Money and Basketball

Fantasy sports are a huge part of American society these days. On average about 40 million people sign up to play fantasy basketball each year. With fantasy basketball comes the "money leagues." In these money leagues each person in the league has to pay a buy in price. Some go upwards of 100 dollars just to get a spot on the league! There might be 10 people in a league at 100 dollars a spot that's a thousand dollars up for grabs! Now some people,e like me that think this is absolutely ridicules. I think fantasy sports are a game and supposed to be for enjoyment not for some one who can go get paid.

Sports should be about having fun right? In my opinion athletes are getting way overpaid and its ruining the sport. Lebron James got a 90 million dollar contract from Nike before he even laid a foot on an NBA court. That's just nuts! I know hes an amazing athlete and everything but come on 90 million!? Most people don't even make a million in their whole entire life! I think the NBA should lower players salaries. Players are now more focused on getting money then winning a championship. They need to know what got them to this point it was basketball not the money.

Here's a link to the top NBA salaries.
http://hoopshype.com/salaries.htm

NBA Reff Betting On Games

Most every sports fan knows about the story of Tim Donaghy by now. A 13-year referee for the NBA, Donaghy was arrested by the FBI convicted in court for gambling on NBA games. That’s the simple story. But the reality, and repercussions, of Donaghy’s tale runs much deeper.

Donaghy began gambling on NBA games while employed as a referee in 2003. Between that time and the end of the 2006-07 season, Donaghy and his so called "mob" bet on approximately 40 games a season with nearly 80% success rate. He originally worked with Jack Concannon, who was never charged or arrested for his relations with Donaghy. In 2006 Donaghy hooked up with two friends James Battista and Thomas Martino, and began gambling through them. It was Battista and Martino who were convicted and sentenced along with Donaghy.

What is interesting is that for a supposedly “addicted gambler” Donaghy did not place a single bet himself. He simply provided information to Concannon and later Battista and Martino for which he got a reimbursement on winning wagers which was reportedly $2000 per game. If Donaghy’s info did not lead to a winning bet, he did not suffer any consequences.

 The inside information Donaghy provided ranging from who the referees were in certain games, players conditions, came on both games in which he was and was not reffing. Even in games that Donaghy was a part of, he claimed that he did not influence any of the games in which a bet was wagered. Whether you want to believe that or not is up to you.

In 2007 Donaghy officiated a western conference final game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns. During the series there was a fight that had broken out in game 5. 5 Suns players were suspended compared to 1 Spur. Both teams were heavily envolved in this fight. He tossed the best player at that time for the Suns Amare Stoudemire. San Antonio went on to win this game and this series.

Lakers 2013 Playoffs Conspiracy

I found this video very interesting. Its about the final playoff spot in the west. The Lakers ended up getting the final spot over the Jazz. Was it legit? I don't think it was at all. I think the NBA wanted the Lakers to make it so they could earn more money. I mean who would rather see the Jazz in the playoffs over the Lakers? Not a lot of people. So I have concluded the NBA is rigged!

Is the NBA rigged?

For years the NBA has been rigging it's games. The reason ,simple to make more money. The NBA is a business. It's goal is to make as much money as possible. David Stern does not care about the quality of games or who has the best team. Stern cares about making money nothing else. During the Michael Jordan era the NBA became very profitable in selling there merchandise .It's a very complicated business ,TV ratings, ticket sales, jersey's, shoes sales. David Stern has done a good job at making the NBA profitable. But at what a cost, it is estimated that between 57% & 88% of all Americans know the NBA is Rigged. So that lives only a small percentage of manly uneducated blacks or young teens for the NBA to market there product to. Of the basketball shoes that are sold for $ 100 or more 80% are sold to inner city black kids. So what Stern does is he hypes the Black basketball player such as Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James. How does Stern hype these players ? Stern's officiating crews are very biased. They allow these players to go to the foul line endlessly.

 

My Pick to Win it All

My pick to win the championship this year is hands down the Miami Heat. Miami is coming off a championship year. Last year they took the title over the Thunder with 4 games to 1 series. During the off season the Heat added veteran shooting guard Ray Allen and also veteran small forward Rashard Lewis. Adding these two veteran players make the Heat even better. Ray Allen won a championship with the Boston Celtics back in 2008 he was a key contributor to that team. Ray also took the record of the most 3 pointers made in a career a few season ago for Reggie Miller. Adding these 2 players to the big 3 (lebron,Wade,Bosh) will definitely give Miami the upper hand

Introduction

I have been assigned to do this blog for my journalism class. This blog has my opinions on the NBA. I have grown up and NBA fan. My favorite team of course is the Utah jazz. Some of the reasons why I'm such a big NBA and Jazz fan is because I have grown up with it. My dad is a huge Jazz fan. I have always enjoyed watching and going to games with him. Also another reason why i choose this topic is because in some reason I feel like the NBA is "rigged" in a way. I will elaborate why I think this. Also in this blog I will give some important states about each NBA team.