Fan finds gambling a turnoff
Broncos are for real. NFL is wide open
Good morning, all!
I happened to be watching the Packers-Giants game on Sunday with a friend from Generation X and he is becoming turned off by the NFL. He is someone, who has followed the league religiously. He would circle the date of the NFL draft on his calendar and once draft day arrived, forget it. He would sequester himself with newspapers, magazines, etc., while positioning himself in front of the TV set. Now the sport is turning him off. Why? Gambling and penalties.
Prop bets, gambling ads during games and on social media, and what now appears one gambling scandal after another, are serving to diminish his interest in the NFL and other sports. Throw in the epidemic of yellow flags and the tush-push, and the NFL is becoming a turnoff rather than turn on for this once, vibrant fan.
The NFL has not been impacted by any gambling scandal - yet, unlike the NBA and MLB. For years, however, when betting on football was illegal, the point-spread, final score, an official’s flag, were all scrutinized by discerning fans. If it gets to the point, when the majority of the public doubts the veracity of the outcome, then the NFL and other sports will be in trouble. Until such time, the games will go on and so will the betting. Why? Because the NFL knows it has the most-viewed entertainment product in the world. And the NBA and MLB know they have entertainment worth watching too. So the leagues will remind us about all the means being instituted to keep things on the up-and-up and the show will go on, no matter how many Gen Xers and others have questions.
HERE ARE SOME OTHER THOUGHTS FOR A MONDAY:
I do not see one super NFL team this season. Everything is wide open.
I am convinced. The Denver Broncos are for real. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs are in trouble. That was an impressive win by the Broncos Sunday afternoon, as they downed the Chiefs 22-19 on a Wil Lutz field goal as time expired. These two, old AFL rivals have a rematch on Christmas night. Stay tuned!
That said, the Chiefs are not the juggernaut they once were. They are 0-and-4 in one score games this season. That does not sound like the Kansas City Chiefs to me. Sounds more like the 1965 Yankees; a proud but crumbling dynasty with fading stars sprinkled with some talent (Mahomes).
Should be a fun finish in the AFC East. The Bills bounced back with a win at home against the Bucs and the Patriots are the hottest team in football. Will the surprising Pats take a step back, after their 10-day layoff?
It will be interesting to see how this NBA betting scandal unfolds, now that LA Lakers executives have handed over their cell phones to investigators.
That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you for subscribing. Look for more videos and live segments this week.
DAN