State Senate President Sweeney, you are correct -- and therein lies your problem...

Interesting that I had to go all the way to the NHL page on ESPN to find it, but the next page in the legalization of sports gambling seems to cut right to the core of one of my "bad news" concerns.

New Jersey State Senate President Steve Sweeney has urged the states to reject demands from the leagues for an "integrity fee" off the top of all bets on that league.

Sweeney said the following in a letter to all 50 states:

"Essentially, the leagues are asking to be paid to allow games to be played fairly,'' Sweeney wrote. "Ironically, they are calling this extortion attempt an `integrity fee,' even while fully aware that providing participants a stake in the volume of betting would amount to what could more accurately be called an 'anti-integrity fee.'"

You are so correct, it's frightening, State Senator Sweeney.  And that's your problem.

In saying this, you recognize the leagues' powers to rig games (and probably their legality -- I'm trying to recall if the Mayer in question of the Spygate lawsuit legalizing league game-rigging was a New York lawyer or a New Jersey one).

But you hit the nail square on the head here.  They're basically asking to be paid to make the games fair, knowing they are making massive bank on the fact they are not!

Want a possible slice of proof?

I do, if I can find a way to properly get my thoughts together on the subject, talk in depth about the Las Vegas Golden Knights and their Western Conference title and all-but-certain Stanley Cup.

Tonight is Game 7 in the East.  What I was checking on the ESPN NHL page was the standings.

Four NHL teams had more points in the regular season than Las Vegas' 109.

Tampa Bay was one of them.

End of 1 period in Game 7 in Tampa?  Washington leads 1-0.

Washington was NOT one of the four teams.

If Washington wins, Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals is Memorial Day...  in Las Vegas.