This Blog is for entertainment purposes only

One of the big news stories around here is a sports gambling bust in a large Atlantic City Casino. For those of you unaware, Atlantic City does not officially have sports gambling, although it appears, if you are sharp enough, that if you want to - you can. There was a complicated chip laundering scheme taking place, which frankly bores me. What I am more concerned with is this:

The suspected ringleader of the operation, Andrew Micali, 32, of Ventnor, is an associate of Philadelphia mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino, according to a New Jersey law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Vincent Procopio, 41, of Brigantine, was charged with promoting gambling. Anthony Nicodemo, 36, and Michael Lancellotti, both of Philadelphia, were charged with conspiracy to promote gambling.

Notice anything? Sure you do. The names of the accused all end in vowels, and if this was a made-for-TV drama, several Italian/American SpokesGuidos would have something to say about the stereotypes that were portrayed. But, you can't make this stuff up. Sometimes there is a reason why people become stereotypes. My only gripe is that there's only one nickname in the bunch. "Skinny Joey". What, no "Weasel"? Somebody is always named Weasel.

The other thing is the charge. Promoting gambling. Correct me if I'm wrong (and you will), but every daily newspaper in the country runs "the line" for every professional and college sporting event. Why do they do that? For entertainment they'll say, because they don't want it to appear as though a newspaper is promoting gambling, because that's illegal.

Comcast Sports' Daily News Live has professional handicappers on the show every Friday telling us who they would pick if they were gambling - for entertainment. Sports talk radio stations have handicappers on, giving us picks. Why would local TV, newspapers and radio give out gambling odds and - promote gambling - if there is no legal place in which to wager on sports? Because people do it, that's why.

They do it in your local bar or wherever men gather with cell phones, pencils and newspapers. It's the kind of thing that isn't discussed in polite conversation, but if you ask somebody if they know a guy, it's likely they can hook you up. Hell, even I know who to send people to and I've never placed a bet on a game in my life.

There's a thin line between Running Numbers and the State Lottery. There's an even thinner line between the local poker game and a Poker Room at a casino. Sports gambling is illegal around here, but telling people who they should bet on if it was legal is permitted. The gambling racket is full of lines, and since it's sanctioned by state governments, there is also a lot of hypocrisy and behavior that in some ways could be looked on as promotion.

Suppose a local newspaper ran a table in the business section that contained a list of illegal narcotics and the price that one would pay for say, an ounce of marijuana or a kilo of cocaine - even though they didn't tell you where to buy it, just what you would pay for it if you did? Would that be "for entertainment", or would it be looked upon as promoting drug use? As a potential consumer, I'd like to know if I'm being ripped off, and who better to trust than the local paper?

Or, maybe I'd like to know how much I should pay for sex. How about a table showing various sex acts and the accepted price? I'd like to know if that BJ was a bargain or if I was (you'll pardon the expression) being screwed.

Sports gambling, prostitution and certain narcotics are illegal, yet sports gambling is sanctioned by some media outlets and the information is given with an implied wink, letting you know that it's there if you choose to use it. If you want to, you can.

Just don't get arrested, because we don't know anything about it, and besides, we told you it was for "entertainment purposes only".