Games & Recreation Sporting conspiracies

[NorthernLights]

I discovered this old news report recently which talks about Lockett going to Richmond, they make it seem like a certainty which is amusing in hindsight.

Just another example of the AFL bending over backwards in an attempt to make Sydney successful.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

There's the Jordan one where his first retirement was actually a suspension.

However you think about it for about 7 seconds and you realise how stupid it is.

 

[ioppolo]

2002 NBA Western Conference Finals. Mainly game 6. No way that wasn't rigged.

 

[Unstable]

The day football died for me.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

I believe that Waleed Aly is leading a vast Show business conspiracy to keep Daimien Hardwick in a job

I think this because he supports hardwick and nobody that smart can do that right?

 

[Syd]

Of course he did. Who wouldn't want to play a grand final every week?

Until Round 7
Every year
And then...

 

[PP34]

Yes yes, there's a board for this. No no, governments wouldn't lie to us.

Sporting conspiracies are generally a little easier to accept because they don't ask too many fundamental questions. They don't make people re-evaluate their purpose and lifestyle. There's less to lose, emotionally, I guess.

So with that, what are some weird things you've always found a little suss? Or what are some events well documented but still worth chatting about? Some of the big ones for me:

– The 1985 NBA Draft lottery being rigged, with envelopes being bent in the process to ensure the Knicks got the first pick and thus Ewing
– Why did Michael Jordan initially retire and go play baseball? Why and how did his father die? What was his gambling vice like?
– The NBA derailed the Houston Rockets in the '80s so the Celtics - Lakers rivalry kept on going on
– Ronaldo had a fit before the 1998 World Cup Final, but Nike made him play as they basically ran the Brazilian soccer federation
– The 2002 FIFA World Cup was rigged a little too overtly – South Korea's run isn't even subtly rigged
– Soccer, especially the World Cup, is pre-determined and a lot of the games are fixed and ran via the sponsors, which reward the European nations

Can't wait for Plugger35 and his Whispers in the Sky one.

There's a few NBA draft lotteries that have seemed pretty suss to me. The Cavs winning 3 straight after LeBron leaving especially, two of those lotteries involved them having a tiny chance at winning the first pick.

Jordan is a strange one. Just odd that a guy so competitive would just walk away to battle away at a sport he hadn't been good at since he was a kid. The NBA forcing him out doesn't really seem plausible though.

There's a great read about the '80s Rockets here: http://grantland.com/features/an-oral-history-hakeem-olajuwon-ralph-sampson-1980s-houston-rockets/
To me the whole drug thing was probably more a result of the climate of the US of the time. Everyone was doing blow and the government didn't like it. Having a major sporting league full of cokeheads wasn't going to be a great look, particularly with star college player Len Bias ending up dead hours after being drafted by the Celtics in 1986.

The 2002 Lakers Kings series is probably one of the more famous sporting conspiracies out there. The NBA at the time had some dodgy refs like Donaghy around too.


In boxing I've always thought the Ali Liston fight seemed very suss. Such a big occasion and to go down so quickly. Hardly looked like the kind of blow to leave you badly woozy like Liston was.

You'd have to imagine there'd be a ton of shit in soccer. Just have to look at how much money is involved and the corrupt sort of campaigners that run FIFA etc like Sepp Blatter.

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

There's a conspiracy that in the Michael Jordan flu game in 1998, he was actually poisoned by hotel staff, and played with food poisoning.

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

The NBA derailed the Houston Rockets in the '80s so the Celtics - Lakers rivalry kept on going on

Silva vs Sonnen 2: Middleweight Title Fight

Interested in hearing more about these

 

[GreyCrow]

Apparently there is this conspiracy that Lance Armstrong took drugs and the Cycling Body covered it up. Could be all lies though

 

[Smoooothy]

surprised theres been no mention of buddy and his sudden absence from the 2015 finals series

 

[PhatBoy]

Sure he did.

The last test v India has got me a bit concerned.

Oh ffs.

If it was England getting rolled for the same scores on a green top no one would say a word.

 

[Gough]

Apparently there is this conspiracy that Lance Armstrong took drugs and the Cycling Body covered it up. Could be all lies though

Bradley Wiggins legacy is looking dodgier by the day too. PED use in cycling seems to be like abuse in the Catholic Church, the powers that be assure us that the problem is in the past, and yet contemporary cases keep being uncovered.

 

[BotsMaster]

India doctor their pitches

 

[adammania9]

Mick Malthouse knew his fate was sealed at the end of 2014 so he did everything he could without making it blatantly obvious to make Carlton as shit as he possibly could for the long-term with terrible list management decisions. Nothing they did made sense that year.

