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By George Stahl Jim Lampley's piece on online gambling in the latest version of HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" is one of the best sports investigative pieces that I've seen in a while. Lampley examines legitimate and not-so-legitimate offshore betting outfits, what the U.S. government is trying to do to control or stop online gambling and what offshore countries like Antigua are doing to protect and build a booming industry. The report, produced by Matt Maranz, provided a thorough look at the online gambling report and was the best segment in a solid football-laden episode. Other segments included former National Public Radio talk host Derek McGinty's piece on NFL assistant coaches, CBS' Bernard Goldberg's look at the criminal life of some NFL players and Mary Carillo's remembrance of the 1985 Chicago Bears. Here are my reviews of the show's four segments in the order they appeared: Online gambling - Lampley focused on two gambling web sites, World Sports Exchange and 21st Century Sports. World Sports Exchange, based in Antigua, is founded by two Americans, a 23-year-old college dropout and a 45-year-old former stockbroker. The outfit, which takes in more than a $1 million a week in bets, appears to conform with Antigua's gambling laws and regulations. However, World Sports Exchange and other offshore gambling sites like it are coming under increased scrutiny by the U.S. government, led by Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz), who say that sports betting outside of Nevada is illegal in the U.S., no matter where the betting outfit is located. Big Brother's scrutiny is so intense that the two men operating the site are afraid to return to the states for fear of arrest. The 23-year-old, as a matter of fact, had to listen by cell phone to his brother's wedding. Lampley, though, also examines those Internet sports books that are less than reputable, such as 21st Century Sports, which failed to pay an unindentified man $35,000 that he had won in bets. Lampley, after much investigation, dramatically shows that 21st Century Sports, which says it is located in Aruba, is actually based out of a rowhome in Bethlehem, Pa. Overall, this probe is a great piece of journalism - sports or news. NFL assistants - McGinty examines the lives of NFL assistants, the little-known, underappreciated men who spend more than 100 hours a week working for a lot less money than head coaches and players are making. McGinty reports that these assistants have become unionized in recent years to try to win some benefits. The biggest benefits sought deal with health plans and pension. The coaches want to be able to take their health benefits from team to team, like players do, instead of having to change health plans when they change teams. Also, they want to lower the pension age from 65 because few of them get hired after the age of 60. Neither request seems outlandish for a job, where insecurity is a daily concern. Overall, a nice job by McGinty. NFL's criminal players - Goldberg examines the criminal lives of some NFL players and the inaction by the league, based on the recently published book, "Pros and Cons: The Criminals Who Play in the NFL," written by Jeff Benedict and Don Yaeger, who both appear in the piece. Goldberg says the book alleges that one out of five football players have been charged or convicted of a serious crime. Meanwhile, the league has never suspended or banned a player for committing a serious crime. Goldberg's piece, which examines the pros and cons of the book, was hurt by the silence of the NFL and its more notorious players, who refused to talk with the reporter and HBO. 1985 Chicago Bears - a light piece to end the show. Carillo's look at the 1985 Chicago Bears offers little new information on Da' Bears, but it will put a smile on the faces of Chicago fans, who have had a brutal winter. Grade: A. A fine piece of sports journalism Back
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