The demise of civilization is not upon us

So there’s a casino coming somewhere in our neck of the woods, it would appear from this story, and the debate is going to rage about where they put it, who really wants it, what the social cost will be.

And the debate will centre on one salient point:

Are these places worth it?

A bit of background, first:

I will fully admit I have never once in my life pulled a slot machine handle or played video poker, I’ve not once set foot in Rama and the only time I was ever in either of the Niagara Falls casinos was to attend a rollicking 150th anniversary bash for the Mighty Stamford Hornets. Casinos really aren’t my style so it’s not like I’m itching to have the right to stay close to home and be separated from my money by a government-run gambling den.

I did, a very long time ago, telephone a football bet or two into a People Who Shall Remain Unknown but that was in a different time in life (I should tell you a story sometime about having to hand over a small Super Wife Christmas bonus to a fellow the first year we were hanging out) and since I know the perils of sucker bets like parlays, I wouldn’t put a Pro Line wager down if knew how to, which I don’t.

That said, though, I fall entirely on the side of “bring the casino on” in this argument.

They do generate some kind of revenue, they are a centre of entertainment that runs the gamut from gaming to concerts to sports events.

They – at least this one in the GTA – would simply be an extension of what’s available an hour to the south or an hour to the north and, having some first-hand knowledge of at least one of them, they have been a boon to area rather than knocking it down into some kind of perilous tumble into darkness and disaster.

They are not bad, evil things, not at all like modern day opium dens with zombie-like gamblers wobbling table to table blowing the family fortune every hour of every day.

The neighbourhoods, at least around the one I know of, has not denigrated into brutal traffic and dark alleys populated by broken souls.

Yes, they need to be closely managed and we need to be wary of the social costs but, really, gambling -- government-sponsored or internet-based, or telephoned to People Who Shall Remain Unknown – is now a basic fact of life for so many.

To think otherwise is folly, to think that another casino would bring about the downfall of some small segment of civilization is equally foolish.

They are here; one more isn’t really going to hurt.

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Couple of final words on TJ Ford, aside from my thanks for all the nice comments yesterday afternoon.

(I had a marathon sleep and didn’t get to see them until early this morning).

First, TJ for Charlie V might be one of Bryan’s best, under-stated moves, no? Been more than a few rip jobs out there for some that didn’t work out, best to make mention of one that did.

And, right after the news got out, I was talking electronically to Jose to confirm what I remembered to be true and to get his feelings on a guy he still considers a friend.

“Everybody was talking about that bad relationship, but it was never a problem. Yes we compete for minutes but nothing else.”

And that’s how I remembered it, too. Couple of guys who wanted to play tying to convince the coach they should.

Oh, and Jose’s ankle?

It’s feeling better but that’s about it.

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If they’re looking for a perfect case study in over-reaction concerning a professional sports team, they will do no worse than to examine this year’s version of the New York Knicks.

Fascinating, in many ways.

Team, and it’s fans, and some of the media that cover it, wildly over-estimate talent level coming out of camp and when things start of slowly, people have to get fired, traded, benched or whatever.

Hero, for the moment, comes in and is lauded for his greatness, even if it’s unwarranted. It was one of those amazing flashfires and perfect storms, good story, good guy, and blown so incredibly out of proportion it’s not even funny. It was so nutty that there were legitimate commenters wondering if Jeremy Lin could be a late add to either the NBA all-star game and whether or not he’d paly in the Olympics for China or the United States. As if.

Now the Knicks have – and we’ll borrow an IGBT saying for this – regressed to the mean big, time. They were never, in some opinions, particularly good or well constructed. They have a faltering big man losing explosiveness every day in Amar’e Stoudemire, a gifted scorer who was traded from one team because he was a bit of ball-stopper who didn’t make his teammates any better in Carmelo Anthony, a point guard who is good but far from great and is exhibiting traits that many saw from the very start in Jeremy Lin.

And now people should get traded, benched or whatever.

It’s hilarious and is one of the great stories of the season to watch from afar.

When the season began, there were those who thought the Knicks would be life and death to sneak into the bottom one or two playoff spots in the East; we arrive at the trade deadline feeling exactly the same way but the journey has been fascinating.

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Oh, yeah.

My Man Kelly is down in Cleveland making sure the lake doesn’t spontaneously combust and watching the HOTH tangle with the Cavs so the IGBT gets a night off.

We’ll be back tomorrow from Jersey, my first foray into Newark, lucky soul that I am.

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Presume you’ve all breathlessly read this little NCAA thingy from our paper today; a bit more on Andrew Nicholson, a little more on other Canadians, some notes and such.

Well, tomorrow you get to mock openly, if you like, since The Aforementioned My Man Kelly and I are both submitting brackets that will live on-line for the duration of the tournament.

Better get Super Son and Super Dog involved, there’s no way I’m taking the hit for my ignorance alone.

