People who think sports are rigged

I think some games are influenced by refs for sure to benefit the leagues. But probably only to the extent of keeping games competitive and prevent blow outs.

If you try to claim that Lakers-Sactown game 6 wasn't rigged, then you should ask for a R/A to delete this thread.

There's too many lines that are blatantly decided by the refs to make me think that there's no outside influence.

If an election could be rigged, a fricking game of basketball or football could be also. Nothing "sacred" about sports. If there's money and people involved, expect unscrupulous behaviors.

Frontline 1983

2012 Bowl Championship Series National Title Game

I think there’s a few different potential kinds of cheating:
1. Refs influencing games to keep them close so people don’t tune out. This one is plausible because blow-outs are pretty rare in the NFL relative to other football leagues. Teams always seem to make it a 1 or 2 score game in the final minutes, often helped along by big pass interference penalties. Block in the back penalties on kickoffs could help to hamper field position of teams in the lead to stifle momentum. Ticky-tacky or non-existent personal fouls on the defense, especially roughing the passer, frequently extend drives on big third day defensive plays. The methods are there to keep games close.

2. Officials influencing games to manipulate gambling outcomes. This has been shown to happen in other sports. Why is it so illogical that it could happen in football where a garbage time TD could decide the fate of millions and millions of dollars?

3. League officials showing favoritism to teams for ratings. This is a common allegation by small market teams. Many assume that large market teams draw better ratings, thus the league should want big games involving competitive big market teams, right? In addition, if the league is really seeking to maximize ratings, it should try to ensure the teams playing for the title don’t have overlapping fanbases to get as many eyes watching as possible. Leagues should desire big markets and geographic diversity in their title matches. So, having Los Angeles vs Boston is a much more lucrative matchup than New Orleans vs Kansas City. However, I don’t think there’s enough evidence of this being a primary factor.

4. League officials rig outcomes via favoritism towards certain owners aligned with the commissioner’s agenda. There have been a lot of allegations of favoritism regarding the relationship between NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. New England vastly outranks all other programs in receiving compensation picks and received comparatively light penalties for various cheating scandals and off-field shenanigans over the years. By comparison, the Saints program was absolutely rocked by Bounty Gate penalties even with almost zero evidence, and the Saints are dead last in receiving compensatory picks. Saints officials were also vocal in opposing the “findings” of the NFL and attempting to criticize the NFL’s officiating and decision-making. Some believe that behavior made them a target for rigging against them. Some teams seem to consistently have players suspended for longer periods and at more critical times than other teams. This control wielded by the Commissioner gives him a lot of power to influence the number of draft selections for a team as well as the number of players available to individual teams on Sundays. That’s not enough power to completely change an outcome, but can have significant influence on a team’s overall talent and performance.

We don’t know if leagues are mass rigging games, rigging some games, point shaving, or showing favoritism, but they have the motive, they have the means, and they have the kinds of statistical anomalies and patterns that would suggest such behavior could be occurring.

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Do you really believe the NFL/NBA/MLB/NCAA has predetermined who is going to be in the championship game? I

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Yes. You don't leave billions of dollars up to a coin flip and you don't let the insane run the asylum.

Think about this, the Detroit Lions or the Green Bay Packers going to the SB? Which team does the NFL benefit more from? Green Bay easily, merchandise sales. It's the reason Detroit doesn't need to be good. Detroit makes money losing.

I don't watch much football anymore but I used to knowing it was rigged. It's like watching wrestling or a movie. Entertainment.


Every sport on TV is rigged to a certain degree. Tennis, golf, whatever. If you can wager on it, it's going to be fricked.

That's life. There is not a single thing on tv that isn't somewhat scripted.

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People who think sports are rigged

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Are 100% correct

Whether that particular day it is blatant game throwing or quiet playing with the line is the only question

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If you really do believe this, why would you be a fan?

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After Saints/Rams, I am no longer a fan and don’t watch.

I don’t think every game is fixed and the entire season is mapped out ahead of time but when a team in a new major market gets in the SB via an obviously blown call, you have to be naive to think otherwise.