Cricket writer Peter Roebuck had written earlier that insider trading is to be taken seriously, all the more so when the perpetrators are at the same time representing their countries and conveying unbridled patriotism. (www.smh.com.au)
Australian cricket team chaplain of 17 years Mark Tronson who moved sideways at the end of 2000 to establish Life After Cricket claims that sport and gambling have been associated for as long as his memory serves.
The difference between Insider Trading and Gambling
But he says there is a difference between match fixing (insider trading) and gambling on sport says Mark Tronson. Earlier this year the ABC National Radio recently ran a 30 minute program on the subject – Sport and Gambling.
In essence, gambling on a sporting event is making a judgement call on the result, having taken into account which players are on each team, or which individuals are in the contest, such as a tennis or a squash match.
Gambling is not in any way a crime in Australia. Indeed, the society thrives on gambling in every sphere of society as many a school P&C raises funds by raffle ticket sales. Fetes of one kind or another are replete gambling options such as the famous chocolate wheel or guessing the number of marbles or lollies in the glass bottle, and such similar antics, all in order to raise a few dollars for a good cause.
Insidious in the culture
Mark Tronson recalls when our eldest was in first grade at school in the early '80s and there was a school class room event (a form of gambling) where a child would win 'whatever it was'. This concerned him as a parent as in his world view it was giving the subliminal message to these tiny tots that gambling was quite OK. There was no moral 'other view' provided.
When he raised this with the teacher, the response wasn't to give the class another option, rather it was to set aside his child and tell the class she wasn't allowed to participate in this specific bit of class fun. The teacher turned it against Mark Tronson and therefore, on his little girl for even making a reasoned comment.
He realised at that point the system was out of whack even at that tiny tot level, that gambling wasn't something that only affected big people, it was insidious and tackled even the most vulnerable.
This is why he support the efforts of the Reverend Tim Costello of World Vision Australia and the anti-gambling lobby and that of the political energy expended to restrict poker machine operations in Australia. It is obvious that one person cannot do this alone, it needs a joint effort by diverse groups who have witnessed the suffering and hardship that gambling encapsulates. It's been said before, that Jesus comes into many a heart and therefore the household, and it's turned a gambling addiction into children's school shoes.
Insider Trading in Sport
Insider trading in sport is something different. ABC Radio National Radio program detailed that the English County Cricket Board has alleged corruption against a county fast bowler who bowled conspicuously "wides" at given times in the match to which, they imagine huge profits were made through illegal betting on the sub-continent.
Imagine this scenario. A lad who may never reach the heights of international cricket is provided an opportunity to make the kind of money he's only ever dreamed about by bowling a specific number of "no balls" at given points in the match. Well, every fast bowler does a no-ball from time to time, that's nothing unusual, and who's being hurt by it any way?
The ABC Radio National program cited another situation of a $240,000 bet on a local Canadian junior sports game. This wasn't even a major league event, nor was it a state fixture, just a junior club match.
Imagine the scenario of someone saying to the two lead players, young children, they'll get the latest electronic communications gismo if they fall short in their efforts, hey, no big deal. Do better next week!
What's being conveyed to these young people is that dishonesty (in sport) is not the great big sin they've been led to believe. It's a marginal adjustment to one's sporting endeavours, construed as a miscalculation, and who doesn't experiment, it's all part of improving your performance.
The ultimate issue for everybody
The rewards for this kind of bad behaviour and moral lapse can be astronomical. Where does the line between honesty and dishonesty lie for the rest of life's little adventures?
This therefore is the ultimate issue for everyone claims Mark Tronson. Insider trading in sport ultimately means that each person in some way loses somewhere down the track when huge amounts of money are gained through cheating.
For example, the young athlete, in another scenario, cheats similarly at university (pays for someone else to do the research for the assignments), becomes a structural engineer, and doesn't grasp the full potent of a miscalculation, and the bridge eventually collapses killing numerous people.
Insider trading in sport affects everyone at some point in time, he says.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
