SEATTLE AND ENGRAM DONE DEAL

CONSPIRACY: A Coach Controversy staff writer claims that the Bobby Engram holdout is just plain propaganda. The new deal is already done but the Seahawks are telling the media that Engram is holding out so that he doesn't have to go to mini camp. This benefits the Hawks and Engram in the long run.

MOTIVE #1: By having Engram hold out they don't risk injury in camp. He has already proven that he works well with Hasselbeck so he doesn't need the work. He is getting old and is not as durable as earlier in his career.

MOTIVE #2: The hawks have young wide receivers that need the work. They will be able to get all the reps in practice and hopefully one or two players will develop. Without Engram taking any snaps, Hasselbeck will have to find an alternate connection before the season starts. It also gives the coaches a chance to see the young receivers work with the first team.

MOTIVE #3: With Engram saying that he is holding out, this makes it easier for the Hawks to get a free agent. Seattle can now entice free agents to look at signing with them by offing up a starting spot. If Engram was signed early then many top free agents may look elsewhere for a #1 wr spot. Now the Hawks may be able to have their cake (Engram) and eat it to (A top free agent).

ANALYSIS: It is in Seattle's best interest to convince Engram to holdout; Engram won't get hurt, they develop some young wrs and they may be able to entice a top free agent. It makes sense. Coach Controversy's prediction: ENGRAM SIGNS AT LAST MINUTE (although we all know that it was planned)

LAKERS = RATINGS AGAIN

CONTROVERSY: Every time the NBA needs ratings the Lakers make the finals. It has happened 5 times since 1981 http://coachcontroversy.blogspot.com/2008/06/fix-is-in-as-lakers-make-finals-again.html and now it has happened again. Last year the NBA finals drew a 6.2 rating (one of its lowest) while this year ratings have jumped to 9.2, the highest since the last time the Lakers were in the playoffs in 2004. The trend continues and with all the allegations of refs fixing the Laker/King playoff series in 2002, one might start to believe Coach Conspiracy when he says the NBA is as phony as a 3 dollar bill.

MOTIVE: Money

FACTS:
1981 Boston vs. Houston 6.7 rating (lowest since 1976) -----> 1982 LA vs Phila. 13.0
1990 Detroit vs. Portland 12.3 (lowest since 1984) -----> 1991 LA vs Chicago 15.8
1999 San Antonio vs NY 11.3 (lowest since 1981) -----> 2000 LA vs Indiana 11.6
2003 San Antonio vs NJ 6.5 (lower than ever before) -----> 2004 LA vs Detroit 11.5
2007 San Antonio vs Cleveland 6.2 (lowest ever) -----> 2008 LA vs Boston 9.2

2007 PLAYOFF SERIES FIXED

CONSPIRACY: Tim Donaghy just came out and stated that other refs were involved in fixing games in the playoffs. Well, if refs are in on the fix then why not players. The 2007 Eastern Conference playoff series is a great example of it. Cleveland had no business making the finals but they did have one of the most marketable sports figure in the world, Lebron James. So the NBA recruited two Piston players Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince to help them make sure Cleveland made the finals.

MOTIVE: Ratings. The NBA could not afford another extremely low Detroit/San Antonio final.

DESCRIPTION: The NBA used two prominent figures on the Pistons to allow Cleveland an advantage. Detroit wins the first two games and then Cleveland wins 3 of the final 4 to win the series. Remember Detroit only lost 7 games at home all season and was 3 and 1 against Cleveland with the one loss coming in overtime. Detroit was the better team yet lost games 5 and 7 in Detroit. Through poor shooting, timely turnovers, technical fouls and lack of defense, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace pulled off the fix without anyone except the NBA aware.

FACTS:
1. NBA knows that Lebron will bring them money and ratings

• The 2005 Spurs/Pistons finals match up received an 8.2 TV rating (down from an 11.5 the year before).


• Lebron James is the second most marketable sports figure in the world behind Tiger Woods.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22473574/


• Lebron earned $25 million in endorsements only in 2006. This is good for the NBA.

2. Tayshaun Prince has an uncharacteristically bad series (well under his season averages) as well as poor 4th quarter and overtimes.

• Prince, normally a 46% shooter, shot only 24% for the series (1-11,0-8,6-13,4-11,4-13,1-10).


