Search Results: football

• Gene Therapy: Sweet Sweet Fantasy!

  Jan 25, 2022 Gene Clemons 0 Comments

  

   

  by Gene Clemons

   

  The 1st time I ever tried sports betting I was convinced that it was the easiest thing in the world to do. After all, we were just picking games. I know basketball, I know football, I know baseball so how hard it could possibly be. The first time I looked at a betting line I was shocked by how complicated it looked. There were so many numbers on it. I saw the name of the team and then I saw nine to 10 other numbers that I had never seen before. I thought I was just picking the winner. 

   

  The reality was something far more complicated. I immediately realized why Vegas is so rich. We wander into this world as novice but with the ego and the hubris to believe that we know something that everybody else doesn't. And even further than that, we believe we know something that the people who have made trillions of dollars don't know. Only in America can a person walk into another person's profession and believe that they know the business better than that professional yet here we are.

   

  Fantasy sports were different for me as I began to participate because there was no money involved. It was for fun, for bragging rights. But a funny thing happened mid-way through the season. I noticed that not everybody was keeping up with their rosters. One season I remember losing out on making the playoffs because a team went on a four week win streak playing against people who never updated their roster. It was frustrating and ultimately not fulfilling or challenging. My response was to seek out a league that had financial investment. If there was money involved people would be in it to win it until the end. That definitely helped but what I found was that the amount of money really made the difference. A league with a $25 due was not going to keep anyone's attention over a season that lasts five months. The bigger the investment, the bigger the prize, the better the engagement.

   

  That led to the instant gratification of daily fantasy where the prizes are high, and investment could be low. That still achieved the same outcome of keeping people invested and wanting to play again. On a certain level, the daily fantasy contests with thousands of entries reminded me of those 10-team parlays that I used to play when I first began betting on sports. My little $10 bet had the chance to bring back 10 thousand dollars. The chances of me winning were slim to none but because I thought I knew sports and was invested in it mentally, I believed that it gave me an advantage. Clearly, I lost my money like the other dummies who thought the same thing, but I continued to play like that for much longer than I care to admit because of my arrogance. I had the keys to beat the system and that's how the casino has always won. That exact logic is why one day fantasy has made that industry so much money. Everybody believes they have the perfect combination to win it all and of course only one can.

   

  As sports betting slowly becomes legalized in every state, The negative connotations that used to surround sports betting dissipates. Fantasy sports and gambling sites like Fanduel and Draftkings allowed sports betting to be slowly accepted into a society that was obsessed with fantasy football. In essence fantasy was our gateway drug into gambling acceptance. As the money involved with fantasy wagers grew to astronomical levels people began to look at fantasy as a viable source of income and the world of the fantasy analyst exploded. The divide between fantasy sports betting and regular sports betting closed quickly.  Now as sports gambling casinos like MGM moved into the space with BetMGM and the many other sites that are ready to go at a moment's notice prepare for this inevitability.

   

  Sports betting and fantasy are definitely here to stay and are going to become a regular part of our sports world. In-game, real-time win probabilities are not just there to make the viewing experience better. These are tools that help influence the next level of sports wagers, the live bet or in-game wager. This allows people to place bets as the game unfolds. The level of engagement that this provides the user only brings them closer to the game and closer to parting with the money in their wallet. After all that's the end game, money. Most of these online sportsbooks will give you free money to bet. They call it free play and it is designed to get you used to gambling, suck you in, and ultimately make wagering on sports a part of your everyday life. This is not a bad thing, after all you can win, but it is a numbers game for them. The more that plays, the more they make, regardless of the game's outcome. 

   

  Like anything with gambling, the goal is to be smart and responsible. Whether it is fantasy, sports betting, cards or the stock market, if you are doing it out of desperation, there's a better than likely chance you will fail. If you are doing it for entertainment, you will probably still lose. However, if you approach it as a way to make passive income and you show it the respect you would for any other job, there's the opportunity to come out on top. Never wager what you can't afford to lose. Don't let greed overwhelm you. Little wins are always better than big losses. Parlays are normally losing propositions and the way the sports book would prefer you bet. Imagine if you could add an extra $400 a week to your income, would that make a difference? Of course, it would. So, think consistent winners instead of longshots with big odds. Be boring all the way to the bank or be the most exciting person in the poor house. Your choice.

   

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  Gene Clemons is a Sports Analyst and Contributor to CWN Sports. His weekly column and podcast - Gene Therapy focuses on Sports, Politics and Social/Urban issues.

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• Tom Brady Loses to LA Rams

  Jan 24, 2022 SportZ 0 Comments

  

  Source: Los Angeles Rams stave off furious Tampa Bay Buccaneers comeback to deny Tom Brady a shot at eighth ring (link)

   

  After seeing his team steamrolled to a 27-3 deficit with just over three minutes of the third quarter remaining, Tom Brady looked set to write another fabled chapter in his legendary career as the 44-year-old quarterback helped drag his team to level scoring against the Los Angeles Rams. Yet his dreams of completing a famous comeback in overtime -- as well as a shot at an eighth Super Bowl ring -- were dashed by Matt Gay's 30-yard field goal as the clock expired following a frenetic final few minutes. The Los Angeles Rams survived the Tom Brady-inspired Tampa Bay Buccaneers fightback to edge a pulsating 30-27 NFL playoff contest. 

