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Do you believe in conspiracy theories?

Do you believe in conspiracy theories regarding any of the major or minor sports?

I've always felt like that the possibility exists for the NBA to use the officials to decide the outcome of a game. After all, fouls are really left up to the judgment of the official. To me, the NBA is 60% sport, 40% entertainment.

I do think at the collegiate level of sports officials regularly show bias in their officiating.
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Comments

  • gosteelersgosteelers Posts: 2,668 ✭✭✭
    I think basketball is at the top of the list. The outcome always seems to be right around the line...
  • No conspiracy theory here, it's a fact that international soccer is rampant with games being fixed and referees being bribed. Two recent scandals involving pro teams in Germany and Indonesia are just the tip of the iceberg.
  • I think point shaving is very common... especially college basketball.

    Consider a team is favored by 12, with 2 minutes left they're up 14, but a few turnovers or missed free throws and they only win by 10. It had no affect on the outcome of the game (win either way), but completely changed the betting.

    As far as football refs go, I think they may "encourage" a team to win, and as much as I like instant replay, unreviewable stuff like penalties can change the game.

  • stevekstevek Posts: 29,004 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I believe only the WWE isn't fixed.
  • bri2327bri2327 Posts: 3,178 ✭✭
    it would be interesting to see if what many of us believe to be true, actually is. That is the the notion that scores and spreads are manipulated in the last minute or two of games ( particularly basketball ). As iamthegreatcornholio said, often teams favored by 12 are up 14, and a few to's or whatever change all that.

    I would like to see someone, or some group document firm stats on the actually % of times this situation arises. If somehow there were a method to record each game for a year or two, the spreads, and how often the spread changed within the last minute or so due to errors of play or officiating. I really dont know if it would come out that suspicion was correct, and that hypothetically 82% of the time a spread swayed dramatically at the end of a game, or if it were a situation similar to that in baseball, where a player fields a great ball, then leads off the next half of inning.....we all like to believe that happens way more often than it actually does...in reality the % of times the fielder who makes the stellar play leads off the next half an inning is probably the same % as every other player.
    "The other teams could make trouble for us if they win."
    -- Yogi Berra

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  • Only the NBA lottery!
  • Do you believe in conspiracy theories regarding any of the major or minor sports?

    I've always felt like that the possibility exists for the NBA to use the officials to decide the outcome of a game. After all, fouls are really left up to the judgment of the official. To me, the NBA is 60% sport, 40% entertainment.

    I do think at the collegiate level of sports officials regularly show bias in their officiating.


    I dont know if this is in reference to the Superbowl, but if it is, then I would say no. the officiating was terrible, and likely changed the outcome of the game. I don't think it was deliberate.

    As for conspiracies overall, sure. Look at baseball. owners conspired for 60 years to keep blacks out, then colluded again to prevent players from moving. So I think it's always possible.
  • JGR, I was kinda referring to conspiracy regardign winning and losing.

    And no I don't believe the fix was in at the SB. But the officiating was biased whether it was intentional or not.
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  • JGR, I was kinda referring to conspiracy regardign winning and losing.

    with the $$ involved, i would never rule anything out.
  • stevekstevek Posts: 29,004 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have stated this for years that players, coaches, managers AND refs and umps should be required to take polygraph tests, perhaps three times per season regarding questions about gambling. So simple yet so effective, but of course it will never be done unless there is a major sports betting scandal such as a Super Bowl that was proven to be fixed.
  • WabittwaxWabittwax Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I have stated this for years that players, coaches, managers AND refs and umps should be required to take polygraph tests, perhaps three times per season regarding questions about gambling. So simple yet so effective, but of course it will never be done unless there is a major sports betting scandal such as a Super Bowl that was proven to be fixed. >>



    Sounds like an effective plan, but unfortunately, the day were starting forcing American citizens to take polygraph tests is the day our civil liberties are gone. Some things are more important than finding out who's cheating.
  • goose3goose3 Posts: 11,471 ✭✭✭
    playing and coaching in professional sports are not consitutional rights..........they are merely a privilege.

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  • stevekstevek Posts: 29,004 ✭✭✭✭✭
    <<< Sounds like an effective plan, but unfortunately, the day were starting forcing American citizens to take polygraph tests is the day our civil liberties are gone. Some things are more important than finding out who's cheating. >>>

    Come on now...polygraph tests are already required for employment in a number of occupations. I'm not an expert on this but I would have to presume that the law already protects civil liberties on these polygraph tests, same way that by law there are many questions a prospective employer cannot ask a job applicant.
  • WabittwaxWabittwax Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭
    Well, either way, I still don't agree with it. Maybe for national security jobs but not for this.
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