http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs...060304/-1/news

Here's an interesting story about the NCAA's battle to keep their players from getting involved in the evil world of sports gambling.

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"You gonna bark all day, little doggie, or are you gonna bite?" - Mr. Blonde from Reservoir Dogs

College sports is the perfect place for the high rolling gambler.

Imagine yourself as an alum at one of these schools. You make a donation to the program. You get access to the players. You get chummy with them. They are at the school on a scholarship, but probably don't have much money otherwise. (As per NCAA rules, they can't even hold a full time job.) You might help them out with a job for a little too much compensation, or simply hand them some cash. They tell you who is injured and what the team outlook is.

It's all very natural, but because the student athlete is particularly vulnerable to the gambling scam. They are young and have less money.

Pro athletes don't need the ready cash, and have a lot to lose by throwing a game. Not only would they lose their money making potential if caught and thrown out of the NFL, but tanking games will hurt their next contract, or get them cut altogether. Taking money from a gambler would be taking money out of their other pocket.

I've heard tales of the S.M.U. program before they got the death penalty. Boosters would pay players money. Then these boosters might ask those same players to shave points here or there, to help them cover the line. They throw a lot of money at the players and the program, but then they win it back on huge bets against their own school.