I am not really the sort to believe in conspiracy theories minus a few notable exceptions. I fully believe that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone and I also believe that the US allowed pearl harbor to be bombed. Until a few weeks ago if you had asked me if professional football (NFL) was fixed I probably would have told you emphatically no.
Then the playoffs happened.
Fixing games is something that has been happening since the beginning of time. We have seen it pretty blatantly in the NBA, I don't know why it would different in any other sport. I remember a story that came out several years ago where NBA officials were spilling all of the secrets. I haven't sat and watched a full NBA game since, and the portions I have watched are a far cry from the basketball that I remember as a kid.
Granted I grew up with the Bad Boys (Detroit Pistons). Basketball was more physical back then. Teams played defense and the majority of three point plays came the old fashioned way.
But this post is about football.
If you read my posts, you know I have been saying for years at the Detroit Lions are not a favorite among officials. There is an inordinate amount of bogus calls against them that has kept them from being successful. Granted, this year, ninety percent of their horrible play lies squarely on their own shoulders.
This year aside, I think it is pretty clear that outside factors can have a huge influence on the outcome of a game.
Just keep that in mind as I continue my post (rant).
I've often heard grumblings from people who feel that the NFL is fixed and/or scripted. I always kind of dismissed it as a butt hurt fan or something like that. As a Lions fan I have been there many times, so I know where your mind can go when you are disappointed about a loss.
I never really put much stock into those rumors, then like I said, the playoffs happened.
I've been pretty clear about how much of a Matthew Stafford fan I am. I think he was squandered and deserved more from his time with Detroit. I am over the moon that he has made it to the Superbowl.
And yet...
I can't help but feeling like the last four games were majorly scripted. I'm sorry, I know Tom Brady is "good", but taking that big of a lead and then giving it up through a series of miscues only to win at the last minute just feels really rigged to me.
Then it happened again this past weekend. In not one game but two. I don't think it is any coincidence that three of the most important games of the seasons were decided by a field goal and one of them was in overtime.
Let's not even talk about the game that was "decided on a coin flip" last weekend.
While some of you may look at these games and just think they were some great games with two teams laying it all out on the field, it is important to question who would benefit from a "fix".
The NFL for sure. Exciting games mean more viewers. As we have seen the price of SuperBowl ads skyrocket over the years, we all know that eyes on screens are big money.
How about Vegas? There are a lot of people who made a lot of money on the games the last two weekends. Especially the house who had a couple of teams in for the lock. With the advent of online sports betting, you can place bets pretty much at any point through a game. The odds are always shifting and the opportunities are always there.
Rams go up huge against Tampa Bay in the first half? Lots of people pumping money into the Rams outscoring the Buc's in the third and forth quarter. Oh, but wait, that doesn't happen. Coincidence? Then miraculously the Rams eek out a win as the underdog team.
Mahomes is automatic right? Until he isn't...
Like I said, I dig Stafford, his numbers over the past 12-13 years speak for themselves, but there is still a part of me that just questions the overall landscape of the NFL.
I use "The Score" app on my phone to track scores and sports news. One thing I love about the app is the ability for fans to chat real time during contests. You would probably be surprised at the number of people who posted "scripted to perfection" after the outcome of both the games this weekend.
I am far from alone in questioning the legitimacy of some of these match ups.
That doesn't mean they don't still nag at me though...
What about you? Let me know your thoughts!