It was fixed because a guy winked and then another guy drilled a three, which has about a 40% chance of going in? :monsters-Yeah I remember one game where the Mavs were down by 3 and the spread 3 and then they showed a close-up of Popeye Jones winking. Next thing Terry hits a three, we get overtime and the Mavs win. Weird.
Games are fixed because lines are sometimes 2.5 and 6.5? What?:monsters-Well that says it all. Every game isn't fixed but many key ones are.If you looked back I'm sure you would find almost every under dog has covered the televised Christmas day Baketball game in the nba. Also if you look at the fri and sat pre newyrs day bowl games all most every betting consensus team lost in the college bowls. how many bad calls by home plate umps that kill or add to rallies. How many holding calls on 2-3 yd gains that had nothing to do with the play.Yet guys are tackled trying to rush during the last 2 minutes and aren't called. is this really something unexpected? Again i'm not accusing players. but these refs and umps are egotists making a lot less than most of these pampered players. why else in football would they have 2 1/2 and 6 1/2 opening lines instead of 3 and 7?
I can tell you from experience that I doubt very much that any baseball umpire would throw a game. They spend 10-12 years in the minors before getting to the big leagues, and then most of them don't get a job in MLB. And you make 10K-15K a year in the minors for all those years. MLB umpires start out at about 100K, get tenured, and get huge annual increases each year, along with lots of vacation time. They top out at about 300K and stay in 5 star hotels. Professional umpires are some the most conscientous people you could ever meet. And the ones making it to MLB have paid their dues and have a dream job. Even a corrupt person would have to conclude that it's a bad risk and terrible business decision to fix a game. Not saying it couldn't happen, because it did in the NBA. But I don't think it's a widespread thing in any sport, especially baseball. I have umpired at a high level, and I know 4 people that have umpired MLB games. I doubt very much that any of them have ever even known what the line was before going out to work the game. They may have never looked at a line in their life, and aren't conscious daily that people actually bet on these games. That's not part of the culture of most people.Well that says it all. Every game isn't fixed but many key ones are.If you looked back I'm sure you would find almost every under dog has covered the televised Christmas day Baketball game in the nba. Also if you look at the fri and sat pre newyrs day bowl games all most every betting consensus team lost in the college bowls. how many bad calls by home plate umps that kill or add to rallies. How many holding calls on 2-3 yd gains that had nothing to do with the play.Yet guys are tackled trying to rush during the last 2 minutes and aren't called. is this really something unexpected? Again i'm not accusing players. but these refs and umps are egotists making a lot less than most of these pampered players. why else in football would they have 2 1/2 and 6 1/2 opening lines instead of 3 and 7?
As much as i'd like to believe games are fixed, and believe I've seen just as much weird shit as the rest of you, I find it hard to believe that many are. Just my opinion, but if someone really wanted to fix a game, they would do it so we (the public) would never notice. They wouldn't have holding calls to nullify a game winning touchdown, or make so many obvious bad calls in the biggest game of the year when everybody is watching, it would be done on games involving numbers that don't matter to the outcome (a total for the game, or a team only wins by 10 when giving 15, etc.). I'm sure this ref isn't the only ref or player to have the mob or syndicate into them, but to say all games are rigged or vast majority are is a bit much IMO.
I can tell you from experience that I doubt very much that any baseball umpire would throw a game. They spend 10-12 years in the minors before getting to the big leagues, and then most of them don't get a job in MLB. And you make 10K-15K a year in the minors for all those years. MLB umpires start out at about 100K, get tenured, and get huge annual increases each year, along with lots of vacation time. They top out at about 300K and stay in 5 star hotels. Professional umpires are some the most conscientous people you could ever meet. And the ones making it to MLB have paid their dues and have a dream job. Even a corrupt person would have to conclude that it's a bad risk and terrible business decision to fix a game. Not saying it couldn't happen, because it did in the NBA. But I don't think it's a widespread thing in any sport, especially baseball. I have umpired at a high level, and I know 4 people that have umpired MLB games. I doubt very much that any of them have ever even known what the line was before going out to work the game. They may have never looked at a line in their life, and aren't conscious daily that people actually bet on these games. That's not part of the culture of most people.
