The Fix Is In

Found a few others who believe sports are fixed and they even wrote a book about it.  Check out The Fix Is In.  I have not ordered or read this book yet but when I do I will report back.  I love some of the points they make up front though.  "Would you leave a multi-billion dollar business up to chance?"  My other favorite is, "There are no coincidences."  If anyone else has read this please let me know.

F1 Going Back on Words

Earlier this year during the F1 season Felipe Massa let his teammate pass him per team orders to help in the standings.  F1 angrily spoke up, fined the team and warned the rest of the teams.  Now the governing body of F1 has dropped this ban on team orders and will allow teammates to pass each other in certain situations next season.  I personally think you should be able to work with your teammate for the benefit of the team but I'm sure their is some other motive behind this ban reversal.  I'm not sure the level of action over in Europe but I'm sure this huge sport has its share of gambling.  Are teams on the take?  How about F1?  Who knows but this is a pretty big turnaround from a few months ago.

More NFL High Jinx

Just an observation of last Monday night's football game between the Colts and Titans here.  I see it every week but since this game was the only one on the board it probably stuck out more.  Both teams hurting but a Manning led Colts team desperately needing the win only favored by 3 to 4.5 depending on where you got it.  With a 21-7 lead at halftime against a Kerry Collins led Titans offense that cannot score most bettors thought this was in the bag.  Remember the last two games the Titans only put up 6 total points.  So how in the world did the Titans almost come back and score 21 second half points and back door the spread with a 30-28 final score?  Vegas my friends!  Before this game started I checked two of my sources and found 85% and 81% of bettors backing the Colts on the spread.  Rarely is it that lopsided and anytime I see percentages that high I either lay off that game or bet against the public.  What else can explain an anemic offense to rumble back in the second half like that?  Let alone get penalties and interceptions called back in their favor just to get that last touchdown with no time left.  It didn't matter in the standings, it only mattered in Vegas and once again they made a killing on this game.  I will disclose that I took the Titans on the spread and won but I also lost by taking the under.  Before the game I spoke with one of my fellow gamblers and laughed at the predictable fix about to happen.

More Poor MMA Judging

I watched The Ultimate Fighter season 12 finale last night and once again the judges had their heads stuck up there asses.  Nam Phan clearly beat out opponent Leonard Garcia as he was the pursuer for most of the fight and inflicted plenty of damage.  When the decision was announced as a split for Garcia the crowd erupted in boo's and chants of bullshit.  Even television announcer Joe Rogan went off on the judges during the next fight.  He explained that these judges are from the Nevada State Athletic Commission and urged everyone to write, tweet, email and do whatever you can to get some competent judges.  These judges are either completely incompetent or on the take and fixing these fights.  There is no excuse for last night's poor decision.  Check out these articles for more on this outrageous decision at Opposing Views and MMA Torch.

Denver Broncos Illegally Taped 49ers Practice

The Denver Broncos and head coach Josh McDaniels were both fined $50,000 for illegally taping the San Francisco 49ers practice before a game between the two in London a few weeks ago.  The Broncos video operations employee has since been fired but someone must have initiated this request in the first place.  It did not have any outcome on the game as the 49ers won straight up 24-16 and covered the two point spread.  Regardless of the outcome it just shows more shadiness surrounding the NFL.

Never Leave it in the Hands of the Judges

Never leave it in the hands of the judges.  This is what UFC president Dana White constantly tells his fighters.  Why don't they also focus on getting some competent judges.  Last nights UFC main event is not the worst decision I have seen from MMA judges but just proves time and time again they are consistently wrong.  I am a big Rampage Jackson fan but in my eyes and most other people Lyoto Machida clearly won that fight especially after that final round.  We even heard Joe Rogan trying to cover up the bad judging asking Jackson if he thought he won because he was the pursuer most of the fight.  Again I have seen a lot worse in MMA but I think this is how MMA fights are being fixed.....by leaving it in the hands of the incompetent and blind judges.

Management Betting on Clients - Ted Forstmann

Chairman of the most powerful management company (IMG) in Tennis Ted Frostmann has been accused of betting millions of dollars on sports events including tennis events involving his own clients such as Roger Federer.  Forstmann admitted to betting $40,000 on Federer to beat Rafael Nadal at the 2007 French Open final which Federer ended up losing.  Both Federer and Nadal are IMG clients.  Forstmann states he did nothing wrong it was just bad judgement.  Tennis just introduced an anti-corruption program this year which forbids management and entourages from betting on tennis so will probably be cleared of any wrongdoing.  These insiders have the most current and inside information such as player injuries and therefore should not be allowed to bet regardless if there was an anti-corruption program or not.  Although he lost this bet who knows how many other matches he won on insider information on his very own tennis player clients?

