how shady or legit is the NFL ?

[Crying Ramtard]

http://spaces.covers.com/blog/Maximu...or-Profit.html

http://thefixisin.net/nfl.html

I'm not betting my farm on how true this is but it makes a lot of sense to me. The NFL is an entertainment business and can bend a games outcome when they so choose.

So during a game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Diego Chargers the Steelers were favored by 3. Nearly 70 percent of the betting public was on Pittsburgh, with a reported $100 million in potential earnings. The score with less than a minute to go, 11-10 Pittsburgh and SD with the ball. After an errant lateral gets knocked away by Troy Polamalu, he scoops it and scores. The score is now 17-10, there is no time left, all teams head to the locker room, fans go to cash their tickets.

After several minutes of debate, the refs overturn the call, restoring a meaningless TD off the board making the final score 11-10, the Steelers win, the public loses. What I found to be most odd about it is the league's explanation of a "forward pass". The pass was ruled forward although it is obvious it was a backwards lateral. When I got home, I starting thinking that things were just to good to be true.

Sportscenter reported the money lost in Vegas and almost joked about it. They were literally laughing. So after this bad beat, I held around some serious thoughts about the legitimacy of pro football.

An opportunity came up in my graduate school where I was to write my project on any topic I was to choose. So I chose researching the "Showbiz manipulations of the NFL". I picked up several books including Dan Moldea's "Interference: How Organized Crimes Influence Professional Football", Brian Touhy's "The Fix Is In" , Roger L. Martins "Fixing the Game". I checked out several TV Marketing books from the college library and also several TV Business books.

I utilized my rights under the Freedom of Information Act passed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966 to access over 40 years of FBI files on the NFL although some information was redacted. Here's what I found:

.

Contrary to popular belief and to what he NFL wants you to think, there have been fixed games in league history. On page 308 of Dan Moldea's book "Interference" he lists over 70 NFL games that have been fixed and includes the names of the 2 referees involved in fixing those games. He also lists interviews with NFL HOF players most notably KC Chiefs QB Len Dawson. He, in detail with documented facts supported by FBI documents, has interviews with NFL players and known gambling associates to uncover massive game fixing in the league. He also notes, with evidence, throughout the book that no fewer than 26 NFL team owners have or have had continuous and developing relationships with the gambling world, most notably the Rooney, Bidwill, and Mara families all getting their starts as Bookmakers for established mid-west crime families and buying their NFL franchises with moneys earned from gambling. So that in and of itself is a hypocrisy number 1 on the NFL's "lilly white" reputation.

NFL Referees are part-time employees of the NFL. They are not employees of any team nor do they get paid anywhere close to the sums of NBA refs. NFL refs make between $25K to $70K per season. They work for the league and do what the league tells them to do. They are not there for "the integrity of the game". Referees, unlike other sports, are bound by NFL mandated gag orders which prevent them from talking to the media.

2. The NFL possesses an Anti-Trust Exemption to the law granted to it by President John F. Kennedy, which ultimately allows the NFL to classify itself as "entertainment" rather than sport, as well as incorporate itself as a single entity instead of the 32 separate "franchises" they would want you to believe. Contrary to the perception of the NFL being 32 separate franchises battling it out for gridiron supremacy. In a franchised environment, such as McDonalds (Business 101), each franchise is individually owned and operated and can participate in national promotions, have its own local promotions, or abstain from participating (hence the fine print in commercials saying "at participating locations".

This keeps the regionality of competition in tact without having to compete on a national level. MLB has this status, the NFL does not. Instead, since the NFL has this Anti-Trust exemption, it is able to package its teams in order to sell to national television companies, which today totals $6 Billion in revenue for the league. That is 75% of the leagues total annual revenue. In a 2004 lawsuit vs the NFL, the NFL attorney Gregg H. Levy argued that "the NFL is not a collection of 32 individual teams, but rather a single entity. And as long as the NFL teams are a unit, and they compete as a unit in the entertainment marketplace, then they should be deemed a single unit and not subject to any Anti-Trust laws."

There is only another "sports" organization that I can think of that follows this, the WWE. Levy also argued that the league markets its products and merchandise as a whole to promote the NFL as a whole. These arguments led all the way to lockout during the 2011 offseason. The league would still earn $5 Billion in revenue, even without a single game being played.

Professional sports is the only industry without ANY federal oversight. Therefore the league can do and go as they see fit, this is something the players were concerned about going into the lockout, the NFL players themselves sought help from US Congress asking for oversight of the NFL. And NFL players wanted an explanation as to why the NFL owners were granted an Anti-Trust exemption in the first place. They didn't get it.

The NFL proved in this lawsuit that they see themselves as a single unit in the "entertainment" industry and the unique league revenue sharing strategy is not common amongst professional sports leagues.

