One thing that I have found interesting while reading this section is the gambling aspect of the game with the players. For example, before the British Open Championship, a foursome of players thought that they would get together a make a practice round more intersting. They did this by putting $1,000 each for the player that could finish the entire 18 hole round without a single bogey, one over par (+1). This would be unheard of in any other sport. I could think of NBA players possibly putting some money on pick-up games, but that's about it. The NFL is against gambling, but the sports would not be as popular without the point spreads. Even though the NFL trys to push itself away from the Vegas sports books it still allows their primary partner in television, ESPN, and other networks to show the point spreads on their scroll on the bottom of the screen and when the experts make their picks for the upcoming week.
Major League Baseball has a zero tolerance policy on gambling. If MLB was as strict on steroids and other performance enhancing drugs as they are on gambling, then the sports image wouldn't have gone through the ringer the past couple of years. Unlike with steroids, if a person associated with MLB, expecially an on field member, is caught gambling they are banned for life. Even if you are Pete Rose and supposedly bet on your team to win, you still get the boot from the sport. Their should be no excuse of gambling anyway considering that it's listed on a sign in every Major League and Minor League clubhouse.
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