Felipe Massa Warned of Prison Time if Race is Fixed for Teammate

Earlier this year at the German Grand Prix F1 driver Felipe Massa took team Ferrari orders to let teammate Fernando Alonso take the checkered flag which caused a firestorm in Formula One Racing.  This Sunday in Brazil where Massa is the home town hero many will be watching to see how this race unfolds.  Brazilians so dearly want to see their hometown driver win that a local prosecutor has warned Massa that he can be arrested and sentenced up to six years in prison if he takes orders from his team to help points leader Alonso at Sunday's race in Sao Paulo.  Who will win this Sunday, hometown pride or sports politics and fixes?

Olympic Gold Medalist Suspended for 21 Months

2008 Olympic gold medalist sprinter LaShawn Merrit has been suspended for 21 months for testing positive for a banned substance found in an over-the-counter male enhancement product.  Merrit tested positive for testosterone three times from October 2009 to January 2010.

Fix From The Past - 1972 Olympic Gold Medal Basketball Game

The 1972 Olympic gold medal basketball game was marred by controversy.  Team USA won the game twice, the other team stepped over the inbound line on the third finish and the US still lost the game.  One of the most controversial basketball games in history especially during the cold war years with the USSR.  Watch this ESPN Classic video and judge for yourself.

It Must be the Steak

Three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol during this year's cycling race.  His reason, tainted steak he ate at a hotel.  Contador has been suspended by the International Cycling Union for suspected doping.

Chael Sonnen Fails UFC 117 Drug Test

After nearly upsetting middleweight UFC champion Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen failed his post-fight drug test.  In what many were calling the fight of the year it is now marred by controversy.  After accusing Lance Armstrong of using performance enhancing drugs which he claimed caused his cancer, Chael looks like a complete buffoon for using himself.  The California State Athletic Commission suspended Sonnen for one year which eliminates the rematch with Silva and possibly his career in the UFC.

Do You Think Sports are Fixed???

Do you think sports are fixed?  We have highlighted quiet a few different sports where the fix was in.  We want to know what you think.  Vote on our pole in the right hand column and let us know your thoughts.

Pairs Skating Fixed

Canadian 2002 Salt Lake City pairs skating gold medalists Jamie Sale and David Pelletier recently ended their marriage but will continue to skate together.  Originally awarded the silver medal this pair eventually received the gold as a French judge admitted to fixing the outcome in favor of the Russians.  I guess not all happy endings last forever.  Best of luck to the champions who overcame the fix.

Cheating in Competitive Bass Fishing Too

Where does it stop?  Cheating in competitive bass fishing too.  It seems every sport has its cheaters, even competitive fishing if you consider this a sport.  Pro fisher Mike Hart was recently found cheating by stuffing lead sinkers down his fish at the U.S. Open to gain weight advantages.

MMA Fighter Shane Carwin and Other Professionals Linked to Steroid Dealer

Steroid-dealing pharmacist Michael Bennett of Mobile, AL was sentenced to four years in prison for his part in a nationwide conspiracy to sell steroids.  Bennett's signature or initials for steroid orders were found for the professional athletes of MMA fighter Shane Carwin, wrestlers Kurt Angle and Bob Howard and bodybuilders Quincy Taylor, Toney Freeman, Dennis Newman and Troy Zuccolotto.  Several other professional wrestlers, bodybuilders and baseball players are referenced by initials as well.

The Rocket Feels his own Heat

Roger Clemens indicted by the Feds for perjury.  Clemens faces one count of obstruction, two counts of perjury and three counts of making false statements in his testimony to a Congressional committee in 2008 that he never used performance-enhancing drugs.  Another famous person who probably won't do one day in jail for his crimes.

Head Official Admits to Blown Calls During Super Bowl XL

If your like me you still remember those crappy calls from Super Bowl XL that ended in a 21-10 Steelers victory over the Seahawks.  I vividly remember getting screwed on the spread which I believe was +7 for the Seahawks and me.  The imaginary holding call on a 98-yard touchdown drive did us in and the inconclusive Roethlisberger touchdown didn't help.  Many including myself yelled at the tv this sh@# is fixed!  Check out the article on head official Bill Leavy admitting his blown calls at Yahoo Sports.

