Gambling in itself is very “addictive” (“Effects of Gambling” 1), and once someone starts to gamble it becomes very hard for him to stop. The addiction is very similar to that of nicotine, or caffeine, in that if you try to quit your body and mind will go through serious withdrawals. Many professional athletes trick themselves into believing that if they either gamble on teams that they do not play for, or simply cause their teams to remain under the spread while still winning, that it is alright. These misconceptions have led to some of the most infamous cases of gambling on sports of all time.

Shoeless Joe Jackson played for the Chicago White Sox in 1919. That year his team reached the World Series and lost five games to three. It was later discovered that Jackson’s teammates had intentionally thrown the series for a large sum of money. Though no actual evidence was found against Jackson, he received a lifetime ban from baseball, based on being “guilty by ass

Many colleges have had to face suspensions and firings due to illegal gambling done by faculty and staff. Colleges such as Arizona State, Tulane, Boston College, Northwestern, Maryland, Miami, Alabama, and Kentucky have all violated NCAA rules within the past ten years. (Toohey, “Low Odds, High Stakes, Higher Education” 1) Some of those colleges never recovered, and still today are trying to return to their former glory. The main problem is caused by bookies who trick the kids into believing that it is okay to gamble as long as they only cover the spread, but still win their game. (Toohey, “Study Shows High Incidence of College – Athlete Gambling” 2) Over the years more kids have been misled by bookies than they have been well informed by trusted advisors; this is the main part of the problem. The most prolific gambling case ever in college is still ongoing. Chris Webber is thought to have gambled on his own team and to have helped bookies cover the spread. His trial is scheduled to start sometime in the summer of 2003.

The main problem with gambling is that you cannot correct it by simply putting “limitations on the amounts you can gamble”. (Toohey, “Collegiate Sports Betting May End” 2) The only way to correct the problem is to completely end all forms of betting on college sports, and there are far to many supporters of gambling for that ever to happen. Gambling is one of those problems where there can be no compromise; there are supporters, and opponents, none who straddle the fence. Because of this gambling is a problem that is not going to go away in the near, or even distant future.

ociation”. (“Official Statement Regarding Joe Jackson” 1) Jackson was tried in two different courts, and both times he was found innocent. Nonetheless, he received a ban that has still not been lifted. There is also factual evidence to prove Joe’s innocence. He led the series in batting average, runs, home runs, and played flawless defense. It has also been proven that Jackson was offered $10,000, and later $20,000 (huge sums in 1919) to throw the series, and both times he declined. Jackson is banned today because he knew of the fix and did nothing to stop it. He did ask to be benched, and went so far as to tell his owner of the fix (“Facts Relating to Joe Jackson” 3), but to Major League Baseball he did not do enough. Jackson’s lifetime ban proves just how serious a problem gambling is viewed as being.

Vegas odds makers for years have ignored women’s sports. However, that may be about to change. Women’s sports hav

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