The 25 Greatest Sports Conspiracy Theories of All Time

The 25 Greatest Sports Conspiracy Theories of All Time

Author: Elliott Kalb

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2011-02-11

Total Pages: 333

ISBN-13: 1626366780

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In every sport, in every country around the world, there are fans on the losing side who know that something other than skill and luck beat their favorite team or player. Sometimes they’re actually right. That’s why sports lovers will devour this inside look at the 25 biggest myths and scandals in professional and collegiate athletics. Elliott Kalb examines each potential outrage in detail, supporting and debunking popular beliefs along the way. In some cases, proof does exist that the “fix” was in—like the 1919 World Series thrown by the Chicago “Black” Sox players or the conspiracy to keep African Americans out of Major League Baseball until 1947. In others, there remain only whispers of wrongdoing and suspicious circumstances, including the Jets’ win in Super Bowl III and Muhammad Ali’s first-round knockout of Sonny Liston. This is sure to capture the imagination of anyone who has ever wondered what really happened behind the scenes.


Book Synopsis The 25 Greatest Sports Conspiracy Theories of All Time by : Elliott Kalb

Download or read book The 25 Greatest Sports Conspiracy Theories of All Time written by Elliott Kalb and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2011-02-11 with total page 333 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In every sport, in every country around the world, there are fans on the losing side who know that something other than skill and luck beat their favorite team or player. Sometimes they’re actually right. That’s why sports lovers will devour this inside look at the 25 biggest myths and scandals in professional and collegiate athletics. Elliott Kalb examines each potential outrage in detail, supporting and debunking popular beliefs along the way. In some cases, proof does exist that the “fix” was in—like the 1919 World Series thrown by the Chicago “Black” Sox players or the conspiracy to keep African Americans out of Major League Baseball until 1947. In others, there remain only whispers of wrongdoing and suspicious circumstances, including the Jets’ win in Super Bowl III and Muhammad Ali’s first-round knockout of Sonny Liston. This is sure to capture the imagination of anyone who has ever wondered what really happened behind the scenes.

The 30 Greatest Sports Conspiracy Theories of All-Time

The 30 Greatest Sports Conspiracy Theories of All-Time

Author: Elliott Kalb

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing Inc.

Published: 2009-07

Total Pages: 286

ISBN-13: 1602396787

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In this book, long-time TV sports statistician and self-professed skeptic Elliot Kalb examines the most notorious conspiracies in sports history-in baseball and football, the NBA and the NHL, the racetrack and the prize ring, and beyond. Separating myth from fact, Kalb attempts to determine which of these long-held conspiracy theories hold water, and which ones fall flat under scrutiny. He thoroughly evaluates conspiracies like the possible fixing of Super Bowl III, Sonny Liston throwing his fights with Muhammad Ali, and why Michael Jordan retired from basketball the first time. In this updated addition, he also includes sections on Spygate, questioning whether or not the Patriots had footage of the Rams walk-through before Super Bowl XXXVI; the 1973 tennis match between Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King, which Riggs may have thrown; and the controversy surrounding Roger Clemens, who has never failed a drug test, yet seems destined to be hanged with the steroids rope


Book Synopsis The 30 Greatest Sports Conspiracy Theories of All-Time by : Elliott Kalb

Download or read book The 30 Greatest Sports Conspiracy Theories of All-Time written by Elliott Kalb and published by Skyhorse Publishing Inc.. This book was released on 2009-07 with total page 286 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this book, long-time TV sports statistician and self-professed skeptic Elliot Kalb examines the most notorious conspiracies in sports history-in baseball and football, the NBA and the NHL, the racetrack and the prize ring, and beyond. Separating myth from fact, Kalb attempts to determine which of these long-held conspiracy theories hold water, and which ones fall flat under scrutiny. He thoroughly evaluates conspiracies like the possible fixing of Super Bowl III, Sonny Liston throwing his fights with Muhammad Ali, and why Michael Jordan retired from basketball the first time. In this updated addition, he also includes sections on Spygate, questioning whether or not the Patriots had footage of the Rams walk-through before Super Bowl XXXVI; the 1973 tennis match between Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King, which Riggs may have thrown; and the controversy surrounding Roger Clemens, who has never failed a drug test, yet seems destined to be hanged with the steroids rope