Irregular Betting Patterns on Tennis Match

A tennis match between Richard Bloomfield and Christophe Rochus last month had an unusual amount wagered on it according to Betfair.  More than 1 million pounds ($1.5 million) and a dramatic price movement have tennis officials investigating.  This is about 15-20 times the normal amount wagered on similar matches at this level.  Bloomfield is ranked 552 in the world and Rochus 160.  Before the match they were even money but in a few hours Bloomfield went to 1-4 odds which is a dramatic shift and risk to gamblers.  The player everyone bet on, Bloomfield did end up winning this match.

Cyclist Davide Rebellin Loses Doping Appeal

Cyclist Davide Rebellin lost an appeal yesterday which stripped him of his 2008 Olympic silver medal because of doping.  Months after the Beijing Games the IOC retested samples and found traces of the advanced EPO drug CERA.  Rebellin could be stripped of other race results and be suspended by cycling's governing body.

Author Declan Hill Risks Life in Pursuit of Fixers in Football

Now that the World Cup is over did you notice any weird games?  Horrible referee's with phantom calls and overabundance of yellow and red cards, goals too easy to miss, fake injuries, etc.  Check out Declan Hill's book The Fix: Soccer and Organized Crime.

The Fix is the most explosive story of sports corruption in a generation. Intriguing, riveting, and compelling, it tells the story of an investigative journalist who sets out to examine the world of match-fixing in professional soccer.


From the Introduction:

Understand how gambling fixers work to corrupt a soccer game and you will understand how they move into a basketball league, a cricket tournament, or a tennis match (all places, by the way, that criminal fixers have moved into). My views on soccer have changed. I still love the Saturday-morning game between amateurs: the camaraderie and the fresh smell of grass. But the professional game leaves me cold. I hope you will understand why after reading the book. I think you may never look at sport in the same way again.

Koscheck hopes GSP not greasing or juicing.

UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been accused by several fighters of greasing and taking steroids in the past so this just ads to the fire as Josh Koscheck wants Olympic-style testing.  Koscheck and St-Pierre will face off at the conclusion of The Ultimate Fighter season 12 which is currently taping.  For more on this story check out Caged Insider.

South Korean Pole Vaulter Banned for Doping

South Korea women's record-holding pole vaulter Lim Eun-ji has been suspended for three months after testing positive for the diuretics hydrochlorothiazide and chlorothiazide.  Lim is a contender for a medal at the coming Asian games later this year if she doesn't get into any more hot water.

Horses on Steroids

Yes even horses take steroids to get an unfair advantage and win races.  Horse trainers Mary Wolfson and Nick Canani were fined after their horses were found to have prohibited substances in test samples.  Wolfson was fined $3,000 after horses Jessica Is Back and Miss Singhsix finished second and third in the Sixty Sails Handicap at Hawthorne Race Course with positive tests for prednisone, a synthetic steroid.  Canini was fined $1,000 and suspended 15 days after his horse Copper Forest won the second race at Arlington on May 6 and tested positive for etodolac, a banned non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Alonso Accuses Hamilton in Race-fix Storm

Controversy struck at last weekends F1 European Grand Prix when driver Fernando Alonso accused the sport's governing body of fixing the race to assist 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton.  After Mark Webber's insane crash the safety car was deployed which is not to be passed.  Alonso slowed but Hamilton directly in front of him roared on.  Hamilton claimed the safety car was not out of the pits at the time and therefore he did not have to wait.  Difference of opinion or fact?  This helped Hamilton to finish second even with a 20-second drive-through penalty and keep the series lead while Alonso settled for ninth.  Alonso is ready to fight his way back into the lead positions after last weekend so stay tuned for the next F1 race.

NU says Lacrosse Final 4 Tainted

Five time defending women's NCAA lacrosse champions were upset in this years final late last month.  Northwestern claims the final four was tainted.  School officials point out that official Pat Dillon has a conflict of interest and should not have been officiating and possibly cost them the championship.  Pat Dillon's life partner is Maryland's head athletic trainer Sandy Worth also Northwesterns championship opponent.  In 2009 the ACC prevented Dillon from calling ACC games to avoid such conflicts of interest.  Northwestern was trailing Maryland 11-10 in the championship game and found momentum to tie the game until a questionable charging call from Dillon waved off the game tying goal.  Momentum swayed back to Maryland who won a close championship game 13-11.  Northwestern plans to achieve change to the process of assigning officials as there should be not question concerning a referee's bias, integrity and professionalism.

