Baseball's gambling problems are bigger than Pete Rose's return

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | Baseball commissioner Bud Selig still hasn't decided on Pete Rose's baseball future for his alleged betting on baseball in the 1980s, but the commissioner has no problems taking advertising dollars from an off shore Internet casino.

Selig is the de facto ceo of the ownerless Montreal Expos. its his office that administers the day to day operations of the team that splits its schedule between the Quebec City and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

So, its Selig's office that had to approve the deal made between an Antigua-based Internet casino and the Expos for radio sponsorship. to be fair, the Internet casino also has sponsored NASCAR and boxing events.

Baseball can sign whomever they want to sponsor their games, that's their right, but baseball should have some more integrity. Why is there a no gambling rule for players, managers and coaches, yet casino money is gladly taken by major league owners to sponsor games on both TV and radio?

That seems to indicate baseball is comfortable with gambling when it suits the industry needs.

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JWR contributor Evan Weiner is a radio commentator on "The Business of Sports" for Westwood One's Metro Networks. He is being presented with the United States Sports Academy's Distinguished Service Award for 2003. Comment on this column by clicking here.

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