• Prince averaged only 1.4 fouls a game in his career but in the last 4 games of the series he averaged over 3 fouls a game.


• Prince averaged only 1.2 turnovers a game but in the last 4 games of the series he averaged 3 turnovers a game.


• Prince one of the best defenders in the league (on the all defensive team in 05' and 06') allows James to score 32, 25 and then 48 in games 3-5 after scoring only 10 and 19 in their first two losses.

3. At crucial moments of games 4, 5 and 6 Prince missed shots, turned the ball over, fouled or blew a assignments.

Example: With the Pistons up 1 in game 5 and 31 seconds to go in regulation James drives and dunks without Prince contesting him in fact Prince gets out of the way.

Example: With the 09 seconds and the score tied in game 5, Prince allows James to drive for a dunk. James had 2 wide open dunks against one of the best defensive teams in the NBA in game 5 at very critcal moments (he only had 4 total dunks in the whole Spurs series).

Example: With 3:31 left in the 1st overtime of game 5, Prince gives up an easy backdoor to James.

Example: With 1:39 left in the 1st overtime Prince misses a hook and then with :59 seconds left he gets a backcourt violation.

Example: With 2:13 left in the 2nd overtime, Prince throws a bad pass with the score tied and then gives up a driving layin to James to end the game.

Watch as James drives at a crucial moment and Prince gets out the way. Wallace stays in the corner and does not even move to help his teammates.




Rasheed Wallace blows up at a crucial time in game six and lack of effort in game 5.

Example: In the final 4 minutes of game 5, Wallace misses 3 shots with the score tied, misses 2 free throws and gets his final shot blocked with 13 seconds left. They lose.

Example: In a matter of 2 minutes of game 6 Wallace does the following cinching a Cleveland win:
10:03
Rasheed Wallace misses 26-foot three point jumper
8:22
Rasheed Wallace personal foul (Donyell Marshall draws the foul)
7:58
Rasheed Wallace offensive foul (Anderson Varejao draws the foul)
7:58
Rasheed Wallace turnover
7:43
Rasheed Wallace personal foul (LeBron James draws the foul)
7:43
Rasheed Wallace technical foul (1st technical foul)
7:43
Rasheed Wallace ejected
7:43
Rasheed Wallace technical foul (2nd technical foul)

This was a great tactic by the NBA because no one would suspect anything and just say "oh..its Wallace being a jerk again".

ANALYSIS: With games 1 and 2 going to Detroit the NBA knew it was losing a chance to make money and improve ratings. Without making it obvious the NBA manipulated two well know players. They knew they would have the foriegn market by having the Spurs (who have the most foriegn players in the league) in the finals now all they had to do was guarentee that the most marketable player in the world would join them.

SEAHAWK FANS JUST PLAIN WRONG

CONTROVERSY: Even Mike Holmgrn took shots at the NFL refs after Superbowl XL. Many Seahawk fans believe that the fix was in as the referees made crucial calls that went in favor of the Steelers. But I am not a believer in this conspiracy...and I am from Seattle.

SEAHAWK FAN CLAIM #1: The Seahawks first touchdown was called pass interference by a referee whose native city is Pittsburgh.

COACH CONTROVERY SAYS: It was a push off. So what if there have been other more blatant push offs that were not called. A push off is a push off and you can clearly see that the defender moves backwards. Jackson got an advantage and that is a penalty. So what that the ref is a native of Pittsburgh. He made the right call. Now you may agrue that he shouldn't be officiating the game at all and I agree, but he made the right call...this is NOT a conspiracy.

SEAHAWK FAN CLAIM #2: Ben Rothlesberger did not get into the endzone on a qb keep. His shoulder hit the ground before the ball crossed the line. The play went to replay and was not overturned. The refs fixed the game.

COACH CONTROVERY SAYS: They were going to score anyway. It was only 3rd down when this happened. Cohwer can be heard stating that either way they were going to go for it. No way the hawks were going to keep the Steelers out of the endzone replay or no replay. Two words for you Jerome Bettis...need i say more.

MLB 2001 SEASON A SHAM

CONSPIRACY: Major League Baseball ignores steroids, sets up an all star game and rigs a world series in 2001.

