It was very strict when I started in the late 60's and throughout
the 80's. The state pari-mutual judge sat either on the same platform
level as the announcer or on his/her own platform just below the
announcer at the various frontons I played at. We were warned
that not only were they monitoring our play but they also go back
and review the video if there was a questionable play. I don't
know how much of that was scare tactics or not but I know their
presence was felt and in a very serious way. In the early years
at Miami we weren't allowed to talk to them. There was a long
time state judge at Tampa named Johnny who would come down into
the locker room for a bathroom break...real nice man who everybody
greeted but we knew there was a business side to it.
As far as outright expulsion, we all know about the players that
were expelled for fixing games which began as them not trying
or putting their all into their play. I can tell you that there
were players that the players manager suspended for a day or more,
a week one time, fined repeatedly $250-500 which was serious money
at the time...all for lack of hustle in his judgement.