Robert Kraft and John Mara are two of the most business savvy and highly respected NFL owners. Kraft is in charge of the NFL TV broadcast committee and also leads all television negotiations for the NFL. Kraft also is on the board of directors for Viacom, the parent company of CBS, one of NFL's broadcasters. This past Spring, Robert Kraft negotiated a record TV deal for the NFL which will result in $24 Billion in revenue with CBS, FOX, ESPN and NBC. Kraft and Mara also brought both parties to the table and led all negotiations in ending the lockout.

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank was interviewed saying "It is predetermined that these two teams would be here, I wish my team was selected to be in the Super Bowl one day, but these two gentlemen deserve it". And the Giants posted themselves as victors before the game, the NFL claimed it was "an overzealous employee".

The 49ers need a new stadium, with the same players as Mike Singletary, and a Alex Smith in a contract year, the 49ers post a 13-3 record and make it to the NFC Championship. But what they don't tell you is how the stadium deal is structured. 80% of the funding comes from Bank of America and US Bank. 20% financed by the State of California using tax dollars.

The 49ers have pledged to pay back the State in 5 seasons with help from revenue sharing from NFL owners. What better way to pay someone back quickly than with packed stadiums and extra playoff game revenue.

On MNF they found themselves in a blackout. Steelers safety Ryan Clark said "it was to show the league they need a new stadium and the 49ers caused the blackout". Why would he say this if shadiness wasn't common practice? You can view his opinions here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/9...off-his-rocker.

Ravens players complained that the 2007 Patriots were " being handed games by refs" in their quest for perfection. And I have over 40 years of information on NFL business dealings and how these owners "miraculously" found themselves holding the Lombardi Trophy.

Let's look at the 2011 season and see how television ratings connected with some of the league's most important games, and quickly view how the referees controlled games.

Week 1: NFL Announces ESPN will pay $1billion per game of MNF through the 2021 season. In a tribute to 9/11 20 million + viewers tuned in as the Jets mounted a magic 14 point comeback over the Cowboys. Number of penalties called the Jets = 0

Week 2: The NFL's rule changes make for a more exciting game as scoring is way up. Much like the AFL days of the 60's, 72% of the games went over the total and TV ratings are now through the roof. The league emphasises "the year of the QB".

Week 3: Packers vs Bears: The Bears return a punt return for a TD which would've ultimately allowed them to cover the spread. Instead a fantom holding call overturned the TD. It was the 10th penalty of the game for the Bears vs. 1 penalty for the Packers. You can see the play here: http://youtu.be/_w-pXfjbYHk

Week 6: The Beginning of the Tim Tebow Era. Tim Tebow has a HUGE, and I mean HUGE Christian following. The guy can't hit a barn, but a decent athlete. Yet as the third string QB he is thrust into the starting role and the team magically "changes the entire offense" in a matter of weeks to suit him? Tebow was the number 1 jersey seller for the league without even stepping foot on the field. It was time to make him a star and they did ripping off several "magical" victories with poultry statistics. These teams were handing them games. If you didn't notice this, all I need to say it two words : Marion Barber. All the while the NFL is forcing religion down our throats with God's quarterback.

Week 7: The Jags are close to a sale, the possible new owners just need one more hint of encouragement to prevent buyers remorse. In come the Ravens. After the Saints destruction of the Colts on SNF. Vegas was in trouble. ESPN was in trouble because no one was going to watch this snore fest. The Ravens didn't get a first down until late in the fourth quarter and the Jags win with 4 FG's. Sale complete, Vegas wins. You lose.

[Hootie]

I could see their being rogue referee crews

but that's it

the NFL has absolutely nothing to do with fixing games

the Jags could play the Rams in the Super Bowl and everyone would still watch the Super Bowl

everyone

the NFL gains NOTHING by rigging games...maybe they tweak rules to make things more friendly for fans (see NFL being a complete passing league now)...

but that's not fixing games

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

a guy writes a book in 1970 and now because of that we think the games in 2014 are rigged

"well my NFL franchise I bought for $150M is now worth $2B!!!! Let's fix these games, potentially get caught, and then watch my amazing ROI that has made me out of this world wealthy potentially become valueless!!!!!"

you

guys

are

dumb

Who is going to "catch" them? They are legally an entertainment industry...they can fix what ever they want.

The only other "sport" with that legal title is the WWF.....think about that for minute.

Some people here are truly naive to how big business works...this whole system is a cash cow.

[Hootie]

so you watch NFL games and you think they are fixed?

because when I watch WWE you can tell everything is fake

pretty sure you can't teach Brandon Lloyd to make catches like he made

you guys are just so ****ing dumb I can't even continue this debate

you all should have been aborted no later than middle school

[Crying Ramtard]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

a guy writes a book in 1970 and now because of that we think the games in 2014 are rigged

"well my NFL franchise I bought for $150M is now worth $2B!!!! Let's fix these games, potentially get caught, and then watch my amazing ROI that has made me out of this world wealthy potentially become valueless!!!!!"

you

guys

are

dumb

you are exactly the type of fan the NFL loves. Dumb as a rock and proud of it.

you asked about books and I gave you an example. The review says its valid now as it was then.

you aren't countering anything with any logic. Just holding your hands over your ears going 'neener neener'

the franchises are worth that much because the games have been manipulated for years in the first place to make the entire league valuable.