Baseball lines are not in newspapers. And the average person, if told "the Cardinals are minus 135," would look at you funny and have no idea WTF that means. I didn't say that they didn't know that betting existed on the games. What I said was that most of them don't pay attention to it or think about it. They don't work a game, and then afterwards think "wow, some people won money on that game and some people lost money." Or "Gee, I wonder what the gamblers think about that call I made?" It's just not part of the culture to think about the gambling aspect. The average baseball fan has never even thought about placing a bet on a baseball game.This is a forum for sharing opinions and Respect yours. However looking at the time of your post maybe you were tired. betting lines are readily available in newspapers in the sport section."ANYONE" in a major sport that does not know that people bet on games??? Are you freaking kidding or what? Any ump or ref that ever said that would have to be completely brain dead or a big freaking liar.For you to say the don't now really makes me question anyhthing else you say. The leagues specifically send people around to all officals and players every single season specifically warning them about the hazzards of gambling and what to do if you are approached. So they better fucking know!!!!!!!Most Football officals are great guys and i have to say I have never met one that wasn't. Most baseball umpires are cocky control freak scum bags(does the name Joe West come to mind) although there are several who are great guys.maybe it's all the years of being booed and hearing "Kill the Ump"
in addition, maybe the umps make a few bucks. what they don't have relatives that need the dough? or personal problems like the rest of us?
enron execs didn't make enough? tyco execs? wall street? the list can go on forever of guys and gals (Martha Stewart?) who made plenty and need more.
What about the ump who got banished for making Sosa and McGwuire sign shit for him and then he resold to memorabilia collectors and dealers.Please the greed never stops. Hope that explains my opinion.Feel free to differ...fyi home teams giving 2.5, 6.5 or 9.5 are indeed often sucker bets. If no one was betting why would you need sucker lines?
Wow what a recommendation !Baseball games have been fixed in the past, present and will be in the future....and if you don't beleive me, go ask Tony Larussa...& Tommy Lasorda....I dare ya....
The system is a joke. Meals and hotel are taken care of during the season, but the salaries are so low, you have to work as a waiter or substitute teacher in the offseason just to get by. And the sad thing is, most umpires work all those years and then get released, because there is not a job for them in MLB."Baseball lines are not in newspapers"
Really????? every single morning my paper has not only the lines of hockey football, exhition football, arena football, canadian football, baseball (not runlines) college football and basketball only, basketball and wnba.
Obviously during the respective seasons. Not sure where you live but I'm in NY. During football season it's the first thing i look for every monday or tuesday depending on pro or college.
i'm sure the same can be said in chicago. Perhaps you live in a small town.
Out of curiosity, those 10-12 yrs of making peanuts in the minors...no debts build up? i mean 10-15 k? My 19 yr old makes double that working at the mall and she still has to hit daddy up for money. Shit that wouldn't cover my wive's bills for hair and shoe products.
I can tell you from experience that I doubt very much that any baseball umpire would throw a game. They spend 10-12 years in the minors before getting to the big leagues, and then most of them don't get a job in MLB. And you make 10K-15K a year in the minors for all those years. MLB umpires start out at about 100K, get tenured, and get huge annual increases each year, along with lots of vacation time. They top out at about 300K and stay in 5 star hotels. Professional umpires are some the most conscientous people you could ever meet. And the ones making it to MLB have paid their dues and have a dream job. Even a corrupt person would have to conclude that it's a bad risk and terrible business decision to fix a game. Not saying it couldn't happen, because it did in the NBA. But I don't think it's a widespread thing in any sport, especially baseball. I have umpired at a high level, and I know 4 people that have umpired MLB games. I doubt very much that any of them have ever even known what the line was before going out to work the game. They may have never looked at a line in their life, and aren't conscious daily that people actually bet on these games. That's not part of the culture of most people.