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.