Quote:I think some *players* get preferential treatment from the refs, this happens in all professional sports.  I don't think particular teams do.  If that were the case and it was systemic, then surely it would have been exposed by now.  The kick was caught by the wind which the announcers said was blowing at the time.  Teams don't mind using the elements to help themselves from time to time and there's nothing wrong with that.

You're probably right, but i'm not so convinced that teams don't have a reason for not "exposing" a potential bias.  Again, I am not convinced this happens in the NFL, but I certainly am convinced that it happens in the NBA.  Think of it this way: Cleveland makes a big to do about LeBron leaving for Miami.  His leaving, draws TONS of global attention to the NBA.  He wins a few titles in Miami, and while he's gone the league gives the Cavs THREE #1 picks (astronomically unlikely), and the Cavs get stacked through the draft just in time for a proven prodigal son LeBron to return to his throne in his hometown.  The league needs their most relevant teams in big markets to win.  Otherwise, people lose interest and the league loses money.  Look at what teams have won championships in the last 30 years in the NBA.  ALL larger markets aside from San Antonio.  So that disproves my theory, right?  Wrong!  San Antonio had the most diverse team in terms of foreign born players.  During a time where the league is desperate to increase interest in other countries, and suddenly San Antonio dominates.

 

I know this is a theory and could very well be false, but time after time things seem shady in the NBA.  Chris Paul traded to the Lakers.  Stern says no, and sends him to the Clippers essentially.  Then the Lakers get Steve Nash immediately after when Nash had said one year before that he'd never wear a Laker jersey.  

 

There is a lot of money to be made in pro sports, and when the league is popular and making money, so do the owners of all the teams.  Money talks, and exposing corruption would not only destroy the yearly profits for owners, but it would also destroy the value in their franchise currently.  No millionaire or billionaire would complain about getting screwed when it means losing 600 million dollars on their franchise. 

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