Comments on: I Helped Fix NBA Games, Too

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Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:19:12 +0000

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By: SpinMax

SpinMax — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:57:21 +0000

The problem with the NBA is how it is set up. In sports like baseball, you have management and Selig over here, players over here, and umpires over here. There is a separation. But in the NBA, Stern is basically the boss of the officials. He’s made statements before like: If you’re accusing officials of fixing games then you’re basically accusing me of doing it so. It is a conflict of interest.

Stern’s priorities are to promote the league, get ratings, attention and make money!
Officials priorities are the opposite: officiate games fairly, fans, friendships, ratings and money should not come into it.

But since Stern is there boss, it’s natural to do what your boss wants. That is how you get promoted.
Donaghy put it best, calling them ‘Company Guys’ who know what they are supposed to do.

Would you be in the finals next year if you made calls that resulted in Stern handing Cuban a championship trophy?
Hell no. During the Mavs Heat series I would joke on the air that they should send title rings to Delaney,
Bevetta and Crawford. My prediction for the series was exactly this: If offiated fairly, Mavs in 6, If called unfairly, Heat in 6.

Hell, what kind of sign is it when you have the Celts beating up LA all this year, yet Vegas sets LA as a -9 favourite
going into game 3? Even they are assuming LA will get all the calls(which they did) and assuming that the public
would also bet on that happening as well.

NBA=WWE

By: Gene

Gene — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:55:18 +0000

I agree with you that all enjoyment will be lost if you watch sports with the idea that everything is “fixed”.

However, I disagree that an in most instances a player can things into his or her own hands and overcome this bias. How many touchdown passes have you seen where somebody frops a little flag and the replays are unable to detect the violation. “Phantom” clips have resulted in many long runs being brought back.

In tennis, a line call on a close ball could make all the difference in the world – if it were deep in the final set.

In hoops, there is a very fine line between a charge and a block. Even the NBA people refer to it as a 55-45 thing. If the call or noncall is made early in the game, it can be overcome. if it is made in the last thirty seconds, maybe not.

Even the rules of a sport are rigged to favor certain teams. Salary caps in the NBA were not the same for all teams, and still are not with all of the exceptions they create. Every sport wants teams in the big TV markets to succeed, so that the league can make more money, and all teams would benefit.

I guess what you are sort of saying is that we should enjoy the sports for athleticism and consider it entertainment and not a competition.