So NBA isn't rigged?

[shock11]

gotta to love the nba

[JMUplayer]

The 3rd foul on Glen Davis was pretty suspect tonight as well

[brooks85]

I really need a winner



Following Kevin Smith's removal from a SW Airlines flight who will be the next celebrity considered 'too wide to fly?'. Must happen before end of 2010

• Price
• Price

• John Goodman +800
• Queen Latifah +800
• Rosie O'Donnell +1000
• Anthony Anderson +1200
• Roseanne Barr +1400
• Ruben Studdard +1400
• Kevin James +1400
• Nikki Blonsky +1400

• Missy Elliot +1600
• Kevin Federline +1600
• Star Jones +1800
• Perez Hilton +2000
• Randy Jackson +2200
• Kirstie Alley +2200
• Alec Baldwin +3300

[Jive]

I don't know, but C-Webb cracked me up tonight when told Shaq that Tim Donaghy was on the phone for him.

[elgreco]

"Rigged" is such a strong word. I'd go with "influenced outcome".

I also don't think the nba is rigged by vegas, just for tv ratings and to make the series more compelling and interesting than they otherwise might be. And if a ref bets on the game, or players, or coaches, well then all bets are off.

I just finished Donaghy's book. If he is to be believed, then both of you are right. The NBA "influences" the outcome for better TV ratings. It is not the best written book, but it is really interesting for those of you who want to know exactly how they do it. It really altered my view of the NBA. The amazing talent of the players can not be disputed, but the final score of the game or series can be heavily "influenced."

For those who want a real moment, check out David Stern fixing the 1985 NBA Lottery so that the Knicks could draft Ewing. There are many videos on youtube and the evidence of a flat out fix is very compelling.

[hoopster42]

i can't think of a yr that the best 2 teams did not reach the finals and the best team did not win

[keyboarding]

[as99]

NBA is rigged if BUCKS don't win!

[hoopster42]

every series is a thrashing by the favorites, some conspiracy theory guys

[MileHigh_Club]

The NBA: "WHERE THE FIX HAPPENS"

[elgreco]

David Stern Fixing 1985 Draft Lottery

I am posting this video for those of you who have never seen it. Much thanks to the youtube poster TRJ22487 who edited the clip and provided a really nice write up. It should make for interesting conversation.





TRJ22487 — August 30, 2008 — What the NBA doesn't want you to know -

In this version of the video I cut out all the crap and cut straight to the fix.

00:00 - Jack Wagner is instructed to "gingerly" place the seven envelopes into the drum. The fourth envelope he holds contains the NY Knicks logo.

00:06 He slams it against the side of the drum, much differently than the way he places the other six envelopes into the drum, visibly bending the corner. He has likely practiced this dozens of times to ensure he can bend the corner on cue when the time comes

00:25 The drum is rotated several times to mix the envelopes. Sterns eyes are intently searching for the Knicks envelope the entire time

00:38 Stern unlocks the drum himself, taking time to look through the drum and try to find the envelope. Before reaching in he takes in a deep breath. He spots it. Luckily the bent corner is sticking straight up in the air when the drum stops, however he sees that another envelope is laid on top of it

00:45 Stern wades through the envelopes of the likes of Sacramento and Golden State, to find the bent envelope on New York. In his head he is surely a nervous wreck, and possibly seems a little shrill by the awkward way he is forced to grab the envelope by the way it is covered. He flips the envelope upsidedown, perhaps to hide the bent corner the best he can from the cameras closeup view

00:48/00:49 Pause the video here. David Stern is clearly looking at the bent corner as he flattens it with his thumb as best he can

00:50 Watch Sterns LEFT HAND very carefully. This is the part you couldnt see in the old Youtube video. Watch him stroke the corner with his index finger repeatedly, over and over, attepting to straighten it out, as he holds the envelope up high for the world to see. The writer I showed this to was SHOCKED when I pointed this out. I had never noticed this until I watched it with him


The rest of the video is history as Debusshere celebrates and holds up the #33 Ewing jersey that we would become so familiar with for the next 15 years

[elgreco]

guess i was wrong about the interesting conversation

[Z_Wipf]

There is no way the light toss into the side of the barrel made that bend. If that toss made a bend then the turning of the barrel would bend every envelope.

[GELATINOUS CUBE]

Sports.are.fake???


WHAT.ARE.YOU.GONNA.SAY.NEXT?

THE.NEWS.(CNN/FOX,ETC)..ISN'T.REAL???

IDIOT.

[elgreco]

There is no way the light toss into the side of the barrel made that bend. If that toss made a bend then the turning of the barrel would bend every envelope.

I don't disagree. That was my line of thinking too, but there is still something fishy about it. Clearly the envelope he picks up has a bent corner, and clearly he flips around some envelopes to get to a specific one. Nothing bothers you about it? I don't know, maybe that Donaghy book has me looking too deep into it... or maybe not.

[elgreco]

WHAT.ARE.YOU.GONNA.SAY.NEXT?

