More Blatant NFL Hypocrisy - Two Games to be Played Abroad

The NFL has announced that starting next year "up to two" regular-season games will be played abroad. This is to accomodate the growing popularity of the NFL in other countries, says the league.

Bet on it that one of the countries chosen will be Mexico, where last season they drew the biggest crowd ever for an NFL game.

But the NFL, a fierce opponent of legalized gambling on their product, does not seem to be bothered by the fact that anyone with a dollar, or 10 pesos, can get a legal bet down on the games in any big city in Mexico. Or from anywhere in Mexico if they have a phone account.

It's also likely that the other country chosen also will have legal sports wagering.

This is the league that also will not hold a convention in Vegas, because, horror of horrors, sports betting is legal there.

The NFL beat reporters are a whorish crew, in love with the perks passed out by the NFL. Not to mention the prestige of being on a first-name basis with football heroes.

But hopefully at least one of them has enough integrity to stick it hard to the new NFL commissioner on this issue, and not let him off the hook.

What, pray tell, is the rationale behind this incredible hypocrisy?

The NFL has always talked out of both sides of its mouth when it comes to gambling this is nothing new. The NFL does what is best for business at the end and if they feel placing a game in Mexico expands the game globally so be it if you can gamble on it down the street.

dmmd98 said:

The NFL has always talked out of both sides of its mouth when it comes to gambling this is nothing new. The NFL does what is best for business at the end and if they feel placing a game in Mexico expands the game globally so be it if you can gamble on it down the street.

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This is correct; it is, of course, money money money. But the gross inconsistency in their stance is a story.

One that we can hope a reporter of the game will cover. Yes, sports reporters for the most part have a symbiotic relationship with the game they cover, but they also owe something to the people who pay them - those who buy the paper or tune in to the show.

I doubt, tho, that any of them will ask the question. A non-sports journalist for one of the big rags or tv shows might tho. 60 Minutes, maybe?

Perhaps one of the Rx's content providers will call the NFL press office and pose the question. Over and over and over again, until they get a coherent answer . . .