This is why Soccer is not big in America

Soccer is not big in America for many reasons.  The main reason being these athletes try to be actors with fake injuries such as the ridiculous red card given to Kaka as seen in the video.  Kaka didn't even touch Ivory Coast player Kadar Keita's face and he falls in pain holding his face.  Touch someone in soccer and one player acts and the other gets penalized, what a joke.  And what is with the red card?  Brazil has already advanced to the knockout stage so what could this be for?  Are they trying to fix the upcoming Brazil versus Portugal game to be a low scoring affair or helping Portugal overtake Brazil for the number one spot in the group for positioning for the next round by penalizing Kaka?

Where Do They Get These Refs?

If you haven't heard by now team USA got robbed of a victory against Slovenia last Friday.  The go ahead goal was disallowed by referee Koman Coulibaly.  It was first believed to be a bad offsides call but was soon called an unspecified foul.  USA star Landon Donovan said, "We asked Coulibaly many times who it was on or what the foul was, and he wouldn't or couldn't explain it."  FIFA officials have been hush hush about the controversial call but have removed referee Coulibaly from officiating further world cup games.  This is one of many bad officiating calls this world cup has already seen from bad offside calls to premature yellow and red cards.

Sandgate Skate Sabotage

Although the Philadelphia Flyers did advance to the Stanley Cup finals there was some controversy during their playoff series with the Montreal Canadiens now dubbed Sandgate.  NBC's Pierre McGuire noticed during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals that some foreign substance or sand was covering the floor by the Flyers' dressing room.  I can attest as a former hockey player that any foreign substance coming into contact with skate blades can be horrendous.  Throughout the game several Flyers' players left the ice for skate issues and by the third period towels covered the floor where the substance was reported.  Philly.com reported multiple players getting skates sharpened multiple times throughout the game which led to some missed shifts.  The Canadiens denied any knowledge or wrong doing but this sure seems like a case of sand-bagging the opponent but regardless the Flyers advanced to the finals.

Who Paid This Guy Off???

Even the announcers commented later that this type of stop should be made even at the kids level.  I realize your on the big stage and nerves can come into play but this was bad, fixed or not.  I do recall many draws in past world cup games and sure there was heavy action on England today.  Was the public screwed again on this one?

Any Advantage You Can Get

One week ago Dodgers third baseman Casey Blake accused Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly of cheating.  Blake accused Lilly of winding up several inches in front of the pitching rubber against some right-handed batters to gain an unfair advantage.  Rules state that the pitcher must stay on the rubber during wind up.  Lilly declined an interview after being accused and manager Lou Piniella passed on the questions of Lilly possibly cheating.

Youth Basketball Coach Fixing Games

Michael Kman, a Catholic youth basketball coach from Pennsylvania has been arrested for attempted bribery of two officials to fix his team's games.  He offered money to certain officials to take on certain games and turn those games into specific outcomes for all to profit.  He claimed he would start them off with lower level games and move them up to higher level games as this progressed.  Check out the complete story here.  I have never heard of betting on such a level of play except for friends in a friendly wager but this really pushes the envelope for that betting fix or scam.

Steroids Ok in the NFL?

Steroids are not allowed in the NFL but it sure seems that way.  Defensive rookie of the year Brian Cushing of the Houston Texans was recently suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season by the league after violating its steroid policy.  In addition the Associated Press decided to re-vote for the defensive rookie of the year award and was once again given to Brian Cushing.  Once he was stripped of the award for cheating by taking steroids you would think he would have been left off the ballot on the re-vote.  I think the NFL is sending a bad message here.

Floyd Landis Finally Admits to Doping and Accuses Lance Armstrong.

After four years of denying his positive test for synthetic testosterone following the 2006 Tour de France Floyd Landis came clean with ESPN.com yesterday and admitted to using performance enhancing drugs for most of his career.  During his years riding with the U.S. Postal Service and Phonak teams he tried everything from testosterone, human growth hormone, red blood cell booster erythropoietin, blood transfusions, female hormones and insulin.  Landis also confirmed several emails he sent to cycling and anti-doping officials over the last few weeks accusing dozens of other athletes including Lance Armstrong.  The World Anti-Doping Agency will open an investigation into these allegations but the International Cycling Union said these allegations were "scandalous and mischievous."

MLB Pitcher Edinson Volquez Suspended After Positive PED Test

Major League Baseball suspended Cincinnati Reds pitcher Edinson Volquez last month after he tested positive for a performance enhancing drug.  The drug was not disclosed but Volquez claimed it was a prescription fertility medication he took in the Dominican Republic.  Volquez was an All-Star in 2008 with a 17-6 record and 3.21 ERA but was sidelined last year after seven games due to an arm injury that led to Tommy John surgery.  He will be allowed to serve his suspension while on the DL but will lose his salary during this time.

China Stripped of 2000 Olympics Gymnastics Medal

In a follow up to our March 26, 2010 post China has been stripped of the women's team gymnastics bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.  Gymnasts must turn the age of 16 during the year of the Olympics to be eligible.  Chinese gymnast Dong Fangxiao was found by the International Olympic Committee to be 14 at the time and therefore ineligible.  The team bronze medal will be reallocated to the U.S. women's team.

More NASCAR Infractions

Driver Brad Keselowski was docked 50 points after his Nationwide Series victory at Talladega last weekend and his overall series lead dropped to 10.  He was docked 25 points each for an unapproved right front shock and an unapproved left front spring.  His crew chief was fined $20,000 and the car owner was also docked 50 points in the owner standings.

Lance Armstrong Teammate Suspended

Team RadioShack cyclist Li Fuyu has been suspended by the International Cycling Union after testing positive for the banned anabolic agent Clenbuterol during a Belgian race last month.  Li is suspended until the results of his B-sample are determined in the coming weeks.  If the B-sample is positive as well he will be removed from the RadioShack team that also includes Lance Armstrong.

Michael Waltrip NASCAR Racing Team Penalized

NASCAR penalized Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) drivers Martin Truex Jr. and David Reutimann along with closely affiliated drivers Max Papis and Marcos Ambrose this week.  All four teams were found to be running non-approved radiator pans and each fined $25,000.  The crew chiefs of Papis and Ambrose were additionally fined $50,000 each and both lost 50 driver and 50 car owner points for unapproved added weight.  Those points may prove costly in car owner points as both are trying to maintain a top 35 guaranteed qualifying spot.  As long as NASCAR has been around drivers and owners have been trying to cheat the system with illegal adjustments to gain an advantage.

Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal - Where it all Began

Before Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal came to Las Vegas there were no sports books.  Rosenthal was a sports gambling pioneer who had inside information to just about anything in the sports world.  He learned his trade in the bleachers of Wrigley Field and soon had a reputation as a leading sports bettor and handicapper.  He was arrested several times for illegal gambling and bookmaking which led to his departure to Las Vegas.  He was the first to operate a sports book in a casino and secretly ran the Stardust, Freemont, Marina and Hacienda casinos in Las Vegas.  Rosenthal was eventually denied a gaming license due to his connections to the Chicago Outfit and subsequently forced out of Las Vegas when he was added to the notorious Black Book.  He later ran a sports betting website and was a consultant to offshore sports betting companies.  If you're reading this blog you have probably already seen the blockbuster Martin Scorsese film based on Rosenthal named Casino.  This is a great movie and does a good job capturing the rise and fall of Rosenthal, played by Robert De Niro.

Ultimate Fraud Championship (UFC) 112

Did anyone else pay for UFC 112?  What the hell was that?  I have been waiting months for this event and it was a disaster.  Can't say for sure if anything was fixed but the outcomes sure seemed unlikely.  Maybe the three main bouts had lots of money on them that they wouldn't go to the late rounds and therefore they all did in shocking ways.  In the first main bout Matt Hughes had plenty of opportunities to take out Renzo Gracie but continued to knock him down with leg kicks and strikes only to stroll to the other side of the octagon and let Renzo get back up time and time again finally ending in a late third round stoppage.  In the second fight BJ Penn was looking for the knockout punch the first two rounds.  I then commented to friends and also heard his own trainers tell him to take it to the ground.  One of the best BJJ specialist in the world and he does not listen to his trainers and did not even attempt one take down in five championship rounds.  Something was definitely not right about Penn or this fight which led to Frankie Edgar stealing the lightweight title from Penn in a unanimous decision.  I'm pretty pissed by now and expecting Anderson Silva to put on a show against Damian Maia for the middleweight title bout.  Silva certainly put on a show.  We have all seen him egg on opponents before but this was out of control and made him look like an disrespectful goof to Maia, UFC, Dana White and all us of poor saps that paid for this event on television.  Once he was warned late in the fight for taunting he then decided to run around the octagon and waste time to get his unanimous decision.  Maia made a late charge with the upset crowd chanting his name at this point but the damage was already done.  I'm a huge MMA and UFC fan but tonight they were KO'd!!!  Check out the video above of Dana White in disgust of this event.  My advice to him for the next few days is to not check his twitter account as there are quite a lot of vulgar complaints.

Sports Fix Flashback - UNLV and The Fixer

In 1991 UNLV basketball players from the 1990 championship team were linked to convicted sports fixer Richie "The Fixer" Perry.  The picture above shows the close relationship Perry had with those players.  Perry a basketball junkie and coach denied any wrong doing.  His involvement in a Boston College basketball point-shaving scandal and harness racing superfecta scandal in the 1970's along with his connections and insider sports information brought great scrutiny upon the UNLV team.  Inquiries into recruiting violations, insider information, giving money to players and access to coach Jerry Tarkanians own seats ultimately led to the coach resigning and Perry being put in the Nevada Black Book.

Memphis Basketball to Forfeit 2007-08 Season

The Memphis men's basketball team must vacate its 38 wins and forfeit tournament revenues from the 2007-08 season.  During that season Memphis used an academically ineligible player believed to be Derrick Rose.  Memphis appealed the decision but the NCAA ruled against it on March 22nd.  The result will be an asterisk next to Memphis' 38 win NCAA season record and forfeiture of roughly $615,000 in tournament revenues.  This just goes to show what the top schools will do to get the best players resulting in wins and revenues that are not fairly earned.  Turn a blind eye to the truth and hope for the best.  If they don't get caught they get tournament winnings and larger booster contributions.  It's all about money people.

Age Fixing in Olympic Gymnastics

Chinese Gymnast Dong Fangxiao was recently found to be 14 years old when she competed in the all-around event at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.  The minimum required age is 16.  Evidence of her age was found on her blog and for her work with the Chinese team in Beijing.  The International Gymnastics Federation has recommended that China be stripped of its team bronze medal.  If the International Olympic Committee disqualifies Fangxiao the United States would inherit the bronze medal.

Super Bowl 44 Still in Question

Fans are still questioning if Super Bowl 44 was fixed for the New Orleans Saints.  Check out comments from this article at Fanhouse.  For a Quarterback so in control and accurate to throw that game ending pick you have to question it.  Reggie Wayne didn't even come back for it and allowed the pick and Tracy Porter of the Saints knew it was coming his way.  Other receivers were open as well so how did this play break down so badly?

NASCAR Driver Carl Edwards on Probation for Intentional Wreck

Last Sunday NASCAR drivers Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski were in an early accident at the Kobalt Tools 500 Race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.  Later in the race Edwards came for revenge and deliberately wrecked Keselowski who dangerously went airborne.  NASCAR has put Edwards on probation for three races.  Not only do these intentional wrecks pose the risk of serious injury to drivers and fans it can also impact or fix standings and earnings for the drivers.  Racing can see its share of fixing by intentional wrecks for standings and race restarts, illegal blocking and illegal car modifications so don't think this sport is any more clean than others.

Rubgy Player Terry Newton Banned for HGH Use

Sports Illustrated reported English rugby player Terry Newton was the first athlete to be suspended for HGH use.  Scientists seem to be catching up to HGH as this was the first positive test of its kind.  Newton was immediately let go by his team Wakefield once this news was released.  Performance enhancing drugs such as HGH are illegal and create an unfair advantage to athletes that use them.  Take at your own risk but eventually testing will catch up to each drug and masking agent.  Major League Baseball has been waiting for a reliable test for HGH and may test minor leaguers soon.

Mark McGwire's Brother Writes Book on Their PED Use

On Monday, March first Jay McGwire's book "Mark and Me: Mark McGwire and the Truth Behind Baseball's Worst Kept Secret" was supposed to be released.  Mark McGwire's brother Jay discusses their use of performance enhancing drugs (PED).  Mark has said he is so saddened and upset he does not plan to see his brother again.  If anyone has read this yet please let us know what information is brought to light or if any other players are exposed.

Did Canada Have a Backup Plan?

Per my last post it would seem the Olympics are pretty much free from fixes but wanted to bring up one game to question.  As the host of the Olympics and the sport of Canada the only gold they were concerned with was in ice hockey.  Nothing less than the gold in ice hockey would be accepted in Canada at these home Olympics.  Sidney Crosby and the gold were supposed to be a given.  With all the talent this team had most would not suspect anything.  I think Canada played a great gold medal game but did they have a backup plan if things didn't go their way?  The two referees were from Canada, one linesman from Canada and the other linesman from Finland who the US knocked out of the gold medal game.  How is this unbiased and fair to begin with?  How fitting Crosby who was pretty quiet the whole tournament scores the game winner in overtime on a shot US goalie Ryan Miller would have stopped 99 out of 100 times.  The record for most medals won in one winter Olympics was broken by the USA this year with a total of 37.  Was this our consolation prize for giving Canada the gold in ice hockey?  Just posing these questions to see what others think.  It was a great game, fairly refereed and congratulations to Canada.

Las Vegas Says No to Olympics

In a ban traced back to 2000 state law prohibits Nevada casinos from accepting wagers on the Olympics.  I think this has more to do with the fact that Olympic athletes are there to win medals and represent their countries.  There is no motivation to fix anything for these athletes when there is little money incentive to win.  If Vegas can't control the fix then it's not worth accepting bets and possibly losing for once.  I wonder how the off-shore and local books that take this action are doing.

Vancouver 2010 Olympic Athletes Banned for Doping

A day before the Vancouver 2010 Olympics began the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned more than 30 athletes from competing.  Names of the banned have not been released at this point.  Pre-Olympic testing is pretty thorough and effective as some athletes didn't even show up.  Looks like WADA has done a good job of keeping the cheats out of the 2010 winter Olympics but I'm sure some athletes will still try to beat the system for any advantage they can get.

U.S. Cyclist Floyd Landis in More Hot Water

U.S. cyclist Floyd Landis was already stripped of his 2006 Tour de France victory and banned for two years.  Now an international arrest warrant for Landis has been issued by a French judge.  Landis is suspected of data hacking at a doping laboratory.  Landis previously used the hacked files for his defense against him doping.  He tried to prove the lab mishandled the tests but in actuality he might have been part of the data hacking to cover up his results.

Olympic Doping

The women's U.S. relay team from the 2004 Athens Olympics is being investigated by the International Olympic Committee for doping.  This team could be stripped of its gold medals if evidence of doping is found.  Hope the 2010 Vancouver Olympics are controversy free.

Nevada Casinos Clean House Again

The Vegas Super Bowl domination continues. Nevada casinos took in $82.7 million in bets at 182 sports books for Super Bowl XLIV and came out on top with a net profit of $6.86 million. So over twenty years Nevada casinos have now profited off the Super Bowl an astounding eighteen years!

Las Vegas Rules the Super Bowl

The Super Bowl handle in Nevada has been tracked since 1991.  How many years do you think they have lost money on this mega event? Two, that is correct two!  In 1995 Nevada casinos lost a whopping $396,674 and a bit more in 2008 at $2,573,103.  You're going to tell me that casinos in Nevada are going to profit 17 years and lose peanuts in only two years.  With millions of bettors betting different sides, totals and props it would be virtually impossible to have that kind of winning trend unless something was fixed.  People love sports and way too much money is made off of it and that is why it never will be truly exposed for what it really is the biggest fraud on the planet.  Good luck on your bets and squares this Sunday!

Shady Clubs in Golf

The PGA has instituted a new groove rule this season with clubs.  Wedges with square grooves are now illegal per the PGA.  Wedges with square grooves allow players to spin the ball easier in places such as the rough.  There is a loophole that is being contested which allows players to use clubs made before 1990 due to a lawsuit by club maker Ping.  If not made before 1990 all players must now use clubs with V-shaped grooves.  Several players including Phil Mickelson have been accused of using these now illegal square grooved wedges or using the prior to 1990 loophole clubs.

Running of the Bulls

Can an average Chicago Bulls team below .500 go on the road and win 5 straight in one trip?  I guess any team can get hot but you have to question the quality of these teams.  Going into the January 22, 2010 game the Bulls were a pathetic 4-15 on the road.  First victim the Phoenix Suns on January 22nd who had a 16-4 home record.  Second victory at the Houston Rockets who were 13-5 at home, the next night in which the Bulls arrived after midnight.  Next shocker at the San Antonio Spurs on January 25th who owned a 17-8 home record at the time.  The Bulls fourth straight road victory came on January 27th at the 12-9 home record of the Oklahoma City Thunder.  The final victim was the New Orleans Hornets on January 29th who possess a 16-4 home record.  The Bulls were point spread dogs in each game and won outright in each game.  The Chicago Tribune determined the odds of winning all five of these games based on Las Vegas money lines to be 486-1 or a 0.2% chance of occurring per their sports section article on January 30, 2010.  The Bulls have not won 5 straight on the road in one trip since early 1997 or a more believable Michael Jordan era.  Further research finds that no team in NBA history has beat five straight teams with winning records on the road during the same trip.  Was the FixBA getting too much money line action in Las Vegas against the Bulls who are notoriously bad on the road?

