By Jim Vallet and Robert Perea
There are two troubling trends in the world of sports that give me motivation to repeat the old adage, “Money talks and bull**** walks”.
The first trend is the behavior of spectators at sporting events. Although the disgusting actions of “patriots” during the recent Ryder Cup brought this issue back to the forefront, behavior at all sporting events, from Little League to high school to professional sports, has been bad for a long time. And, not just in the United States.
The fact is, if you attend any sporting event where there are lots of people, you have a very good chance of witnessing awful actions ranging from lack of consideration for others to obnoxious language to harassment of others to physical violence.
And, authorities say that many of these actions are the result of the use of alcohol.
Even though whatever organization puts on a children’s sporting event does not sell alcohol, if you have been to one of these events, you have probably seen the negative effects of imbibing. And, besides paying guards to screen and make sure no one entering a youth sporting event has been drinking, there is no practical way to curtail this, since we do have the freedom to act like fools if we choose.
But I want to focus on events where liquor, beer, and wine are legally sold.
If you weren’t appalled by the behaviors and words of some of the spectators at the recent Ryder Cup, you weren’t watching. Some “fans” chose to exercise their right of free speech by shouting crude, insensitive, and vulgar words at participants. Some decided that fighting was a good idea. Some showed their displeasure at the bathroom lines by publicly urinating.
And there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that alcohol contributed to some of the antisocial behavior.
So, this should be a simple one, right? Don’t sell alcohol so that some people cannot taint the experience of the majority of the spectators. Then everybody would be happy, right?
No. Selling beer, wine and liquor at rip off prices is hugely profitable for both the PGA and Anheuser-Busch, the official beer sponsor of many PGA events, including the Ryder Cup. I would guess, although I haven’t been able to find them yet, that liquor and wine companies also have agreements with the PGA so that everyone profits.
Except for the real fans. Several European commentators have attempted to link Ryder Cup 2025 fan behavior to MAGA influence in the US, but I think that is ridiculous because we (and they) have had alcohol induced boorish behavior for a long time now.
Don’t blame MAGA for what happened at last week’s Ryder Cup, blame greed. It’s not necessary to be drunk to enjoy a sporting event, and profit should not be prioritized over public safety.
Next up is the sudden (to me, anyway) proliferation of online sports betting. I never thought much about online betting before because it wasn’t an option for me when we lived in Nevada. I just drove a mile or so to the local sportsbook and made whatever bets I wanted. The only hazard, besides traffic, was walking past all the video poker machines to place my bets, and I do declare there were times when I was so desperate I took some comfort there (all apologies to Simon and Garfunkel for my use of most of their lyrics in a way they never intended). My point is, there was never a reason for me to bet online in Nevada.
But now I live in North Carolina and I notice all the sports betting sites’ commercials. And, since my fantasy football team and my betting platform is with ESPN, they magnanimously link my fantasy players in parleys that catch my attention and tempt me to bet.
I do not like to pay a lot of money on tickets then waste that money by being drunk during the competition but I do like to bet on sports, so I am tempted to put my money, from the comfort of my La-Z-Boy, on my players. Besides, it’s a GREAT BET! How can I lose? Chase Brown getting 100 yards rushing parlayed to Mike Evans going over 100 yards receiving, how can I lose. At +400? A sure winner! (Neither player has done either so far this season)
So, I understand the temptation. So far, I have resisted, and resolved to continue to only open my ESPN Bet app once a week. Hopefully that resolve holds.
But there are many who apparently don’t have resolve, and the disclaimer in tiny letters on the bottom along with the problem gamblers hotline number can only soothe the conscience of betting platforms concerned only with…making money.
Is it necessary for ESPN to constantly update betting lines on “can’t miss bets” while the game is going on? Do these sports betting platforms need celebrities to pitch their sites? Does this type of easy access take advantage of some weaknesses in people? Do losses cause some of the hostility we see from some spectators directed at players and coaches? And, does betting on sports hurt the integrity of sports?
I think we are responsible for our actions, but I also think college and professional sports, online sports betting platforms and alcohol distributors and producers are intentionally preying upon the weaknesses of many for profit.
I’m not sure what to do about it, like I don’t know what to do about social media using algorithms or NIL, either. To me, it all stinks and takes away from the experience of attending sporting events. But I guess if you can make money and justify it with worthless disclaimers, it’s ok to some.
But, not to me.
