Conference kaosws::canada

    No, he should not.  Basketball is a boring American game that should be
    discouraged.
    
    (Yes, I am aware that Dr. James Naismith was born in the Ottawa
    valley.)

    Baseball is a boring American Game
    Football is a boring American Game
    Hockey (as we know it) is becoming a brawling American Game
    Cricket is a boring English Game
    Horse Racing is a boring ? game
    Dog Racing is a boring ? game
    Car Racing is a boring ? game
    
    What else should we ban because it's a boring game ?
    
    (I don't mean it sarcastically either !)

    Did someone suggest banning something?
    
    The (American) Lords of Professional Basketball have apparently decreed
    that the government of Ontario must forfeit $20 million in revenues if
    they are to permit certain businessmen in the City of Toronto to make
    big bucks by promoting the (boring, American) sport of basketball.
    
    I say it isn't worth it.  Let the Americans keep basketball; it is
    boring anyway.

>    Did someone suggest banning something?

Let me re-phrase ... let's discourage these boring sports!

Stuart

    I (if I were Bob and I have no desire to be...) would only remove the
    NBA from Sportsline (or whatever the thing is called) if the NBA gave me
    $20M$ per year, increasing each year as interest in the NBA grows.
    
    The NBA/betting thing was discussed on CBC FM this morning and they
    reported that noone has removed betting because of the NBA's stance. 
    The only place that removed NBA betting was Oregon, but only because
    they weren't making any money on it.  Toronto is expected to be "the
    big test" of the NBA's stand on betting.
    
    I say sc***'em!!!
    
    Lockyer

    How much is really bet on the NBA anyway. I haven't met anyone yet who
    has played proline/sport select on the NBA games. 
    
    As for the NBA........go suck a rats a$$. This is Canada not America. 
    They did little when it was strongly rumored that 'Air' Jordan was
    heavily involved in gambling, possibly involving NBA games.
    They gave the franchise to Toronto fully aware that Ontario had pro
    line in affect.
    
    I wonder which American city complained about Toronto. Probably the one
    who lost out on the franchise.
    
    It would be nice to see an NBA franchise in Toronto, but at what cost.
    
    Terry 
    

Of course the Ontario government SHOULD tell the NBA to go f*%k themselves!
Of course the Ontario government will remove NBA betting from PRO-SELECT!

Ben

    
    
    You fools.
    

    Mikey's right, we're all fools.  Supporting sports that pay
    illiterate buffoons millions of dollars to play sports.
    
    Then we buy running shoes that cost $.90 to make in Tiawan for $100+
    just because an airhead sports jock tells us he wears them!
    
    

    
    

    Yeah right Billibob. It must be costing the American public millions
    to support the NBA. The NBA will create a swell of economic opportunity
    for any city which it resides. Trust me.  


    	The amount of money which the Bluejays have brought Toronto/Canada
    directly or indirectly I would guess is easily worth tens of millions.If
    the NDP government allows this franchise to get away, they're fools.
    No, make that bigger fools.

    	My point is, why should gambling in any form be legal? A money
    windfall it might be for the government, but I don't like it. I guess
    NDP brothels and Legalised drug stops could work too, but hey, it's not
    for me.  Frankly I'll take basketball over government sponsored 
    bookies any day.

    If an athlete's name can stimulate interest in a product, all the power 
    to both them and the manufacturer bright enough to use them. I don't have 
    a problem with that, why should you? Sounds like you a bitter sofa jock 
    wishing he had made the big times. :-)


    	P.S. Ronald Reagan was a football player, and well, he became
    president!

    I don't like gambling either, but it's there.  Making a special
    exception for the NBA is a direct loss to provincial government
    revenues.  I presume you would favour some kind of tax increase to
    compensate?
    
    Sure, the Jays are probably an economic asset.  Would you say the same
    for the Skydome?  I'm not convinced the public resources that went into
    that particular monument were well spent.
    
    -Stephen

    Mr Cote:
    
     you seem to think socialisim is the root of all evil. If it is, it is 
    because it is growing on the rotted body of capitalisim. If getting an
    NBA team means millions of dollars less for hospitals and charitable
    causes I say, who needs basketball. I would rather have government run
    brothels than an NBA team, at least they are honest about screwing you
    out of your money. I can assure you that the brothel will "create a swell
    of economic opportunity for any city which it resides". If you could
    see past the profit motive, you might realize that it not always the
    overriding consideration.
    
    							Derek.

    

    Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm soo happy to see that the government will look
    after your butt, you socialismite you:=)! I read in the weekend paper
    that NBA betting only brought in a million a year. H*ll we probably spend 
    more on free turkeys given out to the social plebes living off our
    bonus tax dollar givaway program. Give 'em a dollar, they'll take a turkey!

    	The NBA deal worked like this; They would allow a city to host
    an NBA team if they could adhere to a few simple rules.......One being, No
    Gambling! The Toronto consortium said "no problem". Can we assume they
    approached the Ontario government? I'd hope so, but lots of things
    happen(behind Swiss bank account doors!). The point being, lots of
    money will be made by the province when capitalism is allowed to work.
    The NBA franchise will bring in tax dollars no doubt! BC will be
    laughing all the way to the bank, while the Ontario government sits
    high on their laurels, HAH!
    Derek:
    Make the people get off their duffs , instead of wallowing in stagnant
    pools of government freebies, and this country might get have a
    fighting chance. Get the government out of our pockets! Enough is
    enough. I don't want to see anymore get rich with Rabbi Ray plans. 
    Anyway, Socialism in not the root of all evil. Communism and Blocism
    are in there too:-)

    	While I'm bashin Ray's government, I'm pissed about this
    Laser guided, radar armed, warrant giving, photogenic ticket giver
    under review for law.Bob is not worried, his chauffeur would have to
    pay any fines. Hmm, another tax balloon no doubt. Maybe Bob can give 
    a free Christmas Fridge to every non deserving nogood social leach yet. 
    
    
	the
    	grinch                                                        

    Mikey, can I borrow your car......heheheheheheheh...wanta get a pic
    taken!

