By MIKE DIMAURO
Day Assistant Sports Editor, Sports Columnists
Published on 1/4/2006
We can all rest a little easier today knowing that, yes, southeastern Connecticut has been saved from all illicit, $50 Giants/Patriots parlays for the rest of the football season.
Perhaps you missed the big news last week in The Day. Four people from the region have been charged with operating a sports gambling enterprise throughout New London County, state police said.
A monthlong investigation, following several months of scrutiny, produced the arrests of four people between the ages of 52 and 68.
I don't know, but I think that merits a chuckle.
Or at least a raised eyebrow.
I mean, our tax money just went into the investigation of four AARP members who allegedly take bets here in the most gambling-infested society in the world.
Maybe next week the Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force will raid a convalescent home.
I realize I'm about to embark on an unoriginal rant. I realize the old “don't they have anything else better to do?” is somewhat simplistic.
But I'd like to meet the law enforcement official who authorized this investigation. I'd like to ask him or her to look around at how our society has evolved into a gamblers' culture and then examine whether the money and manpower couldn't have been better spent.
Or maybe I'd ask this question:
What is the greater reward?
Did they hope to catch Sam Giancana?
Al Capone?
Carmine the Claw?
Mario the Machete?
And this was worth it, to catch four people, all of whom were released on $500 bond?
No, really. It's this kind of vigilance against the bad guys that will one day lead us straight to Bin Laden, I say.
One veteran attorney from the city got a similar chuckle from all the big words. Violating the Corrupt Organization and Racketeering Activity Act. Professional Gambling Enterprise.
“You know what this was?” the attorney said. “This was a sting that came up with nothing, but they had to come up with something to justify themselves.”
No arguments from this corner, counselor.
If the act of breaking into at least one senior citizen's home wasn't ludicrous enough, the thinking behind it is bang-your-head-against-the-wall material. Our society is hypocritical at many levels, although the gambling issue hits cleanup in the order.
The state encourages the lottery. You can't win if you don't play. Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods make billions — and then send some gambling revenue back to the state. (Wouldn't it be a kick if gambling revenues funded this investigation?) In Vegas, you can bet the opening coin flip of the Super Bowl. Internet sites are sports gambling havens. The Day encourages its readers to pick football games every Sunday in a special contest. Newspapers across the country publish betting lines. Mike and the Mad Dog make pro and college football picks every Friday. Hammerin' Hank Goldberg makes them every Sunday on ESPN.
Right. And if you think those are for recreational purposes only, you're dumber than “Trading Spouses.”
And so we're supposed to encourage and support tax money being thrown away to investigate ... gambling?
You can argue whether society is at fault for its benign neglect of gambling. But then ask yourself: Have you ever participated?
Do you have a football pool going at work? (Aw, it's just for a little fun, right?)
Filled out a football card? (Aw, it's just for a little fun, right?)
How about an NCAA Tournament bracket? (Aw, it's just for a little fun, right?)
Gone on an Internet gambling site? (Aw, it's just for a little fun, right?)
The aforementioned examples are used to prove that gambling, right or wrong, has become accepted. And wasting time and tax dollars in a fruitless attempt to find John Gotti's long, lost cousin twice removed is beyond heedless.
But, alas, the most recent assignment from the Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force is done. And the four members of the “gambling enterprise” will be in New London Superior Court on Jan. 12.
Surely, there must be a judge out there who recognizes the entire endeavor as imprudent at best. Please. Save prison space for people who engage in acts not encouraged, implicitly and subliminally, by people in every corner of this society.
This is the opinion of Day assistant sports editor Mike DiMauro. He may be reached at m.dimauro@theday.com or 701-4391.
Day Assistant Sports Editor, Sports Columnists
Published on 1/4/2006
We can all rest a little easier today knowing that, yes, southeastern Connecticut has been saved from all illicit, $50 Giants/Patriots parlays for the rest of the football season.
Perhaps you missed the big news last week in The Day. Four people from the region have been charged with operating a sports gambling enterprise throughout New London County, state police said.
A monthlong investigation, following several months of scrutiny, produced the arrests of four people between the ages of 52 and 68.
I don't know, but I think that merits a chuckle.
Or at least a raised eyebrow.
I mean, our tax money just went into the investigation of four AARP members who allegedly take bets here in the most gambling-infested society in the world.
Maybe next week the Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force will raid a convalescent home.
I realize I'm about to embark on an unoriginal rant. I realize the old “don't they have anything else better to do?” is somewhat simplistic.
But I'd like to meet the law enforcement official who authorized this investigation. I'd like to ask him or her to look around at how our society has evolved into a gamblers' culture and then examine whether the money and manpower couldn't have been better spent.
Or maybe I'd ask this question:
What is the greater reward?
Did they hope to catch Sam Giancana?
Al Capone?
Carmine the Claw?
Mario the Machete?
And this was worth it, to catch four people, all of whom were released on $500 bond?
No, really. It's this kind of vigilance against the bad guys that will one day lead us straight to Bin Laden, I say.
One veteran attorney from the city got a similar chuckle from all the big words. Violating the Corrupt Organization and Racketeering Activity Act. Professional Gambling Enterprise.
“You know what this was?” the attorney said. “This was a sting that came up with nothing, but they had to come up with something to justify themselves.”
No arguments from this corner, counselor.
If the act of breaking into at least one senior citizen's home wasn't ludicrous enough, the thinking behind it is bang-your-head-against-the-wall material. Our society is hypocritical at many levels, although the gambling issue hits cleanup in the order.
The state encourages the lottery. You can't win if you don't play. Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods make billions — and then send some gambling revenue back to the state. (Wouldn't it be a kick if gambling revenues funded this investigation?) In Vegas, you can bet the opening coin flip of the Super Bowl. Internet sites are sports gambling havens. The Day encourages its readers to pick football games every Sunday in a special contest. Newspapers across the country publish betting lines. Mike and the Mad Dog make pro and college football picks every Friday. Hammerin' Hank Goldberg makes them every Sunday on ESPN.
Right. And if you think those are for recreational purposes only, you're dumber than “Trading Spouses.”
And so we're supposed to encourage and support tax money being thrown away to investigate ... gambling?
You can argue whether society is at fault for its benign neglect of gambling. But then ask yourself: Have you ever participated?
Do you have a football pool going at work? (Aw, it's just for a little fun, right?)
Filled out a football card? (Aw, it's just for a little fun, right?)
How about an NCAA Tournament bracket? (Aw, it's just for a little fun, right?)
Gone on an Internet gambling site? (Aw, it's just for a little fun, right?)
The aforementioned examples are used to prove that gambling, right or wrong, has become accepted. And wasting time and tax dollars in a fruitless attempt to find John Gotti's long, lost cousin twice removed is beyond heedless.
But, alas, the most recent assignment from the Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force is done. And the four members of the “gambling enterprise” will be in New London Superior Court on Jan. 12.
Surely, there must be a judge out there who recognizes the entire endeavor as imprudent at best. Please. Save prison space for people who engage in acts not encouraged, implicitly and subliminally, by people in every corner of this society.
This is the opinion of Day assistant sports editor Mike DiMauro. He may be reached at m.dimauro@theday.com or 701-4391.