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Comments

[Rob.V]

I agree with Doug (and others).
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The government is a business, no different than any other business.
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I no longer gamble. Years ago I lost thousands of dollars between a Monday night game, and a Bills game at home the following Sunday (2 feet of snow at Rich did me in)... Bills were like 14-2 at home over that 2 year span, that was NOT suppose to happen. But I digress.
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I do remember the bookie telling me though that he had lost $25K on a single hockey game. Apparantly the Montreal Canadians had never lost a Stanley Cup final on home ice... until Calgary won the cup there (can't remember the year). Funny, how you remember things like this when your pocket book is tied to them.
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Anyway, the long way to my point is this. I cannot subscribe to the slippery slope theory (personally) because everyone has a choice.
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The decisions you make are yours, and yours alone. No one is ever dragged into a Casino kicking and screaming 7 days a week.
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If they legalized Marijuana tomorrow, it doesn't mean we'd all have to go out and buy weed!
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Plus, I dont live in Toronto so I think it's a great idea... another attraction for when I visit the big smoke! :)--

[Peter Traill]

Doug - you certainly know how to raise the shackles of your irregulars.

[Steve]

@Deion If you have a look on pretty much any Basketball forum where there are a few Knicks fans around they are screaming for change again (mostly D'Antoni, not sure that's really the issue though).

They have been through a decade of pain despite having one of the highest paid rosters going. Not surprisingly they don't see sneaking into 8th for another 4-0 finals exit as being an improvement over last year.

It would draw them level with the Raps with 3 first round exits in the decade though ;). Personally I think the Bucks will eventually clinch 8th anyway.

[doug]

@sheikyourbouti thanks for the lecture, but I hardly need it ...I was a youth worker in a psych hospital for many years and saw firsthand the effects of addiction on clients, family members etc...but also in seeing that I came to realize that to quit any addiction takes fortitude and comes from within not thru legislation, or making something hard to acquire as the addicted will find it anywhere....look gambling and this casino is not the city and the province opening up a can of worms, it's been there since the beginning of time, the NCAA tourney as this quote attests to "Americans bet an estimated $3 billion — the vast majority of that illegally — on the NCAA Tournament, making it the biggest time of the year for sports gambling"....it happens will happen and so it might as well be made legal, and monitored...people tend to forget that not everyone that enters a bar is not a alcoholic, not everyone that steps into a casino is a problem gambler , or not everyone picking up a prescription drug is abusing them..so to pass or make blanket statements or pass laws or judgements based on that mindest is wrong...it should be handled on a case by case basis, with programs, etc that are funded by the gaming corporation, because as in all instances of everything and anything yes abuse and problems will arise, but that to me is no reason ever to deny or legislate something from being or occurring...just my opinion cheers...

[SheikYurbouti]

@doug, the poster

Well, one polite deed ("thank you") deserves another. Thank you for confirming your sanctimony has no bounds, while you completely ignored the points I made in direct response to your statement. Just my opinion, too. cheers.

[DQ]

Alex Martins in Orlando has to be the most blind person in sports management today. He is actually going to hold on to Dwight Howard and get "Bosh'ed" this summer.

Hope he likes a TPE he won't be able to use IF Dwight even consents to a sign and trade with NJ. BC taught the league a lesson, that Dan Gilbert then ignored, and now Orlando will also ignore. Trade an asset while its still an asset, or all you end up with in the end of it all, is James Johnson.

What is everyone's prediction for # of total trades by Thursday? I say 3, and none involving one player who will make a difference whatsoever on his new team.

Worst and most boring deadline of all time. If this is the new CBA, then life in the NBA is going to get very boring in regards to trades in the next few years for sure.

[TLI]

I'm ok with casinos overall - my wife enjoys them and I tag along for a beer and to watch whatever's on the big screen.

I think that it's the responsibility of OLG's leadership to present the best options for its financial success. Whether Toronto wants one or whether the other cities want Toronto to have one is an issue for the provincial and city governments to decide.

[Lorie]

Hello Doug!
Such an interesting place today - as most days! I've nothing of significant import to add not having spent much time or money in casinos. In fact, I know the only time I was in one was sometime back in the 70's in Nassau; dressed to the nine's (I couldn't accurately describe the dress but the shoes were silver and spectacular) and watched a fellow who'd just disembarked from his yacht lose more money at the roulette wheel in 30 minutes than I could earn over the course of several years. Fascinated me. He showed no more emotion losing (what to me was) this vast sum of money than if he'd misplaced his room key. Likely less. Knew pretty early in life that gambling would be a spectator sport for me. Better to get one's kicks from stuff with a more reliable return.
http://youtu.be/xnc2qICovSY
Cheers! Go Raps! Hurry Back, Jose! And, Doug - Enjoy Newark. :)

[drumanchor]

I play drums in a Canadian "Classic Rock" act. We are reasonably popular out west and, thus, play quite a few casinos. Some are nice but, sadly, most are far from glitzy and glamorous.

If one ever had the image of casinos looking much like they do in James Bond movies, they will be in for a huge shock once they enter a casino these days. Honestly, many of them are like walking into a Walmart.

Sad.

[Thane]

Doug, agree 100% with you that Toronto (NOT the GTA) should get a casino. It's an additional form of entertainment, brings in tax revenue, and creates jobs. It's a win-win-win really.

Yes, there are some people who are problem gamblers - but there are other people who are problem drinkers and that doesn't mean we should ban adult beverages. Gambling is legal in Ontario, and it's beyond silly that we force Toronto gamblers to drive 90 minutes (and create all that CO2!) in order to do something legal (and, to many, fun).

As to location? I'm a big fan of the Downsview site. Great access to public transit (why force people to drive if you don't have to?) but also highway accessible, and not too far from an already established shopping/dining area in Yorkdale.