DESCRIPTION: Major League Baseball was in trouble as declining TV ratings added to the fact that Tiger Woods was tearing up the world. Tiger got all the press as he dominated the PGA tour, winning a career grand slam and being Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/2000/sportsman/ . This combined with declining TV ratings made Pro Baseball a commodity that was not bringing in any money. When all of a sudden MLB explodes having its most memorable season ever. Here are some of the most memorable:

• Barry Bonds breaks Babe Ruth's home run record


• Roger Clemens sets a record with a 20-1 season


• Cal Ripken hits a home run in his last All Star game.


• New York makes the World Series for the 4 straight time this time losing to a bunch of mercenaries from Arizona in 7 games (only the third time since 1991).


• Seattle breaks win record of the Chicago Cubs.

MOTIVE: Fan Interest and money for FOX TV network.

MLB had a hand in helping all the above happen. Here are the claims of Coach Controversy:

CLAIMS #1: MLB ignored the steroid use of Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens so that they could preform at a unbelievable level.

CLAIM #2: MLB juiced the baseball to make the game more exciting.

CLAIM #3: MLB set up the All Star game so that Cal Ripken would hit a home run.

CLAIM #4: MLB set up the World Series so that it would go 7 games and the Yanees would lose (everyone loves to see the Yankees lose).

CLAIM #5: MLB made a deal with FOX to televise the All Star game and the World Series for 2.5 Billion dollars. The All Star game and World Series were set up to gain interest and make FOX more money.

CLAIM #6: MLB made a deal with Chan Ho Park to give up homeruns to Bonds and to Ripken and with Mariano Riveria to throw game 7 of the World Series.

ANALYSIS: So here is Major League Baseball struggling. In 1995 an average of 32 million viewers watch the first 4 games of the World Series. That dropped to an average of 23.7 in 1997 and a alltime low of only 21 million viewers watching those first 4 games. This corresponds with "Tiger Mania" of 2000, in which he sets all kinds of records. Then in September of 2000, FOX takes over the TV rights. We all know how controversial FOX can be, just ask Geraldo. Well, through a few backdoor dealings MLB agrees to juice the ball and overlook the steroid use of two of the all time greats Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. They both go on to have record years.

Next, they agree that since Cal Ripken is a fan favorite, why not let him go out in style by allowing him to hit a home run in the All Star game which would be televised on FOX. The pitch couldn't have been more perfect if Cal had placed it on a tee himself. The pitcher Chan Ho Park also gave up home runs 71 and 72 to Bonds (coincident...I think not). This all occurs in Safeco Field which is home of the Seattle Mariners who mind you set a record which was held by the 1919 Cubs. Remember, most of the Mariner games are on the FOX Sports Channel. What better way to stir up interest in a sport then to have all the games in a record setting streak shown on your network tv.

Then comes the World Series game 4. If Arizona wins, this series may not go the distance so in the bottom of the 9th Arizona's Hyun Kim comes in and throws it right over the plate so that fan favorite Derek Jeter can hit it out of the park. Series tied 2-2. The series ends up going all 7 games and ends in dramatic fashion. Best of all the Yankees lose but i can't understand how. Since they had the best reliever in the game on the mound and a lead. Rivera had only blown 12 saves in the past 2 seasons yet in the inning, Rivera gave up 3 hits, committed an error and hit a batter. Come on...MLB wanted it to go 7 games but did not want the Yankees to win its 4th straight. The Yankees have not won a World Series since.

Coach Controversy say that there are just too many coincidences to be anything but a set up. MLB and FOX made this one of the most memorable seasons in sports at the price of its integrity.

THE FIX IS IN AS LAKERS MAKE FINALS AGAIN

CONSPIRACY: The NBA makes sure that the Los Angeles Lakers make the finals when their TV ratings decline.

DESCRIPTION: Every year the TV ratings for the NBA finals begin to descend somehow the NBA makes sure the Los Angeles Lakers make the finals. It has happened in 1981, 1990, 1999, 2003 and now in 2007.

MOTIVE: Money

FACTS:

• 1981 Boston vs. Houston 6.7 rating (lowest since 1976) -----> 1982 LA vs Phila. 13.0


• 1990 Detroit vs. Portland 12.3 (lowest since 1984) -----> 1991 LA vs Chicago 15.8


• 1999 San Antonio vs NY 11.3 (lowest since 1981) -----> 2000 LA vs Indiana 11.6
  
• 2003 San Antonio vs NJ 6.5 (lower than ever before) -----> 2004 LA vs Detroit 11.5


• 2007 San Antonio vs Cleveland 6.2 (lowest ever) -----> 2008 LA vs Boston ?
  

