Buzz
We watch our sports icons on screen, sprinting, leaping, and handling balls of various shapes and sizes, imagining the glamorous life of training, enjoying the outdoors, and earning massive sums through endorsements and league incentives. But do we truly understand the financial dynamics behind the scenes? The allure of wealth can significantly influence an athlete's performance or the investment in new coaching staff.
While some athletes strive for victory, others might resort to underhanded tactics, such as accepting bribes to lose crucial matches. Here are ten of the most intriguing controversies in the world of sports.
10. The Black Sox Scandal
One of baseball's most notorious match-fixing incidents, the Black Sox Scandal, left a lasting impact on the sport. While many details remain murky, it is widely accepted that several Chicago White Sox players conspired to intentionally lose games in exchange for financial rewards, thereby manipulating the outcomes of key matches.
In total, eight team members were bribed to lose, each receiving between $70,000 and $100,000 (a staggering sum for 1919) to throw three out of five games. By September 1920, a grand jury was convened to investigate the claims, leading to indictments. Two players were cleared due to lack of evidence. In response, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the newly appointed baseball commissioner, imposed a lifetime ban on the infamous eight from the sport.
9. The Attack on Nancy Kerrigan
Known as “the whack heard around the world,” the rivalry between Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding escalated to physical violence and injury. Intense competition, the lure of fame and wealth, and the pressure to secure a spot on the U.S. Olympic team were cited as motives. Ultimately, it was desperation that pushed Harding to her breaking point.
Shane Stant, a 21-year-old, struck Kerrigan’s right leg with a collapsible baton. While no bones were broken, the injuries forced her to withdraw from the national championship. This paved the way for Harding to claim gold, as her ex-husband had orchestrated the assault on Kerrigan.
Months later, Harding admitted to obstructing the investigation into the incident. As a result, she was banned for life from U.S. Figure Skating and stripped of her national title.
8. The 1972 Olympic Basketball Final
The U.S. men’s team was on the verge of securing their eighth consecutive gold medal against the Soviet Union when the final whistle blew. The score stood at 50–49 in favor of the USA, thanks to a last-minute free throw that seemed to seal their victory.
The Soviet assistant coach hurried to the scorers’ table, claiming his team had called a timeout and deserved another inbound opportunity. The officials agreed but failed to reset the clock. The initial pass failed, and the Americans began celebrating. However, due to the clock error, the Soviets were granted another chance. This time, Alexander Belov received the ball and scored the winning shot, securing a 50-51 victory for the Soviets.
Despite appeals, the final score stood, and investigations into the result’s legitimacy proved inconclusive. This marked the first-ever loss for the USA in the event.
7. The Hand of God
Before Lionel Messi emerged and solidified his place in Argentine football history, there was an undisputed legend. Diego Maradona remains one of the most iconic and controversial figures in soccer history.
One of the most infamous moments in his career came during the quarterfinal match between Argentina and England, where Maradona earned the nickname 'Hand of God.' Six minutes into the second half, with the score tied at 0-0, Maradona was about to make history in the most controversial way.
Attempting to clear the ball, the goalkeeper missed, and it ended up in the net. Without video replay technology at the time, the goal stood. However, replays later revealed Maradona had used his hand to guide the ball into the goal. Argentina went on to win the match.
6. The Dirtiest Race in History
The 100m final at the 1988 Seoul Olympics is often called the dirtiest race ever. It had all the elements of a dramatic sporting event: intense anticipation, rivalries, the world’s fastest sprinters, and an overwhelming presence of performance-enhancing drugs.
Half of the athletes in the race finished under 10 seconds, with Ben Johnson claiming first place and setting a world record of 9.79 seconds. However, shortly after his victory, Johnson failed a drug test for steroids, leading to his disqualification and public disgrace. Carl Lewis, who initially placed second and was awarded the gold, also tested positive, forfeiting his chance at glory.
In total, six out of the eight competitors were found to have used banned substances and were subsequently disqualified.
5. Sandpaper Gate
Cricket has seen its share of scandals, from the Pakistan Cricket Spot-fixing incident to the match-fixing controversy involving South African captain Hansie Cronje. The most recent, known as Sandpaper Gate, involved prominent members of the Australian cricket team.
During Australia’s tour of South Africa, TV footage captured players acting suspiciously, frequently reaching into their pockets. It was later revealed they were using sandpaper to tamper with the ball, gaining an unfair advantage by altering its swing.
Ultimately, three players faced suspensions of varying lengths, including one-year bans from professional cricket and three-year bans from holding captaincy positions.
4. The LSD No-Hitter
Among the 300-plus no-hitters in Major League Baseball history, Dock Ellis’s stands out for its controversial nature. On June 12, 1970, Ellis delivered a remarkable performance, recording more walks than strikeouts, hitting a batter, and allowing three stolen bases—all while under the influence of LSD.
This was the sole no-hitter of Ellis’s career and likely the only one ever pitched while the player was heavily intoxicated with LSD. Before the game, Ellis had been on a drug and alcohol binge, losing track of time. After waking up, he took another dose of acid at noon, only to discover he was scheduled to pitch that evening.
3. Bloodgate
During the Heineken Cup quarterfinal, England’s Harlequins rugby team faced off against Ireland’s Leinster in a highly anticipated clash between two rugby powerhouses. In a tightly contested match, Harlequins’ medical staff hatched a scheme to substitute players under unusual circumstances—using blood as a cover.
In rugby, a bleeding player must receive immediate medical attention, creating an opportunity for substitutions. Harlequins’ physio Steve Brennan purchased inexpensive fake blood capsules, typically used for pranks. Winger Tom Williams bit into one, causing fake blood to pour from his mouth, enabling the team to bring back their star player.
Despite their deceptive tactics, Harlequins lost the match and were later exposed, resulting in a $260,000 fine. Williams received a 12-month ban from rugby, which was later reduced to four months.
2. Steve Bartman
Bartman fulfilled a dream many baseball fans share—catching a ball in the stands. However, his action disrupted a crucial play that might have ended differently had he not interfered.
In 2003, during a game between the Marlins and the Cubs, Marlins’ Luis Castillo hit a foul ball. Steve Bartman deflected it just as Cubs’ Moisès Alou was about to make the catch, which would have ended Castillo’s at-bat. Instead, the Marlins seized an unexpected victory.
The stadium’s big screen focused on Bartman, and Cubs fans unleashed their anger on him. He had to be escorted out by police for his safety. For years, Bartman endured intense public backlash for his actions.
1. Deflategate
Tom Brady, a global sports icon despite American football’s limited international reach, was embroiled in the Deflategate scandal. Allegations surfaced that the New England Patriots illegally deflated game balls at Brady’s request, as he preferred a softer grip. Essentially, they were accused of cheating.
The scandal dominated headlines, tarnishing Brady’s reputation and resulting in a four-game suspension. The Patriots were also fined $1 million for their role in the controversy.
In September 2015, a federal judge reversed Brady’s suspension, stating that he should not have been penalized based solely on his “general awareness” of others’ actions.
