NFL and sports betting

[Tom Poje]

This was in the news today:

Two prominent NFL owners have a stake in a bookmaker as the first season with expanded legal sports betting in the U.S. gets ready to kick off.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones have retained their investments in DraftKings, sources confirmed to ESPN, even as the company has shifted some of its focus from daily fantasy to traditional sports betting.

Kraft's and Jones' stakes in DraftKings are said to be small: less than 5 percent, according to sources. In a court disclosure, 21st Century Fox was the only company listed as owning 10 percent or more of DraftKings.

A Cowboys spokesman said Jones' investment in DraftKings is through sports hospitality company Legends, not the team. Jones and the Steinbrenners, owners of the New York Yankees, have been described as "principal owners" of Legends.

The Patriots declined comment

 

See, it's ok because

[CuseFan]

Funny!

Gambling, including fantasy leagues and contests, is why football has replaced baseball as America's pastime (a long time ago).

[KEB]

Baseball will ALWAYS be better than football. Football can never compete with baseball in the area of history for one thing. The players, the myths, hall of famers.  It's played primarily in the summer, it's played daily.    It's a thinking man -- and woman's game. And it's been around since the 1800s! Not so football. Even my husband hates football. Who cares about gambling???

[david rigby]

Gambling and professional sports?  What could go wrong?

[Tom Poje]

when the all time hit leader was on trial for gambling, and the judge walked into the room, out of respect, like everyone else

Pete

Rose

[CuseFan]

Ouch! 

KEB, I'm not stating a preference, I am a baseball guy above all else (except maybe college basketball), but simply describing the landscape as I see it.