I recall my Grandfather Harry Raley maintaining during World Series’ games “It’s going to go seven games because it’s all fixed. Just wait and see.” We were living at the Store at the time he said this, so it would have been back in my earliest, first sports awareness years say 55 thru 65. Just for a laugh, I looked up and found the following summary of World Series games played during that timeframe:
It leads me to think that Harry may have been onto something as during that 11 year stretch, the World Series went 7 games 8 times. (It should be noted however, that it was the Orioles who won the 66 Series in 4 straight over the Dodgers.)
Thus, to this day, whenever I hear talk of sports games being rigged or fixed, I always think of Harry and him saying that “It’s all fixed.”
As for today’s sports scene, legalized gambling has brought the “fixed” issue front and center. Check out the several memes floating around of Patrick Mahomes and the refs kissing, hugging etc.
Also, check out this excellent Rich Eisen interview with comedian Bill Burr discussing the NFL/Super Bowl. Stay for Burr’s concluding remarks “I’m just a confused old man. Everything’s on the up and up.” While I don’t know the veracity of “Everything is on the up and up,” I can vouch for and relate to his “I’m just a confused old man.”