Listen To David Stern!
2007-02-18 11:15:53
By:
Gene Bromberg
David Stern is perhaps the most respected leader of any major sport. Now entering his twenty-third year as commissioner, Stern led the NBA as it exploded in popularity both in the United States and around the world. True, Michael Jordan might have had something to do with that, and Stern's decisions aren't always popular (a quick chat with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban would confirm that), but there's no denying that Stern's reign has been massively successful.
The NBA All-Star game will be played in Las Vegas today, and it came as something of a surprise when the league decided to hold it's biggest celebration in Sin City. Stern had long said that he would never allow a franchise to be located in Vegas because he didn't want a team located in a city where betting on basketball games was allowed. Indeed, Stern fought to ensure that states with franchises do not allow betting on NBA games in any of their local casinos.
So why is the All-Star game in Vegas? Well, according to an
article written by ESPN's Chris Sheridan, it's because Stern actually has rather reasonable views about gambling. In fact, Stern was something of a
poker player in his youth: "It was known in high-low, seven-card high-low, although now it's called Spit in the Ocean or whatever it's called, but I enjoyed
poker," Stern told Sheridan. And it's not hard to imagine that Stern would be a very formidable opponent at the table.
As Sheridan reports, the "impression that the commish is somewhat of an antigambling zealot" in fact "couldn't be further from the truth". When asked about gambling in general, here's what the commissioner had to say:
"It is not inherently evil," Stern said. "One of the reasons I was happy to come to Las Vegas is because there's this lingering notion that gambling is bad."
You won't be able to bet on the All-Star game today in Vegas--Stern insisted on that condition when he awarded Vegas the game. But when Sheridan asked if this was because he was worried about point-shaving or someone fixing games, Stern said no. He wants the NBA to remain a "fun league". What Stern said at the end of Sheridan's piece makes such perfect sense you can't help wishing every member of Congress was so reasonable:
"We've always understood the reality that all sports betting is closely monitored, so it's not about corruption, it's about the relationship between the sport and its fans, that's all," said Stern.
"And you know, a lot of the sports leagues forged their policies when gambling itself was prohibited on a national basis. I worked on this subject 40 years ago for the NBA when every league and every religious organization and every law enforcement organization was opposing the legalization of gambling in Atlantic City.
"But the reality of it is, in the intervening 40 years, based upon changes in law, 48 states have lotteries, casinos, video poker, Indian reservations. Gambling has become the American way, and we're all changing our attitudes with respect to it."
Look at how well prohibiting gambling (and other activities enjoyed by law-abiding people) has worked. Look at how successful gaming has been when it's been carefully regulated. Doesn't it make more sense to legalize, regulate and tax gambling as opposed to driving it underground? And who in America is more sensible than David Stern? OK, maybe he made a mistake with that new microfiber ball...but when he saw it wasn't working out he wasn't afraid to change his mind. Hopefully others will change their minds about online gambling in the very near future.
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