Not to make excuses (and I will now proceed to do exactly that) but try to figure the NFL last week. The Packers have a great defense, the Cowboys are missing their best offensive player, so of course the Cowboys put up a 40 spot on the Packers. The Chargers haven’t lost, the Giants haven’t won plus are starting a rookie QB, so of course the Giants win. The Vikings look unbeatable, the Steelers should have been 0-2, so what else can happen but a convincing Steeler win? The Falcons can’t score a single point against the pitiful Panthers but move up and down the field against the Commanders. The Jets gain 100 more yards than the Dolphins but lose the game (although huge assists have to go to Jets’ penalties and turnovers). The Panthers just shut out the Falcons, the Patriots have far less, but…you know what happened.
The NFL is predictable in its unpredictability and those seemingly random outcomes are exactly what makes sportsbooks profitable.
Well, I’ll try again. Lines are from espn.com on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
San Francisco 49ers (+7 ½) at Los Angeles Rams: The 49ers may not have anyone to throw the ball, no one to catch it, and no one to stop the hot Rams, so bet the 49ers! Seriously, this line opened at Rams -3 ½ so I get 4 points for free! I can advertise this and con some old fogey in his La-Z-Boy!
Baltimore Ravens (+1 ½) vs Houston Texans: This line opened at Ravens -3 ½ and has moved…I don’t know why. No new information has come out since the lines first came out. But I predict the final score is Ravens 2, Houston 0.
New York Jets (+2 ½) vs Dallas Cowboys: If the Jets can stay out of their own way (a big ask)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3 ½) at Seattle Seahawks: The Bucs are great at stopping the run, so Seattle will probably have to successfully throw the ball to win. Tampa keeps finding ways to succeed.
Los Angeles Chargers (-2 ½) vs Washington Commanders: It’s tough to come off injury and pick up where you left off. Terry Mclaurin and Jayden Daniels will be reminded of that against a good and motivated Chargers’ defense.
New England Patriots (+7 ½) at Buffalo Bills: Buffalo has been giving up points.
Last week 3-3
Season 13-11
Robert’s picks
Illinois (-9 ½) at Purdue: I might ordinarily hesitate to bet a favorite on the road that just had a wild come-from-behind win at home the week before, but I believe that win over USC saved the Illinois season, and instead of being flat, I think they’ll come in riding a wave. If so, they’re more than 10 points better than Purdue, and we’re getting a break in the line because Purdue got a couple of early wins over cupcakes,
Maryland (+6 ½) over Washington: Many bettors have been suckered out of their money for believing in Maryland the past few years, but there’s reasons to believe it might be different for this year’s Terrapins. For one thing, those recent Maryland teams put up pretty offensive numbers against overmatch foes but couldn’t stand up to teams that hit them in the mouth. But this year’s team is doing it with defense, ranking high in the yards per play metric. If what I’ve seen with my own eyes is actually true then Maryland is live to win this game outright at home.
Miami (-4) at Florida St.: Florida St. is an explosive team with flashy playmakers, but Miami looks like the best team in the country to me. Florida St. QB Tommy Castellanos is one of those flashy playmakers, but he’s more spectacular than consistent and he still makes the same spectacular mistakes that got him benched at Boston College. One of two of those mistakes from him is all it will take to lose this game.
Dolphins (-1) at Panthers: Two 1-3 teams, but at least the Dolphins have weapons. Bryce Young hasn’t progressed, the Panthers can’t run the ball to help him out, they didn’t show any fight once they fell behind last week. Like I mentioned about Illinois, I think last week’s win will be a catapult this week for the Dolphins.
Ravens (+2) over Texans: The Ravens are 1-3, Lamar Jackson is out, and everyone is ringing the panic bell over the Ravens. But consider this: The Ravens lost to the Bills, Lions and Chiefs. If they had played the 49ers schedule, they’d be 4-0 and would be laying 3 even without Lamar. The Ravens are better than the Texans up and down the roster, and this line adjustment is way too much. I expect a circle-the-wagons, save the season type of effort and a win from the Ravens like the 49ers pulled off in LA Thursday night.
Buccaneers (+3 ½) at Seahawks: This is my favorite matchup of the week, if nothing else but for the 1980s throwback uniforms. But if the Buccs can stop the Seahawks from running as well as they held Saquon Barkley in check last week, then they can blitz Sam Darnold into a couple of bad throws.
Last week
College 2-1
NFL 3-0
Season
College 7-9
NFL 8-5
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