Sports are Fixed

Soccer Corruption

2012-02-11T13:00:00.000-06:00

We all know soccer has had quite a few problems with corruption over the last few years and the latest report will give us an idea just how big the problems are. A Swiss court has ruled that a document identifying soccer officials who took millions in kickbacks from World Cup broadcast deals will be released. FIFA will not appeal the ruling so obviously they have come to terms with the corruption the sport has recently seen and trying to move on. As I always say, it's always about money.

Super Fix Bowl

2012-02-04T13:00:00.024-06:00

Well tomorrow is the big day and something I will rant on every year. The Super Bowl, the biggest single betting game of the year! The one game so big that sharps can't even move the line because of the amount of action on it. I have read that some believe this could be the highest bet game beating the $94 million on Super Bowl XL which of course doesn't include offshore books and your local bookies. My yearly statistic, the Las Vegas sports books have only lost minimal amounts in two of the last twenty one Super Bowl's. One interesting thing to note though is the last loss came in 2008 when the Giants upset the Patriots, the same two teams playing this year. If it's not fixed with that amount of action, how is that possible?

Sun Belt Officials Can't Count

2012-01-28T13:00:00.027-06:00

Missed this one a few weeks ago in college basketball but thought it was definitely of interest. Host Western Kentucky lost to Louisiana-Lafayette 72-70 on January 5th. One website showed about 60% of the public was backing Western Kentucky and here is where it gets interesting. With second left in the game Louisiana-Lafayette made the winning layup but they did it with six players on the floor. Yes, they had one too many players on the floor and not one referee caught this. I understand mistakes happen but this is at the college level and you have multiple referee's so how would this possibly be missed? My guess, the fix was in. The majority of action was on Western Kentucky as a 1 1/2 point home dog and what do you know Louisiana-Lafayette wins by two to cover the spread while using six players. Something stinks here and have heard the referee's from the Sun Belt conference are expected to be suspended.

Another Blown Call at UFC 142

2012-01-21T13:00:00.038-06:00

Usually we see the uneducated boxing scorers fix the outcomes of MMA decisions but this time we blame the referee for the blown call at UFC 142 last weekend in Brazil. Fighter Erick Silva made the most of his UFC debut by throwing a nice knee followed by some ground and pound on opponent Carlo Prater for an early referee stoppage in round one. When the official decision was announced that Silva was disqualified by referee Mario Yamasaki the crowd erupted in anger. Yamasaki DQ'd Silva for illegal blows to the back of the head. Shortly after announcer Joe Rogan went through the replay and strike after strike noted the each hit was legal. UFC president Dana White also criticized the call and continues to urge the commissions to start using instant replay before making these ridiculous errors in judgement and scoring or as we like to say, fixes! Silva was fighting in his home country with a raucous crowd behind him and also a heavy favorite at the sports books, go figure.

MMA Fighter Cris Cyborg Santos Tests Positive for Steroids

2012-01-14T13:00:00.000-06:00

Last week news broke that Strikeforce women's featherweight champion Cris Cyborg Santos tested positive for stanozolol metabolites. This had to be a question for quite some time as Cyborg is freakishly strong, ripped physique and dominates anyone who gets in the cage with her. As of now she has been suspended for one year, fined $2,500 and stripped of her championship belt which may also see the dissolution of the weight class at Strikeforce.

More Corruption in Tennis

2012-01-07T13:00:00.000-06:00

Although no specified reason has been give at this point, tennis player Lucas Renard has been suspended for six months for violating the sport's anti-corruption rules and fined $5,000 according to the Tennis Integrity Unit. 19-year-old Renard is the 882nd-ranked player and usually plays on the lower level circuits where the lure of a quick buck might be stronger.

Sports Betting - Is It Fixed?

2011-12-31T13:00:00.000-06:00

Thanks to the guys at The Fix Is In we stumbled upon this video of the guys from Pregame.com discussing if sports are fixed. Not too in depth with evidence but a good listen. In agreement with what they are saying that not every game is fixed and most of the time you will not know when they are but they make a point that is does happen whether you believe it or not.

