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2/12/11

Tim Donaghy-Pro sports are fixed

The name Tim Donaghy seems inconspicuous enough, but in certain sports circles, it unsheaths a veil over the face of professional sports. Mr. Donaghy was an NBA referee sentenced to 15 months in prison for placing bets on games, some of which he even officiated.
Donaghy's track record of picking winners of games didn't go unnoticed, he was approached by the mafia in 2007 to assist in fixing games.
In addition to the charges on himself, he claimed other NBA referees to fix games for the 'best interest of the league', raising ticket sales and TV coverage, Such as in the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and Kings.

Which leads me to my question? are pro sports fixed?
An ex-girlfriend of mine's father told me a story of when he was a traveling preacher in western Oklahoma. It was January 1994, the day before the super bowl. He was speaking with an owner of a thrift store when a man in a black car and black suit pulled up, and walked in. The store owner handed the man a large bag and the man in the suit left. Upon leaving the store owner explained. The man was with the mafia, and then wrote two numbers on the back of the receipt and handed it to the preacher.
The numbers were 30 and 13
The Cowboys defeated the Buffalo Bills 30 to 13 the next day in the super bowl.

18 comments:

  1. Wow that is an amazing story. Maybe sports are rigged, but either way they are still fun to watch. Thanks for the post!

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  2. Very interesting! I don't follow much as goes sports but of course I know tons of people who do who will be interested in this. Especially a few of them who often place bets, I bet they would like to get the inside scoop (should it be true that sports are fixed)

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  3. High chance, it's all about the money.

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  4. Money money money is what makes the world go around.

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  5. I'm suspicious about fixing. It's very easy for those involved to manipulate things without detection.

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  6. so true. He speaks the truth! sports are entertainment like wrestling. no one said they had to be legit.

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  7. Its fixed in the sense of how much money clubs are allowed to spend. Only select people can afford the bigger names.

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  8. Really interesting blog post :-)

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  9. Jeez...I always was very suspicious about the NBA being fixed. This is pathetic. I can't stand how greed can ruin great things.

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  10. I'm sure a lot of people have some type of story like that. I really hope pro sports are not rigged that would really suck. Not only for fans but for players too who spend their whole life practicing to find out it was all a sham.

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  11. I will never believe it!

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  12. I think that's just chance, awfully hard to fix something as big as the super bowl...

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  13. you should see sumo wrestling. completely fixed.

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  14. Sports are a big part of my life... but who knows man. That Lakers/Kings series was one for the ages...

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  15. the answer you are seeking is no

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