Next Step in NTX youth soccer?

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=6451796

Very sad exploitation of youth sports. Not really shocking though, which is also sad.

Hook It wrote:Very sad exploitation of youth sports. Not really shocking though, which is also sad.

Not shocking at all. How often have we seen charts, power rankings, and extensive reviews of even academy level teams right here on this forum? People genuinely get that caught up in their kids' sports. And then they defend it.

dup post

Xara wrote:

Hook It wrote:Very sad exploitation of youth sports. Not really shocking though, which is also sad.

Not shocking at all. How often have we seen charts, power rankings, and extensive reviews of even academy level teams right here on this forum? People genuinely get that caught up in their kids' sports. And then they defend it.

that's a stretch even for you. drinking and getting high on the sidelines ,betting? puleeze

silentparent wrote:

Xara wrote:

Hook It wrote:Very sad exploitation of youth sports. Not really shocking though, which is also sad.

Not shocking at all. How often have we seen charts, power rankings, and extensive reviews of even academy level teams right here on this forum? People genuinely get that caught up in their kids' sports. And then they defend it.

that's a stretch even for you. drinking and getting high on the sidelines ,betting? puleeze

I don't think that's much of a stretch.

There's another string going on the boys' board right now about seeding for the Texans DC Qualifier Tournament. "Higher ranked" folks are going back and forth about where their kid's team ranks and how they shouldn't be compelled to play "lower ranked" teams that haven't earned a shot at DC. The "lower ranked" folks are firing back that they deserve a shot at the DC invitation and to settle it on the field. On that string people are saying a lot of stupid crap. They're getting way too high on youth soccer.

All it would take from here is somebody to say, "You sure do talk big. Do you wanna bet on that?" BANG! You've suddenly opened the door to the exact same thing (an illegal gambling ring) happening here in NTX.

silentparent wrote:

Xara wrote:

Hook It wrote:Very sad exploitation of youth sports. Not really shocking though, which is also sad.

Not shocking at all. How often have we seen charts, power rankings, and extensive reviews of even academy level teams right here on this forum? People genuinely get that caught up in their kids' sports. And then they defend it.

that's a stretch even for you. drinking and getting high on the sidelines ,betting? puleeze

A stretch? Really? How often do parents get into cussing matches or even fist fights over kids' sports? Is that not worse than gambling? And I hear of dads who regularly offer their daughters money to score or even put another player on her butt in a game when they have an axe to grind. Betting is the next logical step in the degradation of children's sports. It might not be quite so blatant as the high class individuals featured in the video. But I could easily see someone on here creating a "Fantasy LHGCL Soccer League" rife with an entry fee and stats on top scorers, injuries, etc.

Xara wrote:

silentparent wrote:

Xara wrote:

Hook It wrote:Very sad exploitation of youth sports. Not really shocking though, which is also sad.

Not shocking at all. How often have we seen charts, power rankings, and extensive reviews of even academy level teams right here on this forum? People genuinely get that caught up in their kids' sports. And then they defend it.

that's a stretch even for you. drinking and getting high on the sidelines ,betting? puleeze

A stretch? Really? How often do parents get into cussing matches or even fist fights over kids' sports? Is that not worse than gambling? And I hear of dads who regularly offer their daughters money to score or even put another player on her butt in a game when they have an axe to grind. Betting is the next logical step in the degradation of children's sports. It might not be quite so blatant as the high class individuals featured in the video. But I could easily see someone on here creating a "Fantasy LHGCL Soccer League" rife with an entry fee and stats on top scorers, injuries, etc.

It's easy to watch that video and say "Oh that stupidity could never happen here. We're too holy for that." but I don't think that's true. We take this stuff way too far sometimes. Most of us already recognize that the people in this market seem to have more dollars than sense. What’s a couple $100s against the spread to make the upcoming game more interesting?

If we already have the ability to calculate multiple forms for complete team rankings in each age division, we certainly have enough information to calculate reasonable betting lines on an upcoming game. It would just be a matter of taking it one step further and forecasting with trends.

