On the Take

The NBA is trying to attract new fans across the globe and they think they might have the answer. They are trying to inject new ways for people to gamble on the sport. The NBA also believes a reality type show combined with gambling can help boost the sport into the next stratosphere of must watch tv. NBA executive Murray Mendalbaum explained the NBA’s newest idea, “The NBA will have a reality show where viewers can bet on which NBA ref is on the take. One NBA referee will be chosen to be on the take, and his job will be to help a randomly predetermined team win a game. For each game that the ref helps the predetermined team to win, he or she will get a $1000 bonus. Fans can try and bet on which referee is “on the take” This reality show will reveal who the referee was at the end of each game. I believe this will stop fans from complaining about the refs because they will just assume that he was “on the take”. Just think about how many casual fans will now want to watch because they can bet on the game as well as the refs.”

Referees have already started to complain anonymously about this plan as they feel that the $1000 is too little to be “on the take”. A ref who wished to remain anonymous, Jeff Smithers said, “Why would we agree to this, we can easily make 15K and throw a game with no problem. This $1000 is an insult, for that I could maybe throw a quarter of game but a whole game that is ridiculous.”