By Tony George www.sportsaudioshows.com  

After watching the NBA All Star activities and game this past weekend, where my highlight was Toni Braxton's skirt at the halftime show, it was apparent after looking over and over again at all the David Stern and Las Vegas Mayor's Goldman interviews, there is an impasse that will not be overcome when it comes to a franchise in Las Vegas for an NBA team. The NBA is at the height of hypocrisy again, playing the All Star game in the gaming capital of the world, and then shunning the town for a franchise because of the very thing that built it from Bugsy Segal's dream, gambling. By the way it is legal to bet sports in Vegas Mr. Stern, so why the hell did you bring the NBA there and then spit in the face of the host city because of what they are famous for? Why do you let Charles Barkley represent the NBA on TNT TV when he admits to gambling? He won $100,000 on the Colts in the Super Bowl.

It amazes me to this day that the NBA and NFL will not admit, and even the NCAA, that gambling drives and fuels their sport with millions of dollars, and creates the high level of interest in there product. Just like tight minded conservatives that passed anti-gambling internet legislation, they'll take the money and tax revenues from gambling, but turn a blind eye to reality. Do you really think that 2 million people who subscribe to Direct TV packages for the NFL are in it to watch their local team, which is already on free TV? They tune in to watch the games they have money on in different parts of the country. 34 million dollars in Direct TV sales for the NFL packages this year and the vast majority of that went to the NFL. Over 2 billion dollars bet in Vegas in 2006 on sporting events, and 17% of that was NBA wagers. The numbers do not lie. This does not account for offshore wagers and illegal wagers with local bookies, who are back in business again with the shutdown of many offshore outlets due to legislation that is being enforced.

Do you think that Monday Night football on ESPN and the TV share records they are breaking with viewership is driven by John Q Public, or do you think 60% or better is driven by Gamblers watching to see if they cover? What about Thursday Night football in college on ESPN? Do you think they pull a 6 or 7 share on cable in the ratings, when Utah is playing New Mexico State and the line is -21? Gamblers drive those ratings watching games they have money on, have no illusions. Just go to any sports bar on a Friday or Saturday Night and look at all the guys glued to TV, not watching their local team I might add, to see if they cover their bets, all the while ignoring a bunch of hot girls who are interested in drinks and dancing. Prove me wrong folks, because you cannot.

The NBA wants Vegas Sportsbooks to shut down all operations on NBA wagering in order for them to place a franchise in Las Vegas. David Stern, while a great promoter of his product, is close minded and unrealistic when it comes to this happening. Yes The Palms in Vegas, whose owners own the Sacramento Kings do not allow wagering in the NBA as part of a compromise with he NBA, but Las Vegas as a whole will not allow this to happen, it is too much money left on the table. The mayor of Las Vegas even went so far as to say he would allow wagering on a Las Vegas team if in fact they ever landed and NBA franchise.

What better town to promote the NBA than Las Vegas. Local support from Casino's in terms of advertising, selling tickets and buying out luxury suites would surpass any franchise in the NBA, as well as GLOBAL exposure and a diverse and excited local population in attendance. Once again a major professional sport will not admit in public they NEED gamblers and Las Vegas to flourish and provide millions of dollars to overpaid athletes and to line their pockets and the owners pockets with hoards of cash.

In closing, gambling does not destroy the integrity of the game. Players who get picked up for DWI, domestic violence, weapons charges, drug charges, and entering the stands to punch out fans who heckle them destroy the integrity of the game. The world is getting more and more controlling by a select few and it is time the fans and general public create some backlash in terms of voicing their opinions and I am doing just that with this article. By the way, I love betting and handicapping sports as a professional for 15 years running, and I do not ever plan to stop doing so, and am proud of it.