Saints Whistle Blowing to Victory

2011-12-24T13:00:00.023-06:00

The Tennessee Titans accused the New Orleans Saints of blowing a whistle on the sideline during a critical drive in the game between the two teams on December 11th according to Yardbarker. The Titans claim to have video evidence along with multiple offensive lineman who can attest to the whistle blowing. Titans players were confused by the distraction upon hearing the whistle as Saints players did not stop. This was believed to have occurred during the second to last drive in which the Titans were trying to rally from behind but ultimately lost 22-17. A field goal would have change the outcome for bettors on the spread which had the Saints favored by 3.5 and a touchdown would have change the spread and moneyline outcomes.

2011 National League MVP Ryan Braun Fails Drug Test

2011-12-17T13:00:00.018-06:00

Yes, you read the title correctly. 2011 National League MVP Ryan Braun has tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug and faces a 50-game suspension if upheld. The result is currently being disputed by Braun through arbitration. Braun helped lead the Milwaukee Brewers to its first division title in almost three decades. At this level it seems everyone is suspect these days.

UFC Star Chris Leben Suspended for One Year

2011-12-10T17:05:00.026-06:00

Performance enhancing drugs and pain killers are a major problem in mixed martial arts according to many fighters and others behind the scenes. Two weeks ago the Ultimate Fighting Championships announced that long time fighter Chris Leben had been suspended for one year following a failed drug test after UFC 138 in which he was defeated by Mark Munoz. Leben has had issues in the past with a suspension in 2008 after his failed drug test for stanozolol and this time for oxycodone and oxymorphone. He could have been using these to mask the eftects of injury or to take the grind of training and fighting. Will the UFC bring him back, only time will tell.

Hawaii Point-Shaving Scheme?

2011-12-03T13:00:00.001-06:00

A little over a week ago Sports Illustrated reported allegations that a point-shaving scheme involving University of Hawaii football players was being questioned. On November 3rd the admissions office received an anonymous letter stating that players were intentionally playing bad to affect the outcome of games and scores. Police investigators do not currently have enough information to open an investigation and campus officials couldn't comment if they would continue with their own. Hawaii is a pretty bad 3-7-1 against the spread this year.

Was the MLS Soccer Finale Fixed for Ratings?

2011-11-26T13:00:00.003-06:00

Not stating that the MLS soccer finale was fixed but certainly seemed like a calculated game for television ratings. Last Sunday the Los Angeles Galaxy and Houston Dynamo squared off for the MLS Championship which resulted in a riveting 1-0 Galaxy win. This is international star David Beckham's last year on his contract with the Galaxy and may very well have been Landon Donovan's last game as well so how fitting that both superstars were involved in the winning and only goal in the championship game for a sport generally low on ratings in the United States. It was a great season for the Galaxy capped off by a championship but just seemed too good to be true in the finale.

Pacquiao vs. Marquez Decision Fueled by Money?

2011-11-19T13:00:00.019-06:00

So what did everyone think, who won the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Marquez last Saturday? Judges Glenn Trowbridge (116-112) and Dave Moretti (115-113) favored Pacquiao. Robert Hoyle called it a 114-114 draw. The crowd booed when Pacquiao was announced the winner and Marquez was cheered as he left the ring. Talk of a forth fight has already begun and the long awaited Pacquiao versus Mayweather bout has been in the news again as well. If Pacquiao lost would the Pacquiao versus Mayweather bout draw as much interest? Sounds like the decision was fueled by money so the Pacquiao versus Mayweather fight can draw the largest possible gate and PPV buys.

Tennis Player David Savic Banned for Life

2011-11-12T13:00:00.001-06:00

The 659th ranked player on the ATP tour has been banned for life for fixing tennis matches and also fined $100,000. The Uniform Tennis Anti-Corruption Program found David Savic guilty of three violations including contriving or attempting to contrive the outcome of matches.

Horse Trainer Rick Dutrow's License Revoked

2011-11-05T13:00:00.013-05:00

Well known horse trainer Rick Dutrow's New York trainer's license was recently revoked by the New York Racing and Wagering Board for ten years and fined $50,000 for a pattern of rules violations that have not been disclosed yet. Dutrow is famously known for training 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Big Brown.

Wayne Rooney's Father Arrested in Betting Scam

2011-10-29T13:00:00.021-05:00

Famous Manchester United player Wayne Rooney's father, uncle and seven other people were recently arrested over allegations of a soccer betting scam. Allegations stem from an irregular betting pattern being bet on a red card being given during a game between Motherwell and Hearts of the Scottish Premier League last December which paid 10/1. The arrested player for Motherwell, Steve Jennings allegedly got himself sent off deliberately during the match. Bookmakers noticed the irregular pattern after multiple people bet on this prop which triggered a nine-month investigation.