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by ram29jackson

Vegas wasn't built by Mormons. It was built by and infiltrated by and run by the mob. Cheaters beget Cheaters

And it is now owned by major corporations, not the mob. MGM, the movie studio, owns a good portion of the Vegas strip. You think a movie studio is going to cheat in an industry that is already set up to make a huge profit legally? You are ****ing stupid as hell.

[Hootie]

no, I'm not

I've been watching the NFL since I was 5. It's impossible to fix these games. If you think otherwise, you're dumb.

you need players to fix games

these players aren't fixing the games

if they were, the jaded ones like Ocho and TO and COUNTLESS OF OVER BROKE MOTHER ****ERS would be JOSE CANSECO'ING the league EVERY TIME SOMEONE WOULD LISTEN

why aren't they?

BECAUSE THE GAMES AREN'T ****ING FIXED

god

you're

so

dumb

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

so you watch NFL games and you think they are fixed?

Umm..you dont know how "big muscle" rolls in the real world... They arent ALL fixed..the spread is.."massaged".

[Crying Ramtard]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

so you watch NFL games and you think they are fixed?

because when I watch WWE you can tell everything is fake

pretty sure you can't teach Brandon Lloyd to make catches like he made

you guys are just so ****ing dumb I can't even continue this debate

you all should have been aborted no later than middle school

the NFL hires the best jocks, so what ? that just makes the game look more thrilling. Thrilling games are thrilling because they are manipulated to be so.
being 7 points down with a final drive happens way more than naturally possible ,especially in prime time games but you let it fly over your head thinking the perfect ending is always possible and natural.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by CanadianChiefs

I'm an idiot, says the guy starting and ending his post with name-calling over the internet. What did I do? All I'm saying is that I have no evidence either way so I'm giving the NFL the benefit of the doubt, but wouldn't be surprised if news came out one day that some games were fixed for specific outcomes in terms of covering/not covering spreads. Also causing players to make great runs/ throws / etc isn't that hard and could easily be manipulated if they wanted it to be (well, not freak catches but you get the point).

If the point is that you're an idiot, then yes.
Causing players to make great plays could be easily manipulated?

[Hootie]

so the NFL hires these perfect jocks who also never go rogue after they retire and go broke and they just keep these games being fixed a secret

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by splatbass

And it is now owned by major corporations, not the mob. MGM, the movie studio, owns a good portion of the Vegas strip. You think a movie studio is going to cheat in an industry that is already set up to make a huge profit legally? You are ****ing stupid as hell.

Ha...man..this is too funny. Monsanto is a corporation too....fun lovin folks that care.

By definition.. a corporation is psychopathic in design. It has one purpose...maximize profits. There is no moral obligation..

[Hootie]

the NFL never pissed off a player to Jose Canseco proportions, eh? Not one guy ever retired or was banished from the NFL and decided to rat out the NFL for fixing games?

Not one guy.

Yeah, ok! THAT MAKES SENSE!

T.O. BROKE! SAYS NFL FIXES GAMES!

Oh shit. That was never a headline.

Wonder why!

[Crying Ramtard]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

no, I'm not

I've been watching the NFL since I was 5. It's impossible to fix these games. If you think otherwise, you're dumb.

you need players to fix games

these players aren't fixing the games

if they were, the jaded ones like Ocho and TO and COUNTLESS OF OVER BROKE MOTHER ****ERS would be JOSE CANSECO'ING the league EVERY TIME SOMEONE WOULD LISTEN

why aren't they?

BECAUSE THE GAMES AREN'T ****ING FIXED

god

you're

so

dumb

LOL those guys are perfect examples of people acting. That's how duped you are.

players don't fix games. they do what their employer wants them to do and that's entertain the fan whether winning or losing

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

Who is going to "catch" them? They are legally an entertainment industry...they can fix what ever they want.

The only other "sport" with that legal title is the WWF.....think about that for minute.

Some people here are truly naive to how big business works...this whole system is a cash cow.

Why do some people think this is a thing? There is no "legal title" of "entertainment industry."

The TV show Wheel of Fortune is in the "entertainment industry." It can't legally be fixed.
Casinos are in the "entertainment industry." They can't rig the games.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

If the point is that you're an idiot, then yes.
Causing players to make great plays could be easily manipulated?

That's where they get you..great plays happen...not calling/calling a penalty doesn't take a spectacular athlete. They dont have to win every spread to make billions..