We even have the perfect place to start. No event is more over-analyzed by us parents then the QT. People on this board drive themselves nuts with the details on each match up. It has a similar feel to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Basketball Tournament is one of the most heavily wagered events every year. If an illegal gambling ring was going to start here, the QT is when and where it would happen.

Betting? Not a stretch. Probably happens some already. Just not to the tune of 20K a game.
Drinking. Not a stretch. Saw people enjoying their hot toddy's on the sidelines this past weekend.
Smoking pot? Now that is a stretch. Won't happen. Been doing this a long time and have never even seen it. Smoking in the parking lot I have witnessed. On the sidelines....no way, never.

bigtex75081 wrote:

Xara wrote:

silentparent wrote:

Xara wrote:

Hook It wrote:Very sad exploitation of youth sports. Not really shocking though, which is also sad.

Not shocking at all. How often have we seen charts, power rankings, and extensive reviews of even academy level teams right here on this forum? People genuinely get that caught up in their kids' sports. And then they defend it.

that's a stretch even for you. drinking and getting high on the sidelines ,betting? puleeze

A stretch? Really? How often do parents get into cussing matches or even fist fights over kids' sports? Is that not worse than gambling? And I hear of dads who regularly offer their daughters money to score or even put another player on her butt in a game when they have an axe to grind. Betting is the next logical step in the degradation of children's sports. It might not be quite so blatant as the high class individuals featured in the video. But I could easily see someone on here creating a "Fantasy LHGCL Soccer League" rife with an entry fee and stats on top scorers, injuries, etc.

It's easy to watch that video and say "Oh that stupidity could never happen here. We're too holy for that." but I don't think that's true. We take this stuff way too far sometimes. Most of us already recognize that the people in this market seem to have more dollars than sense. What’s a couple $100s against the spread to make the upcoming game more interesting?

If we already have the ability to calculate multiple forms for complete team rankings in each age division, we certainly have enough information to calculate reasonable betting lines on an upcoming game. It would just be a matter of taking it one step further and forecasting with trends.

We even have the perfect place to start. No event is more over-analyzed by us parents then the QT. People on this board drive themselves nuts with the details on each match up. It has a similar feel to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Basketball Tournament is one of the most heavily wagered events every year. If an illegal gambling ring was going to start here, the QT is when and where it would happen.

You guys (and gal in the case of Xara) are reaching. I guarantee you those drug dealers gambling on pee wee football didn't fall into it after getting too caught up in stats, charts and rankings.

Drug dealers gamble on anything and everything. It's part of the macho culture. But no worries, you'd never find them (or Vegas) betting on girls soccer, because of the same factor Xara has been shouting from the rooftops for years, namely - NOBODY CARES.

We talk about QT incessantly because it's our own kids involved. No one gives a rats behind about it unless they have a kid or are otherwise related to a kid playing. Slim to none chance even those of us with kids playing would be willing to suffer through watching other kids soccer games for the sake of gambling. How exactly do you two get from giving a kid a couple bucks for a goal, and a hyper focus on QT which lasts a few months and then completely diminishes ---> to illegal gambling with tens of thousands of dollars waged by participants who are mostly criminals?

This is par for the course with Xara, but I'm surprised the generally reasonable bigtex can rationalize this one.

3-4-3 wrote:

bigtex75081 wrote:

Xara wrote:

silentparent wrote:

Xara wrote:

Hook It wrote:Very sad exploitation of youth sports. Not really shocking though, which is also sad.

Not shocking at all. How often have we seen charts, power rankings, and extensive reviews of even academy level teams right here on this forum? People genuinely get that caught up in their kids' sports. And then they defend it.

that's a stretch even for you. drinking and getting high on the sidelines ,betting? puleeze

A stretch? Really? How often do parents get into cussing matches or even fist fights over kids' sports? Is that not worse than gambling? And I hear of dads who regularly offer their daughters money to score or even put another player on her butt in a game when they have an axe to grind. Betting is the next logical step in the degradation of children's sports. It might not be quite so blatant as the high class individuals featured in the video. But I could easily see someone on here creating a "Fantasy LHGCL Soccer League" rife with an entry fee and stats on top scorers, injuries, etc.