THE.NEWS.(CNN/FOX,ETC)..ISN'T.REAL???

IDIOT.

I can't really tell who your post is addressed to. Let me know if I am the "idiot" you are calling out and I'll gladly respond to your post.

[podunk]

that draft lottery was awesome

[podunk]

how about that 2003 draft?

[samdapatriotsfan]

Even though we know it is fixed we still give them our money. A few of us are actually able to make a profit but most not. I am not saying the NBA is fixed or rigged. However, I do know that ANYTHING is possible.

[Grandmaster B]

For Example: the Lakers laid down more times in the regular season than a $2 whore with that said they paid for their right not to lay down in the playoffs

[hoopster42]

rigged theories proven bullshit once again

[elgreco]

rigged theories proven bullshit once again

You’re missing the point man.

I don’t really blame you though. They say ignorance is bliss. Life is more pleasant when lived in a bubble. Its nicer to believe that money isn’t the main driving force in the world. Professional athletes just play for the love of the game, Referees are driven by honesty and integrity, Businessmen want a more prosperous community, Traffic cops are just there to make the roads a safer place, Health insurance companies just want to make mommy’s cancer go away, Wars are only fought to protect us from the bad folks out there, News companies are there to accurately inform the public without regard to their underlying business interests, Lollipop trees grow to put smiles on children’s faces, and SBRforum is only here to graciously provide an unbiased review of the Sportsbook Industry to protect the betting public…

Just keep on believing all that… you’ll be happier… honest.

[JUST A MAN]

WWF is the NBA...

[kchang024]

Whats the book that Tim Donaghy wrote?

[elgreco]

Whats the book that Tim Donaghy wrote?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=tim+donaghy+book+amazon&l=1

[SHADYLANKY]

Why would the NBA let 3 teams sweep in the semifinals if it is rigged? They lose revenue from 9 possible games. I'm sure some dirty stuff happens from time to time, like Donaghy has proven, but what in life isn't influenced but outside forces on occasion. Certainly not things like the stock market. It is part of the "game" no matter what you are involved in. That doesn't mean you can't overcome it or that every single event is rigged.

[stealthyburrito]

Stern's considering allowing gambling at nba venues, he's gotta have contacts in vegas.

[mundane]

just be on the right side of the fix and u'll be fine!

[rvfrank]

amazing

[elgreco]

Why would the NBA let 3 teams sweep in the semifinals if it is rigged? They lose revenue from 9 possible games. I'm sure some dirty stuff happens from time to time, like Donaghy has proven, but what in life isn't influenced but outside forces on occasion. Certainly not things like the stock market. It is part of the "game" no matter what you are involved in. That doesn't mean you can't overcome it or that every single event is rigged.

I think you are on the right track. I don't have all the answers. I also never used the word "rigged", I stuck with the word "influenced" like a previous poster mentioned.

If Donaghy is to be believed, then the method they use to "influence" games is called an "NBA initiative." To use one of his specific examples, it basically breaks down like this: Raja Bell was one of the sharpest defenders this decade. He was known in the inner circles as a "starstopper." No matter if he was on Kobe, Duane Wade, Carmelo... they would have to really work hard for their points. They could still score 20 points on him, but not 40... and they would bust their ass even for those. Well, stars and their high point scoring bring in fans and ratings. Basketball purists love defense, but not the general public. So, the NBA would send in an "initiative" prior to a game where Raja matched up with a star. The refs would sit down to a half hour video detailing every foul Raja got away with in previous matchups. The refs go on the court with these images in their heads, and Raja is on the bench with 4 fouls by halftime.

Remember when Tim Duncan got those two Technical fouls while sitting on the bench? The initiative before that game was the disrespect players show towards refs and how that can not be tolerated.

So thats how it goes. Not "rigged", "influenced". Every call is justified. Its just that they wouldn't make those calls 90% of the time... but because of this "influence" before the game, they called 5 in the first half.

It really is a fascinating book.

As far as why they would allow 3 teams to sweep? I can only guess. My main thought is that you can't influence a game if one team is completely dominant. These games were blowouts. You can influence 2, 4 maybe 6 points, but not 20. Also, the Lakers were going to move on... and maybe they don't care about how many games there are in a series as long as the large market teams move on.

I have no idea how many of these games are decided by this "influence", but the influence is there.

[elgreco]

HA! The David Stern video was just on PTI! Today is the 25th anniversary of that draft!

Tony Kornheiser: "You won the draft lottery and the right to select Patrick Ewing with the number one pick. And now there is no one in America who does not know that that lottery was fixed"

[gwiz]

WHAT.ARE.YOU.GONNA.SAY.NEXT?

THE.NEWS.(CNN/FOX,ETC)..ISN'T.REAL???

IDIOT.

what is real? you understand the only reason any news agency exists is for profit or propaganda right


I would say the news is fixed.

It is designed to keep the mentality of the masses at the level of a 12 year old

or roughly a 5th grader

it isn't designed to give you truth therefore it is fixed