Kings of the Garden

Kings of the Garden

Author: Adam J. Criblez

Publisher: Cornell University Press

Published: 2024-04-15

Total Pages: 305

ISBN-13: 1501774476

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In Kings of the Garden, Adam J. Criblez traces the fall and rise of the New York Knicks between the 1973, the year they won their last NBA championship, and 1985, when the organization drafted Patrick Ewing and gave their fans hope after a decade of frustrations. During these years, the teams led by Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe, Bob McAdoo, Spencer Haywood, and Bernard King never achieved tremendous on-court success, and their struggles mirrored those facing New York City over the same span. In the mid-seventies, as the Knicks lost more games than they won and played before smaller and smaller crowds, the city they represented was on the brink of bankruptcy, while urban disinvestment, growing income inequality, and street gangs created a feeling of urban despair. Kings of the Garden details how the Knicks' fortunes and those of New York City were inextricably linked. As the team's Black superstars enjoyed national fame, Black musicians, DJs, and B-boys in the South Bronx were creating a new culture expression—hip-hop—that like the NBA would become a global phenomenon. Criblez's fascinating account of the era shows that even though the team's efforts to build a dynasty ultimately failed, the Knicks, like the city they played in, scrappily and spectacularly symbolized all that was right—and wrong—with the NBA and the nation during this turbulent, creative, and momentous time.


Book Synopsis Kings of the Garden by : Adam J. Criblez

Download or read book Kings of the Garden written by Adam J. Criblez and published by Cornell University Press. This book was released on 2024-04-15 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Kings of the Garden, Adam J. Criblez traces the fall and rise of the New York Knicks between the 1973, the year they won their last NBA championship, and 1985, when the organization drafted Patrick Ewing and gave their fans hope after a decade of frustrations. During these years, the teams led by Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe, Bob McAdoo, Spencer Haywood, and Bernard King never achieved tremendous on-court success, and their struggles mirrored those facing New York City over the same span. In the mid-seventies, as the Knicks lost more games than they won and played before smaller and smaller crowds, the city they represented was on the brink of bankruptcy, while urban disinvestment, growing income inequality, and street gangs created a feeling of urban despair. Kings of the Garden details how the Knicks' fortunes and those of New York City were inextricably linked. As the team's Black superstars enjoyed national fame, Black musicians, DJs, and B-boys in the South Bronx were creating a new culture expression—hip-hop—that like the NBA would become a global phenomenon. Criblez's fascinating account of the era shows that even though the team's efforts to build a dynasty ultimately failed, the Knicks, like the city they played in, scrappily and spectacularly symbolized all that was right—and wrong—with the NBA and the nation during this turbulent, creative, and momentous time.

Crooked

Crooked

Author: Fran Zimniuch

Publisher: Taylor Trade Publications

Published: 2009-04-16

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 1589794192

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As long as people have played games, there has been a temptation to win (or intentionally lose) by cheating. Infamous cases throughout the history of sport abound, from the "thrown" 1919 World Series to the recent doping confessions of track star Marion Jones. In this entertaining and informative book, sports historian Fran Zimniuch recalls the notorious scandals that have tainted our most popular sports, concluding that such incidents are often a reflection of the times. Benefiting from personal interviews with many figures either involved in or on the periphery of recent scandals, including BALCO''s Victor Conte, Crooked presents a pageant of infamy as rich as the history of modern sports itself.


Book Synopsis Crooked by : Fran Zimniuch

Download or read book Crooked written by Fran Zimniuch and published by Taylor Trade Publications. This book was released on 2009-04-16 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As long as people have played games, there has been a temptation to win (or intentionally lose) by cheating. Infamous cases throughout the history of sport abound, from the "thrown" 1919 World Series to the recent doping confessions of track star Marion Jones. In this entertaining and informative book, sports historian Fran Zimniuch recalls the notorious scandals that have tainted our most popular sports, concluding that such incidents are often a reflection of the times. Benefiting from personal interviews with many figures either involved in or on the periphery of recent scandals, including BALCO''s Victor Conte, Crooked presents a pageant of infamy as rich as the history of modern sports itself.

Sports and Their Fans

Sports and Their Fans

Author: Kevin G. Quinn

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2014-01-10

Total Pages: 273

ISBN-13: 0786453281

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Though Americans spend more than $25 billion a year on sports and sporting events, this book argues that the influence of sports on our lives is even more profound than this huge figure would seem to suggest. Exploring such topics as the role of sports in the creation of mass culture, cheating, the abuse of illegal drugs, the strange and fascinating role that numbers play in sporting events, and the future of spectator sport, this book surveys the outsized impact that sports have on American culture. The author draws from new work in such fields as history, economics, politics, sociology, psychology, and ethics to support his claims. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.