It's easy to watch that video and say "Oh that stupidity could never happen here. We're too holy for that." but I don't think that's true. We take this stuff way too far sometimes. Most of us already recognize that the people in this market seem to have more dollars than sense. What’s a couple $100s against the spread to make the upcoming game more interesting?

If we already have the ability to calculate multiple forms for complete team rankings in each age division, we certainly have enough information to calculate reasonable betting lines on an upcoming game. It would just be a matter of taking it one step further and forecasting with trends.

We even have the perfect place to start. No event is more over-analyzed by us parents then the QT. People on this board drive themselves nuts with the details on each match up. It has a similar feel to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Basketball Tournament is one of the most heavily wagered events every year. If an illegal gambling ring was going to start here, the QT is when and where it would happen.

You guys (and gal in the case of Xara) are reaching. I guarantee you those drug dealers gambling on pee wee football didn't fall into it after getting too caught up in stats, charts and rankings.

Drug dealers gamble on anything and everything. It's part of the macho culture. But no worries, you'd never find them (or Vegas) betting on girls soccer, because of the same factor Xara has been shouting from the rooftops for years, namely - NOBODY CARES.

We talk about QT incessantly because it's our own kids involved. No one gives a rats behind about it unless they have a kid or are otherwise related to a kid playing. Slim to none chance even those of us with kids playing would be willing to suffer through watching other kids soccer games for the sake of gambling. How exactly do you two get from giving a kid a couple bucks for a goal, and a hyper focus on QT which lasts a few months and then completely diminishes ---> to illegal gambling with tens of thousands of dollars waged by participants who are mostly criminals?

This is par for the course with Xara, but I'm surprised the generally reasonable bigtex can rationalize this one.

Slow news day apparently. The whole idea is laughable. Maybe in the ghetto but not here.

3-4-3 wrote:

bigtex75081 wrote:

Xara wrote:

silentparent wrote:

Xara wrote:

Hook It wrote:Very sad exploitation of youth sports. Not really shocking though, which is also sad.

Not shocking at all. How often have we seen charts, power rankings, and extensive reviews of even academy level teams right here on this forum? People genuinely get that caught up in their kids' sports. And then they defend it.

that's a stretch even for you. drinking and getting high on the sidelines ,betting? puleeze

A stretch? Really? How often do parents get into cussing matches or even fist fights over kids' sports? Is that not worse than gambling? And I hear of dads who regularly offer their daughters money to score or even put another player on her butt in a game when they have an axe to grind. Betting is the next logical step in the degradation of children's sports. It might not be quite so blatant as the high class individuals featured in the video. But I could easily see someone on here creating a "Fantasy LHGCL Soccer League" rife with an entry fee and stats on top scorers, injuries, etc.

It's easy to watch that video and say "Oh that stupidity could never happen here. We're too holy for that." but I don't think that's true. We take this stuff way too far sometimes. Most of us already recognize that the people in this market seem to have more dollars than sense. What’s a couple $100s against the spread to make the upcoming game more interesting?

If we already have the ability to calculate multiple forms for complete team rankings in each age division, we certainly have enough information to calculate reasonable betting lines on an upcoming game. It would just be a matter of taking it one step further and forecasting with trends.

We even have the perfect place to start. No event is more over-analyzed by us parents then the QT. People on this board drive themselves nuts with the details on each match up. It has a similar feel to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Basketball Tournament is one of the most heavily wagered events every year. If an illegal gambling ring was going to start here, the QT is when and where it would happen.

You guys (and gal in the case of Xara) are reaching. I guarantee you those drug dealers gambling on pee wee football didn't fall into it after getting too caught up in stats, charts and rankings.