    

    From what I gather ....;-)

    	For an additional $35.00 above the price of the ticket itself,
    the Ontario government will send you a portrait sized retouched
    colour photo to hang proudly over your mantelpiece. For an extra
    $5.00, one can have the Court magistrate actually sign the photo
    instead of the typical rubber stamp.
    	
    	200 million first year, with much anticipated earnings of one billion
    once the project is 'a rolling'[Fully implemented].


    	

    
    Mike,
    
     It is truly a sad state of affairs. Watching this "government"
    stoop to any available tactic to raise money. I still can't
    beleive how they did such an about face on gambling and not only 
    legalized it, but are actively supporting it.
    
    Their percentage of support is quickly approaching the
    margin of error, gee, what happens then?
     
     This sounds so much much like the "mob". They seem to be 
    wanting to profit from everything they can get their little
    socialist fingers into. I never thought this was was socialism.
    Oh well, another 16 months!!!!!
    
     Why don't they admit to failure and leave. We promise not
    to hold any grudges.
    
    It looks like there might be a market in "stealth" autos
    soon. There must be a way to foil this camera/radar setup.
    I can see a cottage industry forming around this.
    
    
    
    Norm
    
    

    Anyone want to come to my cottage and assist in the development
    of RSM (Radar Sensitive Mylar) ie.  clear mylar that turns black
    in the presence of radar waves.
    
    Robin 

    I know that after they introduced photo radar in California someone
    developed a polarized film that somehow darkened the plate to
    photographs, stuff's illegal there now.
    
    PSM might not work as they zap the radar across the road for the reading
    then take the photo from behind shortly afterward, you'll be out of the
    radar beam when the piccy is snapped.
    
    Wonder how long it wwill be before my "AXP - World's Fastest Computers"
    license plate frame/cover becomes illegal.

    Norm:
    
     BC has had the car radar thing for quite a while, and I believe it was
    installed under the Socreds, a more conservative bunch you will never
    find. So Take the Socialist bashing to somewhere that is stupid enough
    to swallow it.
    
     As for gambling, I suppose Nevada is run by socialists too.
    
     Your uncontrolled bias aganist the NDP seems to blind you to the fact
    that this province, and the whole country is in a finacial mess. I
    suspect there will be no stone unturned in all governments efforts to
    correct the problem. I will remind you once more politely, then I'll
    get mad. THE CONSERVATIVES and LIBERALS GOT US IN THIS MESS. DON'T
    BLAME THE NDP FOR BEING THE ONLY PARTY HONEST ENOUGH TO SAY WE ARE UP
    TO OUR EYEBALLS IN DOO-DOO, AND TRYING TO GET US OUT OF IT.
    
     Maybe YOU sould read some of those economics books you were suggesting
    for me to read.
    
    
    								Derek.

The latest news is that the Ontario Gov't has put NBA betting on a 2 year
moratorium. Will the NBA accept this or will they pull the franchise
on Feb 13th as planned?

    
    
    Toronto sucks up to NBA
    
    	Mike 1, Derek 0
    
    
    
    Socialismits have no place in this world

	Well, you can always rely on the Yanks for massive hypocrisy.

	Gambling on basketball is fine if your name is Michael Jordan,
	but not if you're the man in the Toronto street.

	Tony

    Mike:
    
    I said:
    
    >>If getting an NBA team means millions of dollars less for hospitals and
    >>charitable causes I say, who needs basketball.
    
    
     As I heard the news, the NBA is putting up big bucks to make up for
    the lost revenue, so there are not millions of dollars less for the
    cause. Sorry, I don't see this as a win/lose as with most socialist
    actions it is a win/win.
    
     Updated score:   	NBA 1
    			ONT 1
    
     So it looks like they both one.
    
    							Derek.

    
    
    	It looks like Toronto has been virtually guaranteed a 
    franchise in the NFL by the year 2000. 
    
    	Not that I care much, but a certain member of my family
    is excited.  I'm looking for information on the exhibition
    game in T.O. this summer between the Bills and the Cowbabies.
    Anyone have any information on getting tickets, dates, etc?
    
    	Candace

    Don't count on the NFL ever coming to Toronto on a permenant basis. 
    There is just no incentive for the American owners too do it.  A
    Canadian team would do diddly as far an increasing U.S. TV revenue, and
    it would just be another way that the current revenue pie would have
    too be split.  
    
    	No doubt though that Toronto would support a team though....they
    want to be American anyways ;*)   Don't count out the CFL though, the
    league is a long way from dead.  Ticket sales are very strong in B.C,
    Calgary, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Hamilton, Baltimore,
    Shreveport.  Almost everywhere but Toronto.  With or without Toronto,
    the league will survive.
    
    		Rob

    
 Also, the Argos have veto rights over any NFL games played at Skydome.

There was some talk that Labatt's had bought the Argos just as a way
around this veto, but now it seems as though Labatt's will be out of
the sports business real soon (ie, selling the Jays, Argos, and TSN).

                                 
The CFL may not be dead, but that didn't stop the Riders from drafting 
a dead guy.  Although, this act has connected them to the spirit world, 
and will assure them of a winning record this year, says an american
psychic.

Rob knows this, but for more information on this league, why not
check out the following spots on the net:

http://www.cfl.ca/ and rec.sport.football.canadian.


Mike.