Is this the future of American Sports?
HOLLYWOOD, Calif., June 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Department of Justice announced a 47-count indictment charging top FIFA executives with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering. Sepp Blatter, president since 1998, has not yet been charged but he announced his resignation shortly afterward. Was all this really necessary?
On Oct. 2, 1987, a friend backed a friend: "[He] is a good family man, a devoted friend and is admired [as a] sports administrator… in addition to being an abnegate protector of the elderly and children in need." These were not ordinary men. The endorser was Joao Havelange, FIFA's 7th President (1974 – 1998) and the man he endorsed was Castor de Andrade, who was convicted of racketeering in 1994 and controlled (with other syndicate heads) an illegal gambling operation with an estimated $1.3 billion annual turnover employing 50,000 people in Rio alone. The same Havelange would later declare that the 1966 and 1974 World Cups were fixed.
"3 corrupt FIFA presidents in the last 54 years equals 3 strikes," said Ace Underhill, "Alleged game fixing during Stanley Rous's tenure, Havelange's ties to illegal gambling and systemic corruption allegations with Blatter at the helm are simply unbelievable."
This is the price that society pays when gambling gets into sports. While all of FIFA's problems aren't directly related to gambling, sports bets are the most toxic element… slowly but surely polluting the culture. If we don't stop Mark Cuban and the league-supported sports gambling effort in its tracks, this is where American Sports will end up. There may be Fifty Shades of Grey, but there is only one version of purity. Once that line is crossed, anything goes and sports becomes a "show" and not the pure competition that fans expect.
Bernie Nicholls concludes "FIFA got caught playing with things they shouldn't have and as a pro athlete I pray that the other leagues are not involved in this type of thing. With gambling creating such a negative cloud around the purity of sport, it's a wonder any league would want to associate their sport with gambling. I guess that's the risk people are willing to take to get some attention, to create a name for themselves; it would be a good idea for them to consider the end game for the leagues they end up destroying and the sports that they set back because of it. Just look at what happened with FIFA. Case closed."
There is a better way: The sports leagues can have the best of both worlds by embracing the concept of a "sports stock market" that will give them the revenue they seek without creating a massive disconnect with their fans. The world of sports investing is one well worth consideration and it is the future of fan engagement. As the old saying goes "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!" Regulated sports betting is just one of the many things that should stay there. Real money sports team investing is not here just yet… but it will become a reality with your support. You can test drive the free market at http://AllSportsMarket.com/(follow #SportsFolio) and sign the online petition at http://TheSportsVote.com/(follow #TheSportsVote)
AllSportsMarket (ASM) is the World's First Sports Stock Market trading your favorite teams 24/7 with dividends paid on every win. Global sports traders compete to earn cash and win prizes. ASM is operated in Hollywood, California by The New Sports Economy Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to teach finance through sports. The market technology is international patent pending in 148 nations. Bernie Nicholls is ASM's spokesman and sports industry liaison. Bernie was an explosive scorer who accumulated over 1,200 career points while playing for six NHL teams. Recently, Bernie helped coach the Los Angeles Kings to their first Stanley Cup ever in their 48-year history. Ace Underhill is the sole technical architect and creator with over 15 years' experience working in movies, television and music videos with such luminaries as Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Coldplay, Rihanna, Foo Fighters, Ariana Grande, Eddie Murphy, Christopher Titus and other top personalities worldwide. For more information, visit: http://AllSportsMarket.com. ASM Free! is available now for nearly all platforms worldwide including Apple (including Apple Watch), Android, BlackBerry, tablets, notebooks and desktops. The DeLorean Time Machine will be given away on Back to the Future Day, Oct. 21, 2015, in Hollywood. Sign up FREE (no credit card) using the referral code "DELOREAN" for a chance to win and 10 FREE shares in your favorite MLB team. Stop by the forums to chat with Bernie, Ace and sports traders everywhere!
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