Drug dealers gamble on anything and everything. It's part of the macho culture. But no worries, you'd never find them (or Vegas) betting on girls soccer, because of the same factor Xara has been shouting from the rooftops for years, namely - NOBODY CARES.

We talk about QT incessantly because it's our own kids involved. No one gives a rats behind about it unless they have a kid or are otherwise related to a kid playing. Slim to none chance even those of us with kids playing would be willing to suffer through watching other kids soccer games for the sake of gambling. How exactly do you two get from giving a kid a couple bucks for a goal, and a hyper focus on QT which lasts a few months and then completely diminishes ---> to illegal gambling with tens of thousands of dollars waged by participants who are mostly criminals?

This is par for the course with Xara, but I'm surprised the generally reasonable bigtex can rationalize this one.

Speak for yourself... I was at the Bates/Flanny game last Saturday and there was a huddle of about 10 soccer Mom's from Southlake and West Plano swapping Platinum cards and snorting Carmel Macchiatos... not to mention being blinded by the bling!

bwgophers wrote:

3-4-3 wrote:

bigtex75081 wrote:

Xara wrote:

silentparent wrote:

Xara wrote:

Not shocking at all. How often have we seen charts, power rankings, and extensive reviews of even academy level teams right here on this forum? People genuinely get that caught up in their kids' sports. And then they defend it.

that's a stretch even for you. drinking and getting high on the sidelines ,betting? puleeze

A stretch? Really? How often do parents get into cussing matches or even fist fights over kids' sports? Is that not worse than gambling? And I hear of dads who regularly offer their daughters money to score or even put another player on her butt in a game when they have an axe to grind. Betting is the next logical step in the degradation of children's sports. It might not be quite so blatant as the high class individuals featured in the video. But I could easily see someone on here creating a "Fantasy LHGCL Soccer League" rife with an entry fee and stats on top scorers, injuries, etc.

It's easy to watch that video and say "Oh that stupidity could never happen here. We're too holy for that." but I don't think that's true. We take this stuff way too far sometimes. Most of us already recognize that the people in this market seem to have more dollars than sense. What’s a couple $100s against the spread to make the upcoming game more interesting?

If we already have the ability to calculate multiple forms for complete team rankings in each age division, we certainly have enough information to calculate reasonable betting lines on an upcoming game. It would just be a matter of taking it one step further and forecasting with trends.

We even have the perfect place to start. No event is more over-analyzed by us parents then the QT. People on this board drive themselves nuts with the details on each match up. It has a similar feel to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Basketball Tournament is one of the most heavily wagered events every year. If an illegal gambling ring was going to start here, the QT is when and where it would happen.

You guys (and gal in the case of Xara) are reaching. I guarantee you those drug dealers gambling on pee wee football didn't fall into it after getting too caught up in stats, charts and rankings.

Drug dealers gamble on anything and everything. It's part of the macho culture. But no worries, you'd never find them (or Vegas) betting on girls soccer, because of the same factor Xara has been shouting from the rooftops for years, namely - NOBODY CARES.

We talk about QT incessantly because it's our own kids involved. No one gives a rats behind about it unless they have a kid or are otherwise related to a kid playing. Slim to none chance even those of us with kids playing would be willing to suffer through watching other kids soccer games for the sake of gambling. How exactly do you two get from giving a kid a couple bucks for a goal, and a hyper focus on QT which lasts a few months and then completely diminishes ---> to illegal gambling with tens of thousands of dollars waged by participants who are mostly criminals?

This is par for the course with Xara, but I'm surprised the generally reasonable bigtex can rationalize this one.

Speak for yourself... I was at the Bates/Flanny game last Saturday and there was a huddle of about 10 soccer Mom's from Southlake and West Plano huddled in a group swapping Platinum cards and snorting Carmel Macchiatos... not to mention being blinded by the bling!

@3-4-3 - I can't help it. I do A LOT of statiscal analysis for my job. My mind just clicks that way. When a discussion like this pops up, I have a hard time letting it go.