South Carolina Point Shaving Rumors

2011-10-22T13:00:00.017-05:00

Last week rumors that South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia was involved with point shaving surfaced. The same sports books that correctly suspected Toledo a few years ago have dismissed these rumors and state they have not seen any unusual betting patters. Still seems like a very strange coincidence that this very same quarterback was recently dismissed from the program the day before the rumors surfaced but for failing an alcohol test. If the cat was not out of the bag I'd say keep your eye on this program if anyone else may be involved which is usually the case but now it's probably too late.

Olympic Boxing Fixed

2011-10-15T13:00:00.000-05:00

The BBC reported two weeks ago that the International Amateur Boxing Association is investigating corruption in Olympic boxing. Allegations have surfaced that Azerbaijan was to be guaranteed two gold medals in boxing at next year's Olympics after millions of dollars were paid for the fix. Click here to read more.

More Evidence Against Lance Armstrong

2011-10-08T13:00:00.000-05:00

Cyclist Lance Armstrong reportedly made payments through a front company in Switzerland to a physician who was banned for doping. Armstrong's former training advisor Michele Ferrari was also behind the anonymous company mentioned. Swiss and Italian investigators reported this information recently to worldwide news outlets.

Phantom Call

2011-10-01T13:00:00.031-05:00

Alright this one angered me because I got the short end of the stick this time. Did anyone else see the Chicago Bears 89-yard TD trick return nullified by a phantom call last weekend? The Bears were a 4 point home dog to the Packers and the total was set at 45.5. With about a minute left and the Bears trailing 27-17 the Bears pulled off a sweet fake from Devin Hester but was actually fielded on the other side of the field and ran back for a TD by Johnny Knox. Regardless of the extra point it would have pushed the total over and with the extra point the spread in favor of the Bears. The trick play the Bears had been practicing worked like a charm but of course it was too good to be true for Vegas and the National Fix League (NFL). Don't get me wrong I love the NFL, it's my gambling specialty so I don't go calling fix every time I lose but this one was obvious. The referee initially called holding on number 29. Well that's weird, the Bears don't even have a player with number 29. To cover his tracks he then calls it on number 21 Corey Graham who was about 35 yards away from the play and had no direct impact on the run back, nor was it a hold. Not only did Bears and over bettors suffer, the fans did too in what was once of the best trick plays in a long time even mentioned by opposing quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Vegas Sportsbooks Making Their Own Rules

2011-09-24T13:00:00.024-05:00

Two weeks ago we read about an odd scenario in college football between USC and Utah. USC was a 7.5 favorite for this game. On the final play of the game with USC leading 17-14 they blocked a Utah field goal attempt and returned it for a touchdown. A miscommunication between the scorer and officials initially waived off the touchdown due to an excessive celebration penalty leaving Utah with the cover. Pac-12 officials changed the score over two hours later to include the game ending touchdown making the final score 23-14 effectively changing the outcome of the betting side. This erupted in a barrage of calls from gamblers and casinos to the Nevada Gaming Control Board but still resulted in some casinos honoring one side while others honored the opposite side. What was the gaming board doing? If not consistent across the board then each sports book is making it's own rules and not being regulated. Sounds like another case of Vegas never loses. The fix in is!

Odd Ending to Michigan - Western Michigan Game Last Week

2011-09-10T14:00:00.002-05:00

Last week was the very first time in Michigan University history that a football game was canceled. Well it was canceled after three quarters. Keep in mind Michigan was a 14.5 point favorite over Western Michigan with a 57.5 over/under. One source showed over 70% of the public on Michigan and a slight majority on the over as well. Already handily covering the 14.5 spread and nearing the over did someone pull the plug on this game early? Alright so severe weather was in the area and did delay the game but games in close proximity were all completed as normal so what gives? Although Michigan was credited with the win it was not a complete game therefore bettors of Michigan were not paid out and once again Vegas doesn't lose a penny. Just something to think about when you see weird occurrences in sports.

