Apparently, Colorado has decided it should not just let Floriduh walk away with the “Stupidest State” award without any competition, this year so they’ve stepped up. Their entry? Lauren Boebert! It’s a solid move. Boebert can easily “out-stupid” DeSantis and she lies like a trump. Trying to claim she behaved the way she did because her date that night is a Democrat? Why, that’s a Masterstroke of Stupid…

Well played, Colorado. What have you got, Floriduh?

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There was a time in history in which sports betting was accepted. It was everywhere and everyone engaged. Then in 1918, the odds-on favorite to win the World Series in baseball was the Chicago White Sox. Famously, 8 of the 9 players took bribes to throw the series. When the scandal became public, all 9 of the players were blackballed from professional baseball and not allowed to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame – ever. (“Shoeless” Joe Jackson didn’t take the bribe and didn’t throw the games but got punished along with everyone else because he knew what was happening and kept the information to himself.) Sports betting was banned. The leagues could see the opportunities for corruption of their games were just too many. If it was allowed at all, they knew the credibility of the games could never be fully assured.

Even at that, players and coaches were, occasionally, caught betting on games. Famously, Pete Rose, at the time the manager of the Cincinnati Reds, got caught betting on baseball games, though he swore he didn’t bet on Reds games. He, too, got banned for life.

But now? Sports betting is back. They’re all allowed to bet on games. Not a game they’re playing in, of course. Oh, and certainly NOT from the team’s clubhouse. Because, um, betting from the team’s clubhouse somehow suggests an improper bet? It CAN’T be because it might look like the teams are endorsing bets. The teams ARE endorsing bets. The NFL is even broadcasting itself as “partners” in some sports betting site. Lovely.

For YEARS, many people have suspected that the NFL can – and, perhaps, does – control the outcomes of games through officiating. Unexpected wins and losses can keep the league interesting and keep more eyes tuning in, week to week. And there’s already a cover story in place: “Hey, bad calls are part of the game.” And they are. So, a “bad call” that stops a drive or keeps one alive is just a bad bounce, right? Maybe. Maybe not. Who can say? What I CAN say, for sure, is a “bad call” that causes a game to end against the odds can be very lucrative to certain people when betting is involved.

This new, sports-partnered season is young and it’s difficult to quantify subjective things but I’ve been frustrated watching the games to note there are fewer replays than I’m used to. Replays were automatic and focused on the penalty when the flag is thrown. It still happens, just not as much. That may not even be true but I’ve spoken with others who have noted the same thing. We agree: it’s “weird.”

During the Rams/Niners game last Sunday, the head coach of the Rams – a very intelligent coach – kicked a field goal to end the game in a losing effort. He KNEW the field goal wouldn’t help his team. They were down by 10. What are 3 points going to do? It made no sense. Well, to the game, it made no sense. But in the context of betting? It might have changed the over/under or the beat the spread or any other number of betting outcomes. DID a professional coach risk player’s health just to add a few more points for betting reasons? Who can say? Why DOES a very good, very respected, very intelligent coach run a very stupid play that serves no useful function to the game?

The NFL is one of the greediest corporations in the world. They leave NO penny “unsqueezed.” They’ve even taken to splitting the screen in order to shove in more commercials. Now they’ve “partnered” with an online betting company. I have NO information that the NFL is cheating. But I have decades of history that prove that people will, given the chance.

Don’t get me wrong, here. I’m still watching the games until I know better. My ONLY point, here, is that you should NOT bet your hard-earned money on sports any more. You CAN’T know if the leagues have their “finger on the button,” as the saying goes. The leagues will always deny it. But we’ve already seen suspensions handed down for players violating the rules. The “credibility” of the game is already gone. More than anything, if you bet on sports, you’re really just burning money you clearly don’t want.

I’ll tell you this: it would be a FAR better move for you to just stick your bet into an envelope and send it to me. You clearly don’t want it anymore and I, at the very least, will take your money honestly…