When I first saw the story I thought it was insane. Then, knowing all the stats we have available for these girls' teams, and how excited we get sometimes, I started to think through it. I think starting something like this up wouldn't be hard. I think it would actually be pretty easy. The hard part would be keeping it a secret and not getting caught.

3-4-3 wrote:

bigtex75081 wrote:

Xara wrote:

silentparent wrote:

Xara wrote:

Hook It wrote:Very sad exploitation of youth sports. Not really shocking though, which is also sad.

Not shocking at all. How often have we seen charts, power rankings, and extensive reviews of even academy level teams right here on this forum? People genuinely get that caught up in their kids' sports. And then they defend it.

that's a stretch even for you. drinking and getting high on the sidelines ,betting? puleeze

A stretch? Really? How often do parents get into cussing matches or even fist fights over kids' sports? Is that not worse than gambling? And I hear of dads who regularly offer their daughters money to score or even put another player on her butt in a game when they have an axe to grind. Betting is the next logical step in the degradation of children's sports. It might not be quite so blatant as the high class individuals featured in the video. But I could easily see someone on here creating a "Fantasy LHGCL Soccer League" rife with an entry fee and stats on top scorers, injuries, etc.

It's easy to watch that video and say "Oh that stupidity could never happen here. We're too holy for that." but I don't think that's true. We take this stuff way too far sometimes. Most of us already recognize that the people in this market seem to have more dollars than sense. What’s a couple $100s against the spread to make the upcoming game more interesting?

If we already have the ability to calculate multiple forms for complete team rankings in each age division, we certainly have enough information to calculate reasonable betting lines on an upcoming game. It would just be a matter of taking it one step further and forecasting with trends.

We even have the perfect place to start. No event is more over-analyzed by us parents then the QT. People on this board drive themselves nuts with the details on each match up. It has a similar feel to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Basketball Tournament is one of the most heavily wagered events every year. If an illegal gambling ring was going to start here, the QT is when and where it would happen.

You guys (and gal in the case of Xara) are reaching. I guarantee you those drug dealers gambling on pee wee football didn't fall into it after getting too caught up in stats, charts and rankings.

Drug dealers gamble on anything and everything. It's part of the macho culture. But no worries, you'd never find them (or Vegas) betting on girls soccer, because of the same factor Xara has been shouting from the rooftops for years, namely - NOBODY CARES.

We talk about QT incessantly because it's our own kids involved. No one gives a rats behind about it unless they have a kid or are otherwise related to a kid playing. Slim to none chance even those of us with kids playing would be willing to suffer through watching other kids soccer games for the sake of gambling. How exactly do you two get from giving a kid a couple bucks for a goal, and a hyper focus on QT which lasts a few months and then completely diminishes ---> to illegal gambling with tens of thousands of dollars waged by participants who are mostly criminals?

This is par for the course with Xara, but I'm surprised the generally reasonable bigtex can rationalize this one.

Hate me for a lot of reasons, 3-4-3, but don't hate me because I'm right... again. In this case, Big Tex nailed it, as well. You're rationalizing, like a large percentage of the posters do on here day in and day out.

By the way, what made you decide the people betting in the video were drug dealers and mostly criminals versus just parents too caught up in their kids' sport? Ahem.

What's sad is that the cops don't care. Seems pretty easy to me. Do you have a kid here? No, get out. Here's a ticket for open container. Drugs on your person, downtown. Why are you flashing lots of cash, lets go downtown and talk about it. Pretty soon, the whole sorry bunch would be gone. Shine the light on the cockroaches and they will flee, live and let live then they will overrun you. Since a bunch of these losers are probably on parole, I doubt they want anything to do with the cops.

Xara wrote:By the way, what made you decide the people betting in the video were drug dealers and mostly criminals versus just parents too caught up in their kids' sport? Ahem.

Oh, I dunno Xara... perhaps it was this quote in the article...

Ron Thurston, 34, who has been a head coach in the league since 2005 and is a Broward County sheriff's deputy, estimates that about a fourth of the crowd at games is criminals.

