Am I the only one who doesn't bet on football?

[SandraC]

I mean, really, it seems like between actual Vegas-style betting, fantasy football, office pools, etc., I'm like the only one without money riding on the outcome of games. I used to be in office pools back when I worked in an office, and every once in a while I was lucky enough to be in the running to win, depending on the outcome of the Monday night game. So if like the Steelers won by more than 11 points, I would win something like $100 or $150.

And you know what? When that happened, I really didn't enjoy the Monday night game. I would get caught up in the whole pointspread thing, worrying whether they would win by that much, getting annoyed when they'd turn the ball over, etc. It just took all the fun out of the game for me.

I understand I'm in the extreme minority here, most people are in pools if not a whole lot more. It just ruins the pureness of the games for me.

And I REALLY don't understand the fantasy thing. I go to hockey forums, and while talking about the Ranger game you'll read something like 'sucks that we were scored against, but at least I have Alfredsson on my fantasy team, so that's good'. Oh really? Now you're happy when the Rangers are scored against, or at least not as annoyed as you would have been?

Yankee fans are happy when Vlad goes yard against Joba. Jet fans are happy when Moss scores a touchdown against them. Met fans are happy when Peavy shuts them down.

Listen, if that's your thing, enjoy. But it's just not for me. I love sports for that they are, two teams trying to win a game...the ultimate reality show. I don't like it being bastardized with alternate motivations taking away my enjoyment.


Sandra

 

[dfergie]

Only Super Bowl pots... but haven't done that in several years....

 

[ScoBuck]

Yankee fans are happy when Vlad goes yard against Joba. Jet fans are happy when Moss scores a touchdown against them. Met fans are happy when Peavy shuts them down.



Sandra

For this reason, I will not make any kind of wager on the teams I root for. I don't like rooting against them if I think they may lose, and I know my allegiance will make my choice in the game more emotinal than based on an objective look at the matchup.

I wager occasionally, but since I will pick only games I have no 'rooting' interest in, I don't get conflicted over people and how they perform in the game.

 

[John W]

I never gamble.

Kinda surprising when you figure I go out to Vegas at least once a year and go down to the Hard Rock Casino (the one Anna Nicole was at) about once a month.

 

[Ramy]

I don't bet on sports. I am going to Vegas for the CES and I might gamble some on slots but that would be it.

 

[bidger`]

Don't gamble, love the NFL for what it is, best game on the planet.

 

[riffjim4069]

Except for an occasional lottery ticket when the pot gets up to a gazillion dollars, I don't gamble.

 

[mogera]

I mean, really, it seems like between actual Vegas-style betting, fantasy football, office pools, etc., I'm like the only one without money riding on the outcome of games. I used to be in office pools back when I worked in an office, and every once in a while I was lucky enough to be in the running to win, depending on the outcome of the Monday night game. So if like the Steelers won by more than 11 points, I would win something like $100 or $150.

And you know what? When that happened, I really didn't enjoy the Monday night game. I would get caught up in the whole pointspread thing, worrying whether they would win by that much, getting annoyed when they'd turn the ball over, etc. It just took all the fun out of the game for me.

I understand I'm in the extreme minority here, most people are in pools if not a whole lot more. It just ruins the pureness of the games for me.

And I REALLY don't understand the fantasy thing. I go to hockey forums, and while talking about the Ranger game you'll read something like 'sucks that we were scored against, but at least I have Alfredsson on my fantasy team, so that's good'. Oh really? Now you're happy when the Rangers are scored against, or at least not as annoyed as you would have been?

Yankee fans are happy when Vlad goes yard against Joba. Jet fans are happy when Moss scores a touchdown against them. Met fans are happy when Peavy shuts them down.

Listen, if that's your thing, enjoy. But it's just not for me. I love sports for that they are, two teams trying to win a game...the ultimate reality show. I don't like it being bastardized with alternate motivations taking away my enjoyment.


Sandra

I'm with you on all of it! You said what I've been trying to say for YEARS!!! I'm Ol' Skool I guess but what ever happened to my team do or die? I'm a Jet/Giant fan and I kinda lost it Sunday when my buddy (who's also a so called Jet fan) was all hot for Kerry Collins to have a big game because of his fantasy league. Talk about wanting your cake and eating it too!!! It really perverts sports overall.