Book Synopsis Sports and Their Fans by : Kevin G. Quinn

Download or read book Sports and Their Fans written by Kevin G. Quinn and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2014-01-10 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Though Americans spend more than $25 billion a year on sports and sporting events, this book argues that the influence of sports on our lives is even more profound than this huge figure would seem to suggest. Exploring such topics as the role of sports in the creation of mass culture, cheating, the abuse of illegal drugs, the strange and fascinating role that numbers play in sporting events, and the future of spectator sport, this book surveys the outsized impact that sports have on American culture. The author draws from new work in such fields as history, economics, politics, sociology, psychology, and ethics to support his claims. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

The Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes

The Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes

Author: Richard Sowers

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2014-02-18

Total Pages: 529

ISBN-13: 1476613273

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This is the definitive history of thoroughbred racing's three premier events, which have never before been explored in such detail. This book gives the history of America's classic races from the inaugural Belmont Stakes in 1867 through 2013, identifying which equine participants were truly worthy of lasting acclaim and which were one-hit wonders. Perhaps even more compelling are the stories of the men and women who rode, trained, owned, or bred classic winners, including their exploits on the turf and their triumphs and failures in arenas far removed from horse racing.


Book Synopsis The Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes by : Richard Sowers

Download or read book The Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes written by Richard Sowers and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2014-02-18 with total page 529 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the definitive history of thoroughbred racing's three premier events, which have never before been explored in such detail. This book gives the history of America's classic races from the inaugural Belmont Stakes in 1867 through 2013, identifying which equine participants were truly worthy of lasting acclaim and which were one-hit wonders. Perhaps even more compelling are the stories of the men and women who rode, trained, owned, or bred classic winners, including their exploits on the turf and their triumphs and failures in arenas far removed from horse racing.

What If the Babe Had Kept His Red Sox?

What If the Babe Had Kept His Red Sox?

Author: Bill Gutman

Publisher: Skyhorse

Published: 2008-06-17

Total Pages: 308

ISBN-13: 9781602396296

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What if Babe Ruth had not been sold to the Yankees in 1920 and instead played his entire career in Boston? What if Muhammad Ali had lost or quit in his first fight against Sonny Liston? What if the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants had never moved to the West Coast? What if Vince Lombardi had become head coach of his hometown Giants instead of heading to Green Bay? How would sports history, and our perception of it, be different today? These are some of the questions asked and answered in this entertaining book of alternate history, the first book of its kind in the field of sports. It is sure to appeal to every thoughtful sports fan. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.


Book Synopsis What If the Babe Had Kept His Red Sox? by : Bill Gutman

Download or read book What If the Babe Had Kept His Red Sox? written by Bill Gutman and published by Skyhorse. This book was released on 2008-06-17 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What if Babe Ruth had not been sold to the Yankees in 1920 and instead played his entire career in Boston? What if Muhammad Ali had lost or quit in his first fight against Sonny Liston? What if the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants had never moved to the West Coast? What if Vince Lombardi had become head coach of his hometown Giants instead of heading to Green Bay? How would sports history, and our perception of it, be different today? These are some of the questions asked and answered in this entertaining book of alternate history, the first book of its kind in the field of sports. It is sure to appeal to every thoughtful sports fan. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Stuff They Don't Want You to Know

Stuff They Don't Want You to Know

Author: Ben Bowlin

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Published: 2022-10-11

Total Pages: 311

ISBN-13: 1250268575

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“Interesting...Bowlin's calmly rational approach to the subject of conspiracy theories shows the importance of logic and evidence.”—Booklist "A page-turning book to give to someone who believes in pizza pedophilia or that the Illuminati rule the world."—Kirkus Reviews The co-hosts of the hit podcast Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know, Ben Bowlin, Matthew Frederick, & Noel Brown, discern conspiracy fact from fiction in this sharp, humorous, compulsively readable, and gorgeously illustrated book. In times of chaos and uncertainty, when trust is low and economic disparity is high, when political institutions are crumbling and cultural animosities are building, conspiracy theories find fertile ground. Many are wild, most are untrue, a few are hard to ignore, but all of them share one vital trait: there’s a seed of truth at their center. That seed carries the sordid, conspiracy-riddled history of our institutions and corporations woven into its DNA. Ben Bowlin, Matt Frederick, and Noel Brown host the popular iHeart Media podcast, Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know. They are experts at exploring, explaining, and interrogating today’s emergent conspiracies—from chem trails and biological testing to the secrets of lobbying and the indisputable evidence of UFOs. Written in a smart, witty, and conversational style, elevated with amazing illustrations, Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know is a vital book in understanding the nature of conspiracy and using truth as a powerful weapon against ignorance, misinformation, and lies.


