Henrik Lundqvist Hints at Fix

On Monday of this week the New York Rangers won game six of the first round NHL playoffs 3-2 to force a deciding game seven so why was Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist up in arms? With the Rangers leading 3-1 with less than a minute remaining the Senators scored after what Lundqvist claimed was interference and an illegal kick of the puck. After a lengthy review officials upheld the call which Lundqvist called an, "absolute joke" and "someone wanted them back in the game, for sure." This hint of collusion sounds similar to comments made by coach John Tortorella after the Winter Classic. Interesting to note that one source showed close to 62% of bettors on the Rangers and roughly 63% on the under which happened to be 5. Bettors were already winning on the side so maybe they did let this extra goal slide to salvage a push on the total and not have a complete loss on the game for Vegas sports books.

Baylor University on Probation for Infractions

Earlier this week Baylor University was put on probation for three years by the NCAA and self imposed quite a few penalties of their own for recruiting violations. The men's and women's basketball teams violated recruiting policies by making hundreds of impermissible telephone calls and text messages. The women's program just completed the first 40-0 season ever and won the national championship and the men's had a successful run in the tournament up to the Elite Eight before losing to eventual champion Kentucky. Illegal recruiting obviously played a hand in getting these players to make these great teams. Although not fixing games the people behind these teams cheated in recruiting which more or less fixed the success of its current programs. Success brings in money which it always seems to boil down to these days in sports.

Gambling Ads and the NFL

The National Fix League (NFL) is at it again. Ok so this isn't necessarily about fixes in sports but something worth mentioning. The NFL always claims to be the most responsible sport and strongest opposed to gambling on its games but just informed its teams this past Thursday they will now allow limited casino and state-licensed gambling advertisements. The ads will be limited to inner concourses and upper bowls of stadiums, local radio broadcasts and game programs. The NFL still claims to maintain a strong opposition to gambling on it's games but then why would they encourage advertising of other forms of gambling then? As always it's always about money, the NFL wants you to gamble so they make more money.

UFC Fighter Alistair Overeem Tests Positive for Elevated Testosterone Levels

Two weeks in a row discussing steroids or testosterone issues in mixed martial arts. Random testing might be doing it's job of weeding out some of the cheaters in this sport. The latest to test positive for elevated levels of testosterone is UFC fighter Alistair Overeem just weeks before his title shot against Junior Dos Santos at UFC 146. Although the fight has not been officially taken off the card it looks doubtful as Overeem would have to appear before the Nevada State Athletic Commission to explain his elevated levels to obtain a license for the fight. Overeem's testosterone to epitestosterone (T/E) level was greater than 10/1 far above the allowable 6/1 in the state of Nevada. Disappointed to see this fight canceled but good to see this caught beforehand in case Overeem won by illegal means to become a new champion.

Do You Believe Cyborg?

It's good to see an athlete take responsibility for their mistakes but they never admit to knowingly taking anything illegal and always make an excuse or play dumb and say they had no idea. I just don't buy it, do you? Just admit you cheated and move on. In this case Cris "Cyborg" Santos, a mixed martial arts fighter claims she had no idea she was taking steroids and thought it was something for weight loss. Then she goes on to state that steroids don't make you stronger or give you an advantage. What, are you kidding me? Cyborg is a beast that completely destroys any opponent that she faces and many believe it was obvious she has been on steroids for a long time. I guess there is no certain proof of that and you have to give someone the benefit of the doubt but you have to question cases like this. Her recent positive test for steroids resulted in a one year ban from mixed martial arts and stripped of her title belt.