 

[HD MM]

I'm in a fantasy football league. I'm actually the commissioner. I think it makes watching every game all the more exciting. Before, I would only be interested in my team. Now, I'm watching every game.

One rule of thumb for me though. I root for my team (Browns) over any fantasy implication. And I refuse to draft a Steeler or Rat Turd (Raven) on my team, EVER!

 

[SabresRule]

I refuse to draft a Steeler or Rat Turd (Raven) on my team, EVER!

I have a similar Fantasy Football rule for not drafting certain players.

Can you guess that rule, HD?

 

[HD MM]

I have a similar Fantasy Football rule for not drafting certain players.

Can you guess that rule, HD?

No New York Football Giants?

 

[SabresRule]

No New York Football Giants?

Correct.

I know you and others have complained about my Giant hatred, but let me clear things up:

This didn't come from their run through last year's playoffs- it goes back to when my heart got shattered in Super Bowl XXV. (Remember, I'm originally from Buffalo)

HD, the Giants are to me what the Rat Birds are to you.

 

[HD MM]

Correct.

I know you and others have complained about my Giant hatred, but let me clear things up:

This didn't come from their run through last year's playoffs- it goes back to when my heart got shattered in Super Bowl XXV. (Remember, I'm originally from Buffalo)

HD, the Giants are to me what the Rat Birds are to you.

I can relate. Your "wide right" was our "drive" and "the fumble".

 

[vurbano]

no gambling here except occasional office pool. People who bet on unmotivated millionaire athletes are nuts IMO.

 

[skysurfer]

no gambling here. I play in a fantasy football league, but there is no fee to join and there is no money or prize for winning. I just like to see if I (NFL about my #4 favorite sport) can beat the NFL-or-die hardcore fanatics in the league.

The NFL is not worth gambling on - on any given sunday the worst team in the league can beat the best (or the 2008 Raiders can beat the 2008 Broncos. Too risky for me. I'd rather make my money over the long term in a bull stock market.

 

[brainfry]

I never bet on the NFL. No way, no how. (Ask Paul. ) I have too much emotional investment in it to make objective decisions. I can't imagine the emotional compromising that I would have to do if I bet against my team or bet for one I didn't like.

Same goes for fantasy leagues. I was in a baseball league once (1993, to be exact), and I got clobbered because I refused to have any Braves on my team. The only time I recall being in a compromising situation with my fantasy team, Bernard Gilkey got a game-winning hit for the Cardinals against the Reds. I felt dirty.

The only sport I "bet" on is the NCAA basketball tournament, and I follow it to the letter (I have never actually won a pool). This is possible because I don't really care about any of the teams.

 

[salsadancer7]

I personally do NOT like fantasy sports of ANY KIND. It's an absolute sacriledge to have fanatsy players HOPE and in some cases PRAY, that the players they picked in a draft do well AGAINST YOUR VERY OWN TEAM!!!!

And again, this is MY PERSONAL OPINION HERE, but anyone who bets on sports that THEY ARE NOT PERSONALLY involved in is just down right stupid. You have ABSOLUTELY NO SAY in the outcome of the game...none, zero, zilch, nada! About 99.99% of the betting public has NO "insider information" that would give you an advantage of any kind.

You wanna do something "for fun"...go PLAY the sport you love.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

I play in a "pick-em pool", and the occasional c-note on games where I find an "odd" spread. That doesn't happen as often as it used to, But I'll admit that -11 for the Titan's yesterday was too good to pass up.

 

[yourbeliefs]

I've considered getting into betting on sports, but the financial implications and extra attention you have to focus on games just isn't worth it to me.

 

[SabresRule]

I do play Fantast Football occasionally, and I had only a few great seasons.

2002- Before the season started, I had Marshall Faulk as my top guy, but a friend of mine told me to consider changing players. She was a Chiefs fan, so I chose Priest Holmes (Her name is Nicky- she's a gorgeous girl, BTW).

Thanks to lovely Nicky, I ended up choosing a player who ran for 1,615 yards, had 21 touchdowns, and was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. (Meanwhile, Faulk struggled with injuries that season)

2003- I decided to gamble on Priest for a second-straight year- he had 1,420 yards and a then-record 27 touchdowns.

Last year, after Derek Anderson went nuts against the Bengals, I took a flyer on him.