Michael Phelps lost in the 100m Butterfly at Beijing and he only was gifted the win because his most dangerous opponent Milorad Cavic had a faulty touch pad at the end. The fact that the specific images of the finish have not been released to the public, only the video only has me believe this.

Brazil were paid to lose the 1998 World Cup final to the hosting France in return for an easy run at 2002 and the hosting of the tournament in the near future (2014)

 

[Catfish Alley]

Brazil were paid to lose the 1998 World Cup final to the hosting France in return for an easy run at 2002 and the hosting of the tournament in the near future (2014)

Whats the evidence on this one?

 

[Catfish Alley]

India doctor their pitches

Doesn't every country do that?

 

[Reynolds Number]

Second Test, Australia v Pakistan SCG 2010.

Pakistan are like the most unwatchable test cricket side around. Would rather Bangladesh tour here more often.

 

[ioppolo]

No mention of #freekickHawthorn yet?

 

[Silent Alarm]

Whats the evidence on this one?

Yeah, I'd really like to hear about this. That World Cup is maybe the solidification of the competition being a load of pre-planned shite (2002 confirmed it, the pandering of the 2010 hosts basically the death knell – but plenty of evidence to suggest it was like that in the 60s too). It wouldn't shock me, France 98 had to be won by France, there's quotes inferring this, things about how it'd be a tragedy and terrible for French football if it didn't go to the hosts.

Also boxing has been cactus for decades. Thank Don King.

Ahhh what else... well old Usain Bolt is a cheat. I saw a picture once where the next nine or ten fastest men were all stung for drugs and yet Bolt is a good half second faster than even tenth. It's ludicrous. But he's so good for athletics it'll never be busted. That pose of his was great; made him bulletproof as a great marketing tool.

 

[adammania9]

Whats the evidence on this one?

Yeah, I'd really like to hear about this. That World Cup is maybe the solidification of the competition being a load of pre-planned shite (2002 confirmed it, the pandering of the 2010 hosts basically the death knell – but plenty of evidence to suggest it was like that in the 60s too). It wouldn't shock me, France 98 had to be won by France, there's quotes inferring this, things about how it'd be a tragedy and terrible for French football if it didn't go to the hosts.

Also boxing has been cactus for decades. Thank Don King.

Ahhh what else... well old Usain Bolt is a cheat. I saw a picture once where the next nine or ten fastest men were all stung for drugs and yet Bolt is a good half second faster than even tenth. It's ludicrous. But he's so good for athletics it'll never be busted. That pose of his was great; made him bulletproof as a great marketing tool.

I've read some stuff before but I don't have any sources to back it up as I have no idea where it was so take it as you will, it's just a gut feel.

I did find something but it probably doesn't hold a lot of credibility:
http://www.thehardtackle.com/2014/t...up-final-and-what-really-happened-to-ronaldo/

1.FIFA Convinced Brazil To ‘Sell’ The World Cup

A ‘source’ at TV Globo revealed that Brazil had sold the World Cup to France with FIFA and Nike playing a part in the negotiaitions.

According to the source, Brazil was paid a figure of $23m (£15m) in bribes to help France win the trophy which in turn would satisfy the French and European fans. In return, Brazil were promised a ‘safe passage’ in the 2002 World Cup (Hang on…) and would be awarded the right to host a World Cup in the coming decade (What??) The ‘source’ alleged that Ronaldo refused to be a part of this negotiation and hence was dropped from the team. However when threatened by Nike, the striker caved in and lined-up to gift France the World Cup.

 

[blueboy25]

This reminds me of the lasagna incident that cost Spurs a Champions League spot and to finish above Arsenal. All they needed was a win against West Ham but most of the squad succumbed to illness the night before at the Marriott Hotel. It turned out that the winter vomiting bug was likely the cause and not the lasagna.

Well here is the chef from the hotel that night
View media item 189

 

[Brad Goodman]

I can accept Jordan legitimately giving up basketball and taking up baseball. His father dies, he realises life is short, and having literally achieved everything you could want to in your chosen sport he decides to have a crack at something else.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Argentina beating Brazil in the knock out stages of the 1990 World Cup, because Branco (who'd been minding Maradona) drank from a spiked water bottle, handed to him by the Argentina trainer.

Youtubing the 1985 NBA Draft lottery only adds to the speculation. New York's envelope has a clear dog ear on it.

 

[Gough]

There's a lot of conjecture around the 1978 World Cup too.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jonathanstevenson/2010/05/the_story_of_the_1978_world_cu.html