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.