  Interestingly, after this game, and after the Green Bay Packers' defeat to the San Francisco 49ers, it also means this year will be the first time since 2009 that neither Aaron Rodgers or Brady will feature in a conference championship game, according ESPN Stats and Info. Furthermore, while already history makers as the first venue to host a conference championship game and Super Bowl in the same season, a win for the Rams at the SoFi Stadium against the 49ers will also see them become the second team in NFL history to play at home for the Super Bowl. The other one? Tom Brady's Buccaneers at last year's Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs.

  How this loss impact's Brady's career going forward will be interesting to see.

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• Gene Therapy: Safety, Security, or Say Goodbye

  Jan 9, 2022 Gene Clemons 0 Comments

  

  by Gene Clemons

  Over recent years during the bowl season we see many players decide to opt out of playing in order to prepare for the NFL draft process. What used to be only a few of the projected top selections sitting out has expanded to any player that believes opting out of that final game would give them a leg up in the draft process. People seem to fall on both sides of this argument. Those that don't believe players should play and those that can't believe the players are missing. 

   

  Recently, longtime college football broadcaster Kirk Herbstreit claimed that players who were opting out just didn't love football. He clearly received a ton of backlash for his comments, and he should have. After all, these young men have been working their entire life to get to a point where they can attack their dream. Now that they are so close, of course they don't care about the Idaho Potato Bowl or the CarQuest Auto Bowl. But I am not upset at Kirk Herbstreit, he is a product of his conditioning. He played at a different time, and he has covered the game so long that he has adopted the antiquated thoughts of the football luminaries. That's just not where we are today.

   

  Personally, I believe that these players should make whatever decision they want; it's none of our business. I will never have an issue with any player deciding to opt out of a bowl game after they have given their blood, sweat, and teams to a team for three or four seasons. I also believe that there are advantages to playing in a bowl game. There's still value in becoming a legend at a school and maybe sometimes players forget that. The bag doesn't always need to be obtained through the NFL. I also believe that a bowl game can be a chance to put down another game of action for evaluators to consider. I believe the bowl game film is better than a college all-star game's film.

   

  What good is a complaint without a solution? So, while all of the people are out here complaining, allow me to offer a couple suggestions that would definitely solve the issue and possibly be more beneficial for those involved.

   

  Say goodbye to the seniors on senior night.

   

  So many around the landscape of college football believe that the bowl games outside of the playoff semifinals are meaningless. That's the main reason why most don't have an issue with players opting out. Well, if it is a meaningless game, then why put any player out there who is not planning to be on the team next season. So, when teams who are not in the playoff celebrate their final regular season game, they should turn the page on the season. If bowl games existed as a way to prepare for next season, then the teams and fans would go into them with their eyes wide open. The seniors and those planning to transfer or declare will be excluded from participating.

   

  This game could then become meaningful because it is a live rep, evaluation game. Players expected to be with the team next season get one more chance to show what they can do. Many of the players on the bench behind seniors, or the other players who won't be with the team, would finally get their chance to show that they can be a factor next season. Coaches could use the film from the game to evaluate areas of improvement on offense and defense and individually. They can also tell where they really need to allocate their scholarship spots based on the areas that seem the weakest or without reps. It also allows fans to become familiar with the faces who will be relied on next season. They get to see them against another team instead of in a spring intrasquad scrimmage.

   

  Payment and protection always work.

   

  If telling these players goodbye before the bowl game sparks trepidation in coaches and athletic departments I would not be surprised. Most coaches have escalators in contracts for bowl games. They also don't want to record losses on their record. They need those players to buy in one more time. But where is the incentive. There is so much more to lose than there is to gain. Especially when you think about those that are looking at a professional football career. How can you expect them to understand the value of playing a game most consider meaningless for free? That gift bag they get from the bowl game is hardly the same as a check is. So, pay them.

   

  If you want to keep players from opting out to prepare to get their bag. Secure their bag for them. Take out insurance policies on those draft eligible players. Many players who will be high draft picks get evaluations on where they will be selected. The insurance policy can protect them if they get injured and their draft position drops. That would give them the peace of mind to go out and perform without being worried about injury hurting their draft status. Also, because they are essentially professionals now, if you want them to play a meaningless game, compensate them. Teams could pay them a game check and a win bonus. This gives their first taste of professional life.

   

  With so much money being passed around college football there is surely a few dollars that can be spent to ensure the safety and security of players who have more to lose by playing than by not. Because the truth is players that are planning to go to the draft probably shouldn't be playing in the playoffs or national championship game either if they were going to opt out of non-championship bowl games. But like I stated earlier, whatever they decide to do, they are right.

   

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