During the World Cup, the show formerly known as Art Bell had the author of a book called “The Fix Is In” on.
He covers a number of sports with examples on how each is manipulated.
Soccer is the worst, thanks to Asian gambling syndicates.
A Federal court case that says the NFL is only obligated to provide a ticket holder a game, not necessarily a real contest.
How about out of the first 40 televised World Series, half went the full 7 games? So much for the expected bell curve.
Or isn’t it peculiar that NHL expansion teams do so well, as in expanding the market appeal of those teams?
What about the NBA? They sign a new deal with a network, and viola! The audience drawing classic Lakers v. Celtics rivalry happens again for the championship!
That guy needs to work on his fact checking, only 12 of the first 40 World Series went 7 or more (a few years it was best of 9 so not all those 7s were actually a full series), NHL expansion teams don’t actually tend to be good, and anybody shocked that Laker Celts was the NBA final just plain hasn’t been paying attention to the league those have been top teams for a while.
What about the NBA? They sign a new deal with a network, and viola! The audience drawing classic Lakers v. Celtics rivalry happens again for the championship!
The Mavericks/Heat Finals series ... Wade going to the line every time he came within the gravitational pull of a defender.
Jacksonville Jaguars 1995 season 4 -12
Tennessee Oilers 1997 season 8-8 (of course they were already a NFL team)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1976 0 - 14
Seattle Seahawks 1976 season 2 -14
Cincinnati Bengals 1968 season 3 - 11
At least the NFL makes the fans suffer for a period of time :)
I pod cast Coast to Coast.
1991 -- San Jose Sharks (frequently among the top teams in the Western Conference in the regular season in recent years, but have never appeared in the Stanley Cup finals)
1992 -- Ottawa Senators (won their first conference championship in 2006-07; no Stanley Cups)
1992 -- Tampa Bay Lightning (one Stanley Cup in 2003-04, the only season they've ever made it to the finals)
1993 -- Florida Panthers (Stanley Cup finalist in 1996, swept in four games, perennial losers most years since then)
1993 -- Anaheim Mighty Ducks (probably the most successful of the post-1990 expansion teams; Stanley Cup finalist in 2002-03, Stanley Cup champions in 2006-07)
1998 -- Nashville Predators (little or no on-ice success; regularly rumored to be moving elsewhere)
1999 -- Atlanta Thrashers (perennially one of the worst NHL teams)
2000 -- Columbus Blue Jackets (one playoff appearance; have never won a playoff game)
2000 -- Minnesota Wild (have won all of two playoff series in nine years)
That's two Stanley Cups and five appearances in the Stanley Cup finals among these nine teams by my count, which make up nearly a third of the NHL right now. I'd hardly call this an overwhelming record of success for these expansion teams.
If each team has a 50/50 chance of winning and the winner is determined randomly then these are the odds of each length of series:
4 games, 12.5%
5 games, 25%
6 games, 31.25%
7 games, 31.25%
Frankly, I don't buy this particular part of your argument as a longtime NHL watcher. But I do feel there is an economic advantage for leagues to have their marquee teams do well, and that this is particularly pronounced in the NFL (Steelers, Packers, Patriots and last year, Saints) and the NBA (Celtics, Lakers).
Just my opinion.