Are some sports contests fixed?

[BigGamesOnly]

Whenever I hear this question I always think of Jake LaMotta of the movie "Raging Bull". He once admitted that boxing matches were sometimes fixed.

I've heard a few around here mentioning this topic in some of the forums so I thought I would formally ask it here in hopes of getting a good discussion.

 

[Jointpleasure]

Does a bear shit in the woods?

Is a five pound robin fat?

 

[jimbutorac]

I don't think boxing matches are fixed. The sport is corrupt in other ways such as who gets to be ranked and fight for the title, for sure. But I don't think individual fighters or judges are bought.

Also, seems to me that boxing has least amount of incentive to do well cause usually it is only one individual who gets same amount of money whether they win or lose and/or champion usually has a rematch clause.

Like when Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson and then came in grossly overweight and got floored by Holyfield. He already had his guaranteed purse and had made his big payday.

When Lennox Lewis got knocked out by Rahman he came in undertrained, overweight and out of shape and got KO'd but took it serious in the rematch.

So there may be a lack of training, dedication and motivation, but different than being fixed.

Just my opinion and in no way consider myself to be a big player or insider.

 

[JackDee]

is the pope a catholic?

(well, sports are more fixed than the pope is a catholic, but there you have it.)

 

[BigGamesOnly]

Could those of us who think sports are fixed give some examples of why we might feel that way?

 

[Oceans11]

A five pound robin...
Man, I've never seen that!
I will tell my brother who is a birdwatcher about them.
Which part of the US are they from?

Does anyone eat them?
What are they like on sesame toast?

 

[exilarch]

If you think that sports contests are fixed, you should always bet the underdog. The Favorite tactic of the fixers is not to lose the game(this would arouse suspicion) but to make it close and beat the pointspread.

 

[Railbird]

A College coach can save his job if he covers the spread, it buys him time with the alumni or fans. Look at Haslet kicking the sure fg today.

 

[max1234]

Neuhiesel was the king of trying to cover the spread on his games, but then that's how he supplemented his income.

 

[PatPatriot]

Are Muslims terrorist?

 

[lander]

Is Patriot a sterotyping bafoon?