Corruption Charges by FIFA

2011-08-27T13:30:00.019-05:00

The governing body of soccer FIFA has had numerous claims of corruption over the last few years and finally taking a step forward to clean things up. Three match officials from Bosnia-Herzegovina and three from Hungary have been banned for life from any soccer related activities at the national and international levels. They were found guilty of unlawfully influencing match results and passive corruption. This is a start but soccer has a long way to go at all levels of play.

Boxing Sham - Mares vs. Agbeko

2011-08-20T15:00:00.003-05:00

Last Saturday Showtime boxing put up a horrible display of refereeing. I just got home to see my twitter timeline blowing up with people screaming fixed. New IBF bantamweight champion Abner Mares was for the most part handed the title by referee Russell Mora. Abner landed low blow after low blow on his opponent Joseph Agbeko throughout the fight with barely any warnings and no penalties from referee Mora who was consistently out of place. Even more surprising is the commission who sat cage side and did nothing. This fight is being called one of the worst in boxing corruption history and I don't blame people for what we saw in this ridiculous refereed match. Mora had to be in on the fix, completely biased or totally incompetent as a boxing referee. Check out this article too for more on the fight.

World Cup Suspicions

2011-08-13T13:00:00.023-05:00

Everyone loves the underdog and Cinderella stories but something just didn't seem right about the Women's World Cup final between U.S.A. and Japan. In the weeks after the final many have expressed these same doubts. No team from the continent of Asia has won the cup and in 25 matches between them Japan has never defeated the U.S. The shoot out at the end brought up even more suspicion when the first three shots by the U.S. were very uncharacteristic of the team even being mentioned on the live broadcast. The U.S. had not missed a shoot out shot yet and very good at hiding direction. Two of the first three in this game were very easy reads and pretty much shot to the goalie while the other was booted well over the goal. This just seems too easily given away to Japan. Then we have the storyline of Japan riding emotions for their country in the aftermath of the horrible earthquakes and tsunami's that ravaged the country. Add it all up and it just seems too good to be true like it was fixed for Japan. I do think the parity between countries has definitely decreased and will continue to see more competitive games between most countries. What do you think?

Another Toledo Football Player Convicted in Point Shaving Scheme

2011-08-06T15:10:00.017-05:00

Former Toledo running back Harvey McDougle Jr. recently plead guilty to working with a Detroit gambler involved with point shaving at Toledo University. McDougle was the third Toledo athlete to be convicted in the point shaving scheme and most likely worked in recruiting other players for the scheme.

Match Fixing Probe Postpones Turkish Super Cup

2011-07-30T13:00:00.013-05:00

Turkish football teams Besiktas and Fenerbahce have been implicated in a match-fixing case. This probe has led to the postponement of the Turkish Super Cup final between the two teams which was to take place tomorrow with no new date set. Approximately 30 people have been charged including the deputy chairman and coach of Besiktas and the president of league champ Fenerbahce. The probe alleges 19 games were fixed.

Women Soccer Players on the Juice Too

2011-07-23T13:00:00.022-05:00

Women take steroids to cheat too. At the soccer Women's World Cup five North Korean players tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid. The cases will be reviewed by FIFA and each player could face a ban of up to two years. As usual there is some far fetched story of why they were taking this. After a lighting strike the players accidentally took the steroids with traditional Chinese medicines which they claim can be confused with each other. Doesn't make sense and how was it an accident? You cheated and you got caught.

Tour de France Rider Fails Doping Test

2011-07-16T15:00:00.022-05:00

The Tour de France kicked off July 2nd and now has its first rider to fail a doping test. Russian rider Alexandr Kolobnev of the Katusha team failed a doping test from July 6th that contained traces of Hydrochlorothiazide. Kolobnev had four days to submit a B sample and contest the positive result but his team decided to end his ride for the Tour. Kolobnev was 69th at the time of his departure.

Corruption in Soccer

2011-07-09T14:00:00.035-05:00

We have been hearing it for awhile now and only time will bring out more evidence of corruption in Soccer. When it reaches to the highest level you know the sport has some issues. FIFA, the international governing body of football is deep in conflict over recent corruption claims over the World Cup selection process. The latest allegations came from the U.K. after an inquiry into their failed bid for the 2018 World Cup. Lord Triesman, former FA head has accused four member of the FIFA executive committee who votes for World Cup hosts of unethical and improper behavior. These accusations include demands for money and honorary knighthoods. Last fall two FIFA voters were suspended for similar actions when they tried to sell their World Cup votes. The World Cup is big business and can potentially generate great sums of money for a host country. Anything for the almighty dollar. Not just the players and games but now the governing body is embroiled in sports corruption.