Book Synopsis Stuff They Don't Want You to Know by : Ben Bowlin

Download or read book Stuff They Don't Want You to Know written by Ben Bowlin and published by Flatiron Books. This book was released on 2022-10-11 with total page 311 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Interesting...Bowlin's calmly rational approach to the subject of conspiracy theories shows the importance of logic and evidence.”—Booklist "A page-turning book to give to someone who believes in pizza pedophilia or that the Illuminati rule the world."—Kirkus Reviews The co-hosts of the hit podcast Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know, Ben Bowlin, Matthew Frederick, & Noel Brown, discern conspiracy fact from fiction in this sharp, humorous, compulsively readable, and gorgeously illustrated book. In times of chaos and uncertainty, when trust is low and economic disparity is high, when political institutions are crumbling and cultural animosities are building, conspiracy theories find fertile ground. Many are wild, most are untrue, a few are hard to ignore, but all of them share one vital trait: there’s a seed of truth at their center. That seed carries the sordid, conspiracy-riddled history of our institutions and corporations woven into its DNA. Ben Bowlin, Matt Frederick, and Noel Brown host the popular iHeart Media podcast, Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know. They are experts at exploring, explaining, and interrogating today’s emergent conspiracies—from chem trails and biological testing to the secrets of lobbying and the indisputable evidence of UFOs. Written in a smart, witty, and conversational style, elevated with amazing illustrations, Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know is a vital book in understanding the nature of conspiracy and using truth as a powerful weapon against ignorance, misinformation, and lies.

Real Enemies

Real Enemies

Author: Kathryn S. Olmsted

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2011-03-11

Total Pages: 335

ISBN-13: 0199753954

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This timely book links the explosion of conspiracy theories about the U.S. government in recent years to the revelations of real government conspiracies. It traces anti-government theories from the birth of the modern state in World War I to the current war on terror.


Book Synopsis Real Enemies by : Kathryn S. Olmsted

Download or read book Real Enemies written by Kathryn S. Olmsted and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2011-03-11 with total page 335 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This timely book links the explosion of conspiracy theories about the U.S. government in recent years to the revelations of real government conspiracies. It traces anti-government theories from the birth of the modern state in World War I to the current war on terror.

Republic of Lies

Republic of Lies

Author: Anna Merlan

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2019-04-18

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 147355361X

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_______ ‘Timely and troubling’ Evening Standard ‘A necessary book’ David Aaronovitch ‘Frequently jaw-dropping’ Huffington Post From UFOs to the New World Order, the inside story of how conspiracy theories won over America. In November 2017, a serial climate change denier and anti-vaxxer was elected President of the United States. The rise of Donald Trump marked the beginning of a new American epoch: the age of the conspiracy theorist. Now, Anna Merlan goes undercover in America’s sprawling network of conspiracy theorists and uncovers their secrets. She meets the UFOlogist who claims to have travelled to Mars with a young Barack Obama. She chats with the ‘pizzagate’ truthers who think Washington D.C.’s favourite pizzeria is run by a satanic paedophile ring. And she bumps into Alex Jones, the YouTube impresario who thinks the state is using chemical warfare to turn the population gay – and who happens to be on first-name terms with the leader of the free world. Merlan reveals a world of innuendo and propaganda lying just beneath the surface of US culture. It might just help explain the political turmoil of our time. _______ ‘Through exhaustive research, personal interviews, and a critical yet at times appropriately empathetic approach, writer Anna Merlan has written a captivating book that illuminates the landscape of conspiracy theories.’ New York Magazine ‘An entertaining taxonomy of toxic ideas’ Herald ‘A rock-steady narrator with a ready command of history, nerves of steel, and incisive social insights . . . We need a thousand of her, or a million.’ The Nation


Book Synopsis Republic of Lies by : Anna Merlan

Download or read book Republic of Lies written by Anna Merlan and published by Random House. This book was released on 2019-04-18 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: _______ ‘Timely and troubling’ Evening Standard ‘A necessary book’ David Aaronovitch ‘Frequently jaw-dropping’ Huffington Post From UFOs to the New World Order, the inside story of how conspiracy theories won over America. In November 2017, a serial climate change denier and anti-vaxxer was elected President of the United States. The rise of Donald Trump marked the beginning of a new American epoch: the age of the conspiracy theorist. Now, Anna Merlan goes undercover in America’s sprawling network of conspiracy theorists and uncovers their secrets. She meets the UFOlogist who claims to have travelled to Mars with a young Barack Obama. She chats with the ‘pizzagate’ truthers who think Washington D.C.’s favourite pizzeria is run by a satanic paedophile ring. And she bumps into Alex Jones, the YouTube impresario who thinks the state is using chemical warfare to turn the population gay – and who happens to be on first-name terms with the leader of the free world. Merlan reveals a world of innuendo and propaganda lying just beneath the surface of US culture. It might just help explain the political turmoil of our time. _______ ‘Through exhaustive research, personal interviews, and a critical yet at times appropriately empathetic approach, writer Anna Merlan has written a captivating book that illuminates the landscape of conspiracy theories.’ New York Magazine ‘An entertaining taxonomy of toxic ideas’ Herald ‘A rock-steady narrator with a ready command of history, nerves of steel, and incisive social insights . . . We need a thousand of her, or a million.’ The Nation