"And that's a lot to be around kids," he said. He recalled an incident when an off-duty detective alerted him to a guy who was threatening to shoot a coach. When Thurston got to him, "sure enough, he has a loaded gun on him, a 9-millimeter, one in the chamber."

or maybe it was this quote...

"Just to be straightforward, these guys, they're drug dealers who are doing this gambling," he said. "They're the only guys that have this type of money to bet on little kids."


...don't know how anyone could draw such a wild conclusion... (again, three for extra emphasis just for Xara...)

bigtex75081 wrote:

bwgophers wrote:

3-4-3 wrote:

bigtex75081 wrote:

Xara wrote:

silentparent wrote:


that's a stretch even for you. drinking and getting high on the sidelines ,betting? puleeze

A stretch? Really? How often do parents get into cussing matches or even fist fights over kids' sports? Is that not worse than gambling? And I hear of dads who regularly offer their daughters money to score or even put another player on her butt in a game when they have an axe to grind. Betting is the next logical step in the degradation of children's sports. It might not be quite so blatant as the high class individuals featured in the video. But I could easily see someone on here creating a "Fantasy LHGCL Soccer League" rife with an entry fee and stats on top scorers, injuries, etc.

It's easy to watch that video and say "Oh that stupidity could never happen here. We're too holy for that." but I don't think that's true. We take this stuff way too far sometimes. Most of us already recognize that the people in this market seem to have more dollars than sense. What’s a couple $100s against the spread to make the upcoming game more interesting?

If we already have the ability to calculate multiple forms for complete team rankings in each age division, we certainly have enough information to calculate reasonable betting lines on an upcoming game. It would just be a matter of taking it one step further and forecasting with trends.

We even have the perfect place to start. No event is more over-analyzed by us parents then the QT. People on this board drive themselves nuts with the details on each match up. It has a similar feel to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Basketball Tournament is one of the most heavily wagered events every year. If an illegal gambling ring was going to start here, the QT is when and where it would happen.

You guys (and gal in the case of Xara) are reaching. I guarantee you those drug dealers gambling on pee wee football didn't fall into it after getting too caught up in stats, charts and rankings.

Drug dealers gamble on anything and everything. It's part of the macho culture. But no worries, you'd never find them (or Vegas) betting on girls soccer, because of the same factor Xara has been shouting from the rooftops for years, namely - NOBODY CARES.

We talk about QT incessantly because it's our own kids involved. No one gives a rats behind about it unless they have a kid or are otherwise related to a kid playing. Slim to none chance even those of us with kids playing would be willing to suffer through watching other kids soccer games for the sake of gambling. How exactly do you two get from giving a kid a couple bucks for a goal, and a hyper focus on QT which lasts a few months and then completely diminishes ---> to illegal gambling with tens of thousands of dollars waged by participants who are mostly criminals?

This is par for the course with Xara, but I'm surprised the generally reasonable bigtex can rationalize this one.

Speak for yourself... I was at the Bates/Flanny game last Saturday and there was a huddle of about 10 soccer Mom's from Southlake and West Plano huddled in a group swapping Platinum cards and snorting Carmel Macchiatos... not to mention being blinded by the bling!

@3-4-3 - I can't help it. I do A LOT of statiscal analysis for my job. My mind just clicks that way. When a discussion like this pops up, I have a hard time letting it go.

When I first saw the story I thought it was insane. Then, knowing all the stats we have available for these girls' teams, and how excited we get sometimes, I started to think through it. I think starting something like this up wouldn't be hard. I think it would actually be pretty easy. The hard part would be keeping it a secret and not getting caught.

Sure it would be easy if the organized gambling demographic cared about soccer. Coaches probably wager a little on a game here and there. Parents too. This is America. It's what we do.