Mexico Soccer Players Test Positive for Banned Substance

2011-07-02T13:00:00.000-05:00

At the beginning of the CONCACAF Gold Gup five players from Mexico's soccer team tested positive for a banned substance and were temporarily removed from the tournament. The illegal substance was clenbuterol which the secretary general of Mexican soccer federation believes came from the players eating contaminated beef. Regardless of the five players missing time the team still went on to win the Gold Cup.

MMA Judges Control Outcomes

2011-06-25T12:00:00.021-05:00

With another UFC event upon us tomorrow let's first revisit the last event, UFC 131. Yes, you guessed it the judges completely bombed on another decision. Darren Elkins was awarded a unanimous decision over Michihiro Omigawa. Not only was this baffling but one judge called it 30-27, all three rounds in favor of Elkins when clearly this was not the case. So lopsided that UFC president Dana White said, "I don't know what the fuck in the world that guy was seeing. He should never judge a fight again, ever." More baffling is the fact that the judges for the first time had cageside monitors to get closer views of the action. Guess Dana White is right when he says to his fighters don't leave it in the hands of the judges. Maybe Dana realizes this fixing by the judges is making a mockery of this truly awesome sport.

Kyle Busch's Team Penalized

2011-06-17T21:19:00.000-05:00

The team of number 18 Kyle Busch were penalized by NASCAR last week after his car failed post race inspection because the car was too low. Busch was docked six points in the standing and crew chief Dave Rogers fined $25,000 after the race at Pocono Raceway. Kyle finished the race third so it just goes to show every inch in NASCAR counts, in this case lowering the car.

Is The NBA Milking It?

2011-06-10T20:06:00.000-05:00

Just some thoughts on the current NBA finals. With the possible lockout looming I can just see it now, the finals will go to seven games to milk every possible amount of exposure possible from television, to tickets and stadium sales and everything in between. As the years go by I get less interested in this sport as it is so easily manipulated. Don't be fooled by another brick shot in the NBA.

Tennis Player Banner for Life

2011-06-03T19:41:00.000-05:00

385th ranked tennis player Daniel Koellerer has been banned for life from the sport for match-fixing. The Tennis Integrity Unit confirmed this information earlier this week making Koellerer the first player ever banned for life. As I always say it's all about the money. Everyone has a price but Daniel paid a big one here.

Lance Armstrong Teammate Details Team Doping

2011-05-28T11:00:00.000-05:00

Former Lance Armstrong teammate Tyler Hamilton details on a recent 60 Minutes how he, Lance and other members of the U.S. Postal Service team used banned substances. Hamilton was a gold medal cyclist who served a two-year suspension for doping and stated that Armstrong took what everyone else took.

Cavs Get First Pick

2011-05-21T11:00:00.000-05:00

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost Lebron James and fall into the abyss this year and now they get the first pick in the 2011 NBA draft. Something sounds fishy here. The Cavs had a 2.8% chance of winning the top pick in the draft but it sounds more like they got the fix as compensation for losing Lebron. Is the NBA trying to equal out revenues since the Cavs hit the skids?

Lance Armstrong Drug Case Moves Forward

2011-05-11T22:07:00.000-05:00

It has been recently reported that U.S. investigators are moving forward with an investigation for a drug related case on cyclist Lance Armstrong. Officials in France have received requests from U.S. authorities requesting evidence on Lance and other members of his former U.S. Postal team.

Barry Bonds - Who Cares?

2011-05-01T15:03:00.000-05:00

So the Barry Bonds hearing is over as of a couple of weeks ago and we all know he was found guilty of obstruction of justice. A mistrial was declared on the three perjury counts. Case closed, we all know he cheated with steroids and hope we don't hear more. I do think that all 105 or whatever the number of players named in the Balco report should be publicly named. If we know some of the names why not all of them? They should all be treated the same, as cheaters! Release the list and let's finally move on.

