New Jersey wants to claim its share of the lucrative sports betting industry and has sued to overturn a federal ban. The NCAA opposes legalized sports betting ? for no good reason ? and is retaliating.
Last month, the NCAA yanked five championship events from New Jersey, blaming lawmakers for violating its policies against sports betting. And this week, the NCAA announced that Madison Square Garden in New York and the Carrier Dome in Syracuse ? not Newark ? would host regional March Madness tournaments in 2014 and 2015.
Before New Jersey embraced sports betting, Newark was a favorite to host March Madness again. Its first time, in 2011, was a success.
The NCAA?s sanctions already have denied New Jersey colleges a chance to host the prestigious events. Now, it?s costing millions. If Newark?s snub was, in fact, retribution for New Jersey?s sports betting law, that?s an attack of spite ? cutting off an economic lifeline for a city that?s desperate for the business.
What?s the tournament worth? In 2011, more than 38,000 fans came to Newark to watch North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio State and Marquette play for a spot in the Final Four. They spent more than $6 million on hotels, restaurants and shopping, not including the cost of tickets, taxis and souvenirs. It also excludes payments to Seton Hall University, the host school, and the Prudential Center, which was built with events such as March Madness in mind.
?It obviously hurts,? Pru Center chairman Jeff Vanderbeek said.
The NCAA objects to New Jersey?s attempt to legalize sports betting because it worries athletes might be bribed to shave points or throw games by bad guys with a big stake in the final score. There?s an old-timey quaintness to that fear. The NCAA is content to ignore the billions bet every year in illegal gambling operations ? many with mob ties ? and conveniently ignores that betting, from office pools to big-time bookies, fuels the frenzy around March Madness.
Gov. Chris Christie nailed it: The NCAA was ?ludicrous and hypocritical? to revoke New Jersey?s championships ? in sports including swimming, diving and lacrosse ? as punishment for sports betting.
The NCAA?s stand against New Jersey?s sports book rebellion is misguided. Now, it?s withholding real money from Newark, just to prove a point.
If New Jersey wins this fight, sports betting could mean hundreds of millions of dollars for the state?s casinos and racetracks. It also means other states will rush to legalize sports books themselves. Where will the games be played then?
Related: Editorial: Christie's anger at NCAA in sports betting tiff is justified
Source: http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2012/11/ncaas_spiteful_snub_of_newark.html
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