But how do you get an organized girls soccer gambling ring complete with player stats and etc. when few watch games unless it's their own kids (or at most their own kids age group). The only reliable thing you can get for girls soccer is the final score reported by one of the parents. You'd be hard pressed to get anything else. The crowds at those Florida pee wee football games where bets are waged probably dwarf a girls soccer state cup or high school championship game. Why? Because it's not just the parents paying attention.

If there ever were major illegal gambling on soccer, it would mean soccer has elevated as a major American sport. It's still a mostly middle class, suburban sport in our country. You're not anymore likely to find an illegal girls soccer gambling ring than you are lacrosse, gymnastics, volleyball, tennis or golf.

bwgophers wrote:

Xara wrote:By the way, what made you decide the people betting in the video were drug dealers and mostly criminals versus just parents too caught up in their kids' sport? Ahem.

Oh, I dunno Xara... perhaps it was this quote in the article...

Ron Thurston, 34, who has been a head coach in the league since 2005 and is a Broward County sheriff's deputy, estimates that about a fourth of the crowd at games is criminals.

"And that's a lot to be around kids," he said. He recalled an incident when an off-duty detective alerted him to a guy who was threatening to shoot a coach. When Thurston got to him, "sure enough, he has a loaded gun on him, a 9-millimeter, one in the chamber."

or maybe it was this quote...

"Just to be straightforward, these guys, they're drug dealers who are doing this gambling," he said. "They're the only guys that have this type of money to bet on little kids."


...don't know how anyone could draw such a wild conclusion... (again, three for extra emphasis just for Xara...)

Sorry, BW, I didn't realize you were 3-4-3's spokesperson. 3-4-3 made the statement "participants who are mostly criminals". "A fourth of the crowd at games" is not mostly criminals. Be sure to get your references right if you're going to carry the torch for another poster.

bigtex75081 wrote:

silentparent wrote:

Xara wrote:

Hook It wrote:Very sad exploitation of youth sports. Not really shocking though, which is also sad.

Not shocking at all. How often have we seen charts, power rankings, and extensive reviews of even academy level teams right here on this forum? People genuinely get that caught up in their kids' sports. And then they defend it.

that's a stretch even for you. drinking and getting high on the sidelines ,betting? puleeze

I don't think that's much of a stretch.

There's another string going on the boys' board right now about seeding for the Texans DC Qualifier Tournament. "Higher ranked" folks are going back and forth about where their kid's team ranks and how they shouldn't be compelled to play "lower ranked" teams that haven't earned a shot at DC. The "lower ranked" folks are firing back that they deserve a shot at the DC invitation and to settle it on the field. On that string people are saying a lot of stupid crap. They're getting way too high on youth soccer.

All it would take from here is somebody to say, "You sure do talk big. Do you wanna bet on that?" BANG! You've suddenly opened the door to the exact same thing (an illegal gambling ring) happening here in NTX.

What is a strEtch is using that string to make your argument. That thread is about the qualifier being advertised as a way to get in the DC and then the making of two divisions, one not in the qualifier. It is about what is percieved as a bait and switch. the other issue is about a small indy thinking they deserve a shot, some posters agree, some do not.

Bottom line, if you think it would not be a strectch to see gambling happpen on select soccer then you think many of the parents of such have or are prone to gambling problems. A false premise which collapses the whole arguement.

Xara wrote:

bwgophers wrote:

Xara wrote:By the way, what made you decide the people betting in the video were drug dealers and mostly criminals versus just parents too caught up in their kids' sport? Ahem.

Oh, I dunno Xara... perhaps it was this quote in the article...

Ron Thurston, 34, who has been a head coach in the league since 2005 and is a Broward County sheriff's deputy, estimates that about a fourth of the crowd at games is criminals.

"And that's a lot to be around kids," he said. He recalled an incident when an off-duty detective alerted him to a guy who was threatening to shoot a coach. When Thurston got to him, "sure enough, he has a loaded gun on him, a 9-millimeter, one in the chamber."

or maybe it was this quote...

"Just to be straightforward, these guys, they're drug dealers who are doing this gambling," he said. "They're the only guys that have this type of money to bet on little kids."