ANALYSIS: Los Angeles has been in the finals every year after a major decline in TV ratings. This year is a perfect example of the NBA pulling some strings to get the Lakers into the finals. Last year's final was suppose to be a ratings boost as the best team of the decade and the best player of the decade collided. It didn't work out the way they wanted as ratings tumbled to an all time low of 6.2. So what does the NBA do? They allow a trade to be pushed through that made no sense. Pao Gasol was dealt for a bunch of no names, a never was and some picks. "A donation" according to Kobe Bryant. It doesn't hurt that the Memphis Grizzlies were on the other side of the trade since they are the smallest market in the NBA. http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/2008_06_05_Gasol_deal_an_absolute_steal/srvc=sports&position=also

We will see if the ratings for the finals actually improve but I am sure it cant get much worse than 2007.

Hmm...Lakers in the finals after an alltime low TV rating...not a shocker to Coach Controvery.

NBA LOTTERY IS RIGGED

CONSPIRACY: Since 1985 the NBA has used the draft lottery as a tool to improve its finanacial base.


DESCRIPTION: Starting in 1985, the NBA has made sure a potential franchise player and superstar drafted #1 would go to a team that the league believed would help them prosper financially in the long run. With the advent of the draft lottery in 1985, the commissioner has set up the draft so that a franchise player would not be in a market that would struggle to sellout. No small markets for the leagues top player.

MOTIVE: Money

FACTS:

• Since 1985 there has been arguably only 9 franchise changing players (Ewing 85, Robinson 87', Shaq 92', Iverson 96', Ming 02', James 03', Oden 07') - all these players scored more than 20 points in their first season except Ming and Oden.


• None of the 10 players went to small market or dead end teams (such as Memphis, Clippers, Vancover etc.)
  

Example #1: 1985 Patrick Ewing - drafted by New York - New York is the biggest market in the NBA and the other choices for the #1 pick were Seattle, Golden State, Atlanta, Sacramento, Indiana and the Clippers. No way was Stern letting a franchise player go to one of those small markets.

Watch as David Stern fumbles with the 3 envelops and then picks the one with the creased corner. He turns it over and feels the creased corner as he announces the #1 pick.



Example #2: 1987 David Robinson - drafted by San Antonio - The Spurs had the fourth worst record but ended up getting the 1st pick in the draft. No way was the league going to let the Clippers get the can't miss prospect.

Example #3: 1992 Shaquille O'Neal - drafted by Orlando - Orlando was an expansion team in what the NBA hoped would turn into a major market. What better way to start a new franchise out then with a franchise player.

Example #4: 1996 Allen Iverson - drafted by Philadelphia - Vancouver actually had the best chance to get Iverson but oops Stern steps in again and makes the sure fire Iverson the franchise player of the 4th largest tv market and major sport city.

Example #5: 1997 Tim Duncan - drafted by San Antonio - Vancouver again has the worst record but the NBA steps in again and makes sure a major market gets the pick. By the way, though San Antoinio is not one of the more populated cities it did set several NBA attendance records in the years following this pick including the largest crowd ever to watch an NBA finals game. It also is the only major sports team in the city. Good market...yeah I would say so.

Example #6: 2003 Lebron James - drafted by Cleveland - No need to rig this one as Cleveland had the worst record and it made such sense to have James in his home state of Ohio.

Example #7: 2007 Greg Oden - drafted by Portland - Memphis was suppose to get the #1 pick but because it has the smallest market in the NBA they did not get the potential franchise changing player. Instead it went to Portland. Not a large market but again the only major sports team in the state and if we look back at history, Portland has the record for most consecutive sellouts. They sell seats when they are good and even when they are average they still sell seats as can be seen by the increased attendance from 2007 to 2008. Portland went from 22nd in the NBA to an amazing 7th WITHOUT their potential superstar playing a game. Just image what Porland will do if Oden does play next year.

ANALYSIS: The NBA is about money and superstar players bring in money. The NBA does not want a superstar to flounder in Memphis, Vancouver, Toronto, Milwaukee or the likes. It needs its superstars in the right settings and right places. Why has the NBA changed the process so many times? Why is the actual lottery done behind closed doors? All these things make Coach Controversy question the integrity of the draft lottery.