NBA franchise in Sin City?

#1
The Dude

The Dude

Abides.
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
7,263
Likes
8
#1
Considering the Tim Donaghy gambling scandal, you have to wonder the impact that has on Las Vegas getting a NBA team or one relocating there. According to the NY Daily Times from a source close to David Stern, the scandal will "probably have no impact, whatsoever" on a team moving to Vegas in the future. I'm not so sure about that, but some things to concede:

  1. Donaghy's wagering allegedly took place with illegal bookies outside of Las Vegas.
  2. The NBA has previously faced and survived other, legal (authorized) gambling affairs, from Jordan's famous off day trips to casinos to Sir Charles' 10 million dollar gambling losses.
  3. During the 2007 All-Star weekend in Vegas, 400 arrests were made and there was a high profile triple shooting that left nightclub manager Tommy Urbanski paralyzed and led to Pac Man Jones' year long suspension.
In a bit of irony, the FIBA America's Championships, highlighted by NBAers like Lebron James, Manu Ginobili, and Leandro Barbosa, are being held August 22-September 2, in guess what city?
 
#2
#2
There's speculation in Memphis for many months that the Grizzlies will be leaving for Vegas.
 
#3
#3
The last two major point shaving scandals in college athletics have been exposed because Vegas caught and reported abnormal line fluctuations. If anything, having a franchise in Vegas would help limit the chances of this happening again.
 
#8
#8
I do agree with Hat; Vegas has been propelling force as far as them reporting line shifts or whatnot, but perception is reality in the public, and I think this story, along with the events of the '07 all-star game, could, at least in the adjacent future, keep a team out of Las Vegas.
 
#11
#11
hell why not? I'm frankly suprised Vegas has no pro teams yet, shocked that Al Davis has'nt had the vision to relocate to Vegas baby.
 
#13
#13
I think Vegas is about 20 years late for having a visionary NFL owner to own this town....and the 35% of all the gate.
 
#14
#14
It won't have any effect on wether or not a team moves to Vegas. Gambling influence is infinitley larger in cities where it's prevelant as an illigitemate practice, i.e. Boston, New York and Philadelphia.

As hat said, if Vegas has any influence on gambling in the NBA, it's actually a positive one. The Kings is the only franchise I could see moving to Vegas. The Maloof bros. could make it work better than anyone else in the NBA.

I love the NBA. I get the distinct impression the NFL has more thugs than the NBA does. It also features the most dynamic and provocative characters in all of professional sports.
 
#15
#15
milohimself said:
I love the NBA. I get the distinct impression the NFL has more thugs than the NBA does. It also features the most dynamic and provocative characters in all of professional sports.
Click to expand...


Well it should, seeing that the NFL probably has 5 times as many players as the NBA.
 
#16
#16
There is also a significant negative undercurrent towards the NBA left over from the All-Star fiasco. The NBA has a serious image problem in that city.

I think that will have more effect on placing a team than a single gambling scandal with no connection to the strip. The league needs to convince the city--the populous, not the government--that it wants a franchise.
 
#17
#17
milohimself said:
It won't have any effect on wether or not a team moves to Vegas. Gambling influence is infinitley larger in cities where it's prevelant as an illigitemate practice, i.e. Boston, New York and Philadelphia.

As hat said, if Vegas has any influence on gambling in the NBA, it's actually a positive one. The Kings is the only franchise I could see moving to Vegas. The Maloof bros. could make it work better than anyone else in the NBA.

I love the NBA. I get the distinct impression the NFL has more thugs than the NBA does. It also features the most dynamic and provocative characters in all of professional sports.
Click to expand...

I don't know if I would call them thugs, but I would say that someone would have to have some anti social tendency to play professional football. The collisions that occur on Sunday are simply not natural.

And yes, they catch cheaters faster in Vegas than anywhere else on the planet. I would have confidence that anything occuring there in regards to pro sports would be on the level.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top