or the NFL.

It's the NON-CALLS which kill a team...ask any pitcher who's faced an 'inconsistent' umpire.

[Kagemusha]

8. I agree that there's much potential for mischief.

To the FBI it's probably no different than rigging the stock market. But like that, it's the mafia angle which really makes it their turf.

Still, we don't exactly have all the details either. I just hope they nail the dogfighting patrons to the wall too. It's pretty evil stuff, as I see it.

[Warren Stupidity]

11. In fact basketball is hugely vulnerable to one bad ref.

This case, if it all pans out, is really bad news.