Because Money Has a Way

 I don't mind seeing gambling involved with professional sports, but I hate to see gambling involved with college football.  For one thing, until a player reaches around the age of 25, he's a kid.  Essentially college kids play NCAA football.  And of course there's always some kid that could be paid off to throw a game, but in today's world that is so hard to do when so much is at steak for these kids and their teams.  

But I write about this today, because some booking agencies in Vegas refuse to put out a line on any Michigan game.  And that just might influence the rest of college football.  Vegas really shouldn't have a say what the NCAA does, or the BIG for that matter.  I'm writing this on the Friday before the day of posting, but this isn't just about the Michigan program.  I'm writing about professional gambling on college football in general.

As it is so often said, one can't put the genie in the bottle.  Vegas will take odds on most anything.  Politics are included.  I don't believe Vegas bets on Little League Baseball, but I wouldn't be surprised about that if they did bet on the Little League.  But college sports are mostly played by kids.  A lot happens on college campuses in a kid's life to influence their performance on game day.  If a kid is worried about a test on Monday, their head might not be in the game on Saturday.  What about a breakup with their significant other on Friday night before a big game on Saturday?

These kids have lives as college students.  A lot can happen to a kid from game day to game day.  Casual fans might not care all that much, but fanatics pay attention to what the coach says on the day before a game.  Is that star player going to have his head in the game?  Maybe not or the fans just hope he will.  College life is stressful enough but star players are often treated with kid gloves.  Every coach of any kid will pay attention to what goes on in their lives on campus.  He's as much of a psychologist as he is a father figure for these kids.  

Then we as a society put added pressure on these kids by betting on their performances.  Everyone loves the underdog and each kid performs for his school.  Every coach puts the will to win in every kid.  I'm not sure that physical injuries aren't sometimes mental injuries every kid has to work through.  But this is what being an athlete is.  Vegas bets on athletes, who are often perceived as being super human.  Athletes on college campuses are indeed special people on their respective campuses no matter how the team is ranked.

The teams becomes the family of these kids.  Vegas bets that the coaches keep their best in the family.  But my point is this is what makes college sports what they are.  These students are kids learning to be adults.  And many of them won't go pro.  A few will be announcers and analysts.  Some become involved with their teams or the school after graduation.  Some go into business.  Some might coach on the high school level.  Some become teachers.  But they are all with rare exceptions still kids.  They have kids' problems.  

They're learning about relationships.  They might struggle with grades.  Vegas is betting they'll give their best game after game.  Fans hope they do too.  Fellow students look up to them.  And if they falter in one game or event they're finished.  Vegas knows this too.  Sports analysts look at depth on a team.  Coaches know their kids.  They know when a kid doesn't have their head in the game.  There's someone to replace them.  

I'm just saying Vegas puts added pressure on teams that these kids don't need.  But these kids have been coached to know this.  These kids know when Vegas bets on them to win or lose.  It's just another layer.  I'll watch, not bet, and just enjoy a game.  If I can set the TV on the lanai, I'll smoke my pipe.  I'll watch the kids play.  And I'll enjoy it.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave