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.