Delaware's Proposed Sports Betting Damages the NFL's Reputation?

The State of Delaware got a shock when a court ruled that its proposed sports betting was illegal. Delaware can only off parlay betting (more than one team) and only on pro football. The NFL and other leagues argued that sports betting would damage their reputations? I wish I had been an expert witness for the State on that one!

What exactly is the reputation of the pro leagues that they are trying to protect? Is it Major League Baseball's blind acceptance of steroids? That league even did testing in 2003 but sealed the findings and did nothing about anyone who was found to be using illegal enhancers.

Perhaps it would be the National Hockey League that continues to walk a thin line between wanting a good game and a good fight. When discussions emerged a few years ago about banning fighting, the league found itself having to back down to the players' union.

Or, maybe it would be the good reputation of the National Football League that has had so many legal issues with its players that it is hard to keep track.

So, sports betting in little Delaware would damage the reputation of sports? Are you kidding me? Michael Vick and Ricky Williams can return to the game without damaging the leagues reputation, but betting will ruin it? Hockey players can beat each other up while the crowd goes wild, but betting will make the sport look bad? Manny Ramierez can come back as if nothing has happened, with ESPN cutting into games to show his every at-bat, but betting will taint the MLB?

Why can't the sports leagues simply say that they are afraid that games will be fixed, a la the "Black Sox" scandal in 1919? I can accept that argument. We know that there are many athletes who love to gamble. They're human. Pete Rose, Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley are just a few of those with big gambling habits--the latter two have never been linked to betting on their own sports while active.

It seems that professional sports are very good at turning a blind eye to things they do not want to see or acknowledge. Sports betting occurs all the time with bookies and at office pools. But, in a time when states are trying to find new sources of revenue, the "cause celeb" of the major sports leagues is to stop Delaware from legalizing the back room activities that go on all the time.

The hypocrisy is just too much!