There really aren't a whole lot of controversial things that happen in the state of Delaware, home of my wonderful college years (if I could go back right now and do it all over again, I'd be on the next train to Newark. Yeah, we don't have an airport there. That's a problem.)

We've got a whole lot of banks there in the First State, a cool minor-league baseball stadium, and tax-free shopping. Not a lot of headline-grabbing going on there.

But I've followed with amusement over the past months as Delaware has suddenly become a hotbed for one specific issue: Sports gambling. If you're not familiar with the whole brouhaha (man I love that word), here it is in a nutshell: Delaware wanted to raise money for the state, which was in deep financial doo-doo (a nearly $800 million budget deficit). So it went ahead and legalized betting on games.

This sent all the pro sports leagues off the deep end, because even though it's legal in Nevada and two other states, and even though sports betting increases interest and participation in every sport, and brings in MILLIONS of dollars, well, they decided we can't have that because it's too messy and wrong.

A whole court fight ensued, led by the NFL, and after months of wrangling a court ruled that First State bettors can only wager on NFL games. But they can't just bet on individual games, see. They can bet on three-game "parlays" which if you're not familiar with this means the following: You have to bet that the Eagles, Giants AND Falcons will cover the point spread to make any money. If any of them lose, well, nice knowing you.

This is so ludicrous on a number of levels. Allowing betting, but only under exact conditions, is like telling a kid he can't have dessert but he can have a cookie or two. Gambling is gambling, and if it's allowed, it should be allowed.

Second, it kills me that the NFL and NCAA go to such incredible lengths to try to limit the scope of betting. Please. Like they really care if people get addicted to gambling, or if people lose money.

All they car