[bigboydan]

You can't help but to wonder if Todd Burger was involved in this type of activity during his playing days.

Todd Burger, former Bears lineman, arrested in gambling bust

Associated Press
12:15 PM CST, December 17, 2007

SOMERVILLE, N.J. - A former NFL offensive lineman was one of five men arrested over the weekend in a bust of an alleged Internet gambling operation.

Todd Burger, 37, of Freehold, allegedly collected gambling debts for suspect Anthony "Cheese" Pecoraro, 34, of Colts Neck.

Burger started all 16 games and both postseason games for the New York Jets in 1998. He played for the Chicago Bears from 1993-97, starting a total of 24 games. He was signed by the Bears as a free agent after playing at Penn State.

According to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office and New Jersey State Police, who conducted a four-month joint investigation, the operation used the Web site www.beteastsports.com to process illegal wagers. Players used code names and Pecoraro set gambling limits, settled disputes and controlled the paying off and collecting of bets.

In addition to Burger and Pecoraro, authorities arrested Stephen Barone, 44, of Jackson; Daniel Alaimo, 51, of Metuchen; and Peter Carfaro, 26, of Brooklyn.

Authorities seized about $70,000 in cash from the suspects in addition to computers and a .357 Magnum handgun.

[regularguy]

Guy named "Burger" working a guy named "Cheese."

[thezbar]

Here lies a possible research study. Were there any big line moves in games which Berger played. Any holding calls or "timely sacks?"
Chances are if there was something it would most likely happened in the later stages of his playing days with the Jets.
I'm curious to know what his major was at Penn State?

[buztah]

Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Imagine how easy it would be for a relief pitcher in baseball to fix a game for a friend with money on it. Just got to hope that if the game IS fixed you're on the right side.

[BuddyBear]

Anyone else need anymore evidence that many sporting games are fixed? The recent well known scandals in basketball and hockey and tennis and of course college sports with their "friendly and involved boosters" leave little doubt that a number of games have predetermined outcomes.

I think Butzah says it best that "you just have to hope that you are on the right side of the fix"

[BuddyBear]

And maybe somebody else can verify this hunch i have...i don't watch much television but when I do it is usually sports programs on ESPN and stuff.

I've noticed recently that there seems to be an increased number of mentions about the line of a game whether it's on College GameDay or with Skip Bayless talking or the other day on that Mike & Mike program there were talking about spreads of the games...

Has anyone else noticed this as well?

[buztah]

BuddyBear, I especially believe in baseball fixes. How many times have you seen a usually reliable reliever come in and walk the bases loaded, get noone out, then throw a fastball down the middle to blow a lead, or walk home a run, etc? How easy would it be to fix a game if I were a RB and you, my good friend who has a 100k bet on the game, ask me to fumble at some point to ensure you win (you cut me in on the winnings of course)? The scenarios are virtually endless. I think anyone who believes fixed games are merely an urban myth is quite naive.

[pavyracer]

I can tell very easily if the announcers have any bets on the dog or the favorite. If you watch the game like a bettor you can tell that the excitement in their calls during the games flows with their bets.

[buztah]

Pavy, I too have often felt the same way! LOL! They tend to get quite frustrated when they've bet on a big favorite and the underdog keeps it close. Hehehe.

[jjgold]

I would not want to owe these guys money

[buztah]

Let's keep this one vital. Anyone think of any recent examples of what could have been a fix?

[pokernut9999]

Indy and Pats game looked like refs were told to keep game close. Way to many calls on Pats and blown no calls on Indy.

[Scorpion]

Thats why you should never bet on the favs

[jjgold]

Thats why you should never bet on the favs

Post of year, no such thing as a favorite anymore.

[JBC77]

I believe that most offshore books are in some way tied to organized crime. I don't have any proof. Just an educated guess. Just think about it though.

No barriers of entry in this business. Wild west overseas. They tried in Cuba.

[pokernut9999]

I believe that most offshore books are in some way tied to organized crime. I don't have any proof. Just an educated guess. Just think about it though.

No barriers of entry in this business. Wild west overseas. They tried in Cuba.

I have believed that from day one

[JBC77]

I have believed that from day one

You won't hear anyone out here mention it. I've even started a post in the past posing the question. It did not get one response. Gambling has been the bread and butter of organized crime worldwide for over a century. Not just Italians either.To think it's not going on now is foolish.

The more you see people get ripped off when they win, the more credit it lends to the theory.

I also think the owners of SBR are aware of this....and in some capacity have to be in contact with these people to maintain this business. Not to say 100% of books are mob/crime related. I would guess a good portion are though.

[MrX]

BuddyBear, I especially believe in baseball fixes. How many times have you seen a usually reliable reliever come in and walk the bases loaded, get noone out, then throw a fastball down the middle to blow a lead, or walk home a run, etc? How easy would it be to fix a game if I were a RB and you, my good friend who has a 100k bet on the game, ask me to fumble at some point to ensure you win (you cut me in on the winnings of course)? The scenarios are virtually endless. I think anyone who believes fixed games are merely an urban myth is quite naive.

Paying off a relief pitcher would be a very difficult way to fix a game. Even if you could provide a reasonable financial incentive to the pitcher (not an easy task considering average salaries vs. how much money you can get down on a baseball game) then you need to hope your reliever gets in the game. Even then, throwing the game is not a given. Even grooved fastballs turn into outs more often than not. You can only walk so many batters before you get yanked.

There is a long list of possible fixes I'd be worried about before I'd worry about a crooked relief pitcher.

A lot of ex-athletes are into gambling. It's probably a combination of having too much money and not enough common sense along with the belief that they know enough about sports to be a successful gambler. I think it's a stretch to assume that these athletes were involved in game-fixing during their careers.