MMA Judges Blow it Again

2011-04-24T14:33:00.000-05:00

On Saturday April 16th at Bellator 41 we witnessed another controversial MMA decision. The controversial decision went to Joe Warren who defeated Marcos Galvao. Not only was it questionable but one judge ruled 30-27 for Warren which was clearly wrong. MMA fans took to forums to express the displeasure of continued bad judging which many are calling fixed. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney refutes the notion that this match was fixed and agrees MMA judges need to be better educated on the sport and judging. MMA judging just seems so off at times how can it not be fixed?

Another Steroid Bum

2011-04-17T15:32:00.000-05:00

Last week baseball player Manny Ramirez retired rather than face a 100-game suspension for failing another drug test during spring training in which he tested positive for a banned substance. Just another disgraced athlete on the juice trying to cheat his way to the top.

What Can't You Bet On?

2011-03-30T14:10:00.000-05:00

Seem like you can bet on pretty much anything these days. How about some WWE wrestling? Yes you read that correctly. Bodog online sportsbook is offering moneyline action on tonight's WrestleMania 27 matches. This form of entertainment is coordinated and not a true sport so how could this even be offered? Obviously the people at WWE already know the outcome of these matches so why even bother with the fix? I guess this is for the true betting junkies. I will pass but enjoy.

College Basketball Officiating at its Best

2011-03-27T00:08:00.000-05:00

At a Big East second round game on March 9th three officials missed two crucial last second calls and basically didn't officiate until the end of the game between St. John's and Rutgers. St. John's won the game 65-63 and did not cover the spread regardless but who knows maybe there was some kind of moneyline action being protected. With 1.7 seconds left a St. John's player traveled and stepped out of bounds neither of which was called by the officials ending the game. The NCAA men's basketball national coordinator even stated that Rutgers should have had one more possession. The three officials did sit out the remainder of the tournament.

Cyclists Will Have to find Other Ways to Cheat

2011-03-18T18:58:00.000-05:00

Alright so cycling is not one of my favorites but over the years quite a few cyclists have been caught using illegal growth hormones and blood doping to gain unfair advantages during there races and thought it had reason to be discussed here. The Association of Professional Cyclists and Professional Cycling Council recently met and proposed an automatic four-year suspension for cyclists found doping, using growth hormones, use of EPO and blood transfusions. It's a start but someone will always be ahead of the testing and finding new ways to cheat the system and this sport. Cheating cyclists, is it really worth it?

More Crooked Soccer Officials

2011-03-12T17:16:00.000-06:00

Disciplinary actions have begun against six soccer game officials per FIFA. This latest action stems from a match-fixing probe into two exhibition games held in Turkey on February 9th. Exhibition games too, where does it stop?

IOC to Combat Game Fixing

2011-03-06T16:12:00.000-06:00

The International Olympic Committee recently held meetings to discuss match fixing and illegal gambling. At least someone is finally admitting it happens but doubt anything will change. Check out the article from Examiner for more on this sports news development.

O.J. Mayo Banned for Ten Games

2011-02-11T20:15:00.000-06:00

Here is another laugher in the excuses athletes come up with when caught using illegal substances. Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo recently tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) which is banned by the NBA. His actions cost him a 10-game suspension. His excuse was that he believes and energy drink he bought at a gas station contained the illegal substance. Really O.J.?

Super Bowl Fix

2011-02-04T19:37:00.000-06:00

Gamblers favorite game of the year is in two days! Yes I am talking about the Super Bowl. Why do I call it a fix? Because Vegas wins out almost every year. I featured this last year and have to update for this year. Over the last 20 years Las Vegas sportsbooks have profited on the Super Bowl in 18 years and had minimal losses in two years. How is that possible? The fix is in! Good luck with your bets and enjoy the bad penalty calls that will screw us all I'm sure.

Barry Bonds Trial Set to Begin March 21st

2011-01-28T22:10:00.001-06:00

The infamous trial of former MLB player Barry Bonds is set to start March 21st. He has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. A San Francisco U.S. District Court judge has recently ruled that several former and current MLB players will be allowed to testify at this trial and be questioned in regards to their relationships with Greg Anderson, Bond's former trainer. Innocent until proven guilty but I think the evidence against him and the dramatic size increase in his head and biceps says it all.