...don't know how anyone could draw such a wild conclusion... (again, three for extra emphasis just for Xara...)

Sorry, BW, I didn't realize you were 3-4-3's spokesperson. 3-4-3 made the statement "participants who are mostly criminals". "A fourth of the crowd at games" is not mostly criminals. Be sure to get your references right if you're going to carry the torch for another poster.

Um yes it is. And a staggering number to be around children. Your boat has sunk xara on this one....

my2cents wrote:

bigtex75081 wrote:

silentparent wrote:

Xara wrote:

Hook It wrote:Very sad exploitation of youth sports. Not really shocking though, which is also sad.

Not shocking at all. How often have we seen charts, power rankings, and extensive reviews of even academy level teams right here on this forum? People genuinely get that caught up in their kids' sports. And then they defend it.

that's a stretch even for you. drinking and getting high on the sidelines ,betting? puleeze

I don't think that's much of a stretch.

There's another string going on the boys' board right now about seeding for the Texans DC Qualifier Tournament. "Higher ranked" folks are going back and forth about where their kid's team ranks and how they shouldn't be compelled to play "lower ranked" teams that haven't earned a shot at DC. The "lower ranked" folks are firing back that they deserve a shot at the DC invitation and to settle it on the field. On that string people are saying a lot of stupid crap. They're getting way too high on youth soccer.

All it would take from here is somebody to say, "You sure do talk big. Do you wanna bet on that?" BANG! You've suddenly opened the door to the exact same thing (an illegal gambling ring) happening here in NTX.

What is a strEtch is using that string to make your argument. That thread is about the qualifier being advertised as a way to get in the DC and then the making of two divisions, one not in the qualifier. It is about what is percieved as a bait and switch. the other issue is about a small indy thinking they deserve a shot, some posters agree, some do not.

Bottom line, if you think it would not be a strectch to see gambling happpen on select soccer then you think many of the parents of such have or are prone to gambling problems. A false premise which collapses the whole arguement.

Gambling problem is a relative term. To quote Charles Barkley, "Do I have a gambling problem? I do have a gambling problem, but it's not really a problem because I can afford to gamble."

Xara wrote:
Sorry, BW, I didn't realize you were 3-4-3's spokesperson. 3-4-3 made the statement "participants who are mostly criminals". "A fourth of the crowd at games" is not mostly criminals. Be sure to get your references right if you're going to carry the torch for another poster.

This reminds me of one of those sleazy campaign ads where a politician dices up the words of an opponent before sneakily using them out of context. The "participants" I was referring to were the people participating in open gambling on pee wee football. The article indicated they were drug dealers. Thus I referred to them as "criminals".

Since I know your reading comprehension is stellar, I'll just chalk it up to you having an off day. Normally your arguments have a sliver of truth in the midst of all the noise...apparently - just not today.

Looks like they arrested some of the coaches & the president of the league yesterday. It's a different president than from the original OTL footage.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/florida-youth-football-coaches-face-disturbing-charges-betting-111730314.html

Xara wrote:

silentparent wrote:

Xara wrote:

Hook It wrote:Very sad exploitation of youth sports. Not really shocking though, which is also sad.

Not shocking at all. How often have we seen charts, power rankings, and extensive reviews of even academy level teams right here on this forum? People genuinely get that caught up in their kids' sports. And then they defend it.

that's a stretch even for you. drinking and getting high on the sidelines ,betting? puleeze

A stretch? Really? How often do parents get into cussing matches or even fist fights over kids' sports? Is that not worse than gambling? And I hear of dads who regularly offer their daughters money to score or even put another player on her butt in a game when they have an axe to grind. Betting is the next logical step in the degradation of children's sports. It might not be quite so blatant as the high class individuals featured in the video. But I could easily see someone on here creating a "Fantasy LHGCL Soccer League" rife with an entry fee and stats on top scorers, injuries, etc.

My DD cost me(earned?) $190 last year in goal money (she gets $10 for the RF and $25 for the left foot)