NHL Refs Have Their Own Agenda

On December 8, 2009 Vancouver Canucks' forward Alex Burrows embellished an injury coaxing referee Stephane Auger to call a major and game misconduct on Predators Jerred Smithson.  Proof came in Burrows quick return to the ice on his next shift without any missed time.  In a rematch on January 11th Burrows accused referee Auger of retribution for embarrassing him into that call in December.  Before the game started words were exchanged in French in which Burrows claims referee Auger said payback was coming.  Auger first whistles Burrows for a questionable diving infraction.  Next he called him for a fake interference penalty.  With four seconds left he called on Burrows again for unsportsmanlike conduct and was given a game misconduct.  The Canucks' ended up losing 3-2 to the Predators on this night.  Did these bogus penalties lead to a Canuck loss?  Auger has 10 years of NHL experience and has not worked a playoff game since 2004.  Does the NHL know about their rogue referees but trying to hide the fix or do these refs have agendas of their own?  Either way this ruins the integrity of the game and is a blatant fix.

Flyers-Penguins Goal Dispute January 7, 2010

Producer Lowell MacDonald Jr. was suspended by FSN Pittsburgh network for his broadcast of the January 7, 2010 Flyers-Penguins game which failed to deliver replay video in a goal dispute in a timely manner.  With the road team Flyers up 5-3 it appeared Flyers forward Simon Gagne scored but officials ruled no goal because replay video was lacking.  Shortly after play resumed video replays were aired validating the goal but was too late to reverse.  Video replay sharing must be immediate per NHL rules.  FSN indefinitely suspended MacDonald on January 12th whose father once played for the Pens.  The road Flyers did end up winning this match 7-4.  What was the motive here?  It could have been a human or technical error but we always have to question these occurences.  Were they trying keep it close for a Pens comeback attempt?

Are the New York Jets a Cinderalla Fix?

I truly question the legitimacy of the 2009-10 New York Jets and it all begins with Brett Favre.  First, the Jets never would have traded Favre to the Minnesota Vikings or they would have given up three first-round draft picks.  How convenient Favre retires again and then unretires to be the starting QB of the team he wanted to play for, the Vikings.  Secondly, the Jets seemed to have a playoff berth handed to them.  With two games left in the regular season and the playoffs mostly out of the picture they get two straight games handed to them by powerhouse teams Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals resting players.  Third, the Jets have now won two playoff games with rookie QB Mark Sanchez who became only the second rookie QB in history to win two playoff games.  What really peaked my curiousity was the New York Jets/San Diego Chargers playoff game yesterday when not only did Sanchez tie history for a rookie QB but also the way the game played out.  Pro-bowl place-kicker Nate Kaeding a career 87.2% field goal percentage went 0-3.  One field goal is all that determined that game and one of the best missed all three attempts in one game.  So did the NFL compensate the Jets with a playoff appearance after they lost Favre?  Will the Cinderalla Jets win it all?  The Jets now get a rematch with the Colts this coming Sunday for the AFC championship.  I think the NFL with revenues on there mind would rather have a Peyton Manning let Colts in the superbowl than the Jets but we shall see soon.  Enjoy it while it lasts Jets.

Flavio Briatore's Lifetime Ban From Formula 1 Lifted Then Appealed

Former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore was given a lifetime ban from Formula 1 and all other FIA championships in September 2009 due to his involvement with race fixing in Singapore in 2008.  At the Signapore grand prix Nelson Piquet Junior was told to intentionally crash his car to assist Renault team-mate Fernando Alonso on to victory.  The timed pit stop by Alonso and intentional crash by Piquet helped Renault to its first victory of the 2008 season as seen here.Briatore's ban was lifted on January 6, 2010.  The governing body of Formula 1 will appeal the French court's overturn of Briatore's lifetime ban.

McGwire Admits to Steroid Use

After years of speculation and scrutiny from the public, baseball star Mark McGwire finally admits to using steroids.  He admitted to using steroids on occasion throughout the 1990's including his historic 1998 season when he hit a season record 70 home runs.  Check out this CBS news report. Looks like Jose Canseco was right again about the home run fix during the 90's.

New UFC Referee/Judge Match Fixing Product

2009 saw multiple UFC fights scored in questionable ways with odd results.  Make sure to check out this new UFC referee/judge match fixing product at a store near you so you can fix your own fight results.

Pete Rose and The Hall of Fame

The 2010 MLB Hall of Fame class will be announced in two days and every year that passes without Pete Rose being inducted is ridiculous. Sure he bet on games but he bet on his own team to win. Check out this video which highlights Rose and a few other shady characters from baseball past that have been inducted.


They put Pete Rose on the all century team so I think it's time to let the all-time hits king into the MLB Hall of Fame where he belongs.