Scorecasting

2011-01-17T15:09:00.000-06:00

I was just reading the latest issue of Sports Illustrated (January 17, 2011) and came across an article called, "What's Really Behind Home Field Advantage?" An interesting article that debunks myths such as home crowds and rigors of travel. Much of the argument behind home teams winning more often lies with umpire bias especially with large professional crowds in attendance per the article. I personally think this bias is the fix but definitely worth exploring. The article is written by authors Tobias J. Moskowitz and L. Jon Wertheim who also wrote the book Scorecasting. The authors use statistics to back their claims and as they say the numbers speak for themselves. Once I have time to read "The Fix is In", I will most likely pick this up next.

Playboy Explores the National Fix League (NFL)

2011-01-07T17:35:00.000-06:00

Matthew Kredell of Playboy recently explored the world of gambling and the NFL or what some of us like to call the National Fix League. He explores both sides of the table, those who want NFL gambling legalized and those who don't (the NFL). The NFL claims they don't want their games legalized for betting because they maintain integrity and fear this would lead to corruption. They also claim in their history not one game has been fixed. Those are both complete laughers to me. They also mention something I have read quite a few times that they have contacts at the Vegas sports books so they can be notified of irregular betting patterns or possible corruption. I laugh at this too. I think these contacts feed them the information on where the money is so they can manipulate the outcomes of these games. NFL and casino owners have so much power and money they don't want to share it. Do you think these bigwigs would let that kind of money be left to chance? NFL teams and casinos should not have any communication what so ever if they want integrity. If NFL gambling were legalized they can't control all the winnings they rake in every year. Talk about greed! If it was legalized state deficits could be reduced, jobs would be created and the teams themselves could make more money than ever. Although this article is not too detailed it does bring up some good points. Check out this article and worse case scenario you have some Playboy bunnies to check out so you really can't go wrong.

The Fix Is In

2010-12-28T17:57:00.000-06:00

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

2010-12-17T21:55:00.000-06:00

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 bid turnaround from a few months ago.

More NFL High Jinx

2010-12-11T14:15:00.000-06:00

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

2010-12-05T16:35:00.000-06:00

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

2010-11-28T18:08:00.000-06:00

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

2010-11-21T12:17:00.000-06:00

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

2010-11-13T14:23:00.000-06:00

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

2010-11-05T21:45:00.000-05:00

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

2010-10-19T13:49:00.000-05:00

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

2010-10-09T17:27:00.000-05:00

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

2010-10-01T21:34:00.000-05:00

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

2010-09-25T12:23:00.000-05:00

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???

2010-09-18T16:11:00.002-05:00

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

2010-09-10T20:22:00.000-05:00

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

2010-09-04T21:07:00.000-05:00

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

2010-08-29T14:02:00.000-05:00

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

2010-08-20T19:26:00.000-05:00

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

2010-08-13T18:09:00.000-05:00

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

2010-08-08T12:53:00.001-05:00

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

2010-07-31T16:20:00.000-05:00

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

2010-07-24T16:35:00.000-05:00

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.

2010-07-17T14:47:00.001-05:00

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

2010-07-12T17:30:00.000-05:00

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

2010-07-08T13:37:00.000-05:00

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

2010-07-02T17:25:00.000-05:00

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

2010-06-27T00:30:00.000-05:00

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

2010-06-22T17:58:00.000-05:00

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?

2010-06-21T15:29:00.000-05:00

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

2010-06-18T22:42:00.000-05:00

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???

2010-06-12T20:43:00.000-05:00

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

2010-06-05T16:42:00.000-05:00

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

2010-06-01T16:55:00.001-05:00

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?

2010-05-25T20:29:00.001-05:00

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.

2010-05-20T18:14:00.000-05:00

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

2010-05-14T14:43:00.000-05:00

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

2010-05-07T17:38:00.000-05:00

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

2010-05-02T15:15:00.000-05:00

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

2010-04-28T11:00:00.000-05:00

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

2010-04-22T15:46:00.001-05:00

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

2010-04-16T17:18:00.000-05:00

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

2010-04-11T02:19:00.000-05:00

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

2010-04-07T00:53:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-31T16:52:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-26T14:06:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-20T16:09:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-12T17:11:00.000-06:00

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

2010-03-08T17:20:00.000-06:00

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

2010-03-03T17:45:00.001-06:00

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?

2010-03-01T16:05:00.001-06:00

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.